Milestone birthday invitation templates

Send them five to six weeks before the party. If friends or family need to travel, send a save the date two to three months ahead so they can book time off and flights. A reply-by date two weeks before the party gives you time to confirm numbers with the venue or caterer.

Name the guest of honour and the milestone, then give the date, time, venue, who is hosting and when to reply. A warm opening line works better than a joke about age. If it is a surprise, say so clearly, and add a note about gifts if the family would rather guests bring nothing.

Anyone close to the guest of honour can host. A partner or close friends often host a 30th or 40th, while grown-up children commonly host a parent’s 60th, 70th or 80th. The invitation should name the hosts, for example “Hosted by her children”, so guests know who is inviting them and who to ask.

Not always. For a local party, a full invitation five to six weeks ahead is enough. Send a save the date when guests must travel, when the party is on a holiday weekend, or when it is a large event booked months in advance. It needs only the name, the occasion, the date and the town.