New Year's Eve party invitation templates

Send them three to four weeks ahead, in early December at the latest. Guests often have several offers for the same night and decide early, especially if they must book a babysitter or travel. Set a reply-by date about a week before, so you can plan food, drinks and space.

Write the start time, the address, the dress code and a reply-by date, then the plan: dinner or drinks, a countdown at midnight, and whether to bring a bottle. A line about getting home, such as taxis or a spare room, is thoughtful. Say whether children are welcome.

Cocktail attire means dressed up but not formal: a cocktail dress, a smart jumpsuit or dressy separates, or a suit, with or without a tie. Something with sparkle suits New Year’s Eve. It is a step below black tie, which calls for a tuxedo and a long or formal dress.

Start early, around late afternoon, and plan games, a simple meal and noisemakers for the children. Many families celebrate midnight in a time zone further east, so the countdown happens before bedtime. Put the start and end times on the invitation, and say whether children may sleep over.