Party invitation templates

For a casual get-together, one to two weeks is enough. Most birthdays, housewarmings and anniversary parties need three to four weeks. If guests will travel or the party falls on a holiday weekend, send a save the date six to eight weeks ahead or earlier, then the full invitation about a month before.

It means guests can arrive and leave at any time within the hours given, rather than all arriving at once. Food is usually laid out to graze through the afternoon or evening. Write the window clearly, for example “Open house, 2 to 6 pm, come when you can,” so nobody worries about being late.

Say it on the invitation so nobody arrives empty-handed or embarrassed. A line such as “It’s a potluck, so bring a dish to share” works. To avoid five desserts, suggest a course by surname or ask guests to tell you what they are bringing when they reply. Mention any allergies you know about.

RSVP stands for the French “répondez s’il vous plaît”, which means “please reply”. It asks guests to tell the host whether they are coming, by the date given. Hosts use the replies to plan food, seating and space, so answering promptly, yes or no, is the polite thing to do.