Invitations are a key part of planning any event, and they range from hand written postcards and e-invites to professionally printed invitations and singing telegrams. Despite the wide range of invitation styles, there are a few key points you need to remember when creating invitations for your event. What Type of Party? You are planning the party, so you already know, but your guests don't. Every party has a purpose, so let your potential guests know. Is it a birthday party? Anniversary party? A Baby Shower? Wedding? A simple get-together just for the heck of it? Make sure you are clear on the focus of the celebration. Who is the Party For? You know the type of party, but do let your guest know who the party is for. Just because you are throwing an anniversary party on the 24th of June doesn't mean the world knows it is for John and Jane Doe. Be sure to include the people you are celebrating on your invitations. The Date This seems obvious, right? Sure. Yet year after year I get invitations that fail to give the date of the event. Sometimes it is so obvious we overlook it. The Time Like the date, the time is also a commonly missed item. Be clear on the time the party starts and ends. If you are having an open ended party, state that. Also, if you are planning a surprise party, you need to be sure you state a time when the guest of honor is to arrive. This will prevent people from arriving at a time that will ruin the surprise. Where is the Party? A party is a lot of fun...if people actually show up. They need to know where to go for the celebrations, so make sure you put the location on the invite in the form of the name of the venue and the address. If you are feeling helpful or if you are planning a more formal event, it is helpful to put in directions, too. RSVP When I plan an event, I like to set an RSVP date. It helps me to know exactly how much space, food, and other items I will need. I confer with my caterers and venue to know exactly what date I will need to give the final tally, and I set the RSVP date for one week prior. This way I can contact people who forget to RSVP in that week to get my final number. Also, be sure to include a phone number or e-mail where guests can RSVP. Other Instructions As you plan your party, be sure you give other pertinent information to your guests. For instance, if it is a surprise party, remind people to not tell the guest of honor. Also, there may be special parking situations or gifts to bring. If you are planning a shower or wedding, the guest of honor may be registered somewhere specific, so include that information on the invitations. Dress codes and limits on children should also be included on invitations. The key to good invitations is to give people all the information they need to know before they get to the party. Guests are more comfortable coming to a party where they know what to expect versus facing the total unknown, and invitations fill that void. |
