5 Tips for Writing Invitations
Writing the perfect invitation is essential for making sure that all of your guests are informed and prepared for your event. Take a moment to read over these 5 quick tips that will help you with addressing the perfect invites.
Invites can be delivered and created in a number of ways. Traditional snail mail, email blasts, chat room notifications, or social media creations. You can create DIY invites, opt for the box store options, or reduce your carbon footprint with virtual invites. However it is done, attention to the details is how you achieve communication success.
BE SPECIFIC – LEAVE NO GUESS WORK
Words like “it”, “there”, “then”, and “who”, should never appear on an invitation. It is your job, and mission, to answer any and every question a guest could have within your invite.
Make sure that guests know what is being celebrated, for who, by whom, etc.
DATE+LOCATION+TIME+RSVP
Again, outside of providing this information, be specific.
Provide the date with the day of the week. Sometimes people will assume a party is set for a Saturday or Sunday, and have it all wrong.
Provide a clear map/GPS coordinates to the venue, as well as any special instructions (doors to be knocked on, gate doors to be by passed, sketchy alleyways to turn down). Give parking information/public transportation stop/major intersection as well.
Let them know exactly when to be there, as well as when, and if, food will be served.
Give a firm RSVP date. This way you also have a time when you can review your guest-list and follow up with guests that have not responded.
NB: If you are having a large party it may be wise to create an email account just for the event i.e., weddings.
PREPARE YOUR GUESTS
In the spirit of details and transparency, make sure that your guests know exactly what is going on for the event. Let them know if there will be entertainment or an activity. Make sure they know if any of this is time sensitive.
Make sure your guests know if there are any special instructions, restrictions, accommodations, costs, etc. No surprises!
STATE YOUR FOOD AND DRINK OFFERINGS
Let you guests know if and what you will be offering in terms of food and/or drinks. This by no means implies that you have to supply these finer things of life to your guests. What it does mean is, anyway this party is going down your need to know.
Nothing worse that showing up with an appetite to a dry party, or unable to eat a bite of the host’s spread in light of your recent indulgences.
MENTION THE ACTIVITY/ENTERTAINMENT
If you plan on having some form of entertainment/instruction/activity. Let you guests know. Not only does this guide guests in terms of what to expect, it also starts to create the hype around your event. If there will be face painting, karaoke, or a special performance, let the invitees in on the excitement.
Remember, if this is time sensitive state this within the invitation.
Well, there you have it. A couple of quick tips for creating invites that communicate with the guests clearly. If you need some help designing or producing invitations, contact us.
In the meantime, make use of this guest-list to keep your party invites organized.
