Christmas dinner and holiday open house invitation wording: 40 lines

A Christmas dinner invitation needs a sit-down time. An open house invitation needs a window. Get that one detail right and the rest is warmth.

What to include

For a dinner, the headcount sets the table, so ask for firm replies. For an open house, a rough count is enough.

40 Christmas dinner and open house wording ideas

Swap in your own names, times and places.

Family Christmas dinner

1. 01The table is set and there's a place for you. Join us for Christmas dinner.
2. 02Come home for Christmas dinner. We'll save you the good chair.
3. 03Three generations, one table. Christmas dinner at Grandma's.
4. 04Join the family for turkey, crackers and far too much pudding.
5. 05Christmas dinner at ours this year. Bring your appetite and your stories.
6. 06We're hosting the family Christmas. Dinner at 5, drinks from 4.
7. 07Pull up a chair. Christmas dinner with the whole family.
8. 08Christmas dinner for the whole clan. The extra chairs are out.

Christmas Eve

9. 09Join us on Christmas Eve for dinner by the tree.
10. 10Christmas Eve supper, carols and a fire. Come at 6.
11. 11Seven fishes, one long table. Christmas Eve dinner at ours.
12. 12Spend Christmas Eve with us. Dinner, then midnight mass for anyone who wants it.
13. 13Christmas Eve open house. Drop in for a drink between 4 and 8.
14. 14Pyjamas, hot chocolate and a movie. Family Christmas Eve at ours.

Christmas Day

15. 15Merry Christmas. Dinner is at 3 and you're on the guest list.
16. 16Christmas Day lunch at ours. Crackers, hats and a long afternoon.
17. 17Spend Christmas Day with us. Brunch at 11, dinner at 5, naps in between.
18. 18No one should eat Christmas dinner alone. Our table has room for you.
19. 19Christmas Day dinner for friends who are far from home.
20. 20Come for Christmas dinner, stay for the board games.

Holiday open house

21. 21Holiday open house. Drop in any time from 2 to 6.
22. 22Our door is open. Come by for a mulled cider, any time Saturday afternoon.
23. 23Christmas open house at ours. Stay ten minutes or stay all day.
24. 24Join us for our annual holiday open house. Bring the family.
25. 25Pop in for a drink and a mince pie. Open house from 3 to 7.
26. 26Holiday open house. Come and go as you please, the kettle is always on.
27. 27Open house on Christmas Eve, 4 to 8. Bring nothing but yourselves.
28. 28Our home is open on December 20. Drop by and say hello.

Neighbours and friends

29. 29Neighbours, our door is open. Holiday drinks at number 14, Sunday from 2.
30. 30Friendsmas dinner at ours. Bring a dish and a bottle.
31. 31An orphans' Christmas dinner for anyone staying in town. Bring a side.
32. 32The street's holiday open house is back. Mulled wine at the end house.
33. 33Christmas supper with friends. Pyjamas optional, appetite required.
34. 34Let's raise a glass before everyone scatters for the holidays. Open house Saturday.

Funny

35. 35We've ordered a turkey big enough for you. Please come and help.
36. 36Christmas dinner at ours. Politics stays at the door, gravy does not.
37. 37Come for the turkey, survive the family, leave with leftovers.
38. 38Open house: come in, eat something, leave before we put you to work.
39. 39The stuffing is homemade. The chaos is too. Christmas dinner at 5.
40. 40Stretchy pants recommended. Christmas dinner, all afternoon.

Want any of these laid out with your date, place and reply-by? Use the wording generator in the warm tone.

Group text versions

41. 41Christmas dinner at ours on the 25th! Drinks at 4, dinner at 5. Kids welcome. Can you make it? Reply by the 15th so I set enough places.
42. 42Holiday open house Sat Dec 19, drop in any time 2 to 6. Mulled cider and nibbles, nothing to bring. Hope to see you!
43. 43Christmas Eve at ours, 6pm. Dinner, carols, and the annual cracker joke contest. Who's in?

When to send

• Family Christmas dinner: four to six weeks ahead. Families plan travel early.
• Holiday open house: three to four weeks ahead. December weekends fill fast.
• Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: by late November, before people commit to the other side of the family.
• Reply by: about ten days before a dinner, so you can shop and set places.

What does open house mean on an invitation?

An open house means guests can arrive any time in the window and leave whenever they like. There's no sit-down meal and no set start, so food is usually nibbles that last the whole afternoon. Always give an end time, so nobody turns up as you're clearing away. If you want everyone there at once, it isn't an open house: say party starts at 7.

Let the invitation keep the count

Paper&Seal holiday invitations open like a real envelope with a wax seal, guests reply in a tap, and you see the headcount as it comes in. Reminders go only to people who haven't replied. Making it a potluck? A free potluck sign-up sheet stops five people bringing the same dessert. Free for up to 25 guests.