Christmas party invitation wording: 50 ideas for work, friends and family

A good holiday invitation sets the mood in one line and answers every question before anyone has to ask. Below is what to include, 50 wordings by kind of party, and when to send.

What every holiday party invitation needs

1. Who is hosting, whether that is you, the family or the company.
2. The date, start time and end time. An end time helps people plan the babysitter and the ride home.
3. The place, with the full address, the room name for a restaurant, and parking.
4. How to reply, and by when. About ten days before, or two weeks if a caterer needs numbers.

Add these only when they apply:

• Plus-ones and kids: Partners welcome, or An adults-only evening.
• Dress code: Festive attire, Black tie optional, Ugly sweaters encouraged.
• Food and drink: Dinner served at seven, Appetizers and drinks, Bring a dish to share.
• Gift swap rules: the spending limit and whether gifts are wrapped.

Holiday party or Christmas party?

For a work team or a mixed group, say holiday party: nobody feels left out and it covers Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year at once. Among friends and family who celebrate Christmas, say Christmas.

50 holiday and Christmas party invitation wording ideas

Swap in your own names, dates and places.

Office and company parties

1. Join us for our annual holiday party. Food, drinks and a year worth celebrating.
2. You are invited to the Northwind holiday party. Partners welcome.
3. Thank you for a wonderful year. Please join us for an evening of celebration.
4. Our year-end party is on. Dinner, drinks and dancing at The Grand Room.
5. Let's close out the year together. Holiday party, Friday December 12.
6. The office is closing early for a holiday lunch. You are all invited.
7. Please join the leadership team for a holiday reception in your honour.
8. Cheers to the team. Our holiday party starts at six.
9. Celebrate the season with us. Appetizers, music and a few surprises.
10. A toast to the people who made this year. Holiday party, all staff welcome.

Staff and team appreciation

11. You worked hard all year. Now let us host you. Staff holiday dinner.
12. A small thank you for a big year. Team lunch, our treat.
13. Holiday breakfast for the whole crew. Coffee is on us.
14. Join us for a festive team dinner. No speeches, we promise. Maybe one.
15. Our clinic is celebrating the season. Staff and families welcome.

Friends

16. Deck the halls and join us for a night of holiday cheer.
17. Eat, drink and be merry with us this December.
18. Our tree is up. Come see it. Holiday drinks at ours.
19. Tis the season to see your friends. Christmas party, Saturday at eight.
20. Cocktails, carols and good company. You are on the list.
21. Mistletoe, music and mulled wine. Join us.
22. Friendmas is back. Bring your appetite and your best stories.
23. A cozy holiday night in. Pajamas strongly encouraged.

Family and Christmas dinner

24. Join us for Christmas dinner. The table is set for you.
25. Christmas Eve at Grandma's. Dinner at six, presents after.
26. The whole family, one table. Christmas lunch at ours this year.
27. Come home for the holidays. Dinner on the 24th, stay as long as you like.
28. Please join the Garcia family for a holiday dinner.
29. Christmas brunch at ours. Bring the kids, we have the pancakes.
30. Our first Christmas in the new house. Come help us warm it up.

White elephant and gift swaps

31. Bring a wrapped gift under $25 and your best poker face.
32. White elephant night. One gift in, one gift out, no hard feelings.
33. Secret Santa reveal party. Bring your gift, wrapped and unlabelled.
34. The gift swap returns. Spending limit $30. Steal rules apply.
35. Bring a gift you would actually want. Or don't. That is the fun.

Ugly sweater and theme nights

36. Ugly sweater party. The uglier the better. Prizes for the worst.
37. Dust off that sweater. Our ugly sweater party is on.
38. Black, white and gold. A New Year's Eve party at ours.
39. Cookie exchange: bake a dozen, take home a dozen.
40. Gingerbread house contest. Teams of two, candy provided.

Potluck and casual

41. Holiday potluck. We have the turkey, you bring the rest.
42. Bring a dish, bring a friend. Holiday potluck at ours.
43. Snacks, drinks and a holiday movie marathon. Drop by any time after four.
44. Open house. Come for an hour or stay all night.

Funny

45. You are invited to eat too much and blame it on the holidays.
46. Our neighbours already think we are loud. Help us prove them right.
47. Calories don't count in December. Christmas party at ours.
48. Santa is checking his list. Make sure you RSVP to stay on the nice side.
49. Holiday party. Free food. Questionable dancing. Excellent company.
50. Jingle all the way over here on Saturday.

When to send holiday party invitations

• Work parties: four to six weeks ahead. December dates disappear fast.
• Friends and family parties: three to four weeks ahead.
• A big party in mid December: send by mid November, or a save the date in October.

Ask for replies about ten days before. For a work party, a reminder a week before catches the people who meant to reply.

Paper or digital?

Paper still suits a formal company dinner or a family keepsake. For most parties a digital invitation is easier: replies come back on their own, plus-ones are counted, and the address is on everyone's phone. Paper&Seal holiday party invitations open like a real envelope with a wax seal, and are free for up to 25 guests.

On the night

Free table talk cards keep a work dinner from going quiet, and a reserved sign holds a table at a restaurant. Edit the wording for the holidays and print.