Invitation Essentials

Most of us have all hosted parties at some point or another, but sometimes they just don't work out the way you planned!

Planning usually plays a role in successful and disappointing parties so why not try and do it right the first time and use a proper invitation. Sure you could just tell your selected group about your upcoming party but we all know by now not to assume they were listening!! Whether you plan on having a cocktail reception, dinner party, pool party or wedding, a fantastic invitation is certainly the perfect medium to communicate with your guests your ideal itinerary to ensure a great success!

The first thing you will need to do when designing your own custom invitation or purchasing one is to be sure that your party's objective is properly defined. Of course many other items will be very important to communicate as well. Below are a few invitation essentials that you may need to include in your own!

Theme - "What is your party about?" Is there are dress code? What will they need?
Start Times - Let your guests know the time parameters to your party. If it is for a sporting event, make sure you indicate what time the event starts. Be aware that people will always show up late, so if time is a factor, make sure to let them know. This is extremely important if you are planning a Wedding.
Location- Where are you throwing this party? Give detailed instructions to your location. You can go the extra mile and include transit service times, taxi phone numbers or a map of the area with detailed driving instructions. If you visit googlemaps.com you can download exact directions from almost everywhere.
Expectations - "What is expected of your guests? Do they need to bring anything? This is extremely important so as to save your guests the embarrassment of showing up un-prepared. If you are having a BYOB party, make sure your guests know what you're serving. If it's a pool party, remind them to bring swimming outfits. Always lay out any expectations clearly, especially when it comes to invited or uninvited guests, attire, beverages or food.
RSVP - "Will your invited guests be attending?" This is extremely important as it will affect your preparation for your event. Give them adequate time to make schedule adjustments for your party. If they RSVP, send them a confirmation and always thank them for their prompt response.

Next you will need to choose a delivery style for your invitations. Most invitations are sent by regular mail or delivered personally however today e-invitations are also very popular.

Paper Invitations

Mail service - is the classic method of delivery for most invitations. Some things to consider when choosing this method are as follows:
Addresses - Make sure you have updated addresses for all your invitees.
Time - Allow plenty of time for delivery and include an envelope for guest's RSVP.
Cost - Stationary can be expensive as can postage stamps. Especially when you include a postage paid response envelope

If you are sending a large number of invitations, consider a mailing service to help consolidate your data base and reduce your postage costs. Consider this form for Weddings, 40^th, 50^{th &}60th Birthday parties, High School Reunions, Anniversaries and very special occasions

Obviously paper invitations can be found at various stationary stores however you can also find some fantastic paper invitations right at home using the internet!! Check out these sites that provide an excellent selection of invitations for almost every occasion! www. Party Basics.com and www.impressinprint.com

E-invitations

Many people are now using e-invitations as a form of delivery. This is a great option for casual cocktail parties and housewarmings. They do lack effect for fancier occasions though. If e-invitations are your method of choice, make sure to consider the following:

Make sure they are printable - This will allow your guests to have a tangible copy with all instructions and directions at hand.

Make sure there is an RSVP option.

There are plenty of free e-invitation sites but many include pop ups. Most Internet Security software will block this out as spam so be sure to use a reputable service. A great option is to buy an e-invite template. This will allow you to send the email to your guests without being burdened with pop up blockers and spam protectors.

Accessibility. If you are planning a wedding or a 50^th birthday, you will need to consider the demographics of your guests. Not everyone has joined the email craze and many are afraid of viruses, spy ware and unsolicited email. Consider this method of delivery for sweet 16's, birthday parties, bachelor/bachelorette parties.

We recommend checking out these sites which provide an excellent e-invitation/e-card service for most occasions: www.sendomatic.com, www.ecardica.com, www.wickedmoon.com

Personal Delivery

Choosing to deliver your invitations in person will add a touch of class to your event. People will appreciate the time and effort it takes to go and seek out the people you have chosen as guests. It is easier to do this if you are having a small party with a select group of friends or coworkers. If you are planning to hand deliver your invitations consider the following:

Finding everyone- It is a great personal touch to meet and greet each possible invitee.

If you combine this method with hand writing each invitation, you will WOW all those lucky enough to have been invited.

You can personally individualize each invitation.

Consider using this delivery method along with the regular mail service for weddings, anniversaries and showers.

The Whole invitation Package

It is crucial to have matching envelopes that fit your invites. If you are including an RSVP envelope then these too must fit in the original invitation envelope.

Choose colors and design styles that reflect the theme of your party. Do not send out old Christmas cards for your pool party (unless you are trying to be ironic or live in Florida!)

If you are intending to print the invites yourself, make sure that the paper is compatible with your printer. If you have found a great invite but it does not work with your printer, consider a new printer as they are relatively inexpensive and are very capable of doing a fantastic job.

If you plan on hand writing your invites. Plan for a few spelling mistakes. Also use a pen or marker where the color will further compliment your invitation.

Invitation Ideas

The last and most important thing to consider when planning your invitations is to be fun and creative. Guests will keep great invitations as mementos so don't be afraid to create some memories. Below are some fun theme invitations that you can use to bring some fun to our next event.

Scavenger Hunts - Create a scavenger hunt invite to get people to your next party. Always include a bail out phone number in case they get lost.
For theme parties - Consider using memorabilia as the invites. Use old album covers for 50's & 60's era parties.
For Bachelor & Bachelorette parties - Have T shirts printed so guests can wear their invites. You can customize these to have names, ages and locations personalized.
For Sweet 16's or Bar mitzvah's - Consider using Fun Text message or instant messenger invitations. The kids will enjoy the immediacy of it all and you can create a buzz for your child's party.

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There you have it. Some of the essentials you'll need for all great party invitations. Use what you will in planning your next great party. Always remember though to be creative, do not get stuck in the ways of old. Make the invitation extremely user friendly, give the guests all the information they'll need and above all, have fun. Isn't that the reason you're all getting together any ways. Cheers!

More on planning a party, Hosting a party and entertaining at home