Making birthday party invitations is an important factor in party planning. Done correctly, printed invitations simplify the process of having guests over by putting all the pertinent facts in one reference card. Leaving out an important detail can result in confusion, chaos and endless phone calls to straighten things out. Does this Spark an idea?
Who is Invited to the Party
Be sure that your invitation indicates exactly who is invited to the party. Most often, this is done on the envelope, by addressing the invitation to a specific person or a household. If you're having a large party and plan to invite entire families, then address the envelope to "The Marshall Family" for example. However, if only one child in the family is invited, then the envelope would say "Grace Marshall." You can reiterate this on the inside of the card by saying "Dear Grace" or "Dear Marshall Family." Being cautious about how your invitation is worded can help protect you from unexpected guests. Imagine if Grace showed up with her seven brothers and sisters.
Who is the Party for?
This may seem obvious, but it's easy to overlook. Commercial printed invitations often have a blank line for filling in the name of the birthday-kid, but if you're designing invitations on your own you need to be sure to mention whose birthday you're celebrating. "Amanda's sweet sixteen" or "Hallie's first birthday" do double duty by mentioning the name of the celebrant as well as the milestone birthday facts.
What Kind of Party is it?
If you're having a themed party, it may be wise to let your guests know. Sometimes kids like to come in costume, especially for a Princess Party. Some themes, like "pool party" and "tea party" will indicate a specific dress code that guests will want to know about. If you're planning messy activities, or playing in the snow, be sure to let guests know so that they can wear something appropriate.
Where is the Party?
The location of the party is an important thing to put on the invitation. Even if they've been to your house a hundred times, be sure to include your address on the invitation. For some guests, you may want to use an Internet mapping program to print directions. If your party is at a business, see if they offer pre-printed maps, or if their website has a printable map.
When is the Party?
Include not only the starting time of the party, but the ending time, too. You might be surprised how long parties can stretch, especially if there's still food left. If you welcome all-day guests, perhaps for a pool party or BBQ, mention that so that people don't make plans after the party. If you need the party to end by a certain time, mention it on the invitations and confirm with guests during the RSVP call, by saying "OK, so we'll see you from 1:00 to 3:00."
Tags: guests know, Marshall Family, pool party, printed invitations, your invitation