Birthday Party Invitation Wording: 40 Examples for Every Kind of Party

A good birthday invitation answers every question before anyone has to ask it in the group chat. Who, when, where, when to reply, and what to expect. The rest is tone, and that’s where the examples below come in, for adults, kids, surprise parties and the big milestone birthdays.

What every birthday invitation needs

1. Whose birthday, and which one if it’s a milestone.
2. When: day, date and start time (and an end time for kids’ parties).
3. Where: full address, plus parking or which door if it’s tricky.
4. Reply by: a date, a week or so before.
5. What to expect: dinner or nibbles, kids welcome, dress code, surprise or not.

For an adult’s birthday

1. Come celebrate Maya’s birthday! Saturday 14 November, 7pm, at The Green Room. Please reply by 7 November.
2. Drinks for my birthday on Thursday from 6pm at the Fox & Anchor. Come for one or stay for five.
3. Join us for dinner to celebrate Sam’s birthday. Friday at 8pm, at Lucia’s. We’ve booked a table, so please reply by Monday.
4. It’s my birthday and I’d love to see you. Saturday from 4pm at ours: food, music and far too much cake.
5. Birthday brunch! Sunday at 11am at The Orchard. Bottomless coffee, no speeches.
6. Another year, another excuse. Join me for drinks on Friday at 7pm.
7. Karaoke for Jess’s birthday! Saturday at 9pm. Song choices are judged; singing is not.
8. A low-key birthday dinner at home on Saturday at 7. Just good food and good people.

For a milestone birthday (30th, 40th, 50th and beyond)

9. Maya is turning 40! Join us to celebrate on Saturday 14 November at 7pm. Dinner, drinks and dancing.
10. Fifty years of Dad. Please join us for a family lunch on Sunday 22 November at 1pm.
11. Thirty, flirty and hosting. Drinks at mine, Saturday from 8pm.
12. Sixty and fabulous. Come celebrate Linda’s 60th at The Lantern, Saturday at 6pm. Please reply by 1 November.
13. Help us celebrate Raj’s 50th with an evening of food, music and old stories. Saturday at 7pm.
14. 40 years young. Garden party on Saturday from 3pm. Bring your appetite and your best Raj story.
15. Grandma is turning 90! Join the whole family for afternoon tea on Sunday at 3pm.

For a children’s party

16. You’re invited to Leo’s 6th birthday party! Sunday 15 November, 2–4pm, in Victoria Park by the playground.
17. Roar! Join us for a dinosaur party for Ava’s 5th birthday. Saturday at 10am at the community hall.
18. Mia is turning 8! Come for pizza and games on Saturday, 1–3pm. Please let us know about any allergies.
19. Superheroes wanted! Costume party for Noah’s 7th, Saturday at 2pm.
20. Splash party for Zara’s birthday! Bring a swimsuit and a towel. Sunday at 11am at the leisure centre.
21. Leo is turning one! Join us for cake and a lot of mess on Saturday at 3pm.

Tip: for kids’ parties, give an end time, say whether parents should stay, and ask about allergies on the invitation itself.

For a surprise party

22. Shh, it’s a surprise! Join us for Sam’s birthday dinner on Friday at 8pm. Please arrive by 7:45 and don’t tell Sam.
23. Surprise! (Or it will be.) Help us surprise Maya for her 40th, Saturday at 7pm. Please keep it secret.
24. We’re throwing Jess a surprise party and you’re on the list. Saturday at 8pm. Mum’s the word.
25. Surprise party for Dad’s 60th. Please arrive by 6:30, park round the corner, and hide.

Casual, for a group chat or text

26. Birthday drinks Friday, 7pm, the Fox. Who’s in?
27. My birthday dinner is Saturday at 8. Reply in the link so I can book the table.
28. BBQ for Sam’s birthday, Sunday from 2pm at ours. Bring a chair if you’ve got one.
29. Bowling for my birthday on Saturday at 6pm. Losers buy the first round.
30. Cake at 3pm on Sunday. That’s the whole plan.

Funny

31. I’m turning 40 and I’d like witnesses. Saturday at 8pm.
32. Celebrate my birthday with me, or at least pretend to. Friday from 7.
33. Another trip around the sun survived. Drinks on me (the first one). Saturday at 9.
34. It’s my birthday and I’ll eat cake if I want to. Join me, Sunday at 3.
35. Help me forget how old I am. Friday at 8pm, the Green Room.

The RSVP line, worded well

36. Please reply by Saturday 7 November so we can book the table.
37. Let us know if you can make it by Friday.
38. Kindly reply by 1 November, and tell us about any dietary needs.
39. Reply in the link below, and add a plus-one if you’re bringing someone.
40. Can’t make it? Please still reply, so we’re not waiting for you.

Saying “no gifts” (or what to do instead)

• Your company is the only present we need.
• No gifts, please. Just come.
• In place of gifts, a donation to [charity] would mean a lot.
• If you’d like to bring something, a bottle to share is perfect.

Sending it

An online invitation lets everyone reply in a tap, tells you about plus-ones and dietary needs, and puts the date in their calendar. You can make a free birthday party invitation for up to 100 guests, and send it by email or a link in the group chat. Guests don’t need an account.

Frequently asked questions

What should a birthday party invitation say? Whose birthday, when, where and when to reply by, then food, kids, dress code and whether it’s a surprise.

How do you word an RSVP on a birthday invitation? With a date: “Please reply by 7 November.”

How far in advance should you send birthday party invitations? Two to three weeks for most parties, four to six for a milestone or travel.

How do you say “no gifts” on a birthday invitation? “Your company is the only present we need,” or “No gifts, please, just come.”

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