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· TeamRally · 5 min read

Dinner Party and Potluck Invitation Wording (30 Casual and Formal Examples)

Dinner party, potluck, barbecue and games night invitation wording, from a formal dinner to a group-chat message, plus how to ask about dietary needs and what to bring.

A dinner invitation is mostly about food, so the most useful thing it can do is ask about food. Below is wording for a formal dinner, a casual supper, a potluck, a barbecue and a games night, each with a dietary question built in.

What to include

  1. When, with a start time and, for weeknights, a rough end.
  2. Where.
  3. What kind of meal: sit-down, buffet, barbecue, potluck.
  4. Dietary needs: ask once, on the invitation.
  5. Reply by, so you know how much to cook.

Formal dinner

  1. The pleasure of your company is requested at dinner on Saturday 21 November at 7:30pm. Please reply by 14 November.
  2. Join us for a dinner party at ours on Saturday at 8. Dress smartly; we’re using the good plates.
  3. A small dinner for close friends, Friday at 7:30. Please let us know about any dietary needs.

Casual supper

  1. Supper at ours on Saturday at 7:30. Nothing fancy, just good food.
  2. Come for dinner on Friday? 7pm, ours. Bring an appetite.
  3. Pasta night on Thursday at 7. I’m cooking far too much.
  4. Sunday roast at 1pm. Seconds guaranteed.

Potluck

  1. Potluck dinner on Saturday at 7! Bring a dish to share and tell me what you’re making when you reply.
  2. Potluck picnic in Victoria Park, Saturday at noon. Mains, sides or desserts all welcome.
  3. Friendsgiving potluck on Saturday at 6. We’ll do the turkey; you do the rest.

Barbecue

  1. Barbecue in the garden, Sunday from 2pm. Bring a chair and whatever you’d like to drink.
  2. Burgers, sun and a cold drink. Saturday from 1pm at ours.
  3. First barbecue of the summer! Saturday from 3. Veggie options plentiful.

Games night

  1. Games night! Friday at 8pm. Pizza provided, competitive spirit required.
  2. Board games and snacks at ours on Saturday from 7.
  3. Quiz night at mine, Thursday at 8. Teams of four, bragging rights only.

Brunch and lunch

  1. Weekend brunch at ours, Sunday at 11. Pancakes and bottomless coffee.
  2. Long lunch on Saturday at 1pm. No plans after, ideally.

For a group chat

  1. Dinner at mine Saturday 7:30, who’s in?
  2. BBQ Sunday from 2. Reply in the link so I know how much to buy.

Asking about food

  1. Please let me know about any allergies or things you don’t eat.
  2. Vegetarian, vegan or anything else? Tell me when you reply.
  3. Reply with any dietary needs and I’ll make sure there’s something for you.

What to bring

  1. Bring yourselves; everything else is sorted.
  2. A bottle to share would be lovely, but not necessary.
  3. Bring a dish to share; reply with what you’re bringing.

The RSVP line

  1. Please reply by Wednesday so I can shop.
  2. Let me know if you can make it, and if you’re bringing anyone.
  3. Reply in the link below, with any dietary needs.
  4. Can’t make it? Please still reply so I don’t over-cater.

Sending it

You can make a free dinner party invitation with a design drawn for dinners, barbecues, games nights and picnics, send it by email or the group chat, and see replies and dietary needs in one list. Free for up to 100 guests. For a potluck, add a who’s-bringing-what list (salad, drinks, dessert) and guests pick something when they reply. That’s free too.

Frequently asked questions

How do you invite someone to a dinner party? When, where, what kind of meal, a dietary question and a reply date.

How do you word a potluck invitation? Say it’s a potluck first and ask what people are bringing.

How far ahead should you send a dinner party invitation? One to two weeks for a dinner, a few days for something casual.

More: housewarming invitation wording · free RSVP tools compared

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