Dinner Party Invitation Wording and What to Tell Guests
Dinner party invitation wording for casual, formal and potluck dinners, and how to tell guests about dress, timing, dietary needs and what to bring.
A dinner party invitation does more than give a date and an address. Guests also want to know what to wear, when food will be served, whether to bring anything, and whether you can cater for their diet. Here is wording for casual, formal and potluck dinners, and how to tell guests each of those details.
What a dinner party invitation needs
- The host and the occasion. “Dinner at our place” or “A birthday dinner for Nina.”
- Date and arrival time. Give the time you would like guests to arrive.
- When dinner is served. Useful if there are drinks first.
- Address. Add parking or buzzer details for an apartment.
- Dress code. Even “come as you are” helps.
- What to bring. Nothing, a bottle, or a dish for a potluck.
- How to RSVP and dietary needs. A reply-by date and a request for allergies or diets.
Casual dinner party wording
- “Come for dinner! Pasta, wine and good conversation at our place. Saturday, February 7, at 7pm, 18 Hazel Road. Let us know by February 1.”
- “Nothing fancy, just a long table and a big pot of chili. Friday, March 20, from 7pm. Bring yourselves and an appetite.”
- “Dinner at our place. Saturday, May 2, drinks at 7, food at 7:30. Please tell us about any dietary needs when you reply.”
- “Tacos on the patio. Sunday, June 14, 5pm, at 3 River View. Kids welcome. RSVP by June 8.”
Formal dinner party wording
A formal invitation uses fuller sentences and a clear dress code. The host’s names usually come first.
- “Nina and David Brooks request the pleasure of your company at dinner. Saturday, November 14, at seven thirty in the evening. 22 Linden Square. Black tie. Kindly reply by November 1.”
- “Please join us for a dinner in celebration of Clara’s promotion. Friday, October 9, 7pm for 7:30pm, at The Oak Room. Cocktail attire.”
- “You are warmly invited to a five-course tasting dinner at our home. Saturday, January 23, at 7pm. Dinner served at 7:45pm. Dark suits and cocktail dresses.”
Potluck dinner wording
Tell guests which kind of dish to bring, so you do not end up with five desserts and no main course.
- “Potluck at the Greens’! Saturday, April 18, 6pm. We’ll provide the main course and drinks. Please bring a side or a dessert to share.”
- “Friendsgiving potluck. Saturday, November 21, at 5pm. We’re roasting the turkey. Reply with the dish you’ll bring so we can balance the table.”
- “Bring a dish from your family’s kitchen. A potluck supper on Sunday, March 8, at 6pm, at 9 Willow Street.”
What to tell guests before they arrive
Dress code
Use a short phrase guests will recognize, and add a word of context if the setting matters.
- “Come as you are.” for a relaxed dinner at home.
- “Smart casual.” for a nicer evening without jackets or ties being required.
- “Cocktail attire.” for dresses and suits.
- “Black tie.” for tuxedos and evening gowns.
- “We’ll be eating outside, so bring a layer.”
Timing
Give both the arrival time and the time dinner will be served if they are different. “Drinks at 7, dinner at 7:30” tells guests how much leeway they have. If dinner is a surprise or a celebration, ask guests to arrive by a set time: “Please arrive by 7pm, as dinner is served promptly at 7:15.”
Dietary needs
Ask once, in the invitation or the RSVP: “Please let us know about any allergies or dietary needs when you reply.” If your menu is fixed, say so early: “The menu is vegetarian.” or “We are serving seafood. Let us know if that does not work for you.”
What to bring
- “Just bring yourselves.”
- “Feel free to bring a bottle of your favorite wine.”
- “Please bring a dessert to share.”
- “We have everything we need. Your company is plenty.”
When to send a dinner party invitation
For a casual dinner, one to two weeks’ notice is enough. For a formal dinner or a holiday weekend, send it three to four weeks ahead. Ask guests to reply a few days to a week before, so you can plan the shopping. For how to follow up politely, see our RSVP etiquette guide.
The day before: a short reminder
A brief message the day before helps: “Looking forward to tomorrow. Drinks from 7, dinner at 7:30. Parking is on the street.” It confirms the time and gives late planners a final chance to mention a diet. Find a design that suits the evening among our dinner party invitations.
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About Invite Jam Team
Written by the team building Invite Jam, a digital invitation service with editable templates, hand-drawn designs and uploads for your own artwork. We share practical advice on invitation wording, planning celebrations and collecting guest replies online.
Learn more about Invite JamFrequently asked questions
- How do you word a dinner party invitation?
- Say who is hosting, the date, arrival time and address, then add the dress code, what to bring and how to reply. For example: “Dinner at our place. Saturday, May 2, drinks at 7, food at 7:30. Please tell us about any dietary needs when you reply.”
- How far in advance should you send dinner party invitations?
- One to two weeks is enough for a casual dinner. Send formal or holiday dinner invitations three to four weeks before the date.
- How do you ask guests about dietary restrictions?
- Add one line to the invitation or the RSVP form: “Please let us know about any allergies or dietary needs when you reply.” Ask once, so every answer comes in with the reply.
- What does “7 for 7:30” mean on an invitation?
- It means guests should arrive at 7pm, and the meal or main event will start at 7:30pm. The half hour is for arriving, drinks and greetings.
- Should guests bring something to a dinner party?
- If the invitation says what to bring, follow it. If it says nothing, a small gift such as flowers, chocolates or a bottle of wine is a common gesture, but the host should not expect it to be served.