Q&A for How to Write a Formal Invitation

If it's a formal invitation, it should be handwritten. If you don't have good handwriting, hire a calligrapher to address the envelopes.

Typically, you'll have the invitation, a meal card, and an RSVP card. Your thank-you cards and escort cards should also match the rest of the stationary.

The only thing that changes on an invitation hosted by a mayor and his wife is how you list the hosts' names. You should write "The Honorable Mr. [Mayor's name] and Mrs. [Mayor's Name]" and then invite your guests to the event. So, for example, if the mayor's name is Tim Jones, you would write "The Honorable Mr. Tim Jones and Mrs. Tim Jones request the pleasure of your company..." Alternatively, you can use the mayor's wife's full name: "The Honorable Mr. Tim Jones and Mrs. Jessica Jones request the pleasure of your company..." The rest of the invitation should follow the form appropriate to the even that the mayor and his wife are hosting.

Here's a short invite for a charity event: Hello, you've been invited to participate in our charity event. You were chosen because you have showed interest and promise in helping our cause. For more information, please read below. Thank you. Time - 6:00 PM Location - Insert address of event here If you are interested in donating at the event, the minimum donation is 5.00$. Please bring this invitation to the event in order to be allowed in. Thank you for your time, and I hope you come to participate in our event to make the world better.

One cheap and easy way is to use the Google Docs program to create your invitation. You simply plug in the information. You can make it look as formal or casual as you like. Choose images, fonts, and backgrounds and then print or email your invitations.

"It would be a great pleasure if you could attend... I would greatly appreciate your being there."

"1:00 pm -- 3:00 pm" would be more appropriate.

A formal birthday party invitation should follow the same general layout as as invitation for a formal dinner. If the party has a host, list the host's name, then invite your guests to the event, making clear that the event is a birthday party. Depending on the details of the party, you may or may not need to include an RSP. So for example, you can say "Stan Smith cordially invites you to celebrate Stephanie Smith's 30th birthday," with the venue information listed below. Or you can say "You are cordially invited to celebrate Stephanie Smith's 30th birthday."

Usually the only request included in a party invitation card is "Please RSVP." This means you would like the person to let you know if they plan to come to the party or not. Make sure to include your contact information if you would like people to RSVP.

An engagement invitation should follow the same format of a formal dinner invitation. You can say something like "Tiffany Smith and Adam Jones request the pleasure of your company at a dinner/cocktail party celebrating their engagement." You would then list the date and venue information below and should include how your guests should reply.

You could write something along the lines of: "I'm so sorry I can't attend. I have a previous event I am already committed to." Sometimes it helps to accompany it with a gift.

You can RSVP to the sender's address. If you are unsure, ask the one arranging the rehearsal dinner or the wedding planner for help.

Mention every detail about the cultural event, like its name, the event's schedule, venue, guests, special feature or attraction, date, etc. Asking people to join for a cultural celebration can be heartwarming, so mention in brief how their presence will impact the celebration positively. Make it clear what the occasion is about and how the invited person can contribute.

Be straightforward. Say something like, "We're happy to cover the dinner meal expenses but we'd like everyone to pay their own way at the bar, and so we won't be covering drinks. We'd appreciate it if everyone could pay for their own drinks individually. Thanks for understanding."