What to Have on a Birthday Invitation
You may have the best, most-original birthday party invitations on the market, but if you don’t include the right information, no one will notice the quality of the invitation. Confusing or incomplete birthday invitations can cause a lot of misunderstanding for the invitees, and a lot of extra work for you as the party planner. Make a checklist before you fill out your birthday invitations to make sure you include all necessary information.
Birthday invitations can be innovative and a way to encourage guests to get excited about the impending celebration. Having a local celebrity hand-deliver the invitations, presenting VIP passes along with invitations, or sending singing telegrams as a way to invite people to a birthday party are just a few examples. In addition, the birthday invitation doesn’t have to be a traditional card. Party details can be inscribed on the birthday person’s favorite kind of dessert, or on miniature gifts that the birthday girl or guy has delivered to partygoers.
If you are throwing a party with a particular theme, include this information on the birthday invitation. This is especially important if the theme requires the guests to bring or wear something different from what they would for a typical birthday party. For instance, if you are throwing a princess costume party for your daughter, guests and the parents of the guests must know the details so they can prepare a costume.
A general guideline is one thing that may seem obvious but that is often forgotten is the reason for the party or invitation. In your birthday invitation clearly state whom the party is for, the type of party you are throwing and the age of the guest of honor. However, if the guest of honor is an older person, you may want to check with him first to make sure he is okay with your including his age. Also, if you are throwing a party that needs an exact count of guests, be sure to include a request for RSVPs, the date by which you need the RSVP and a phone number or e-mail address to contact you.
The address of where the party is being held is important, but it is also helpful to include additional details to help guests find the party. If the party is being held at a specific venue, include the name of the place and even a link to the website if available. In your birthday invitation you may also want to include a map or written directions for guests, especially if it is in a hard-to-find location.
When filling out your birthday invitation, remember to include the day and date of the party, as well as the time and whether it is a.m. or p.m. Double-check the date in the calendar just to make sure you’re not off by a day, or looking at the wrong week. Also, be sure to specify an ending time for the party if you don’t want guests to linger all night. This is especially important if you are throwing a children’s party, so the parents know when to pick up their kids.