Birthdays & partiesFormal: polished and preciseMilestones

Formal birthday dinner invitation

A polished invitation for a seated birthday dinner, such as a 60th or 70th at a restaurant, with a meal choice and a firm reply date.

When to use it

  • The celebration is a seated dinner with a set menu or a booked private room.
  • Guests include older relatives or colleagues who appreciate a more formal tone.

Preview

The pleasure of your company

Margaret's 70th birthday dinner

  • Saturday 12 December
  • 6.30pm for 7pm
  • Harbour Room, 3 Wharf Street

Kindly reply by Friday 27 November

The card shows example details until you add your own.

Your details

Optional. Anything you type goes straight into the wording. Nothing is sent or saved.

The wording

Email subject

Invitation: dinner to celebrate [Birthday person's name]'s [Age they're turning]th birthday

[Host name(s)] invite you to a dinner celebrating [Birthday person's name]'s [Age they're turning]th birthday.

Date: [Date]
Time: [Time]
Venue: [Restaurant and address]
Dress: [Dress code]

Dinner is a set menu. When you reply, please choose your main course and let us know of any dietary requirements.

Kindly reply by [Reply by].

With warm regards,
[Host name(s)]

Words in [brackets] are the details to fill in, here or after you paste it.

Variations

The same invitation, adjusted for a different setting or channel. Your details carry over.

Shorter, still formal

For email or a card where the details sit underneath.

Please join us for dinner to celebrate [Birthday person's name]'s [Age they're turning]th birthday on [Date] at [Restaurant and address], [Time]. Kindly reply by [Reply by].

[Host name(s)]

With a speech or toast

A line to add before the reply request.

There will be a short toast to [Birthday person's name] after the main course. If you'd like to say a few words, please let us know when you reply.

What to ask in the RSVP

Ask only what changes your plans. For this kind of event, that's:

  1. Will you attend? (Accept / Decline)A seated dinner needs exact numbers.
  2. Main course: [option 1] / [option 2] / [option 3]Restaurants often ask for choices ahead of a set menu. Copy the options from the menu they send you.
  3. Dietary requirementsAllergies and needs the kitchen must plan for.
  4. Your guest's nameOnly if the invitation includes a partner: it's needed for place cards.

Leave out

  • Arrival transport or parking questions: put that information in the invitation instead.

More on this in what to ask guests when they RSVP.

Tips before you send

  • Send it four to six weeks ahead. Older relatives may prefer a call or a printed copy as well.
  • Ask the restaurant when they need menu choices and numbers, and set your reply date before that.
  • "6.30pm for 7pm" means arrive from 6.30, seated at 7: it's a handy way to stop dinner starting late.

Sending it by email, text or WhatsApp, and tracking replies

  • Email: paste the wording into a new message, use the subject line above, and put guests in BCC if they don't all know each other.
  • Text or WhatsApp: use the short version. Send it to each guest, or to a group chat if everyone already knows each other, and pin it so the details are easy to find.
  • Tracking replies: for a handful of guests, a note on your phone works. For more, collect answers in one place, like a shared spreadsheet or a simple online form with the RSVP questions above.
  • EvntBuild: event software that will send invitations by email, text and WhatsApp, with RSVP forms that only ask what applies and replies kept in one place. It's opening soon and isn't live yet. Join the EvntBuild waitlist to hear when it opens.