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Potluck dinner invitation

A friendly invitation for a bring-a-dish dinner that sorts out who's bringing what, so the table isn't all desserts.

When to use it

  • You're hosting a shared meal where each guest brings a dish: friends, a club, a class or a team.
  • You want a balanced spread without a long back-and-forth.

Preview

Bring a dish

Potluck dinner at Ana's

  • Saturday 28 November
  • 6.30pm
  • Flat 2, 40 Rose Street

Reply with your dish by Tuesday 24 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

Potluck dinner on [Date]: what will you bring?

You're invited to a potluck dinner!

When: [Date], [Time]
Where: [Address]

Everyone brings one dish to share. I'll provide drinks, plates and cutlery.

When you reply, tell me which you'd like to bring:
- a main
- a side or salad
- a dessert
- bread, cheese or snacks

I'll keep a list so we get a good mix. Please also label anything that contains nuts, gluten, dairy or meat.

Reply by [Reply by]. Can't wait to eat with you!

[Your name]

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.

Group chat with a sign-up list

Paste in a list people can fill in.

Potluck at mine on [Date], [Time], [Address]! Add your name and dish below:
Mains: 
Sides: 
Desserts: 
Snacks:

Team or club potluck

For a workplace or community group.

Our end-of-term potluck is on [Date] at [Time], at [Address]. Please bring a dish to share and add it to the list by [Reply by]: [link]. Label allergens, and bring a serving spoon. [Your name]

What to ask in the RSVP

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

  1. Can you come? (Yes / No)Seats and plates.
  2. Which kind of dish will you bring?The whole point: a balanced table.
  3. Any allergies?Everyone's cooking, so everyone should know.

Leave out

  • The full recipe: a dish type is enough.

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

Tips before you send

  • Send it one to two weeks ahead.
  • Keep a shared list so people can see what's already covered.
  • Ask people to label dishes with common allergens.

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.