Why You Should Use Custom Dinner Party Invitations

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You don’t have to wait for your guests to walk through the door to set the tone or start connecting. 

Taking the time to create a custom dinner party invitation can take an event from fun to phenomenal. Whether you’re planning a birthday dinner, baby shower, bridal shower, or any other celebration, the effort is worthwhile.

If you’ve been wondering how to write a dinner party invitation and which details to include to make your event stand out, keep reading! 

(Or, just scroll to see screenshots of invites from past events!)

Why Dinner Party Invitations Still Matter

Today, youth are Googling, “how to write a dinner party invitation.” But we still remember the initial craze of Evite’s customizable online invites in 1998. We also remember the Paperless Post upgrade in 2008. 

Dinner party enthusiasts everywhere were ecstatic. 

However, invites today are less about the fancy customization. 

Today, there’s a greater emphasis on the purpose of your gathering and the people you’re bringing together. With modern designs and digital display options, you can reach your dinner guests wherever they are while still maintaining that personal touch.

Custom dinner party invitations encourage your guests to take a break from their daily routine and intentionally carve out time in their calendar for connection and presence.

Friendly dinner invitations can signal to your guests that, “I’m invited to be part of something special.” 

And in an increasingly isolated and digital world, this is exactly what a lot of us need to keep going. It’s the type of meaning we secretly yearn for.

Over the past 15+ years of hosting dinner parties, we’ve found that the events for which we took special care to create custom party invitations often resulted in the best experiences—both for us and our guests. 

From rehearsal dinner invitations to baby showers and other milestone celebrations, guests would rave about how the dinner party invites got them excited ahead of time.

In a way, the invites are the first element of dinner party ambience, helping to set the mood before the event even begins.

Open or Closed Guest List?

One topic that has frequented our circles in recent years is, “Is it polite or rude to ask who else is invited?”

As the host, you must decide whether or not to make the entire dinner guest list accessible to invitees.

On one hand, open guest lists can make things transparent and build excitement around the event. 

On the other hand, a closed guest list can create mystery and remove any preconceived notions about what the special occasion will be like.

After hundreds of dinner parties-and much consideration—we decided that…

Open Guest Lists Build Anticipation & Community

We’ve found that giving guests the full picture is the best way to ensure that all invitees can prepare mentally and emotionally.

Based on feedback from hundreds of guests, there’s a consensus that the mystery about other invitees can create uncertainty and even social anxiety.

It also gives guests the agency to decide whether they want to put themselves in certain social settings.

And, guests have reported feeling more excited about an event when they know who is coming. Sometimes, they will even connect with other guests before the event. For new arrivals to your social circle or community, transparency about the guest list helps them feel more confident attending.

Personal Touches For An Extra Special Dinner Party Invitation 

Dress Code & Tone-Setting

Paperless Post has a helpful article for understanding different dress code styles and what they mean.

The Menu as Invitation

Collaborative Cooking Opportunities

Dinner party invitations are also a perfect place to ask guests to contribute to the special occasion.

Mention any dishes or elements that can be contributed ahead of time to ensure the best experience. Make sure to specify that guests reach out and confirm with you about any contributions to avoid duplicates.

This little detail can create a deeper connection and establish a shared investment in the event.

For more inspiration, read this article on the history of communal dining experiences and how to create your own.

Start Building The Hype With Dinner Party Invitation Templates & Tools

Feel inspired to give your next dinner party a personal touch? Get started with one of our stylish dinner party invitation templates. From elegant soirées to modern events, birthday dinners, and holiday parties, we’ve got a customizable template for you! Shop here.

Prefer something a little more streamlined and digital? Check out the Gourmet Host App. Our built-in customizable invitations make it easy to invite guests, collect dietary preferences, share your menu, assign tasks, and see who else is going. 

Join the waitlist today to get exclusive access!

If you’re not sure when you need to even start thinking about invitations, start with our article on how to host a dinner party, or our time-stamped dinner party checklist.

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