Formal invitations: dos and don'ts

Dear readers, let's have a look at invitations to official functions (via)

If you receive an invitation to a formal event it would be a printed or engraved text on a good quality card, about 15 x 11 cm in size, with the name of the host and the hostess. Your name will be handwritten in the center or in the top left-hand corner. It would give you information about the nature of the function, the venue, the date and time and probably a required dress code. The time, date and hour are always spelled out on engraved invitations, and sometimes handwritten in the spaces provided, if it's a partially engraved card.

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Engraved invitations often include an admittance card to be shown at the door. If admittance or seating cards are enclosed, they should be brought to the function. 

All formal invitations are worded in the third person. Guests are always addressed by their full title. Sometimes invitations are sent out with a reply card. It means you should send your reply to the host using this card. Corresponding acceptances or regrets should be handwritten in the same form (the third person), and if there’s no any reply card added, one should use good white stationery. 

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If you write a reply to a formal invitation use black ink and avoid fancy colored inks, like green and red. Remember, it is not polite to send someone else to attend a party or a function to which you were originally invited.

Abbreviations

There is a couple of accepted abbreviations one may find in the formal text, such as “Mr”, and “Mrs” and “RSVP” (from the French phrase Répondez s'il vous plaît meaning "Please respond"). An invitation with RSVP must be answered either by telephone or in writing within 48 hours. The RSVP address is placed in the bottom left-hand corner of the invitation. If the RSVP indicates a telephone number, the invitation may be answered by telephone otherwise in writing. 

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Dress code

The appropriate attire will be indicated at the lower right-hand corner of the invitation. 

For a daytime event, the dress code is specified only if it is other than lounge suits, while for an evening function the dress code is a must, for example, “black tie”.  

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Deadlines

Formal invitations are usually sent about two weeks in advance. Less formal invitations may be sent out about a week to ten days in advance, depending on the preparation and the size of the function.  

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The next time we will talk about dress codes; meanwhile, I hope this info will help you prepare for official events.