Holiday Party Invitation Wording for Work, Friends and NYE

Good holiday party invitation wording is festive but clear: it names the kind of party (office celebration, cookie exchange, white elephant, New Year's Eve), gives the date, time and place, and answers the questions guests always ask, like whether they can bring a plus-one, what to wear and whether they need a gift. Below you will find copy-ready wording for every type of December gathering, plus simple rules for gift exchanges and tips on timing.

What every holiday party invitation should say

December is the busiest social month of the year, so guests skim. Put the essentials where they cannot be missed:

• Type of party: dinner, open house, cocktail party, cookie exchange, gift swap.
• Date, start time and end time (especially for open houses and work events).
• Location, with parking or transit notes.
• Who is invited: plus-ones, partners, kids.
• Dress code: cocktail attire, festive casual, ugly sweaters.
• What to bring: a dish, a dozen cookies, a wrapped gift within a price limit, or nothing.
• RSVP deadline and how to reply.

Office holiday party invitation wording

For workplace events, most companies use "holiday party" rather than "Christmas party." Inclusive wording makes sure every colleague feels welcome, whatever they celebrate (or don't). Focus on the end of the year, the team and the celebration itself.

Inclusive and professional

Let's celebrate a great year together.

You're invited to the Brightline team holiday party.

Friday, December 11, 6 to 10 pm at The Foundry, 210 Market Street.

Dinner, drinks and a few surprises. Please RSVP by December 1.

Season's greetings, team!

Join us for our end-of-year celebration to say thank you for everything you did this year.

Thursday, December 17, starting at 5:30 pm in the office lounge.

Cheers to the year behind us and the one ahead.

Please join the leadership team for a holiday reception with appetizers and drinks.

Plus-ones and partners

Be explicit, because this is the number one question for office parties.

• "Partners and plus-ones are warmly welcome. Please include their name when you RSVP."
• "This is an employees-only celebration."
• "Families are welcome! Kids' activities from 2 to 4 pm."

Dress code lines

• "Dress code: festive cocktail attire."
• "Come as you are, straight from work."
• "Business casual with a touch of sparkle."
• "Black tie optional."

Ugly sweater party wording

Bring out your tackiest knitwear.

Our team ugly sweater party is Friday, December 18 at 4 pm.

Prizes for the ugliest, the most creative and the best DIY sweater.

It's beginning to look a lot like questionable fashion choices.

Ugly sweaters strongly encouraged.

For more on planning company events, from team dinners to year-end parties, see our page on company party invitations.

Friends' Christmas party wording

When it is your home and your friends, you can be as Christmassy as you like.

Deck the halls and pour the eggnog.

You're invited to our annual Christmas party!

Saturday, December 12, 7 pm until late.

Festive attire encouraged. Bring your favorite holiday drink to share.

Jingle and mingle.

Join us for a cozy night of carols, cocktails and too many cookies.

Eat, drink and be merry.

Christmas dinner with friends, Saturday, December 19 at 6 pm.

Please RSVP by December 12 and let us know about any dietary needs.

Quick headline ideas:

• "'Tis the season to be jolly (and a little tipsy)."
• "Let's get lit (the tree, that is)."
• "Baby, it's cold outside, so come inside."
• "Sleigh all day, party all night."
• "Merry and bright, see you Saturday night."

Cookie exchange invitation wording

A cookie exchange needs a few extra instructions, so guests arrive with the right amount and nobody goes home empty-handed.

Calling all bakers!

You're invited to a holiday cookie exchange.

Sunday, December 13, 2 to 4 pm at Jenna's.

Bake a batch of your favorite cookie, bring them on a platter and bring a container to take a mix home.

Please share your recipe so we can make a little cookbook for everyone.

Rules worth putting in the invitation:

• How many to bake. Choose a fixed number per guest, for example half a dozen per attendee, and update it once RSVPs are in. Guests then multiply your guest count by that number.
• Homemade or store-bought? Say whether both are fine.
• Labels. Ask bakers to list the cookie name and main allergens (nuts, dairy, gluten, eggs).
• No duplicates. Ask guests to tell you their cookie when they RSVP so you do not end up with four plates of chocolate chip.

White elephant and Secret Santa wording and rules

Gift games are half the fun of a holiday party, but only if everyone knows the rules. The single most important detail is a price limit. There is no standard amount: choose one that fits your group and state it plainly. A small budget keeps it fun and fair for everyone.

White elephant (Yankee swap)

White elephant gift swap at 8 pm!

Bring one wrapped gift, max $25, the funnier or more useful the better.

Gifts can be stolen up to two times, so choose wisely.

The $25 above is only an example; put in whatever amount your group is comfortable with. Common house rules to spell out:

• Everyone who brings a gift draws a number. Number one opens a gift first.
• Each next player can open a new gift or steal an opened one.
• A gift can be stolen a set number of times (often two or three) before it is "frozen."
• Whoever has a gift stolen picks again: a new gift or a steal (no immediate steal-backs).
• Number one gets a final chance to swap at the end.

Secret Santa

Secret Santa is on!

Sign up by December 1. You will get your person's name, and the reveal is at our party on December 18.

Spending limit: $30. Hints and wishlists are very welcome.

Again, the amount is yours to set. Tips that make Secret Santa smooth:

• Draw names at least two weeks ahead so people have time to shop and ship.
• Ask everyone to share a few likes or a short wishlist.
• For an office, consider gift-card-friendly or consumable gifts, and keep it optional.

If you want guests to see gift ideas in one place, a gift wishlist on your invitation can help.

Holiday open house invitation wording

An open house lets guests drop by during a window of time instead of arriving all at once. The key is to make that clear, so nobody shows up at the start and feels obliged to stay four hours.

Holiday Open House

Stop by anytime between 1 and 5 pm on Sunday, December 20.

Warm drinks, sweet treats and good cheer at the Parkers'.

Come and go as you please, kids welcome.

Our door is open, the cider is warm.

Drop by for a holiday visit, Saturday, December 19, 2 to 6 pm.

For neighbors and families, an open house is one of the easiest ways to host a lot of people with a simple menu: think cookies, a cheese board, a slow cooker of something warm and a punch bowl.

New Year's Eve party invitation wording

New Year's Eve plans get made early and change often, so send your invitation in good time and keep the details easy to update. In 2026, New Year's Eve falls on a Thursday, so mention whether the party runs late and whether guests can stay over.

Pop the bubbly, it's almost 2027!

Ring in the New Year with us.

Thursday, December 31, 9 pm until well after midnight.

Black and gold attire. Champagne toast at midnight.

Out with the old, in with the new.

Join us for a cozy New Year's Eve dinner and countdown.

Dinner at 7:30, games after, sparklers at midnight.

Let's end the year the right way: with good friends and a bad dance playlist.

BYOB, snacks provided, plan your ride home.

Family-friendly idea: a "noon year's eve" countdown at 12 pm for kids who will never make it to midnight.

When to send holiday party invitations

December weekends book up quickly, especially the two or three weekends before Christmas.

• Office holiday parties: send a save the date or invitation four to six weeks ahead, then a reminder the week before.
• Friends' parties, dinners and open houses: three to four weeks ahead.
• Cookie exchanges and Secret Santa: three to four weeks ahead, because guests need time to bake, draw names and shop.
• New Year's Eve: four to six weeks ahead, since many people lock in their plans early.

Set the RSVP deadline about one to two weeks before the party, so you can confirm headcount with a venue or caterer. For friendly reminder wording, see how to ask guests to RSVP.

Frequently asked questions

Should a work party be called a Christmas party or a holiday party?

Most workplaces say "holiday party" or "end-of-year celebration" so every colleague feels included. At home with friends, call it whatever fits your traditions.

How do I say "no plus-ones" politely?

Address the invitation to the person by name and add a friendly line like "We're keeping it to our team this year" or "Due to space, we can only host invited guests."

What is a good price limit for a gift exchange?

There is no rule: it depends on your group. Choose a number everyone can comfortably afford and state it in the invitation so nobody overspends or underspends.

Can I send a holiday party invitation by text?

Yes, especially for casual parties. Send a link with all the details rather than a long message. Our guide to sending party invitations by text covers the etiquette.

Send your holiday invitation

Choose the wording that fits your party, add the practical details (date, time, location, dress code, plus-ones, gift rules) and send it early, because December fills up fast. With Invitedd you can create a free digital invitation with date, time, location and an add-to-calendar button, then share the link by email, group text, iMessage or WhatsApp. If the venue or start time changes, you update the same link. For RSVP and guest list management plus automatic reminders, Premium is a one-time €3.99 per event, not a subscription; see pricing. Happy holidays!