When the invitation comes from your family, a photo of your family is the most personal decoration you can add. This 5 x 7 inch invitation gives the top half of the card to a single photo, with a string of warm lights draped across the top edge, and puts the party details on a deep green panel with a scalloped edge underneath. It works for a family Christmas party, a couple’s first party in a new home, or a gathering of old friends.
Step by Step: From Photo to Finished Invitation
1. Choose the right photo
The photo area is landscape-shaped, the full width of the card and four inches tall. Wide photos work best: the family on the sofa, everyone in front of the tree, a group on a snowy walk. Faces should sit in the middle of the frame, because the lights cross the top and the scalloped edge trims the bottom slightly.
2. Place the photo
Click the photo area and choose Replace Image. Upload your photo, and it fills the frame, keeping the frame’s size. The photo is a pattern-filled shape, so the layout never shifts when you change pictures.
3. Write the welcome line
Join the Millers for sits in ivory italic at the top of the green panel. Change Millers to your family name.
4. Set the title
Christmas Cheer in gold Great Vibes script is the headline. Keep it, or change it to Christmas Party, Holiday Gathering, or Merry Christmas.
5. Add the details
The day, date, and time are in spaced capitals, followed by the address, a line about what is planned, and the RSVP. Click each line and type.
6. Download and send
Download a PDF for printing or a JPG for phones.
Photo Tips for a Festive Look
| Tip | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Shoot with lights in the background | Out-of-focus fairy lights look magical behind faces |
| Wear one shared colour | Red, green or cream sweaters tie the group together |
| Avoid harsh flash | Natural window light or lamp light keeps skin tones warm |
| Leave space around the group | The frame trims a little at the bottom |
| Use the original file | Images sent through chat apps lose quality |
The Design Details
The photo fills the top half of the card. Across the very top, a string of warm white and gold bulbs hangs from a dark wire, drooping in gentle curves as if strung over a mantel. Where the photo ends, a deep evergreen panel begins with a row of scallops along its top edge, like the trim on a tree skirt. The text on the panel is centred: the welcome line in ivory Lora italic, the gold script title, the date in Montserrat capitals, the address in pale green Lora, the plan for the evening in gold italic and the RSVP in small capitals. The Office Templates Online mark sits quietly at the bottom.
Recolouring the Evergreen Panel
Click the green panel to change it. Deep burgundy, navy and charcoal all work with the gold script. The scallops are a separate group in the same colour as the panel; select them and change their colour too, so the edge stays seamless. The string lights are an editable vector; select them to change the bulb colours, for example to multicolour for a playful party or all white for an elegant one.
Welcome Lines for a Family Photo Invite
- Join the Millers for Christmas Cheer.
- Our first Christmas in the new house- come and celebrate.
- The Patels invite you to a Christmas open house.
- Food, carols, and a visit from Santa for the little ones.
- Bring your appetite and your ugliest sweater.
Printing Photo Invitations
Because this design is mostly photo, it prints best as a photo card. Download a high-quality PDF or JPG and order 5 x 7 prints on lustre or matte photo paper, or on photo card stock if your printer offers it. Full bleed is important, since both the photo and the green panel run to the edges. At home, use a photo printer and the best quality setting. Check one copy first: dark green can print darker than it looks on screen, and you may want to lighten it slightly.
Sending the Photo Invitation by Phone
A photo invitation is lovely on a phone. Download a JPG and send it in family groups and to friends. If you post it on social media, remember that the address is on the card; for a public post, consider removing the house number and sending the full address privately.
Timing Your Christmas Party
The sample date is Saturday, December 19, 2026, at 5 PM, a good time for a party that includes children and a visit from Santa. Christmas Day 2026 falls on a Friday, so the Saturday before is the last weekend before the holiday for many families. Send invitations three weeks ahead.
Photo Invitation Questions
Can I use a portrait photo?
You can, but the frame is landscape, so a portrait photo will be cropped at the top and bottom. Crop it to a wide shape first so you control what shows.
Can I add more than one photo?
The layout is built for one large photo. For several pictures, the Christmas Day family gathering invitation in this collection has three photo frames.
Will the lights cover faces?
The lights sit along the top edge only. If a head is very close to the top of your photo, crop the photo with more space above.
Choosing Between a Family Photo and a Place Photo
Most people put their family in the photo frame, but the frame works just as well for a picture of the place where the party will happen. A cabin under snow, a front porch strung with lights, or a beautifully set table tells guests what kind of evening to expect. A pet in a Santa hat is always a hit with friends. Whichever you choose, pick a picture with one clear subject and a calm background, because the scalloped panel and the lights already add plenty of detail. If you send invitations to several groups, you can even swap the photo for each one, using a family picture for relatives and a picture of the house for neighbours.
Let Your Family Do the Inviting
Pick your favourite photo from this year, add your party details, and send. Friends and relatives will recognise the faces before they read the words, and that is the warmest welcome an invitation can give.
