A dinner party is an act of generosity. You clear the table, light the candles, cook something you have been practising for a week, and invite the people you most want to talk to. The invitation sets the tone long before anyone sits down, and this one does it by showing the table itself: a single, beautifully laid place waiting for your guest.
A Place Laid Just for Them
The card is a top-down view of a formal place setting on a deep forest-green tablecloth. In the centre sits a gold charger with a dark inner ring, and on it a cream dinner plate with a fine gold rim line. The plate carries the heart of the invitation: an evening of in soft italic, Dinner in large Cormorant Garamond italic, & good company in spaced gold capitals, a small gold divider, and the date and time, Saturday, March 21, seven o’clock.
A cream fork rests on a pale gold napkin to the left of the plate. A knife stands on the right. Above the plate lies a dessert spoon, and a wine glass of deep red sits at the top right, exactly where it would be on a real table. Please join us for crowns the card in gold capitals, and a thin gold frame runs around the edge. Beneath the plate, the hosts’ names appear in elegant italic, followed by the address in spaced capitals, the menu and dress code, and the reply-by line. The OTO logo sits in gold at the foot.
The invitation is 5 x 7 inches, portrait, and it suits a cream or deep green envelope.
Wording Styles from Formal to Relaxed
A dinner party invitation can be as formal or as easy-going as the evening itself. Here are three ways to fill the plate and the lines below it, all of which fit the space on the card.
Formal: Mr and Mrs James Whitfield request the pleasure of your company at dinner on Saturday, the twenty-first of March, at seven o’clock. Black tie. Kindly reply by the fourteenth.
Warm and elegant: Clara and James would love you to join them for an evening of dinner and good company. Three courses, candlelight and a bottle or two of something nice.
Relaxed: Come for dinner! Nothing fancy, just good food, good wine and the people we love. Seven-ish.
Choose the style that matches your menu and your friends, then double-click each text line on the card to rewrite it. The plate area holds about four short lines comfortably, so keep the wording on the plate brief and put longer details underneath.
The Host’s Countdown
Most of the work of a dinner party happens before the doorbell rings. A simple countdown keeps the day itself calm.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Three weeks ahead | Send invitations and ask about dietary needs |
| Two weeks ahead | Plan the menu and test any new recipe |
| One week ahead | Order wine, flowers and anything special from the butcher |
| Two days ahead | Shop for fresh ingredients and polish glasses |
| The day before | Make dessert and any sauces, set the table |
| On the night | Cook the main course, chill the wine, light the candles |
Personalising the Plate and Colours
The place setting is made from simple shapes, so it is easy to adapt. The charger, plate, and rim are separate circles you can recolour: try a white plate on navy for a nautical evening, or a blush plate on charcoal for a modern look. The fork with its napkin, the knife, the spoon, and the wine glass are each grouped, so you can move or recolour them individually. Want a white wine glass instead of red? Select the glass and change the inner circle to pale gold.
The fonts are Cormorant Garamond for the italic title and names, and Montserrat for the capitals and details. Both are Google Fonts in the editor’s list, so you can try a different serif for a more traditional feel without leaving the page.
Dress Codes and Menu Notes
The sample reads: Three courses, smart casual. It helps guests to know both what they will eat and what to wear. Common dress codes for dinner parties include smart casual (no jeans, no tie needed), cocktail (dresses and suits), and black tie for the most formal occasions. For the menu, a short note such as Three courses or Spring tasting menu builds anticipation, and it prepares guests for a long, leisurely meal rather than a quick bite.
If you are hosting a themed evening, the line under the address is the place to say so: A Tuscan supper, Dinner in Paris, or Harvest table.
Reply Cards, Emails and Etiquette
The card ends with Kindly reply by March 14, followed by an email address. A reply-by date gives you time to plan seating and portions. For small dinners, guests usually reply by message or email; for larger, more formal dinners, a separate printed reply card is a nice touch. Ask guests to mention allergies and dietary preferences in their reply, so you can plan a menu everyone can enjoy.
Printing on Heavy Card
A dinner party invitation deserves good paper. Download the card as a PDF and print it on a heavy matte card, around 350 gsm, in white or ivory. The deep green prints best on a smooth surface, and the gold details look lovely with a warm white stock. If you have access to a print shop, ask about gold foil for the frame and the charger for a truly luxurious finish. For a more casual dinner, a PNG or JPG sent by message is perfectly fine.
Dinner Party Questions Hosts Ask
How many guests is ideal for a dinner party?
Six to eight guests keeps conversation flowing around one table. Ten or more usually splits into smaller conversations.
Should I include a dress code?
Yes, if it is anything other than casual. Guests appreciate knowing whether to dress up.
Can the card work for a holiday dinner?
Absolutely. Change the title to Christmas Dinner, Easter Supper, or Thanksgiving Dinner and adjust the colours.
What if I am hosting with a partner or friend?
List both hosts in the italic line under the plate, as in the sample: Hosted by Clara and James Whitfield.
Lay the table on the card first: add your names, your date, and your menu, and send it to the people you want around your table. The candles can wait until the night.
