CLASS: XII SUBJECT: ENGLISH TOPIC: INVITATIONS & REPLIES
INVITATIONS & REPLIES
Invitation is a kind of personal notice sent individually to people to
invite them on occasions like marriage, birthday, engagement, death,
public function etc. There are two types of invitations:
1. FORMAL INVITATIONS: can be in the form of an invitation card
which is a formal way of inviting people.
2. INFORMAL INVITATIONS: can be in the form of a note or a
letter which is a more informal way of inviting somebody.
However, the content of the invitation letter may vary depending on
the kind of occasion and the type of people to be invited and
accordingly they are categorized as formal and informal.
FEATURES OF A FORMAL INVITATION:
1. It is a single sentence presentation.
2. It is written in the third person.
3. The length should not exceed 50 words.
4. The name of the Guest/ V.I.P who is to preside over a function,
appears prominently in formal invitations.
5. Make sure to spell out dates and time.
6. Do not use abbreviations or contractions such as we’re or don’t.
7. All military or academic titles such as Doctor or Reverend must be
spelled out. The exception to this rule is name titles, such as Mr., Mrs. etc
8. Never use punctuation at the end of a line. Commas are useful
within the lines, however, to separate day from year and city from state.
FORMAT OF FORMAL INVITATION
1. Name (s) of the host(s)
2. Standard expression (Select any one of the following expressions)
a. request the pleasure of your company
b. solicit your gracious presence
c. cordially invite you to/ cordially request the honour of your
presence/ invite you to join/ request your benign presence/ seek
the pleasure of your presence
3. Purpose of the invitation (WHAT) (birthday, marriage,
inauguration, celebration of historic day, etc.)
4. Day, date and time of the party/ function/ programme (WHEN)
5. Name of the place/ location with complete address (WHERE)
6. RSVP (French expression: Respondez s’il vous plait means –
please reply. Pronunciation – re-spawn-day-sill-voo-play)
7. Just below RSVP write the telephone/mobile no. Or address of the
host.
SAMPLE 1: PUBLIC FUNCTION You are Neha, and have opened a
new shop by the name Neha & Sisters. Draft a formal invitation to all
your relatives for the inauguration of your new shop. Give necessary
details.
NEHA & SISTERS
announce the opening of
STAR SHOES
Shoes for children (from one month to 10 years)
at 28, Wide Street, Noida
INAUGURATION
On SUNDAY, THE 2nd OF JULY, 2022
at 11.00 a.m.
All are cordially invited
Visit for exclusive collection of STYLISH SHOES
AVAIL INAUGURAL DISCOUNT OF 10% ON ALL SHOES
RSVP Best Wishes
Neha & Sisters Friends and relatives
Phone- 011- 25438990
SAMPLE 2: SCHOOL/INSTITUTIONAL FUNCTION
You are student of Tagore Public School, Lucknow. The school is
holding its annual function. Write an invitation on behalf of the
Principal of your school inviting the parents to attend the function.
Provide necessary details.
The Principal, Staff & students
Of
TAGORE PUBLIC SHOOL, LUCKNOW
Cordially invite you to their
ANNUAL SCHOOL DAY
on
Monday, 25 July, 2022
at
the school premises
Kiren Rijuju, Hon’ble Minister
of Youth & Cultural Affairs, has consented to be the Chief Guest.
R.S.V.P Best wishes
Principal staff and students
SAMPLE 3: SOCIAL FUNCTION
Your parents have planned to celebrate their 50 th wedding anniversary
at Le ‘Meridian, Bangalore on 24 APRIL 2022. Inventing other necessary
details, design an invitation on their behalf inviting guests to the
occasion.
Mrs. Sarika & Mr. Sunil Sharma
Request the pleasure of your company at dinner
On the occasion of the
their 50th Wedding Anniversary
On
Sunday, 24 April,2022
at
7 p.m.
at
LE’ MERIDIAN, Bangalore
R.S.V.P Best wishes
Mr. Sunil Sharma 546788430 Family and friends
INVITING A VIP/DIGNITARY/ CHIEF GUEST
Written in the form of a formal letter
Body- brief and to the point
Tone – Formal and polite
FORMAT :
Sender’s address
Date
Receiver’s Name
Receiver’s address
Salutation
Subject
Body –Event – when – where- what time
Confirming the availability
Yours truly/sincerely
Name
Designation
FORMAL INVITATION REPLIES
● A formal reply to an invitation has to be very short and to the point.
● It has to be acknowledged and thanked for, in third person.
● Acceptance is shown or regret is conveyed consequently. (An
acceptance should specify the date, time and place if other than the
host’s usual residence).
● Stating the general reason for declining an invitation is necessary.
● Conclude it with the blessings / congratulations if applicable for the
event.
SAMPLE 4:
Anshul Seth, the President of Roses and Blooms Society, Sector 18,
Varanasi, has planned to organise a flower show on 28th June, 2022 at the
closed Arena of Jubilee Park in Varanasi. He wishes to invite the famous
horticulturist Dr. Reema Kapoor, who is also the Principal of Pride
Agricultural College, Varanasi to be the chief guest at the function.
Draft an invitation for the same.
Roses and Blooms Society
Sector 18
Varanasi
8 June, 2022
Dr. Reema Kapoor
Pride Agricultural College
Varanasi
Subject: Invitation to be the Chief Guest at Flower Show.
Dear Madam
Our Society has planned to organise a flower show at the closed Arena of
Jubilee Park in Varanasi on 28th June, 2022 at 10 a.m. A number of garden
enthusiasts from Varanasi and also nearby cities and towns are likely to
participate in the event and display their flowering plants. We will be
highly honoured if you kindly consent to grace the event by being present as
the chief guest of the function on the said date.
Kindly confirm your availability.
Yours sincerely
Anshul Seth
President
Roses and Blooms Society
SOLVED EXAMPLE: Reply to Invitation
Pride Agriculture College
Varanasi
11 June 2022
Mr. Anshul Seth
Flowers and Blooms Society
Varanasi
Subject: Inability to preside over the Inter- School Competition
Dear Madam
Dr Reema Kapoor expresses her gratitude for the invitation to be the
Chief Guest at the Flower Show to be held on 28 June, 2022 at 10 a.m.
in the closed arena of Jubilee Park.
She expresses her inability to be a part of the programme due to a
prior engagement.
She extends her good wishes for the successful conduct of the event.
Yours sincerely
Reema Kapoor
(ACCEPTANCE) Note: Written in third person only
123 Sterling Heights
Rajiv Nagar
Bangalore
15 April, 2022
Mr. Sunil Sharma
Silver Park
Bangalore
Dear Mr. Sunil Sharma
Mr & Mrs Ruhan Singh express their gratitude for the invitation to the 50th
wedding Anniversary Celebrations to be held on April 20, 2022 at Le
Meridian at 7 p.m. They will surely attend the ceremony and be a part of the
joyous occasion.
Regards
Ruhan Singh
REGRET
Note: Written in third person only.
123 Sterling Heights
Rajiv Nagar
Bangalore
April 15, 2022
Mrs. & Mr. Sunil Sharma
Silver Park
Bangalore
Dear Mr. Sunil Sharma
Mrs. and Mr. Ruhan Singh express their gratitude for the invitation for
dinner on the occasion of the 50th wedding anniversary to be held on April 20,
2022 at Le. Meridian at 7 p.m. They express their regret and inability to be a
part of the function as they will be out of the country during that period.
However, they extend their good wishes to the family.
Regards
Sunil Sharma
INFORMAL INVITATION
Informal Invitation – Wording and Layout
Sender’s address
Date
Salutation e.g. Dear <Name>
Body (What, When, Where)
Complimentary close
Yours sincerely / affectionately
<Name>
Features of Informal Invitation
Various tenses are used unlike formal invitation
Tone is informal
Personal feelings and emotions find an expression
The salutation is usually ‘Dear’ plus ‘Name’
These are first/second person presentations (I / We / You)
Sample 1
You are Prabhat Soni. Send an invitation to your friend asking her to
attend the birthday party of your son at your residence. Give necessary
details.
12, Ashoknagar
Green Park Road
New Delhi
July 18, 2022
Dear Sanjana
It gives me great pleasure to invite you for dinner on Sunday, 25 July, 2022 at 7
o’clock at our residence. We are organising a small get-together on the occasion
of our son Ankit’s tenth birthday. Please join us on this day and be a part of
our happiness.
Regards
Prabhat Soni
Sample 2
Your brother has just won the first prize in the National Swimming
Championship, New Delhi. To felicitate him on his tremendous
achievement, your family has planned to host a party on 16, May, 2022.
Draft an invitation to be sent to family and friends. You are Rishiv/
Rishika.
18 Sarojini Path
Gandhinagar
New Delhi
30 April, 2022
Dear Shubha
Do join me for a small get-together at my residence on Sunday, 16
May, 2022, at 6 p.m. to celebrate my brother’s success and achievement
on winning the first prize in the National Swimming Championship,
New Delhi. This is an immensely joyous occasion for our family and
we hope you will attend the function.
Looking forward to meeting you.
Yours affectionately
Rishav
REPLY TO INFORMAL INVITATIONS
Written in first person
Acknowledge the invitation by extending thanks
Mention acceptance/ refusal
If refusal, then state reason for not attending
Sample:
Acceptance (Reply to Sample 1 above)
10, Newton Avenue
Satellite Society
New Delhi
June 23, 2022
Dear Prabhat
It was a great pleasure to receive the invitation for your son Ankit’s
tenth birthday. It will give us much pleasure to join you for dinner on
25th July, 2022 at 7 o’clock at your residence.
We are looking forward to being a part of this joyous occasion.
Yours affectionately
Sanjana
Sample:
Refusal/ Regret (Reply to sample questions above).
10, Newton Avenue
Satellite Society
New Delhi
June 23, 2022
Dear Prabhat
Warm regards and heartiest congratulations on your son Ankit’s tenth
birthday. However, we regret that we will not be able to join you for
dinner on the 25th July, 2022 at 7 o’clock at your residence, due to an
unavoidable official engagement.
We thank you for your invitation and extend our good wishes for a
wonderful celebration.
Yours affectionately
Sanjana
Sample – Acceptance
Reply to Sample 2 above
12 Golf park
Anand Vihar
New Delhi
May 8, 2022
Dear Rishav
I am grateful that you have invited me to be a part of the celebration of
your brother’s wonderful achievement in the National Swimming
Championship. I am glad to inform you that I will surely join you on
this occasion to laud his achievement.
Looking forward to having a good time.
Regards
Shubha
Sample – Refusal
12 Golf park
Anand Vihar
New Delhi
May 8, 2022
Dear Rishav
I would have loved to attend the celebration of your brother’s
wonderful achievement in the National Swimming Championship on
16 May, 2022 at 6 p.m. at your residence. Unfortunately, I will be out of
station for a week during this period. Heartiest Congratulations to
your brother and best wishes to him.
Regards
Shubha
ASSIGNMENT:
1. You are a student of Flower Dale School, Mohali. The school is
holding its annual function. Write an invitation on behalf of the
Principal of your school inviting the important persons of the town to
attend the function to be held on December 2, 2022 at 4.00 p.m.
2. Your parents have completed 50 years of happy married life. Send
an informal invitation to your Aunt, residing at Noida, to join you in the
Golden-Jubilee celebration of their marriage at your house.
3. You are Mahita. You have been invited to participate in a seminar
on ‘Save Water Save Life’ organised by the Rotary Club of your district.
Draft a reply accepting the invitation.
4. You are Ruhani. You have been invited to attend the wedding of
your friend’s sister at her place in Delhi during summer vacation. Draft
a reply expressing your inability to attend the wedding.
