INVITATIONS

Invitations are of two types: (a) Formal (b) Informal.

Formal – letter, card
Informal – letter

Marking Scheme:
Format – 1 mark
Content – 1 mark
Expression – 1 mark

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS
An invitation is complete information. It answers the questions: who, whom,
when, where, what time and for what. The important components of an
invitation therefore are:-
• The occasion
• Name(s) of the invitee(s)
• Name(s) of the host(s)
• Date, time and venue
• Name(s) of the chief guest or special invitees , in case of an official invitation

FORMAT OF FORMAL INVITATIONS

1. Separate line with fonts of varying sizes.
2. These are written in the third person.
3. In case a VIP is invited as the chief guest, the name of the VIP must appear prominently.
4. Name(s) of the Host(s)
5. Standard expression: (Select any one of the following expression)

(a) request the pleasure of your company

(b) solicit your gracious presence
(c) cordially invite you to
(d) cordially request the honour of your presence
(e) invite you to join
(f) request your benign presence
(g) seek the pleasure of your presence

6. Purpose of the invitation (birthday/marriage/inauguration/celebration of historic day etc.)

7. Name of the honouree (birthday person, bride, groom etc.)
8. Day, date and time of the party/function /programme.
9. Name of the place location with complete address.
10. RSVP (French expression: Repondez s’il vous plait means : Please respond to.)
11. Just below RSVP write the telephone/mobile No. or address of the host.
12. Put the invitation in a box & follow word limit (50 words)

B. Meant for an individual (a formal letter of invitation)

✓ Include the name of the invitee

✓ These are to be written on run-on lines. The sentence is not broken into different
words/phrases.
✓ Other details are similar to the mass-scale invitations

SAMPLE 1
Your school, St. Marks Public School is planning to organize Multi-
Disciplinary Annual Day. Draft an invitation for the same. Invent
necessary details.
 THE PRINCIPAL, STAFF AND STUDENTS

Of
St. Marks Public School
Request the pleasure of your company

On its

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ANNUAL DAY

On
Saturday, 23rd March 2019

At 5 pm
in the Multi-Purpose Hall.

Mr. Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delh

has kindly presented to preside
the occasion.

RSVP:
Principal
St. Marks Public School
Ph no 12345666777
PS. This card is valid for two. Please be seated by 4:15pm
You are the Principal of Zodiac Senior Secondary School, Ooty. The school has completed 25
years of its meritorious services to the society. The Silver Jubilee Celebrations are to be held on
Sunday, 31 March 2019. Mrs. M. Kamath, the founder Principal will preside. Draft a suitable
invitation to be sent to important dignitaries of the city and the parents of students.

SAMPLE 2
Your sister is getting married next month. Your father wants you to draft an invitation on
his behalf.
 Mr and Mrs. Singh
Request the pleasure of your company
On the auspicious day
Of wedding of their daughter

RADHA
(d/o Mr Raj Singh and Mrs Amita Singh)

With

SHYAM
(s/o Mr Ram Kapoor and Mrs Sita Kapoor)

At 7:30pm

On
31st March 2019,
Wedding Hall, Delhi

RSVP
Mr and Mrs Singh
77999000
With best compliments
From all friends and relatives

Question 2 : On behalf of your parents, draft a formal invitation to be sent to your friends
and relatives on the occasion of your brother’s fifth birthday
FORMAL LETTER INVITATION TO CHIEF GUEST
SAMPLE 3

St. Marks Public School

Kamla Nagar
Bangalore

17 May 2020

Mr. K. V Singh
The DCP
Police Lines
Bangalore

Subject: Invitation to be the Chief Guest

Sir
We take great pleasure in inviting you to be our Chief Guest at the 25 Annual Day
Celebration, of our school on Thursday, 10 June 2020 at 9:00 a.m. in our school. The
function will be of 60 minutes duration (approximately).

Your gracious presence will be extremely important to make the event a success.

A line of confirmation will be greatly appreciated.

Warm regards
Yours sincerely
Amita
[AMITA KAPOOR]
PRINCIPAL
QUESTION: Send a formal invitation to Sh. K. B. Vaid, noted novelist and educationist, to
speak on ‘The importance of devotion, dedication and discipline’ in Value Education Club
of your school.
C. ACCEPTING THE INVITATION (letter form)

Police Lines
Langston Road
Bangalore

20 May 2020

The Principal
St. Marks Public School
Kamla Nagar
Bangalore

Subject: Acceptance of Invitation

Dear Ms. Amita
I would like to thank you for your invitation to be the Chief Guest at the 25th Annual Day
of your school scheduled on 10 June 2020.

I shall be delighted to attend the function at the school auditorium at 6 p.m.

Best wishes
Yours sincerely
KJSingh
KamlaVeer
[Karan NagarSingh]
M G Road
DCP
Bangalore

20 May 2020

You are Akshay /Aakriti. You have been invited to participate in a seminar on
The Principal
‘Fundamental
St. Marks PublicRights
Schoolof Children’, organised by the Lions Club of your district. Respond
to the invitation
Kamla Nagar by writing a letter of acceptance to the Secretary of the Club.
Bangalore
D. DECLINING THE INVITATION (letter form)
Subject: Inability to Attend the Event

Dear Ms. Amita

Thank you for your invitation to be the Chief Guest at the 25th Annual Day of your school on
10 June 2020.
I regret my inability to accept the same due to a prior engagement.
Kindly accept my best wishes for the success of the event.
Regards
Yours sincerely
KSingh
[Karan Veer Singh]
DCP
Namita, the Secretary of the English Literary Society of Golden Heights Senior Secondary
School, Noida, has to organise an Inter-School Extempore’ competition for students of
classes X-XII. You wish to invite Vikram Seth, the eminent writer to preside over the
function to be held on 25 May 2019 at 9:30am. Write the letter of invitation within 50
words.

You are Akshay /Aakriti. You have been invited to participate in a seminar on
‘Fundamental Rights of Children’, organised by the Lions Club of your district. Respond
to the invitation by writing a letter of denial to the Secretary of the Club.

E. REPLY TO INVITATION – ACCEPTANCE/REFUSAL (card form)

Points to Remember:
a) A formal acceptance or refusal begins by acknowledging the invitation.
 b) It is written in the third person.
c) There is no need of a complimentary close or signature.
d) The date, time and venue are confirmed while accepting or declining the invitation.
e) If declining, the reasons are provided and best wishes are conveyed.
f) The date is mentioned on the top left hand corner.
g) Like all invitations and their replies, this is also enclosed in a box.
h) Word limit: 50

SAMPLE: DENIAL (CARD)

10 July 2020
Mrs. and Mr. Ramesh Naidu thank Mrs. and Mr. Venkatesh for the dinner invitation on the
occasion of their 50th Wedding Anniversary on 12 July 2020 at Hotel Leela Palace. However,
they express their inability to attend the dinner as they are travelling to USA. Please accept
their heartiest congratulations.
Best wishes

SAMPLE: ACCEPTANCE (CARD)

10 July 2020
Mrs. and Mr. Ramesh Naidu thank Mrs. and Mr. Venkatesh for the dinner invitation on the
occasion of their 50th Wedding Anniversary on 12 July 2020 at Hotel Leela Palace. They are
highly delighted to attend the same and enjoy the party with great fun.
Best wishes
You are Monica Kapoor. Your friend Meeta has invited you to her engagement ceremony
to be held at the Hallmark Resorts on 1 July 2020 at 8 p.m. Respond to the invitation
(denial and acceptance)

INFORMAL LETTER

You are Abhinav/Aakriti. You have received a letter from your close friend, inviting you to
attend the marriage of his sister. But unfortunately, you cannot attend it due to your
previous commitments. Write him a letter regretting your inability to attend the marriage
ceremony.

Sender’s Address
Date

Dear (name of the friend)

Yours lovingly
NAME