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.