INVITATIONS
INVITATIONS
FORMAL: Printed on cards or as formal letters
INFORMAL: Drafted in the form of social letters
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
To identify the salient features of invitations.
To draft an invitation.
FORMAL INVITATION
Invitation cards -Sent to a large number of people and not
necessarily those who are always known to us and for formal
occasions.
Formal letters – Sent to selected person(s)
MAIN CHARACTERISTICS:
Written in second person and third person
Centre setting of the subject matter usually preferred
Details like address, admits how many, dress code etc. are
added.
R.S.V.P. (Repondez S’il Vous Plait) written at the bottom which
means ‘reply if you please’
LAYOUT
Each of the following is in a separate line:
Name of the host issuing the invitation
Standard expression: ‘request the pleasure of
the company of’
Reason for the invitation
Time, date and venue of the event
In case an official function, VIP’s name
appears prominently
No punctuation required at the end of the line
Simple present tense used
LAYOUT
Each of the following is in a separate line:
Name of the host issuing the invitation
Standard expressions:
Solicit your gracious presence on the auspicious
occasion
Request the honour of your benign presence /company
Request the honour of your presence
QUESTION:
You are a student of Sacred Heart Convent, Dalhousie. The
school is holding its Annual Function at 5.00 p.m. on 5th
October 2024. The Education Minister of the State has
consented to be the Chief Guest. Design an invitation card
to be sent to the parents and other invitees.
Do not exceed 80 words.
The Principal, Staff and Students
of
Sacred Heart Convent, Dalhousie
request the pleasure of your company
on the occasion of
ANNUAL FUNCTION
of the school
at 5.00 p.m. on 5th October 2024
in
The School Auditorium
Shri Arun Mahajan
Education Minister, Himachal Pradesh
has kindly consented to be the Chief Guest
and to give away the prizes.
R.S.V.P.
Secretary
Tele. No. 33675489
This card admits two only
ASSIGNMENT QUESTION:
You are a student of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Dalhousie. The
school is holding its Golden Jubilee Celebrations at 5.00
p.m. on 5th April 2024. The Cultural Minister of the State has
consented to be the Guest of Honour. Design an invitation
card to be sent to the parents and other invitees.
Do not exceed 80 words.
Formal Invitation in the
form of a letter.
QUESTION
Neha Bajaj, the President of the English Literary and
Debating Society of Model Senior Secondary School,
Sector 19, Chandigarh has organized an Inter-
school Declamation Contest on the topic, ‘More
Vocational Courses should be introduced at the +2
level’. She wishes to invite Dr. Sanjay Gupta, an
eminent educationist to preside over the function to
be held on November 5, 2024 at 10.00 a.m.
Draft the invitation in about 80 words.
Model Senior Secondary School
Sector – 19
Chandigarh
1 November 2024
75, Sector – 11
Chandigarh
Subject: Invitation to Preside over Declamation Contest
Dear Sir
The English Literary and Debating Society of our school has organized an Inter-school
Declamation Contest on the topic ‘More Vocational Courses Should Be Introduced at the +2
level.’ 20 schools are likely to participate in the competition. We shall be honoured if you
consent to preside over the programme to be held on 5th November at 10.00 a.m. in the
school auditorium.
With Warm Regards
Yours Sincerely
Neha Bajaj
President
English Literary and Debating Society
INFORMAL INVITATION
Sent to people whom you know personally.
MAIN CHARACTERISTICS:
• Written in first/ second person
• Sender’s address is written as usual but receiver’s address
is not mentioned. Date of writing the invitation
• Salutation: Dear + name
• Complimentary close: Yours sincerely / affectionately /
lovingly
• Courtesy requires to reply the invitation.
QUESTION
Mr. and Mrs. R. Vaidyanathan of the
Appletree Orchard, Mangalore, have
decided to organize a party on the
occasion of the twenty- first birthday of
their son, Rahul Vaidyanathan. Write the
invitation giving details of the date, time
and venue.
Do not exceed 80 words.
27 Appletree Orchard
Mangalore
November 11, 2024
Dear Priyanka
We have much pleasure in inviting you to the 21st birthday
party, which we are organising for our son, Rahul, at 6.30
p.m. on November 20th at our residence.
We very much hope you will be able to come.
Yours Sincerely
R. Vaidyanathan
REPLIES
Replying to invitations is an essential courtesy to
the host who has extended an invitation. It
facilitates in making arrangements accordingly.
REPLY TO INVITATIONS
Salient points:
Use first / second person
Acknowledge the invitation and reiterate the details
Mention acceptance / refusal (specify reason)
Make use of cordial language
Adhere to prescribed word limit: (Within 80 words)
A reply to an invitation is as much formal as the
invitation itself:
Reply for Acceptance of a Formal Invitation
75, Sector – 11 A
Chandigarh
2 November 2024
The President
English Literary and Debating Society
Model Senior School
Sector-19
Chandigarh
Subject: Letter of Acceptance to Preside Over the Inter-School Declamation Contest
Dear Ms. Bajaj
Thank you for inviting me to your school to preside over the Inter-School Declamation Contest,
on November 5th at 10 a.m. I shall be delighted to attend the function and spend time
listening to the views of students.
It would be greatly appreciated if I am provided transport to attend the function.
With Regards
Yours Sincerely
Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Reply declining an informal invitation
24 Hamanghatta
Mangalore
15th November 2024
Dear Mr. Vaidyanathan
Thank you for your kind invitation to attend the
birthday party of your son, Rahul on 20th November. I
am sorry to say, however, I shall not be able to come
to the party as I shall be out of station that week. I wish
Rahul many happy returns of the day and all the best
for his future.
With Warm Regards
Yours Sincerely
Priyanka
INVITATION
Mrs. & Mr. Satish Mehra
solicit your gracious presence on the auspicious
occasion
of the wedding of their daughter
MEHERIN
to
MAYANK
( s/o Mrs. and Mr. L. K. Kashyap )
which will be solemnized at
Sree Narayan Temple
on 4 December 2024
at 6.30 p.m.
followed by the reception
at 7.30p.m. at
BANQUET HALL
Model Town, Delhi – 110011
RSVP With compliments
Vinod Kumar Mehra from all relatives
2721001200
Practice questions
1. You are the Principal, St. Thomas Sr.
Secondary School, Ernakulum. Draft a
suitable invitation to be sent to [Link]
Anthony, President YMCA, Ernakulum to
preside over the celebrations of the Silver
Jubilee Celebrations of the school.
2. You are Sajani, D/o Sh. Dharmaraj of Greater
Kailash, New Delhi. Your father wants you to
draft a formal invitation to be sent on the
occasion of your sister Anita Raj’s marriage.
Prepare the invitation.