Christmas Party Invitation Wording: 50+ Ideas for Friends, Family & Adults
Christmas party invitation wording for every gathering: funny, family, dinner, cocktail, Friendsmas and ugly sweater parties, plus RSVP and gift-swap lines.
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Christmas party invitation wording for every gathering: funny, family, dinner, cocktail, Friendsmas and ugly sweater parties, plus RSVP and gift-swap lines.
December calendars fill up faster than any other month, so a Christmas party invitation has two jobs: get on the calendar early, and make people excited to choose your party. The right wording does both. It tells guests exactly what kind of night it is (cozy dinner, cocktail party, ugly sweater chaos) and gives them every detail they need in one glance.
Below are more than 50 Christmas party invitation wording ideas for every kind of gathering, including funny, family, elegant, Friendsmas, ugly sweater and gift exchange parties, plus RSVP lines and the best dates for December 2026.
What to include on a Christmas party invitation
- A headline that sets the mood: "Merry and Bright," "Friendsmas," "Ugly Sweater Party."
- Host names.
- Date and time, with an end time for open houses.
- Address, plus parking notes.
- The type of party: dinner, cocktails, potluck, open house.
- Dress code: festive attire, cocktail attire, ugly sweaters, matching pajamas.
- Gift exchange rules, if any: Secret Santa, white elephant, spending limit.
- What to bring, or "just bring yourselves."
- RSVP details and an RSVP-by date.
Funny Christmas party invitation wording
Eat, drink and be merry (mostly drink). Join us for our annual Christmas party!
Sleigh all day, party all night. You're invited to a Christmas bash at [Name]'s.
Let's get elfed up! Christmas party on [date] at [time].
All I want for Christmas is you… at our party.
Yule be sorry if you miss it! Christmas party at our place.
Warning: excessive cheer, cookies and Christmas music ahead.
Resting Grinch face not allowed. Join us for Christmas cheer on [date].
Jingle and mingle! Come celebrate the season with us.
Get your jingle on: our Christmas party is [date] at [time].
We whisk you a merry Christmas. Come for the cookies, stay for the cocktails.
Classic and family Christmas party wording
Please join us for an evening of holiday cheer, good food and even better company.
The [Family] family invites you to celebrate the season with us on [date].
Merry and bright! Join us for a Christmas party filled with friends, family and festive fun.
'Tis the season to gather. Please join us for our Christmas celebration.
Come home for Christmas: family dinner at Grandma's, [date] at [time].
Deck the halls and join us for a family Christmas party. Kids, cousins and grandparents welcome!
From our home to yours: you're invited to a Christmas open house on [date], [start] to [end]. Stop by anytime!
Elegant Christmas dinner wording
The pleasure of your company is requested at a Christmas dinner on [date] at [time].
Please join us for a candlelit Christmas dinner. Festive attire.
An evening of holly, velvet and good wine: Christmas dinner at [Name]'s.
Join us around the table this Christmas Eve for dinner, carols and a midnight toast.
Black tie optional, holiday spirit required. Christmas dinner on [date].
Christmas cocktail party wording
Making spirits bright! Join us for a Christmas cocktail party on [date].
Sip, sip, hooray! Holiday cocktails at [Name]'s.
Mistletoe and martinis: a festive evening of cocktails and cheer.
Champagne, sparkle and Christmas lights. Cocktail attire encouraged.
Pink champagne and holiday games: it's a Christmas girls' night!
Tis the season to be tipsy. Join us for holiday cocktails and bites.
Friendsmas invitation wording
Friendsmas: because friends are the best gifts. Join us on [date]!
Merry Friendsmas! Food, drinks, gifts and the best people we know.
Friends, food and fa-la-la. Friendsmas at our place!
You're on the nice list. Join us for Friendsmas.
Friends who sleigh together, stay together. Friendsmas potluck on [date].
Ugly sweater party wording
Get ugly! Join us for an ugly Christmas sweater party. The tackier the better.
Don't be a Grinch: wear your ugliest sweater. Prizes for the worst one!
Ugly sweaters, pretty cocktails. Christmas party on [date].
Bring your ugliest sweater and your best dance moves.
It's beginning to look a lot like… an ugly sweater party.
Gift exchange wording (Secret Santa and white elephant)
Secret Santa: bring a wrapped gift for your assigned person, $[amount] limit.
White elephant gift swap! Bring one wrapped gift under $[amount]. Steal, swap and laugh.
Bring a gift, steal a gift, keep a gift. White elephant rules apply.
Bring a wrapped book for our book exchange, and a snack to share.
Please bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate. We'll deliver them to [charity].
Planning a gift swap at work? Our office holiday party wording guide has Secret Santa and white elephant lines written for coworkers.
Kids and Christmas birthday wording
Santa's helpers wanted! Join us for a kids' Christmas party with cookie decorating and crafts.
Come in your pajamas! Polar Express movie night and hot cocoa.
Ho ho ho, [Name] is turning [age]! Join us for a Christmas birthday party.
Our little elf is turning [age]. Join us for cookies, cocoa and birthday cake!
Short rhyming Christmas invitation lines
The lights are up, the tree is bright. Join us for a festive night!
Deck the halls and trim the tree, come celebrate the season with me.
Cookies, cocoa and Christmas cheer: our favorite party of the year!
Snow or shine, come raise a glass. This Christmas party's going to be a blast!
Christmas RSVP and dress code lines
Kindly RSVP to [Name] by [date]. We hope you can make it!
Festive attire: think velvet, plaid or anything that sparkles.
Adults only, please. It's a grown-up night of holiday cheer.
Bring your favorite holiday treat to share, or just your merry self.
Want the wording already designed? Browse the Making Spirits Bright invitation, the black and gold Christmas party invitation, the retro Friendsmas invitation, the ugly sweater party invitation, the pink champagne girls' night invitation and the elegant holly Christmas dinner invitation.
When to have your Christmas party in 2026
- Saturday, December 5: the earliest "real" party weekend, before calendars fill up. Great for Friendsmas and cookie swaps.
- Saturday, December 12: the most popular date for adult and office parties.
- Saturday, December 19: the last weekend before Christmas, when most people are home and in full holiday mode.
- Christmas Eve is Thursday, December 24, and Christmas Day is Friday, December 25, which makes it a long weekend for family gatherings.
When to send Christmas party invitations
December is the busiest social month of the year, so send earlier than you would for any other party.
- Save the date: early November for big parties or anything on December 12 or 19.
- Invitations: 3 to 4 weeks ahead. For a December 12 party, send by November 14 to 21, with RSVPs by December 5.
- Casual get-togethers: two weeks is fine, especially by text.
- A reminder message 2 or 3 days before the party boosts turnout.
Here's how to send digital invitations by text or email, and how to address and send printed party invitations if you're mailing them with holiday cards.
More Christmas season ideas
Hosting a baking night? Read our guide to hosting a Christmas cookie exchange. Keeping the party going into the new year? Grab our New Year's Eve party invitation wording.
Make your Christmas invitation in minutes
Every design in our Christmas invitations collection is an editable Canva template. After checkout we email you the template link, usually right away and always within 24 hours. Change the wording, date, colors and photos with a free Canva account, then text it, email it, or print it at home. New to Canva? Here's how to edit a Canva invitation template step by step.
Want it done for you? Choose We-Edit and we'll personalize your invitation and email back the finished file. For a party that looks designed from the front door to the thank-you notes, the Party Essentials and Full Party Pack options add matching pieces such as a welcome sign, favor tags and thank-you cards.
Browse Christmas invitations by party type
- Christmas Party Invitations
- Christmas Birthday Invitations
- Gingerbread Invitations
- Cocktail Party Invitations
- Dinner Party Invitations
- Winter Onederland Invitations
Christmas party invitation FAQ
What should a Christmas party invitation say?
A festive headline, the host names, date, time, address, the type of party, the dress code, any gift exchange rules, what to bring, and how and when to RSVP.
How far in advance should you send Christmas party invitations?
Three to four weeks ahead, or send a save-the-date in early November for a large party. For a December 12, 2026 party, send invitations by November 14 to 21.
What is a good date for a Christmas party in 2026?
Saturday, December 5, 12 or 19. December 12 is the most popular; December 5 has the least competition from other parties.
How do you word a gift exchange on a Christmas invitation?
Name the game and the limit in one line, for example: "White elephant gift swap! Bring one wrapped gift under $25."
What does "festive attire" mean on a Christmas invitation?
Dress as you would for a nice dinner, with a holiday touch: velvet, plaid, sequins, a red or green accent, or a sparkly accessory.
Make your invitation in 2 minutes
Type your details, see a free preview, and download a print-ready PNG and PDF right away. No design skills, no Canva needed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a paid Canva account?
No. Every VoltBy template works with a free Canva account. You will never be asked to upgrade to Canva Pro to edit or download your design.
Can I print these at home or at a print shop?
Yes. You can print at home, at a local print shop, or through an online printer. You can also share your invitation digitally by text, email, or social media.
Can I personalize the text, colors, and details?
Absolutely. You can edit names, dates, wording, colors, and fonts directly in Canva. Prefer not to do it yourself? Choose the we-edit option and we will personalize it for you.
Is anything shipped to me?
Nothing is shipped. VoltBy templates are digital. After purchase you receive your design by email, ready to edit, print, or share.
Ready to make yours?
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