General Guidelines

• One thing that may seem obvious but that is often forgotten is the reason for the party or invitation. Clearly state whom the party is for, the type of party you are throwing and the age of the guest of honor. However, if the guest of honor is an older person, you may want to check with him first to make sure he is okay with your including his age. Also, if you are throwing a party that needs an exact count of guests, be sure to include a request for RSVPs, the date by which you need the RSVP and a phone number or e-mail address to contact you.
  
  

Theme

• If you are throwing a party with a particular theme, include this information on the invitation. This is especially important if the theme requires the guests to bring or wear something different from what they would for a typical birthday party. For instance, if you are throwing a princess costume party for your daughter, guests and the parents of the guests must know the details so they can prepare a costume.
  
  

Time

• When filling out your birthday invitation, remember to include the day and date of the party, as well as the time and whether it is a.m. or p.m. Double-check the date in the calendar just to make sure you're not off by a day, or looking at the wrong week. Also, be sure to specify an ending time for the party if you don't want guests to linger all night. This is especially important if you are throwing a children's party, so the parents know when to pick up their kids.
  
  

Venue

• The address of where the party is being held is important, but it is also helpful to include additional details to help guests find the party. If the party is being held at a specific venue, include the name of the place and even a link to the website if available. You may also want to include a map or written directions for guests, especially if it is in a hard-to-find location. Be sure to double-check the address; some places have more than one address for their business, so it will help to find out which one they use, especially for your guests to enter into their GPSs if applicable.