<p>I want to throw a Christmas party for my co-workers and my husband’s co-workers. We want guests to eat dinner before they show up (there will be 30+ people invited), and we would of course provide snacks and drinks. What is the most polite way to stress that dinner will not be served at the party?
Say something like, "Please come over for light snacks and drinks." That should make clear that no meal will be served.
13 Responses to “How do you stress on a party invitation that we are not serving dinner?”
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Call it a "cocktail party." Also, dinner is served around 3 pm or 4 pm, so if your party starts later, no one would expect it to be a dinner party.
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Well, the first thing would be to plan it well after dinner time and just include a line saying hors d’oevres and drinks served.
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Just say "Join us for hors d’oeuvres and cocktails at 8 pm"
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Just state in your invitation that snacks will be served.
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I agree with the "Cocktail party" idea, also on the invitations you can say something about hors d’oeuvres and drinks being served.
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I would simply state on the invitation "drinks & snacks will be provided." That should be enough.
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Say something like, "Please come over for light snacks and drinks." That should make clear that no meal will be served.
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write in bold and capital letters on the invitation with this sentence:
DO NOT EXPECT TO HAVE YOUR STOMACH FILLED FROM OUR FOOD PROVIDE
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Invite them later, around 8 or 9 and say cocktails and snacks only, please eat dinner before you come! Then put a smiley on it, should be fine.
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Do not start the party before or during "dinner hours." I would recommend 7 PM or later. State that you will serve cocktails and cookies or wine, cheese and dessert (or whatever).
I personally would not use the term "Hors d’œuvres" since those are typically served BEFORE a meal. It may lead people to think a meal will be served.
P.S. Don’t invite them for "appetizers" either. Again, those are served BEFORE a meal.
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I aggree with BBG, the invitation should just invite people over for coctails and snacks. Do not mention Hors d’œuvres, because that signifies something that is served before dinner or before a main course. Also, I wouldn’t start the party before 8:00 pm, dinner hours vary, but are usually between 5 and 8 pm. Actually stating that dinner won’t be served would seem rather tacky.
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Yes call it a cocktail party… d’oeuvres (don’t know how to spell this ) & drinks will be served.
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The easiest way is to list what WILL be served:
"Please join us for appetizers and drinks"
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