Writing a birthday thank you note is easy! Here are a few simple steps to follow to ensure your thank you notes are perfect.

There are many different places that you can find birthday invitation templates, and luckily, finding templates online is easy!

Free online templates

Lots of websites have free templates available for you to download - with styles for both adults and children. From then, you can print them at home, send them to be printed by a company, or email them to your birthday party guests. This makes a fun and affordable alternative to traditional birthday cards. To find what you're looking for, simply type the theme or style you're looking for, before 'birthday invitation template', e.g. 'Unicorn Birthday Invitation Template'.

Blogs

If you are just looking for the wording part, why not explore blogs? Many blogs will have articles on birthday invitation wording, with plenty of ideas to inspire you. Whether you're looking for cute invitation wording or formal invitation wording, we have the blogs for you! We also have blogs to help with wording for birthday invitations for all ages, including 1st, 30th, and 50th. Featured Product: Foil 30th Birthday Invitations - Sparkly Typography Many stationers also provide example wording on their invites, so go and look for some inspiration!

Alternatives

Alternatively, you could make your birthday party invitations on WhatsApp. Making invitations online has become increasingly popular in recent years, and nowadays, there are so many different ways to do it! Featured Product: Ready To Write Kids Birthday Invitations - Mermaid Party If you do decide to opt for traditional paper invitations, then don't forget to check out our amazing birthday collections! We have stationery for every age and party theme, with prices starting from just 48p. If you enjoyed this blog, make sure to check out the rest of our birthday blogs. We have a wide range of tips, tricks, and advice for hosting an amazing birthday party that guests won't forget!

Wondering where to order your birthday invitations?

There are a lot of shops with amazing invitations available to order. Take a look at larger websites and high-street shops if you're looking for something more generic and affordable. Or if you're looking for something a bit more bespoke, try looking online for smaller companies. Some companies will also let you order birthday invitations over the phone - perfect for those who are less confident online! Of course when you ask us where you should order birthday invitations, there's only one answer - Dotty about Paper! Read on to find out more about us... We offer a wide range of invitations for any birthday event, with personalised and ready-to-write styles available. Featured Product: 40th Birthday Invitations - Striped Peony Pattern Whether you're looking for birthday invitations for kids or adults, you're sure to find what you're looking for, with invites from ages 1-100! Featured Product: Kids Birthday Invitations - Unicorn Cake With invitations for every birthday theme, it is so easy to find what you're looking for - whether that's invites for a unicorn party or casino night. We also have more general designs, that are perfect for a small get-together, or a surprise party. With prices starting from just 48p, you can't go wrong. All of our invites are made of high-quality materials, meaning that you definitely get value for money. Featured Product: Fun Pool Party - Sweet Cone Bag & Sticker - Pack of 35 We also offer a wide range of matching stationery, including thank you cards, sweet cones, and party bags. This makes it super easy to theme your whole event. Plus, with speedy dispatch times, you're sure to get your stationery with plenty of time to spare. Don't forget to check out our other blogs - we have lots of tips and tricks for having an amazing birthday party!

Designing your own birthday invitations is a lot of fun, and is a great excuse to get creative! Follow these simple tips to design a birthday invitation that's perfect for you.

Theme

Before starting your invitation design, settle on a theme. There are so many themes to choose from, so you can get as creative as you wish. Think about the different venues that are available to you to ensure your party will go to plan. Here are just a few of our favourite themes: KidsFeatured Product: Childrens Birthday Invitations - Rainbow Unicorn -Unicorn -Pirate Party -Space -Horse Riding -Pool Party Adult Featured Product: Party Invitations - Barn Dance -Barn Dance -Casino -Cocktail Party -Nightclub -1920s

DIY?

Next choose how you want to make your invitations. There are so many different ways to make birthday invitations - e-cards, print outs, hand-crafted, and more! If you are going for a more professional look, we recommend you have your invitations printed by a company. However, if you're opting for something more unique, we think that hand-crafted cards are really special. Featured Product: Kids Birthday Invitations - Dinosaur World At Dotty about Paper, we offer ready-to-write invitations that you fill out by hand - an affordable alternative to designing invitations from scratch. We have so many designs available, so you're sure to find something for you. Ultimately, this is your decision, and we are sure that whatever you choose will look amazing!

Quality

Featured Product: Foil 30th Birthday Invitations - Sparkly Typography When designing your invitations, think about the materials that you use. High-quality materials give off a more professional and expensive look that guests will adore. Here at Dotty about Paper, all of our birthday invitations are printed onto great quality materials. We hope you have enjoyed reading this blog, and have found it useful. Need more birthday party ideas and advice? Check out our other posts!

Creating your perfect birthday invitations can seem like a massive challenge, but it is easier than you would think. Combining a little bit of creativity and style with some planning will ensure your birthday invitations are fit for royalty! However, before you get started there are just a few things to consider:

Style

What kind of venue are you having your party at? Make sure that the style of your invitations matches your venue! There are so many different options to choose from, so take a look around to find something that you love. Featured Product: Cocktail Party Invitation For whatever venue or theme you choose, you're sure to find invitations to match at Dotty about Paper, with stationery to match every popular theme!

Details

Before you create your invitations, make sure you have decided on all of the party details. This will ensure that both your party and your stationery planning run smoothly! Featured Product: 40th Birthday Invitations - Marble & Rose Gold Typography The most important things to include on your invitations are the time, date, and location of your birthday party (as well as your name!), so be sure to finalise this beforehand. It is also important to put an RSVP date and contact number onto your invites to make it easy for guests to confirm their attendance. It is also essential to have finalised a guest-list before you start creating your invitations, as you won't know how many you need to order/send.

Quality

For your invitations to be truly perfect, they must have high-quality materials! We ensure all of the materials that we use for our invitations are great quality and look super stylish. You are sure to be impressed! Featured Product: 40th Birthday Invitations - Striped Peony Pattern Once you have considered all of these, it's time to make your invitations! There are many ways to create invitations, with a range of options at different price points. You can hand-craft your birthday invitations, create them online using a template, or even create an e-card. However, we will always be in favour of paper birthday invitations! Your birthday is a super special occasion, and deserves special stationery to match. Take a look at our wide range of birthday stationery and find your ideal design.

Ordering a birthday invitation online can seem daunting, but in reality, it is easy! Follow these simple steps to find out how to create and order your ideal invitations:

Choose a theme

You probably have an idea of what kind of party you want, but if you're struggling, we recommend you have a look online for inspiration. Pinterest and Instagram are some of our favourite apps for party inspiration, with the perfect styles for all ages. Whilst themes are more popular for kids parties, they are still loved by teenagers and adults, so feel free to choose whatever theme suits you (or don't have a theme at all!). Featured Product: Kids Birthday Invitations - Princess Pamper Party Once you've chosen your theme, you're one step closer to ordering your ideal birthday invitations! We have amazing invites for pool parties, casino nights, barn dances, and more.

Make a guest list

Knowing how many people you will invite to your party is essential when it comes to ordering birthday invitations. You don't want to waste money on invitations that you won't use! Having a set theme will help you narrow down your guest list (e.g. not inviting children to a night club!) which is why we recommend you do this beforehand. Depending on your party venue, you may have a set amount of guests in mind, but you can have as many or as little as suits you. It is your birthday after all.

Confirm the details

By the time you are thinking of ordering your invitations, you probably are sure on all of the details. But if not, make sure you know the date, location, and time that your party is starting before ordering. Featured Product: Great Gatsby - Invitations You should also make sure your venue is booked, so that you are not at risk of having any last minute issues!

Find your stationery

Take a look online or in shops to find your ideal invitations. You can choose from ready-to-write invitations that you fill out by hand, or personalised birthday invitations that are printed with all of your details. Ordering ready-to-write invitations is easy! Simply choose the amount that you need, and order. At Dotty about Paper, we ensure that your order is sent to you quickly. Meaning that you don't have to worry about your invitations arriving too late. Featured Product: 30th Birthday Invitations - Blush Leopard Print Personalised invitations can be a little more tricky. Find your ideal design and simply type in your wording. If you're struggling, there are lots of easy templates online that you can copy. When you order personalised invitations with us, we send you an online proof so you can check how the wording looks before printing, making it easy to notice any errors and make any tweaks you need. Don't forget to include all the important details of the day - including your name, the date and location of your party, and a date to RSVP by. You may also want to include details of the food or drinks that you will be providing on the day. Now you know how to order a birthday invitation online! Feel free to get in touch if you would like to place an order for birthday invitations with us. We are always happy to help!

When it comes to penning birthday invitations for children, it can be nice to have some fun with the wording and make it super cute! Particularly if the birthday boy or girl is very small, cute wording written on cute invitation paper just seems fitting for their age group, letting all their little friends know about the big day.

Stuck for words?

Featured Product: Kids Birthday Invitations - Fun Party Bear If you need a little inspiration, here are just a few suggestions the Dotty About Paper team have come up with for you to adapt! ‘Shhh, can you keep a secret? A very special friend is about to turn three, and we are having a surprise party for them. We would love you to come along to enjoy cake, games and giggles with the birthday boy/girl!’ ‘We’d love you to come and help (name) celebrate his/her third birthday! There will be a tots’ teatime, soft play and – of course – balloons and cake. Please join us for the fun!’ It can also be cute to word your invitations as though they were written by your little ones, even if their pen skills aren’t quite up to scratch yet! ‘I’m having a very special birthday and I would love you to come to my party - I’m already very excited because there will be games, music and plenty of yummy food, so please join me for lots of fun!’ ‘I’m about to turn three, and I have something very special planned for next Saturday. I’m having a little party and want all my best friends to be there. Please join me for an afternoon of yummy food, soft play and lots of fun!’

Playing with a theme

Featured Product: Kids Birthday Invitations - Dinosaur World If you’ve decided on a theme for your child’s party, then it can be cute to make the wording fit with it. For a dinosaur themed party, you could invite guests to have a ‘roarsome time’, or for a party with an animal theme, encourage them to think about what animal they would like to come dressed as. Featured Product: Kids Birthday Invitations - Ooh La Llama Handwriting cute birthday invitations is a great way to invite all your little one’s friends to celebrate, so browse our collection of invites and get creative!

Baby's first birthday is such a huge milestone that every parent wants to celebrate with family and friends. Sending a special birthday invitation is the icing on the cake and helps to set the tone for the entire celebration. Of course, that first birthday party is as much a party for the parents as the new toddler! But whether you're planning a quiet get together or a themed extravaganza, putting together the invitations is your first task. With our customisable invites, all you need to do is choose a theme you love and then personalise the wording, making it super easy to create invites to treasure!

Use the right tone

Featured Product: 1st Birthday Invitations - Unicorn Cake Who is your invite aimed at - the children who have been invited or the adults accompanying them? If you're appealing to the kids then use simple language and a cutesy tone. If it's for the parents then a more formal invitation will suffice. Try "Your friend is turning one, come and join the fun!" for the kids and "You're invited to celebrate our first birthday party" for the adults. Our invitations even have suggestions for wording so you can just follow the template to make it super easy!

Show the world how far you've come

Featured Product: 1st Birthday Invitations - Blue Dots Typography Turning one is a huge event in your child's life and your parenting career. Celebrate the milestone with wording like "Baby days are done, now our toddler is turning one!" or "Now I'm turning one, there's so much more to explore so come and celebrate with me on my birthday!" Then upload a photo that shows just how far your baby has progressed in their first year.

Find inspiration

Featured Product: 1st Birthday Invitations - Snappy Crocodile If you're stuck for the right wording to use, there's plenty of inspiration to be found. Remember to keep it short and sweet as you'll need to include the date, time and venue on the front of your card plus RSVP contact details. Save any longer message for the back of the card.

Be punny!

If your baby's birthday falls in the winter then why not celebrate in a winter ONE-derland? Using a birthday pun is a piece of cake so make sure your invitations are ONE-derful to celebrate the one you love!

Receiving a birthday invitation is a compliment, without a doubt - somebody wants you at their party. Whether you decide to attend or not, it's always polite to express thanks for your invitation and make sure the host knows you appreciate being thought of. Here's how to best say 'thank you' for a birthday invitation.

Include thanks with your RSVP

Whether you attend the party or not, the easiest way to thank the host of the party for inviting you is by including a small note of gratitude in your RSVP - whether this is by text or email. If you speak on the phone, be sure to convey your appreciation for the invitation during the call. If you can't attend, be apologetic and express your regrets. There really is no better way to say 'thank you' than to simply say it.

Return the favour

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If you've got a birthday coming up, perhaps think of those people who have invited you to their birthdays, too. It's by no means a requirement, particularly if you're having a smaller bash or you just don't feel you know that person very well, but nothing will say 'thank you for inviting me' quite like inviting them to yours later in the year. Who knows, it may even be the start of a new friendship. Of course, if the friend you want to thank is one of your best friends, it's probably a given that you're already inviting them - if you don't, it could be taken as a snub.

Bring a gift

If you are able to attend the party, be sure to bring a gift. Birthday gifts are not just to say 'happy birthday' to the recipient, but they're also a way that party attendees can compensate the hosts a little for the financial outlay of hosting a big party. That said, a small, inexpensive but thoughtful gift can be just as meaningful as something more costly. It really is the thought that counts.

Featured Product: Ready to Write Thank You Cards - Typography Silver Foil

Hopefully, your friends and family know you're happy that they invited you to their birthday party. If you want to make sure they know it, you could always utilise birthday thank you cards - traditionally sent out by hosts to thank guests for attending a party - to write a quick note of thanks after the party's over.

How do you decline a birthday party invitation? People don't typically hand out birthday invitations like confetti. If you have been invited by a friend or family member to join them at a birthday celebration, it is because you, and your company, are valued. That means a quick 'brush off' or note might not be received well. There are plenty of reasons why you might need to decline a birthday invitation, and in this blog, we look at the best way to go about it.

Show your gratitude

Featured Product: 40th Birthday Invitations - Elegant Floral Pattern

You will know the best way to address a particular friend or family member, whether you are writing or speaking to them. Whichever words you choose to express your gratitude, thanking the sender of the invitation should be your first priority. As a starting point, this shows that you do appreciate being invited. Don't underestimate how much this means when declining an invitation.

Apologise for not being able to make it

After the thanks, comes the apology. Not only are you thankful for being invited, but you also regret that you can't be there. "Really sorry but", "regret that I won't be able to attend" or "complete bummer, I'm so sorry but" - there is no right or wrong way of saying sorry; that will come down to your individual relationship with the sender of the invitation.

Explain why

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Be honest, frank, and if you need to, detailed, in your explanation of why you can't attend. You might feel like you are waffling, but being open and honest can go down well with the person whose birthday it is. Not only does this show you aren't making an excuse, but it also demonstrates that you are anxious that they know you have a good reason for not being there.

Express your desire to see them soon

It can be hard to plan ahead sometimes, but as the sender has requested your company, you should reciprocate and suggest catching up another time when it is convenient for both of you. Those are some essentials to tick off when declining a birthday invitation. Don't forget - a great way to make up for your absence is to send a present or a card!

It is a common query we come across here at Dotty About Paper - just how far in advance should you send out an invitation for a birthday party? So, let's get to the bottom of the issue. In this blog, we take a look at how you should judge when to send your birthday bash invites.

Kids parties

Browse: Kids Birthday Invitations

Convention dictates that the send out times are a little different for a child's birthday party, as opposed to an adult's - and with good reason. In the case of a kids birthday party, it seems likely that your child will be inviting school friends to the occasion. That means it would typically be held on a weekday evening, at the weekend, or during the day in the school holidays. These standard times mean that children are likely to be free at the same time, and that organisation becomes easier. So for kids parties, aim to send invitations a fortnight to a month in advance.

Adult parties

Browse: Birthday Invitations

True to form, things tend to become a little more complicated when adults are involved! In these cases, it comes down to the location, and nature of the event. A small get together with friends at home or a local pub might only need invitations sent out a couple of weeks in advance. For larger birthday parties at a restaurant or rented venue, where it helps to know the headcount before booking, a little more leeway can be needed - aim to send four to six weeks before.

Foreign fiestas

Browse: Destination Party Invitations

If you are having a destination birthday party - then the goalposts move again. A long weekend or a week to celebrate a milestone birthday, you have more factors to take into account. Your invitees may need to book transportation or arrange for some time off work. For these kinds of parties, send out invitations four months in advance.

So there are a few pointers on when to send out your birthday invitations. Remember to include an RSVP and clear information on the timings and venue.

Browse our full range of Birthday Invitations today and get your party started in style!

We hope you enjoyed our blog and find our advice and tips useful. For more visit our blog "Paper Press" for more articles on all things paper!