Friendsgiving Invitation Wording: 10 Examples to Copy

A good Friendsgiving invitation is short and answers the questions guests would otherwise message you about. It says when to come and when dinner is served, what you are cooking, what to bring, how to reply and whether to mention allergies. The tone is up to you. This guide lists what to include, then gives 10 examples you can copy and change. The Friendsgiving potluck planner writes the sign-up list the invitations refer to, and the whole topic is on the Friendsgiving planning hub.

What to Put on the Invitation

Include these, in roughly this order:

1. Who and what: the name of the event (“Friendsgiving at Sam’s”) and the host.
2. Date and times: the date, the time guests arrive and the time dinner will be served, which are often an hour or so apart.
3. Place: the address, plus notes on parking, a buzzer or the floor.
4. The food plan: what you are cooking and what you need.
5. RSVP: how to reply and a date, about a week before dinner.
6. Diets and allergies: one plain question.
7. Extras if they apply: kids welcome or not, whether to bring a chair, a game or a nonalcoholic drink.

A date for replies is what saves you. Without it you will still be counting heads two days before.

10 Examples

1. The Simple Potluck

Friendsgiving at my place! Saturday, November 21. Come at 4:00, dinner at 5:30. 12 Maple Lane, Apt 3. I am making the turkey and gravy. Please bring a side, a dessert or a drink and add it to the list so we do not end up with five pies. RSVP to me by November 14, and tell me about any allergies.

2. The Short Text

Friendsgiving, Sat Nov 21, 4pm, dinner at 5:30, my place. I will cook the turkey. Reply with what you will bring and any food allergies. Last day to reply is Nov 14.

3. The Warm and Grateful

We are so thankful for friends like you. Please join us for a Friendsgiving dinner on Thursday, November 26 at 2:00, with dinner at 4:00. Bring your appetite and a favorite family dish, if you like. Let us know by November 16, and tell us about any diets.

4. The Funny One

You are cordially invited to eat too much. Friendsgiving, Friday, November 27, 6:00 pm, with turkey at 7:00. Come hungry, leave happy, and bring a dish that deserves a second helping. RSVP by November 20 so I know how many chairs to borrow.

5. The Assignment Style

Here is your Friendsgiving assignment. If your last name starts with A to H, bring a side. I to P, a dessert. Q to Z, a drink or ice. I am making the turkey and the gravy. Dinner is at 5:00 on Saturday, November 21. Reply by November 14.

6. The Formal Card

Please join us for a Thanksgiving dinner with friends. Thursday, the twenty-sixth of November. Drinks at four o’clock, dinner at five. 48 Orchard Road. Regrets only, by the sixteenth of November, to Claire at 555-0186.

7. The Grown-Ups-Only

Friendsgiving for grown-ups. Saturday, November 21, 6:00 pm. Dinner is at 7:30. I am making the turkey, so please bring a side or a bottle. This one is grown-ups only. Reply by November 14.

8. The Kids Welcome

Friendsgiving, kids welcome! Sunday, November 22, 3:00 pm, dinner at 4:30. There will be a kids’ table and a placemat to color. Bring a side, a dessert or a drink, and tell me about any allergies, kids included. Reply by November 15.

9. The Dietary-Aware

Friendsgiving on Saturday, November 21 at 5:00, with dinner at 6:00. I am cooking the turkey. If you are bringing a dish, please tag it V for vegetarian, VG for vegan, GF for gluten-free or N if it contains nuts, and put a small card next to it. Tell me about any allergies when you reply. RSVP by November 14.

10. The Everyone-Brings-a-Chair

Friendsgiving for twelve in a small apartment, so the plan is simple. Friday, November 27, 6:00, dinner at 7:00. I will cook the turkey and gravy. Please bring a side, a dessert or a drink, and a folding chair if you have one. Reply by November 20.

Words for the “What to Bring” Line

The line that does the most work is what to bring. Some options:

• “Bring a side, a dessert or a drink, and add it to the list.”
• “Bring your favorite dish from your own Thanksgiving.”
• “I have the turkey, the gravy and the rolls. The rest is up to you.”
• “Bring one dish that serves about six, and a serving spoon.”
• “If you do not cook, bring ice, a drink or a pie from a bakery.”

Use whichever sounds like you. Asking for dishes by category, instead of by recipe, is the part that keeps the table balanced, and that is what the sign-up list does.

Asking About Allergies and Diets

One plain question is enough: “Any food allergies or diets I should know about?” Put it next to the RSVP so it gets answered with the reply. It is a normal thing to ask. If someone replies with a restriction, reserve a few slots on the sign-up list to cover it, and ask them whether they would like to bring a dish they know is safe.

On the day, a card next to each dish with the dish name, the cook and the tags V, VG, GF or N helps people choose. See what to bring to Friendsgiving for how to use the tags.

When to Send and When to Remind

Three weeks before is a comfortable starting point, and earlier for a holiday weekend or when guests are traveling. Send a short reminder to the group about a week before the dinner, with the time dinner is served, and a last message the day before with the address and parking. Those two messages save most of the questions on the day.

Digital and Printed Options

Any of the examples above works as a text, an email, a group-chat message or a printed card. A printed 5x7 card is nice on a fridge, and a phone-sized invitation is easy to send as an image. Our printable suites include a 5x7 invitation with a what-to-bring insert and a phone invite, and you type the details once. If you want the whole plan, see how to host Friendsgiving.

Printable Help

If you would rather not design the invitation, the printable suites below include one with a what-to-bring insert that matches the potluck sign, menus, food labels and place cards. They are optional, and the examples above work as plain text.