10 scary-good Halloween party invitation and wording ideas

Tricks, treats, and goblins abound—sounds like it’s time for a Halloween party! Whether you’re planning a spooky shindig on the weekend before October 31st or hosting on All Hallow’s Eve itself, you’ll want your guests to know exactly when and where the haunting will occur with an invitation that matches your theme.

That’s why finding the perfect Halloween party invitation idea for your party will help you plan your get-together from the very start. From adult cocktail parties to kid-friendly trick-or-treat meetups to Halloween-themed birthday parties, we’ll help you nail down the invitation wording basics as the host—or ghost?—of the year.

What to include in a Halloween party invitation

 

• Date, time, and location: Guests need to know when and where the party’s happening. Don’t assume they know it’s on Halloween, as many parties happen the weekend before—and sometimes after—Halloween. Be sure to include the exact date of the party, your address, the time the party will begin, and and end time, if you turn into a pumpkin at a certain hour.
• Food and drink options: Without details about the food and drink situation, guests may assume the menu consists solely of Tootsie Rolls and gummy candy. Clarify whether you’re serving dinner or just light appetizers. If your party’s a Halloween potluck, have guests note what they’re bringing in their RSVP or on the Comment Wall so you don’t end up with 10 casseroles—or 10 buckets of peanut butter cups.
• Dress code: Should guests arrive in costume? Most of the time, the answer is “yes” for a Halloween party, but no one likes to show up at a party wearing the wrong thing.
• Any birthday information: If you’re throwing a joint Halloween birthday party, add this information to the invitation so guests know about it. You can also list gift information—such as “No gifts, please”—to avoid any confusion.

When to send Halloween party invites

Once you’re in the beginning stages of planning your spooky Halloween party, it’s time to send out the party invitations. Depending on the date and type of event, plan to send your invitations out early enough so that your guests can actually attend.

• If your party falls on October 31st, get your invitations out four weeks in advance so guests can make their Halloween plans early.
• If you’re having a party on a day other than Halloween, two to four weeks before the event should be sufficient.
• If you’re hosting a casual “come by after you’re done trick-or-treating” get-together, invitations can go out the week of Halloween—depending on your friend group and how far ahead they tend to fill up their calendars.

Halloween party invitation wording ideas

The only scary part about our Halloween party invite ideas is that you’ll have a hard time narrowing them down to just one. Paperless Post has customizable Halloween party invitations for any theme and type of party you’re planning. 

1. Spooky and classic

 

Great for office parties, galas, and other formal Halloween parties try the black-and-gold “Spooky Protectors” invitation. Get into the spine-chilling Halloween spirit with invitation wording that would make a black cat screech—as well as puns that would make even the scariest clown chuckle.

 

We welcome you, mere mortals, for a night of fearsome fun. 

Make your way down the haunted corridor alive, 

and you will be rewarded with treats a plenty. 

Come dressed to impress, 

for the spookiest or most clever of all guests will win a prize

 to die for. 

The McDonald Residence

Sunday, October 31 at 7 p.m.

 

2. Trick-or-treat party

Get the little goblins ready to party with the playful “Parade Pals” invitation design. Kick-start a trip around the block with wording that invites guests to your trick-or-treat party.

 

Don a costume and join us for Halloween games and dinner, 

followed by trick-or-treating around our neighborhood!

Games and dinner start at 5 p.m.

Trick-or-treating begins at sundown

 

3. Ghoulish cocktail party

For a Halloween cocktail party, use the “What’s Your Poison” invitation to let guests know exactly how they’ll be spending their Halloween night. Plan a cocktail menu with Halloween-themed drinks, such as Witches Brew (Appletini) and Vampire’s Kiss (Bloody Mary). Get into the spirit with punny invitation wording for your adults-only gathering.

 

Join us as we sip on the spirits of the dead, 

at our Boo-zy Halloween cocktail party!

The Stanley Hotel

October 31st at 9 p.m.

 

4. Halloween ball

 

Pretty and foreboding, the “Bat Storm” invitation gives the ultimate orange and black vibe for your Halloween Ball. Encourage guests to dress in formal costumes, such as Zombie Princess or the Phantom of the Opera. Summon them to your Halloween ball with creative wording like:

 

You’re invited to a Halloween ball

on the spookiest night of the year

Hotel Chandelier

October 31st at 9 p.m.

We’re dying to see you

 

5. Ghouls’ night out

When it’s time to get the witches together, you’ll want the “Ooh Ghoul” invite for a Halloween girls’ night to remember. Perfect for hosting a house party or night on the town bring your gal pals together with themed wording like:

 

Ghouls just want to have fun!

Gather your favorite ghouls for a spooky night on the town

9 p.m. on Halloween night

Carousel Bar

Costumes, encouraged

 

6. Disco dance party

Ready to dance the night away? Gather your friends for a Halloween dance party with the “Sparkly Disco Ball” invitation by Paperless Post. Get ready to boogie with disco-inspired invitation wording for your Halloween bash like:

 

You’re invited to BOO-gie Oogie Oogie

at a haunted disco dance party 

Dance the night away beneath a sparkling disco ball

The Adams residence

Saturday, Oct 31, at 7 p.m.

7. Costume party

Forget candy and ghosts—some Halloween parties are all about the costumes. Great for kids and adults alike, the “Howlin’ Halloween” invitation lets guests know that dressing up is of the utmost importance (for humans and pets alike). Use playful invitation wording like:

 

Calling goblins and vampires of every age!

Grab your favorite spooky outfit and join us

for an afternoon of costumes and candy

Enjoy treats and activities for humans, and pets alike

4 p.m. on Halloween

The Addams Manor

 

8. Pumpkin carving contest

Put jack-o’-lantern artistry on full display with the “Halloween Thrills” invitation. It’s both cute and scary to fit any party vibe. Get guests excited for some old-fashioned Halloween fun with themed wording like:

 

Sharpen your knives and join us for a pumpkin carving contest

The best jack-o-lantern wins a prize!

BYOP (Bring your own pumpkin)

We’ll provide the rest!

7 p.m. October 31st

The Stanley Residence

 

9. Adult birthday party

Just because you’re a grownup doesn’t mean you don’t get a birthday party. Celebrate an evening of mischief with “Looking Glass” by Hello!Lucky. Invite guests to your Halloween-themed birthday party with a touch of dark humor such as:

 

Join us as we mourn the loss of [Celebrant’s] youth 

with spirits and costumes. 

Costumes are strongly encouraged for all eccentrics invited. 

BYOB or come enjoy ours! 

Friday, October 28 at 7 p.m.

RSVP by October 15 with any dietary restrictions

 

10. Murder mystery party

 

There’s no better time to host a murder mystery party than on Halloween. Set the mood for your guests right off the bat with “Ye Old Party” by Paper Source and on-theme invitation wording like:

 

We’ve got a Halloween murder mystery to solve!

All will be explained when you get here … 

just bring your best costume and sleuthing skills. 

Costumes non-negotiable.

Homemade costumes are encouraged.

The Old Art Museum

123 Art Way

Minneapolis, MN

Monday, October 29th at 9 p.m.

 

Planning a scary good time with Paperless Post

 

Now that you’ve found your invitation design and figured out your wording, it’s time to customize your favorite Halloween party invitation with Paperless Post. Choose a Halloween-inspired backdrop, add a sticker, and customize your envelope liner to fit your theme. And don’t forget to add additional information with Blocks. Add a Links Block with a link to a potluck signup sheet, or use a Travel Block to link Google Maps directions to your house so your guests don’t get lost. When you’re ready, add your guests and send invitations your way via email, text, or shareable link.

Once the Halloween invitations go out, it’s time to plan the rest of your wicked bash. Match your Halloween party decorations with your invitations for a nice, themed look. Or check out more kid-friendly Halloween party ideas that are just spooky enough for the littlest monsters in your group. And if you really want to get scared this year, find a haunted venue near you for a party that’s sure to be killer—no bones about it.

 

 

Hero image: “Bonafide Fun” by Paperless Post.