10 New Year’s Eve invitation wording ideas to kick off the new year right

New Year’s Eve brings about a sense of nostalgia as we reflect on memories made, vacations taken, and milestones achieved over the past year. It’s the perfect excuse to gather together with family, friends, or neighbors to toast to the last year and celebrate what’s to come at a fancy and festive New Year’s Eve party.

Whether you’re inviting guests to a cocktail party or an open house to catch up with everyone you’ve missed, the right New Year’s Eve invite wording lets people know where, when, and what type of party it is. Find inspiration in these New Year’s Eve invite wording ideas to get guests in a party frame of mind.

What to include on a New Year’s Eve party invite

 

New Year’s Eve parties run the gamut from formal to super-casual, so it’s helpful to clarify what kind of celebration you’ll be having. Make sure that your New Year’s Eve invitation wording includes the right details to set expectations and avoid fielding last-second calls and texts.

Date

New Year’s Eve parties are celebrated on December 31st, typically at night. However, if you’re thinking of hosting it on a different day—such as New Year’s Day—put the date front and center so there aren’t any surprise guests on your doorstep on the 31st.

Beginning and end times

While your usual party invites might just have a starting time, a New Year’s Eve celebration should include the entire time frame so guests won’t have to guess if they should leave just after midnight or if the party will roll on.

Where to go

Include the address for events at your home or another venue. If you’re hosting at a restaurant or ballroom, indicate where guests should check-in and what name your party reservation is under.

Who is invited

Your guest list will do the talking, but make a specific note if guests can bring a date, a friend, or their family—especially if they have little ones.

What to wear

For the dress code, be specific—even if it feels silly. No one wants to show up in casual clothes when the party is very formal—and no one wants to be the guy in a tuxedo at a party full of Hawaiian shirts.

What to bring

Potluck celebrations should include exactly what you’d like guests to bring, or else you might end up with countless bags of ice. The same goes for parties where guests bring their favorite wine—be specific.

Paperless Post invitations include Guest Surveys and Comment Walls—two simple ways for guests to sign up for what they want to bring (or bring what they’re assigned).

When to send invitations

For New Year’s Eve party invitations, aim to send your invites 4–8 weeks in advance so people don’t get booked up before they know about your party. 

If you are hosting a grown-ups-only party, send out your New Year’s Eve party invitations as far in advance as possible so that parents can line up a babysitter before they’re all booked. 

RSVP information

Perhaps the most overlooked part of a New Year’s invitation is the RSVP wording. Request all RSVPs to be received at least two weeks before the event (or one week if your planning is more flexible). Write something like “Please RSVP by [date]” at the bottom of your invitation. Send Paperless Post invites via email, text, or shareable link for the easiest responses and RSVP tracking.

New Year’s Eve invitation wording ideas

 

Your New Year’s Eve invite wording sets the mood for your party before it even begins. Sprinkling in puns sets a casual tone, while more formal language conveys that a highbrow celebration is in store for the evening. 

Not sure where to start? Use the following ideas and examples to find the right New Year’s Eve invite wording, conveniently paired with invitations from Paperless Post and our design partners.

1. Classic New Year’s Eve invitation wording

 

Sometimes you need a straightforward, friendly message in your New Year’s Eve invites. Use this wording suggestion in an invite like “Finale” by Hello!Lucky for get-togethers in that sweet spot between laid-back house parties and dressed-up events.

Pop the cork and watch the ball drop!

Join Mike and Tina to say goodbye to the old year

and celebrate the new one.

Drinks and appetizers aplenty.

176 Music Terrace

9 pm – whenever

RSVP by December 20

 

2. Funny New Year’s Eve invitation wording

With novelty eyeglasses, glitter backdrops, and neon feather boas, New Year’s celebrations are a great way to shake off the stress of the holidays by embracing all things ridiculous. Match the fun of New Year’s Eve in your invitation wording by pairing it with a punny invite like “New Year’s Toast” by Hello!Lucky and a Video Block with a funny NYE scene from your favorite comedy movie.

New year, same crew.

Let’s get fizzy and dizzy as we say buh-bye to last year

with drinks, apps, and more drinks.

Rick’s place—9012 Birchwood Ave.

December 31, 8 pm

Come prepared in your funkiest NYE gear.

RSVP by 11/30

 

3. Formal New Year’s Eve invitation wording

 

Whether you’re hosting a New Year’s Eve gala or a well-dressed event at home, get the formal tone across with this invitation wording and the “Black Tie Affair” design.

Please join us for a New Year’s Eve party

at the Black Oaks Country Club

in the Sequoia Ballroom

December 31

Formal dress code

Seated dinner at 7 p.m.

RSVP by 11/21

 

4. New Year’s Eve open house invitation wording

Open house invitations work for celebrations held on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, or even the first weekend of the year. These gatherings tend to be more casual, so you can opt for less formal wording and a low-key invitation like “Glitter Goodbye.”

Happy New Year! 

Let’s eat, drink, and be merry.

Join us for a New Year’s Eve open house

any time between 4 p.m. and 1 a.m.,

so we can ring in the new year together.

The Garrison Residence

7642 Forest Rd.

Kids welcome!

 

5. Kids’ New Year’s Eve party invitation wording

 

If you’re hosting a kids’ version of New Year’s Eve in the afternoon, sometimes known as “Noon Year’s Eve,” make your timing clear in your New Year’s Eve party invite wording. Use a fun “New Year Cascade” invitation to set a fun tone early.

Celebrate Noon Year’s Eve with Isla and Aiden!

Wear your fanciest clothes 

and join us for snacks and sparkling cider

while we count down to 12 (p.m.) on New Year’s Eve.

46 Ryder Ave.

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

RSVP by 11/28

 

6. New Year’s Eve cocktail party invitation wording

A New Year’s Eve party is often synonymous with a cocktail party, especially if you’re used to hosting lots of couples instead of lots of kids. But just like there are multiple ways to make a martini, there are many different ways to host a cocktail party. Let your invites take a tone that conveys your hosting style. Then pair it with a cocktail-ready Flyer like “Cheers to the New Year” by Paperless Post.

Join Perla and Juan for an evening of libation & laughter

as we ring in the new year together.

509 Orange Blvd.

9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Cocktail attire requested

RSVP by 11/27

 

7. New Year’s Eve potluck invitation wording

If your celebration has a lot of friends and family involved, consider hosting a New Year’s Eve potluck dinner party where everyone brings their favorite family dish, appetizer, or dessert. Keep the tone fun, casual, or even funny, and pair it with a cute invite like “Happy New Year, Dear Friends” by Mr. Boddington Studio.

Come in from the cold.

The season is here for warm company and plenty to drink.

Bring your favorite holiday dish to share.

Join us at the Shade Residence

Saturday, December 31st

At 9 o’clock

54 Dulwich Road

 

8. New Year’s Eve brunch invitation wording

 

Sometimes the holiday calendar fills up fast and guests have their share of New Year’s Eve plans. Squeeze in a celebration during the day with a New Year’s Eve brunch, making your timing clear in your wording on the “Four Mimosas” Flyer.

Please join us for a New Year’s Eve brunch!

Saturday, December 31st

At 11 a.m.

Lucky Chicken & Egg Cafe

154 East 54th Street

RSVP by November 27

 

9. New Year’s Eve girls’ night invitation wording

If there’s any New Year’s celebration more fun than a girl’s night, we haven’t found it. Start a brand-new New Year’s tradition by inviting your gal pals out—or in—with the “Same Crew” Flyer and our wording suggestion.

Let’s end the year in style!

Join Melissa and Pilar for the ultimate New Year’s Eve girls’ night.

Drinks at Melissa’s, then on to the Wildcat Lounge 

to dance the year away.

9 p.m. to ???

Text Pilar to RSVP

Wear your cutest NYE outfit and join us!

 

10. New Year’s Eve sleepover invitation wording

For the types of New Year’s Eve parties where everyone is ready to crash afterward, host a NYE sleepover with your loved ones. Our wording suggestion and the “House Slippers” invitation by Mr. Boddington’s Studio should get the point across.

You’re invited

to a New Year’s Eve sleepover!

Wear your favorite pajamas and bring drinks to share.

Dinner at 6, festivities at 10, ball drop at midnight.

Roxy’s place: 973 Lexington Way

December 31 – January 1

RSVP!

 

In with the new at Paperless Post

 

If you still need some party inspiration, check out our complete guide to New Year’s Eve party ideas—with a quick stop by the Paperless Post Party Shop for New Year’s Eve party decorations to spice the place up before the big event.

Once your invites and wording are ready, it’s time to raise a glass of bubbly—and start picking out the perfect New Year’s Cards for your loved ones who live too far away to attend your bash. From classic designs for family to whimsical cards for longtime friends, Paperless Post’s templates make it easy to add a New Year’s Eve card message idea that’s heartfelt in mere minutes—and will get their new year off to a beautiful beginning.