Formal & Informal Invitations and Replies

Formal & Informal Invitations and Replies

An invitation asks someone to attend an event; a reply accepts or declines it. The task carries about 4 marks and a limit of roughly 50 words. There are two clearly different styles, and mixing them is a common error.

Formal invitation (card style) - used for weddings, official functions, inaugurations, prize days. Written in the third person, no salutation, no signature; the host's name appears as part of the printed text. Include: host, occasion, day/date/time, venue, and RSVP.

Informal invitation (letter style) - a short personal note to a friend or relative. Written in the first person, with a salutation ("Dear Ravi"), warm tone, and a signature.

Replies follow the same register: a formal reply is in the third person ("Mr and Mrs Sharma thank... and are pleased to accept / regret their inability to attend"); an informal reply is a friendly note.

Exact format - formal invitation

Mr and Mrs X
request the pleasure of your company
on the occasion of ___________
on <day>, <date> at <time>
at <venue>.
R.S.V.P.  <name, phone>

CBSE marking scheme (4 marks)

• Format - 1 mark: correct third-person (formal) / first-person (informal) layout, all details present.
• Content - 2 marks: occasion, date, time, venue, RSVP / all required points.
• Expression - 1 mark: accuracy and appropriate register.

Model example (formal)

Mr and Mrs Anil Verma

request the pleasure of your company

at the wedding reception of their daughter

Ananya with Mr Rohan Kapoor

on Sunday, 14 December 2026 at 7:30 p.m.

at The Grand Regency, MG Road, Nagpur.

R.S.V.P.: 98xxxxxx10 …