Birthday Invitation Text Message Wording: 25 Messages to Copy and Send

What every birthday text needs

• Whose birthday and how old, if the age is part of the fun. "Leo is turning 5" does more than "birthday party".
• The day and date together, with a start and an end time.
• The address, or the venue name and the address. Guests tap addresses on a phone, so write it the way maps apps read it.
• What kind of party: cake at home, a trampoline park, dinner out, drinks. It sets expectations about food and dress.
• How to reply and by when. One line: "Text me back by the 10th" or a link where they tap yes or no.
• One extra line only if it matters: drop-off or stay, no gifts, bring a swimsuit.

Kids' birthday texts to parents (6)

These go to the parents, not the child, so write them parent to parent and answer the drop-off question up front.

• "Hi! Maya is turning 6 and would love Ella at her party. Saturday, May 10, 2 to 4 pm at our place, 12 Oak Street. Cake, games and a bounce house. Drop-off is fine. Can you let me know by May 3?"
• "Leo's 4th birthday! Sunday, March 8, 10 to 11:30 am, at Little Gym on Main Street. Parents stay for this one. Tell me if Sam can come by March 1, and any allergies."
• "Noah is turning 8 and we're taking a few friends to the trampoline park. Saturday, June 14, 1 to 3 pm, Bounce Zone, 40 River Road. Socks provided, pizza after. Drop off at 1, pick up at 3. Let me know by June 7."
• "Pool party for Ava's 7th! Saturday, July 19, 3 to 5 pm, 8 Lake Drive. Bring a swimsuit and a towel; we have floats and lifeguard eyes on at all times. A parent stays, please. RSVP by July 12."
• "Emma is turning 10 and wants a sleepover with her closest friends. Friday, April 4, 6 pm to 10 am Saturday, at ours. Pizza, a film and pancakes in the morning. Can Lily come? Reply by March 28."
• "Ben's 2nd birthday, a small one. Sunday, September 21, 10 am to noon, at 5 Birch Lane. Cake and a play in the garden. Siblings welcome. Just text me yes or no by the 14th."

Teen birthday texts (4)

Teens get the text themselves. Keep it short, keep it casual and make sure a parent has the details too.

• "Jake's turning 14. Laser tag Saturday the 17th, 4 to 6 pm at Zone X on Market Street, then pizza. Let me know by Wednesday if you're in."
• "Sophie is 16! Dinner and a movie, Friday, October 10. Meet at Rosa's at 6, film at 8:15. Text me yes or no by the 3rd so I can book the table."
• "Birthday bonfire for Mia, Saturday, August 2, 7 to 10 pm, at 22 Beach Road. S'mores and music. Parents are welcome to stay or pick up at 10. Reply by July 26."
• "Max is turning 13 and we're doing a gaming night. Saturday, February 7, 5 to 9 pm, at ours. Bring a controller if you have one. Text back by the 1st."

Adult birthday texts, casual (5)

• "Drinks for my birthday! Friday, June 6, from 8 pm at The Corner Bar, 15 High Street. No gifts, just come. Let me know if you can make it."
• "Dana's birthday brunch, Sunday, March 15, 11 am at Café Luna. We're a table of 10, so tell me by the 8th if you're in."
• "BBQ at ours for Sam's birthday. Saturday, July 12, from 3 pm, 9 Elm Street. Bring what you want to drink, we've got the food. Kids welcome. Reply by the 5th."
• "It's my birthday on Thursday and I'm doing nothing about it except dinner. Luigi's, 7:30 pm, the 20th. Come if you're free, no pressure. Yes or no by Tuesday?"
• "Game night for Priya's birthday. Saturday, November 8, 7 pm, flat 4 at 31 Park Road. Snacks and drinks provided, bring a game if you have a favorite. Let me know by the 1st."

Milestone birthday texts (4)

A 30th, 40th, 50th or 60th deserves a slightly fuller message, and usually a dress code line.

• "Tom is turning 40 and we're celebrating properly. Saturday, May 24, 7 pm until late, at The Loft, 220 Market Street. Dinner, drinks and a dance floor. Smart dress. Please reply by May 10."
• "Rachel's 30th! Rooftop drinks at Sky Bar, Friday, September 12, from 8 pm. Dress up a little. Let me know by September 5 so I can give them a number."
• "Dad is turning 60 and the family is gathering for lunch. Sunday, April 27, 1 pm, at Oak House, 3 Mill Lane. All ages welcome. Please reply by April 13."
• "Maria's 50th, a garden party. Saturday, June 21, from 4 pm, at 18 Rose Avenue. Food, music and a toast at sunset. Rain or shine, we have a tent. RSVP by June 7."

Surprise party texts (3)

Put the word "surprise" first, give an arrival time that is well before the guest of honor's, and never send it to a shared or family phone.

• "SURPRISE party for Alex's 35th! Saturday, March 22. Be at our place, 7 Hill Street, by 6:30 pm sharp. Alex arrives at 7. Please don't mention it anywhere. Reply to me by March 15."
• "Shh. We're surprising Nina for her 30th. Friday, August 15, The Green Room, 50 Canal Street. Guests at 7:45 pm, Nina at 8:15. Park on the next street over. Text me yes or no by August 8."
• "Surprise birthday brunch for Mom's 65th. Sunday, October 5, 11 am, at our house. Arrive by 10:45. She thinks it's just us. Let me know by September 28."

Last-minute invites and reminders (3)

• Last-minute: "Short notice, sorry! Small birthday dinner for Chris tomorrow, Thursday, 7:30 pm at Bella's on Main. Would love you there if you're free. Can you tell me by tonight?"
• Reminder: "Quick reminder: Maya's party is this Saturday, 2 to 4 pm at 12 Oak Street. Haven't heard back from a few people, so let me know either way. Thanks!"
• Day-of: "See you at 2 today for Maya's party! 12 Oak Street, parking on the street is fine. Text me if you get lost."

Length and etiquette for texting

• Keep it under about 300 characters, which is two text messages or one short WhatsApp bubble. Everything above should fit; if it doesn't, cut the adjectives before the details.
• Lead with the news, not a greeting. "Maya is turning 6!" beats "Hi, hope you're well, I wanted to ask..."
• One message, not three. Guests reply to the last thing they read, so put the reply request at the end.
• Text each family separately for a kids' party. A group text with twenty parents fills with replies-all and side conversations, and it exposes everyone's number.
• A group chat works for a small adult party where everyone already knows each other, and it can double as the planning thread.
• Send at a reasonable hour, roughly between 9 am and 8 pm. A text at 11 pm reads as urgent even when it isn't.
• Put the full address, not "ours", unless you are sure every recipient has been to your home.
• Avoid questions that need a paragraph to answer. "Any allergies?" is fine; "What does your child like to eat?" is not.

How far ahead to text, and when to follow up

Two to three weeks ahead for a kids' party or a casual adult one, four to six weeks for a milestone with a venue. Ask for replies a week before, then send one reminder to the people who have not answered. Do not chase more than once by text; a quick call is kinder than a third message.

Replies in one place, not in your messages

The weakness of a text invitation is the replies: twenty threads, a "maybe" you forgot to count and a cousin who answered in a different app. Blast fixes that half. It makes an animated video invitation with music that you send as a link by text, WhatsApp or email, and guests RSVP from the invite without an account, so the replies land on your private dashboard and by email instead of scattered across your phone. It runs in the browser, there is no app to install, and it is free to create and send. For a kids' party the designs Balloons & Cupcakes, Cake Piping, Skywriting and Party Time fit the texts above; for a milestone, Marquee 30, Marquee 40, Marquee 50, Neon, Vinyl and The Main Event carry the age in the design.