A client appreciation dinner invitation should open with the thank-you, not the logistics: say why you're hosting ("to thank you for a great year working together"), then give the date, time, restaurant, dress code, whether partners are invited and a reply-by date. Keep any business agenda out of it. Wording for small dinners, year-end banquets, supper clubs and galas is below.
For other company events, such as launches and conferences, see our business event invitation wording guide. Ready-made designs are on our dinner party invitations page, each with RSVP built in.
What to Include
- The reason, first: a year of working together, a milestone, a project finished, the holiday season.
- Who is hosting: a named person (the partner, founder or account lead) reads warmer than the company alone.
- Date, time and an end time, or at least "dinner at 7:30."
- Restaurant or venue, with the private room's name and parking or valet notes.
- Dress code: business attire, smart casual or cocktail.
- Who is invited: just the client, the client and a partner, or the client's team.
- Reply-by date and how to reply.
- A question about dietary needs.
Client Dinner Etiquette Worth Getting Right
- No sales pitch. If the invitation mentions a presentation, it's a sales event, not a thank-you. Say so plainly, or leave it out.
- Invite partners on purpose. Decide whether spouses and partners are included and say it on the invitation; don't leave guests to guess.
- Respect hospitality policies. Some clients, especially in government, healthcare or finance, have limits on accepting hospitality. A line such as "We understand if your company's policy doesn't allow it" lets them decline gracefully.
- Avoid quarter-end and the busiest December week. Early December, January or a spring date often gets more acceptances.
- Send it from a person. A personal note from the person the client works with matters more than the design.
Thank-You Opening Lines
Use one of these as the first line, then add the details.
You've made this a remarkable year for us, and we'd like to thank you properly.
Ten years of working together deserves more than an email. Join us for dinner.
The project is finished, the launch went well, and dinner is on us.
Before the year closes, we'd like to raise a glass to the people who made it.
No agenda, no slides. Just dinner and our thanks.
Small Private Dinner for Key Clients
Formal
Elena Marsh and the partners of Marsh & Cole
request the pleasure of your company
at a dinner of thanks
Thursday, the third of December, at half past seven
The Library Room, Ardmore Hotel
Business attire · Kindly reply by November 23
Please join us for a private dinner to thank you for your partnership this year. Thursday, December 3, at 7:30 p.m., in the Library Room at the Ardmore Hotel. We've reserved a table for eight. Please reply by November 23 and let us know about any dietary needs.
Warm
Jen, we've loved working with you and your team this year. Would you join us for dinner on Thursday, December 3? 7:30 p.m. at Lantern, private room. Partners very welcome. Reply by the 23rd.
Pair it with: Candlelit Supper. A lamp-lit private dining room with burgundy chairs, white linen and brass table lamps, ending on a "You're invited" place card, looks like the room you'd book for a small client dinner.
Year-End Client Appreciation Dinner
A larger dinner for all your clients, often in December or January. Name the occasion and make the guest policy clear.
To our clients and friends: thank you for an extraordinary year. Please join the team at Northwind for our annual Client Appreciation Dinner, Friday, December 11, at 7 p.m., The Grand Ballroom, Belmont Hotel. Cocktail attire. You and a guest are warmly invited. Please reply by November 30.
Our year-end dinner is our favorite night of the year, because you're there. Thursday, January 21, 7 p.m., Riverside Club. Dinner, a short toast and no speeches longer than two minutes. Reply by January 11.
Pair it with: Gilded Palace Banquet. A long banquet table under crystal chandeliers is set with ivory linen, tall candles and burgundy-and-white roses in a gilded hall, which fits a large annual dinner for clients.
Relaxed Supper Club or Chef's Table
For smaller, creative or startup clients, a relaxed evening often works better than a ballroom.
A thank-you supper for our favorite clients: good food, natural wine and no business talk. Wednesday, December 9, 7 p.m., chef's table at Olive & Ember. Twelve seats. Reply by December 1.
We're closing the year the best way we know: around a long table with the people we work with. Friday, December 11, 7:30 p.m. Smart casual. Tell us by December 2 if you can make it.
Pair it with: Moonlight Supper Club. An illustrated pink-striped design shows friends toasting around a table under olive branches and paper lanterns. Its built-in lines ("An evening of dinner, drinks, and warm conversation" and "Dress code: Effortless evening elegance") fit a relaxed client supper, so make sure your own dress code matches.
Client Appreciation Evening or Gala
The partners of Harlow & Finch invite you to an evening of appreciation: cocktails, dinner and music. Saturday, December 5, 7 p.m., The Grand Hall, Ashton Hotel. Black tie optional. Kindly reply by November 20.
Celebrating 25 years with the clients who got us here. Join us Friday, December 4, from 6:30 p.m. at the Lyric Theatre for cocktails, dinner and a few surprises. Cocktail attire.
Pair it with: Midnight Opera Gala. Guests in evening wear on a sweeping stone staircase, crystal chandeliers and a candlelit navy table make it the right choice for a dressy client gala.
Wording by Industry
Real estate: To everyone who bought, sold or trusted us with a referral this year: thank you. Join us for our client appreciation dinner on Thursday, December 10, at 6:30 p.m. Bring your partner; it's our treat.
Financial advisory: Thank you for trusting us with your plans. Please join us and your fellow clients for dinner on Wednesday, January 20, at 7 p.m. There will be no presentation, only good food and conversation.
Agency or studio: You gave us great briefs and better feedback. Let us buy dinner. Tuesday, December 8, 7:30 p.m., Lantern.
Law or accounting firm: The partners of Grant & Ruiz would be delighted to have you as our guest at dinner on Thursday, December 3, at 7 p.m., in appreciation of your continued confidence.
Short Versions for a Text Message
Jen, dinner on us to say thanks for this year? Thu 12/3, 7:30pm. Details + RSVP:
Our Client Appreciation Dinner is Fri 12/11 at 7. You + a guest are invited:
Thank-you supper, no business talk. Wed 12/9, 7pm, 12 seats. Reply by 12/1:
Quick reminder: please reply by Monday for our dinner on the 3rd:
Tricky Lines, Said Gracefully
- Partners invited: "You and your partner are warmly invited."
- Just the client: address the invitation to one name, and add "We've reserved a seat for you."
- Hospitality rules: "We completely understand if your company's policy doesn't allow you to attend."
- No business: "No presentation, no agenda. Just dinner."
- Dietary needs: "Please tell us about any dietary needs so the kitchen can plan."
- After the dinner: "Thank you for joining us last night. It meant a lot to the whole team."
When to Send It
| Dinner | Send | Reply by |
|---|---|---|
| Small private dinner | 3–4 weeks before | 10 days before |
| Year-end dinner in December | 5–6 weeks before (early November) | 2 weeks before |
| January or spring dinner | 4 weeks before | 10–14 days before |
| Gala evening | 6 weeks before | 2 weeks before |
How to Send It as a Video Invitation
- Pick a template in the TwistInvite App that matches the room you booked.
- Add your event details and make it personal. If you like, upload a photo of your team or the venue, or hold to record a 15-second thank-you from the person the client works with. That short voice message often lands better than any wording.
- Share the link by text, or paste it wherever you already contact the client, with your wording in the message.
- Clients open it in their browser and RSVP. They answer Going, Can't make it or Maybe without downloading anything or creating an account, and you see replies in the App.
Get the TwistInvite App to send your client dinner invitation. For more formal phrasing, see our formal dinner invitation wording; for relaxed dinners, our dinner party invitation wording.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you say in a client appreciation invitation?
Open with the thank-you and the reason, then give the date, time, venue, dress code, guest policy and reply-by date. Keep sales and agendas out of it.
Should I invite clients' partners to an appreciation dinner?
It's a generous gesture for evening dinners and year-end events. Decide in advance and say so on the invitation, for example "You and your partner are warmly invited."
How far in advance should I send a client dinner invitation?
Three to four weeks for a small dinner and five to six weeks for a December year-end dinner, when calendars fill quickly.
What if a client isn't allowed to accept hospitality?
Some companies limit what employees can accept. Add a line such as "We completely understand if your company's policy doesn't allow you to attend" so they can decline without awkwardness.
Do clients need an app to RSVP?
No. The host creates the invitation in the TwistInvite App. Clients open the link in any browser and answer Going, Can't make it or Maybe without downloading anything or creating an account.
Create it in the TwistInvite app
Download free on iPhone or Android, then share one link with your guests.