A good dinner invitation text says who's cooking or where you're eating, the day and time, and asks for a yes or no by a certain day. Keep it to two or three lines, name a specific night ("Thursday at 7"), and say whether it's your treat. Below are casual texts to copy for friends, family, coworkers and dates.
These are short messages for casual dinners. For a full printed-style invitation, use our dinner party invitation wording; for black-tie evenings, see formal dinner invitation wording. If you'd rather start from a finished design, browse our dinner party invitations.
What Every Dinner Invite Text Needs
- A specific day and time. "Thursday at 7" gets an answer. "Dinner soon?" gets a heart emoji.
- Where: your address, or the restaurant name and neighborhood.
- What kind of dinner: pasta at home, a potluck, a restaurant, a birthday.
- Who pays, if it's out: "my treat" or "we'll split it."
- Who's invited: just them, them and a partner, kids or no kids.
- A reply-by day, so you know how much to buy or how big a table to book.
Two or three lines is plenty. If you need more (parking, dress code, a menu), send a digital invitation link and keep the text as the short note on top.
Inviting Friends Over for Dinner
Easygoing
Making a giant pot of chili on Saturday. Come eat some of it? 7ish at ours.
Dinner at my place Thursday at 7? Nothing fancy, just pasta and catching up. Let me know by Tuesday.
We finally have a table that seats six. Want to help us break it in? Friday, 7:30.
Taco night at ours on Sunday, 6 p.m. Bring your appetite and whoever you're seeing these days.
A little funny
I bought too much salmon. This is your problem now. Saturday at 7.
Official notice: you are summoned to dinner. Wednesday, 7 p.m., my apartment. Dress code: whatever you wore to work.
Trying a new recipe on Friday and I need witnesses. Dinner at 7? Worst case we order pizza.
Pair it with: Moonlight Supper Club, an illustrated design with olive branches, paper lanterns and a table of line-drawn guests. Its built-in lines read "An evening of dinner, drinks, and warm conversation," which fits a relaxed dinner at home with a little polish.
Inviting Someone to Dinner Out
When it's a restaurant, the one thing people want to know is who's paying. Say it in the first text so nobody has to ask.
Your treat
Let me take you to dinner to say thanks for all the help with the move. [Restaurant] on Friday at 7:30? My treat.
Splitting
A few of us are doing dinner at [restaurant] on Thursday, 7 p.m. We'll split the bill. In?
Booking a table
Booking a table for Saturday at 8 at the new ramen place. Can you make it? I need numbers by Wednesday.
Catch-up
It's been way too long. Dinner next week? I'm free Tuesday or Thursday. You pick, I'll book.
Texts for Family Dinners
Sunday dinner at our place this week, 5 p.m. Kids welcome, obviously. Can you bring a salad?
Mom, Dad: dinner here on the 14th at 6? We'll cook, you just show up.
Grandma's recipe night is back. Friday at 6, our house. Tell me who's coming so I make enough dumplings.
Family group chat: dinner at Aunt Rosa's on Saturday, 6:30. Reply here with a headcount for your house by Thursday.
Pair it with: A Seat at the Table Brunch. Despite the name, nothing in it says brunch: it's a candlelit table with olive branches, a napkin tied with green ribbon and a hand setting a place card, with the line "For slow meals, good company, and thoughtful hosting." Good for a family dinner or a Sunday supper.
Girls' Dinner and Supper Club Texts
Girls' dinner, Friday at 7:30. I'm making risotto, you're bringing the gossip. Wine optional but encouraged.
Supper club, round two. My place, Saturday the 21st, 7 p.m. Everyone brings one dish. Reply with yours so we don't get four desserts.
For a whole guide on this, see our girls' night invitations.
Pair it with: Gather the Girls Supper Club, a soft watercolor design with cherry blossoms, champagne and red wine glasses, a berry cake and oysters. The artwork reads "Good plates · Full glasses · Long conversations," so it suits exactly this kind of evening.
Coworkers and Team Dinners
Team dinner to celebrate the launch: Thursday at 6:30, Bistro Lune. The company's covering it. Please reply by Monday so I can confirm the table.
Hi Priya, a few of us are taking Mark out for a farewell dinner on Friday at 7. We'd love for you to come. Let me know by Wednesday?
With coworkers, say whether partners are invited and who's paying. It saves an awkward moment at the end of the meal.
Asking Someone to Dinner (Date or Partner)
I'd like to take you to dinner. Are you free Saturday? I know a good Italian place.
Date night, Friday at 8. I'm cooking. All you have to do is show up.
I've been wanting to try Oak & Ember since it opened. Would you go with me on Thursday? 7:30?
Neighbors and New Friends
Hi, it's Jess from 4B! We're having a few neighbors over for dinner on Saturday at 6:30. Would you two like to join?
Great meeting you at the school pickup. We're doing a casual dinner Friday at 6, kids welcome. Want to come?
Last-Minute and Same-Day Invites
Random, but are you free tonight? I made way too much curry. Come by at 7.
Last-minute dinner at ours tomorrow, 7 p.m. No pressure if you've got plans.
Short notice works best with an easy out ("no pressure") so people don't feel bad saying no.
Follow-Ups: Nudges, Changes and Thank-Yous
- Nudge: "Still hoping you can make Saturday! Let me know by tomorrow so I can shop."
- Headcount: "Quick check: is it just you, or are you bringing Sam?"
- Allergies: "Anything you don't eat? I'm planning the menu."
- Time change: "Change of plans: dinner's at 7:30 instead of 7. Same place."
- Reschedule: "So sorry, we have to move dinner. Could you do next Friday instead?"
- Day of: "See you at 7! Parking is easiest on Elm Street."
- Thank you: "Thanks for coming last night. Let's not wait so long next time."
Say It in a 15-Second Video Message
Friends
"Hey! We're finally hosting dinner, Saturday at seven. I'm making the lasagna you keep asking about. Tap yes so I know how big a pan to use."
Family
"Hi everyone, Sunday dinner is back at our place. Five o'clock, kids welcome, and Dad is grilling. Let us know who's coming by Thursday."
When to Send a Dinner Invite Text
| Type of dinner | Send | Ask for a reply by |
|---|---|---|
| Weeknight dinner with friends | 3 to 7 days before | 1 to 2 days before |
| Weekend dinner at home | 1 to 2 weeks before | 3 to 4 days before |
| Restaurant with a reservation | 1 to 2 weeks before | Before you book |
| Family or holiday dinner | 2 to 4 weeks before | About a week before |
| Same-day invite | Morning of | Early afternoon |
When a Text Isn't Enough
A plain text works for two or three people. Once you're inviting a bigger group, mixing friends who don't know each other, or need a clear headcount, a text thread gets messy: replies scatter, someone misses the address and three people ask about parking.
That's where a digital invitation helps. With TwistInvite, you pick a template in the App, add your event details and, if you like, your own photos, video or audio, then share the link by text. The text you send with it can be any of the lines above. Guests open the invitation in their browser and answer Going, Can't make it or Maybe without downloading anything or creating an account, and you see the replies in one place in the App. More on that in online invitations with RSVP.
Pair it with: Sip & Savor, a black-and-white ink drawing of a crowded dinner table seen from above, with wine glasses, oysters, pasta and hands raising a toast. Its built-in text says "an evening of good food and easy conversation," which suits nearly any casual dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you casually invite someone to dinner over text?
Name a specific day and time, say where and what kind of dinner it is, and give an easy way to answer: "Dinner at mine Thursday at 7? Just pasta. Let me know by Tuesday."
How do I say who is paying in a dinner invitation text?
Put it in the first message. "My treat" means you are paying; "we'll split the bill" means everyone pays their share. Saying it up front avoids an awkward moment when the check comes.
How far ahead should I text a dinner invitation?
Three to seven days for a weeknight dinner with friends, one to two weeks for a weekend dinner party, and two to four weeks for a family or holiday dinner.
Is it rude to invite someone to dinner by text?
No. Texting is the normal way to invite friends, family and coworkers to a casual dinner. For a formal dinner or a big celebration, send a proper invitation and use the text as a short personal note with it.
What should I do if someone doesn't reply to my dinner invite?
Send one friendly nudge a day or two before you need numbers, such as "Still hoping you can make Saturday! Let me know by tomorrow." If they still don't answer, plan without them.
Can guests RSVP to a TwistInvite dinner invitation without the app?
Yes. You create the invitation in the TwistInvite App and text the link. Guests open it in their browser and answer Going, Can't make it or Maybe with no download or account.
Create it in the TwistInvite app
Download free on iPhone or Android, then share one link with your guests.