A holiday cocktail party invitation needs a start and end time (6 to 9 p.m. is typical), the address, a dress code and an honest note about food: passed bites or enough to skip dinner. Add whether partners are invited and an RSVP date. Wording for at-home, formal, open-house and work parties follows. Ready to pick a design? Browse our cocktail party invitation templates.
Use the wording as the message you send with your invitation link, or as the script for your 15-second video message. You can also start from one of our holiday party invitations and send it as a single link.
What to Include on a Holiday Cocktail Party Invitation
A cocktail party is shorter and looser than a dinner, so guests need different information. December weekends fill up fast; in 2026, Friday the 11th, Saturday the 12th, Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th will be the busiest.
- Start and end time. An end time is normal for a cocktail party and helps guests plan a second stop.
- Food expectations: "light bites", "heavy hors d'oeuvres" or "a full spread", so guests know whether to eat first.
- Dress code: "festive cocktail attire" is the usual phrase; say "come as you are" if you mean it.
- Who's invited: plus-ones, partners, kids or not.
- The drink: a signature cocktail, a wine theme, and zero-proof options if you have them.
- Parking or transport if the street is tight or guests will be drinking.
- RSVP date, a week to ten days before.
Quick Picks
| Party | Tone | Opening line |
|---|---|---|
| Friends at home | Warm | "Holiday drinks at our place." |
| Formal evening | Polished | "Request the pleasure of your company for holiday cocktails." |
| Open house | Easy | "Drop in any time between 4 and 8." |
| Office or clients | Professional | "Join us to toast the year." |
| Neighbors | Friendly | "Come over for a drink by the tree." |
Holiday Cocktail Party Wording for Friends at Home
Warm
Holiday drinks at our place
Saturday, December 12 · 7 to 10 p.m. · [address]
Mulled wine, a cranberry spritz and plenty of snacks.
Festive attire encouraged, sweaters welcome. Please RSVP by December 4.
The tree is up and the bar is stocked.
Join us for holiday cocktails, Friday, December 18, from 7 p.m.
Bring your favorite person; we'll bring the eggnog.
Playful
Shaken, stirred or zero-proof: the bar opens at 8.
Holiday cocktail night at [name]'s, Saturday, December 19.
Dress code: anything that sparkles.
Come for one drink, stay for the playlist.
Holiday cocktails, Friday, December 11, 7 to 10.
Formal Holiday Cocktail Party Wording
Full version
Mr. and Mrs. [Last name]
request the pleasure of your company
for holiday cocktails
Saturday, the nineteenth of December
seven until ten o'clock in the evening
[Address]
Festive cocktail attire · Kindly reply by December 5
An evening of champagne and candlelight.
Please join us for a holiday cocktail reception
Friday, December 18, at 7:30 p.m.
Black tie optional.
Holiday Open House Wording
An open house lets guests come and go across a few hours. Say so clearly, or everyone arrives at the start time.
Holiday open house
Sunday, December 13 · Drop in any time from 3 to 7 p.m.
Hot cider, cocktails and a cookie table. Kids welcome.
Stop by for a drink, stay as long as you like.
Our door is open Saturday, December 19, 4 to 8 p.m.
Between the shopping and the wrapping, come take a break.
Holiday drinks at ours, Sunday, December 20, any time after 2.
Wording for a Signature Cocktail or Bar Theme
One drink, done right.
Join us for a holiday cocktail party featuring [host]'s cranberry old fashioned.
Saturday, December 12, 7 p.m. Zero-proof version on the menu too.
Build-your-own-cocktail bar: we'll set out the spirits, mixers and garnishes, you bring the creativity.
Friday, December 18, from 7:30 p.m.
Bring a bottle of something you love and tell us the story behind it.
Holiday bottle swap and cocktails, Saturday, December 19.
Office and Client Holiday Cocktail Wording
Join us to toast the year.
[Company] Holiday Cocktail Reception
Thursday, December 10 · 5:30 to 8 p.m. · [venue]
Drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Partners welcome. Please RSVP by December 3.
Thank you for a great year.
We'd love to raise a glass with our clients and partners.
Holiday cocktails at [venue], Wednesday, December 16, from 6 p.m.
For a full staff party with dinner or games, see our office Christmas party invitations.
A Candlelit or Live-Music Evening
Carols, cocktails and candlelight.
[Friend] is playing the piano, Saturday, December 19, from 8 p.m.
Bring a song request with your RSVP.
A quiet holiday evening for a few friends: jazz on the record player, a fire and a good bottle.
Friday, December 11, 8 p.m.
Say It in Your 15-Second Video Message
- "Holiday drinks at our place on the twelfth! Seven to ten. Dress festive and bring your favorite person."
- "We're making cranberry old fashioneds and there's a zero-proof version too. Tap Yes so we get enough ice."
- "Open house Sunday, drop in any time between three and seven."
Text-Message Versions
- "Holiday cocktails at ours, Sat Dec 12, 7–10. Invite in the link, RSVP there."
- "Open house Sunday 3–7. Come for one drink or stay all afternoon."
- "Our holiday party is cocktails and heavy apps, so no need to eat first."
- "Festive cocktail attire, but sweaters count."
- "Can you let us know by Friday? We're ordering the food."
Tricky Lines for Cocktail Invitations
- Not a dinner: "Light bites only, so plan to eat before or after."
- Plenty of food: "Heavy hors d'oeuvres, enough to skip dinner."
- Adults only: "This one's for grown-ups. We hope you can get a sitter."
- No plus-ones: "Our place is small, so the invitation is just for you."
- Ending on time: "Last call at 10."
- Getting home: "Street parking is tight; a rideshare is easiest."
- Non-drinkers: "There will be good zero-proof options too."
When to Send Holiday Cocktail Party Invitations
| Party | Send the invite | RSVP by | Follow up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friends at home | 3–4 weeks ahead | 7–10 days before | 2 days before with parking |
| Formal reception | 5–6 weeks ahead | 2 weeks before | 1 week before with dress code |
| Open house | 3 weeks ahead | 5 days before | The day before |
| Office or clients | 4–6 weeks ahead | 1–2 weeks before | 3 days before with venue details |
For holiday parties, the first week of November is not too early for a Saturday in mid-December. For more general seasonal wording, see our Christmas party invitation wording; for year-round cocktail ideas, see elegant cocktail party invitations. To compare more designs, browse our cocktail party invitation ideas.
How to Send It as a Video Invitation
- Pick a holiday template in the TwistInvite app, add your event details, and add your own photos, video or audio if you like, such as a clip of your bar cart or a song you'll play.
- Hold to record a 15-second voice message describing the signature drink or the dress code.
- Share the link by text to each guest or in a group chat, with your wording as the message.
- Track replies in the app. Guests open the invitation in their browser and answer Going, Can't make it or Maybe without downloading anything or creating an account.
The free plan includes 3 events a month. Premium starts at $2.99 a week. Get the TwistInvite app.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a holiday cocktail party invitation include?
The start and end time, the address, the dress code, what kind of food to expect, whether partners or plus-ones are invited, any parking or transport notes and an RSVP date about a week to ten days before.
What time should a holiday cocktail party be?
Evening cocktail parties usually run about three hours, often 6 to 9 p.m. or 7 to 10 p.m. A holiday open house is longer, for example 3 to 7 p.m., with guests coming and going.
What does festive cocktail attire mean?
It means cocktail dresses, dressy separates or a suit or blazer, with something seasonal such as velvet, sequins, a red tie or sparkly accessories. If you mean casual, say so on the invitation.
How do I tell guests whether dinner is served?
Name the food plainly. Light bites means guests should eat before or after; heavy hors d'oeuvres means there is enough to skip dinner. One clear line prevents hungry guests.
When should I send holiday cocktail party invitations?
Three to four weeks ahead for a party at home and five to six weeks ahead for a formal or work reception. Mid-December weekends book up early, so early November is a good time to send.
Do guests need an app to RSVP?
No. The host creates the invitation in the TwistInvite app. Guests open the link in a browser and reply 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.