White Elephant Party Invitations: Wording, Rules and Designs

A white elephant party is a gift exchange where guests bring one wrapped gift, draw numbers and then either open a new gift or steal one that someone else has already opened. It is fun, a little chaotic and popular at holiday parties with friends, family and coworkers. The invitation matters more than usual because guests need to know the price limit and the basic rules before they shop.

Here is what to put on a white elephant party invitation, wording you can copy and a simple set of rules to share. You can also start from one of our Secret Santa invitations and send it as a single link.

Featured TwistInvite DesignSnowman Gift SwapMake the invitation in the TwistInvite app and share one link. Guests RSVP in their browser, with no account needed.

Quick Answer: What a White Elephant Invitation Needs

Guests need four things before they shop: the date and place, the gift budget, “wrap it and don’t label it,” and the basic rules. A complete invite you can copy:

White Elephant Party! Saturday, Dec 12 at 7 pm at our place. Bring one wrapped, unlabeled gift, $25 limit. Draw numbers, open or steal, 3 steals and it’s locked. RSVP by Dec 8.

What to Include on a White Elephant Invitation

• Date, time and place.
• The gift budget, for example “$25 limit.” This is the single most important line.
• The type of gift: funny, useful, re-gifted, themed or anything goes.
• “Wrap it and don’t label it.” Gifts should be anonymous.
• How the game works, or a link to the rules.
• Food and drinks: potluck, snacks provided or dinner first.
• RSVP deadline, so you can plan numbers.

White Elephant Party Invitation Wording

Classic

You’re invited to a White Elephant Gift Exchange!
Saturday, December 12 · 7 pm · The Morales home
Bring one wrapped gift, $25 limit. Steal, swap and laugh.
Snacks and drinks provided. Please RSVP by December 8.

Funny

Bring a gift. Steal a better one. Lose friends (temporarily).
White Elephant Party, Friday, Dec 18, 7 pm. $20 limit, the weirder the better.

Our annual battle for the good gifts is back. White elephant, Saturday the 19th at 6. Wrap something ridiculous under $30.

For family

Family White Elephant after Christmas dinner! Everyone over 12 brings one wrapped gift, $25 max. Kids get their own swap.

For work

Team White Elephant Exchange
Thursday, December 17, 3 pm, Conference Room B
Participation is optional. If you’d like to join, bring one wrapped, work-appropriate gift up to $20.
Please RSVP by Monday so we can plan snacks.

Re-gift or themed

White Elephant, re-gift edition! Bring something you already own but never use, wrapped. Saturday at 7.

Cozy-themed White Elephant: bring a wrapped gift under $25 that would make a winter night better (socks, cocoa, a book). Friday, Dec 11, 7 pm.

White Elephant Rules to Share With Guests

House rules vary. A simple version that works for most groups:

1. Everyone brings one wrapped, unlabeled gift within the budget.
2. Gifts go in a pile. Each player draws a number.
3. Player 1 opens a gift from the pile.
4. Each next player either opens a new gift or steals an opened gift.
5. Anyone whose gift is stolen chooses again: open a new gift or steal a different one (no immediate steal-backs).
6. A gift can be stolen up to three times; after the third steal it is “frozen.”
7. When the last gift is opened, player 1 may make one final swap.

Paste a short version into your invitation:

Rules: one wrapped gift, $25 limit. Draw numbers, open or steal. Three steals and the gift is locked.

For a deeper rules guide for Secret Santa (a different style of exchange), see Secret Santa rules.

Gift Ideas to Mention

Giving guests a hint helps them shop: board games, cozy socks, a good candle, hot sauce sets, mugs, puzzle books, a plant, local snacks, or something ridiculous like a singing fish. If it is a work party, ask for gifts everyone could use.

Timing and Planning Tips

• Send invitations two to three weeks ahead in December, when calendars fill fast.
• Collect RSVPs to know how many numbers to prepare and whether everyone is bringing a gift.
• Bring one or two spare gifts for guests who forget.
• Set a time for the game, like 8 pm, so late arrivals still get to play.

For more wording, see white elephant invitation wording, funny Christmas party invitations and the Spanish guide to invitaciones para intercambio de regalos.

Video Invitation Designs for a Gift Exchange

TwistInvite has gift-exchange designs such as Snowman Gift Swap and Santa Gift Exchange Party. Open one in the app, add your budget and rules, and share the link by text. Guests watch it in their browser and reply Going, Can’t make it or Maybe, with no account and email optional.

Step-by-Step: How to Host a White Elephant Party

1. Pick the date and budget. Most groups choose a weekend in early to mid December and a $20 to $30 limit.
2. Send the invitation with the budget, rules summary and RSVP date.
3. Prepare numbers on slips of paper, one per player, plus a couple of spare gifts.
4. Set up a gift table where everyone drops off their wrapped gift on arrival.
5. Explain the rules out loud before you start, including the steal limit.
6. Play in number order. Keep it moving: about one to two minutes per turn.
7. End with the final swap for player 1, then let people trade privately if they want.

Wording for Specific Situations

Kids’ white elephant

Kids’ gift swap at 4 pm! Bring one wrapped toy or book, $15 limit. No stealing for under-8s; they just pick from the pile.

Virtual or long-distance swap

Online White Elephant on Thursday, Dec 17 at 7 pm ET. Ship your $25 gift to the host by Dec 11; we’ll open them on video and play the stealing rounds live.

Adults-only party with drinks

Adults-only White Elephant and cocktails, Saturday, Dec 19 at 8. Bring a wrapped gift under $30, the funnier the better. Please arrange a safe ride home.

Reminder message

Reminder: White Elephant is Saturday! Don’t forget your wrapped gift ($25 limit). Numbers will be drawn at 7:30.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Leaving out the price limit, so gifts range from $5 to $80.
• Not explaining the stealing rule before the game starts.
• No steal limit, so the game drags on.
• Forgetting spare gifts for guests who arrive empty-handed.
• Gag gifts at a work party that embarrass someone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a white elephant invitation say?

Include the date, time and place, the gift budget, that gifts should be wrapped and unlabeled, a short version of the rules and an RSVP date.

What is a good price limit for white elephant?

$20 to $30 is common for friends and coworkers. Choose a number that works for everyone and put it on the invitation.

What is the difference between white elephant and Secret Santa?

In Secret Santa, each person is assigned someone to buy for. In white elephant, gifts are anonymous and players can steal gifts that others have opened.

How many people do you need for white elephant?

It works with about six people and up. Larger groups add more stealing, so consider a steal limit to keep the game moving.

Can kids play white elephant?

Yes. Many families run a separate kids’ swap with a lower budget and no stealing for young children so nobody ends up upset.

Do you bring a gift if you can’t afford the budget?

The host should choose a budget everyone can manage. If you can’t, it’s fine to bring a thoughtful homemade gift or a re-gift and let the host know.

Make Your White Elephant Invitation

Pick a Christmas or gift-exchange design and send one link to the group. Browse Christmas video invitations.