I love how simple an invite can be to a dinner party. My friend recently sent this darling email to our family and one other (her son and family).
She was saying that they were open, and that they wanted to accommodate our schedule.
How lovely! (Our friend is sort-of a Mom figure to me. Wise and a wonderful mentor. So she calls herself “Mom.”)
Dinner at Mom’s
Saturday night
8/18
6:00pm
RSVP soon….
or Sunday?
And we JUMPED at the chance to go to dinner with them, because she is the Hostess with the Mostest!
Sometimes we can use humor and creativity when we invite others into our homes, can’t we? I’m glad. And for this invite we chose Sunday.
Oh, and the results of the invite? An amazing hot summer’s night with dinner outside with an incredible view and great people – the adults at one table and the kids at the other – with the food so delicious, I had to go back for seconds.
And then fresh peach pie …
Do you have a hard time doing the actual “invite” when you want to have guests over, or do you just pick up the phone and call or email?
Hi, I'm Sandy. Five years ago I stocked up on beautiful glasses from the Dollar Store. As I started writing about dinner parties, I realized that this “icon” portrays a great message. It says that dinner parties are attainable, they are affordable, and that they can be beautiful even when on a budget. 
I sent a text to our friends yesterday, just a quick thought cause we weren’t too busy this weekend:
“Not sure how busy you are this weekend but you’re all welcome to come for lunch on Saturday, hopefully we’ll get to try out the new BBQ.”
They replied saying that is sounded lovely, they also offered to bring pudding and I accepted, if there’s one thing I’ve learned about entertaining here it’s that it’s ok to share the responsibility for everything – I don’t have to do it all!
It was just a quick thought but I’m really looking forward to it now and if it rains we’ll just use the oven. I’m looking forward to catching up with our friends and their 2year old daughter.
Have a lovely day,
Jade
Jade @ No Longer 25´s last [type] ..Inspiring September
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Isn’t it wonderful when we get an invite for a meal with someone we care about? Being called a gracious hostess is the highest of compliments and one I strive for. Making others feel welcomed and relaxed is a great loving act. You were very blessed by your friend! What a sincere reminder! Thanks.
Yvonne
Yvonne´s last [type] ..Bees and Sunflower Tablescape
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I love the idea of doing more formal invitations because I love getting mail and handwritten cards. It’s a little easier when you’re working with your own postal system!
Around here, it doesn’t really matter how we ask, we’re just thrilled to spend time with each other- it can get a little lonely!
Tara G.´s last [type] ..Secure in His Manhood
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Jade @ No Longer 25 Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 9:04 am
I never thought about sending formal invitations before, but you’re so right that it’s lovely to receive mail. I’ve just send 3 letters off to friends today, it’s such a lovely surprise to get real mail. I find a written letter so much more personal than an email, I love seeing my friends writting on the envelope – I always know who it’s from before I even open it!
Jade @ No Longer 25´s last [type] ..Inspiring September
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I must say that making an invitation is actually quite scary for me. What if they turn me down? That’s why I love email so much – less angst!!
Lynn from For Love or Funny´s last [type] ..Wall decal giveaway!
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I usually just pick up the phone and invite. I love group dinner’s too! I have not got to do any lately with a wee baby but I hope to get back into the swing of things real soon.
Regina Williams´s last [type] ..Football Time!!!
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Oh, for me it’s usually just a phone call! Those are my favorite invitations to receive too. Just a call.
Your blog is lovely!
http://www.yourblogislovely.blogspot.com
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Love that! Having people in our homes to visit is important to us. Nothing replaces that time your spend when others, building relationships in a casual setting.
Amy from She Wears Many Hats´s last [type] ..Picking Grapes
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I am SO ENVIOUS of all of you who have friends with open schedules and a willingness to make a get together work. My husband and I would LOVE to have more dinners or lunches with friends but the reality is people are so busy that neither impromptu nor planning ahead works. If we want to have a gathering for something important and we want to ensure a good turnout, if we do not tell people 5-6 MONTHS in advance to ‘save the date’, they are already committed elsewhere. And calling friends up to ask them to come to dinner in a few days or few weeks has thus far not been a positive experience. They always have something else going on, another commitment, and cannot make it work. I accept that people cannot say yes to everything (my husband and I included) but its a shame that people don’t have more free time to allow time for fun and fellowship and nurturing their friendship relationships because of never ending schedules.
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I think I always wait to invite until it’s too late… then something comes up
I should resolve to get better at this!
Molly @ The Creative Maven´s last [type] ..This n that
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With our work and love of hospitality, we have many drop ins and invited a week ahead or hour before times of guests. I have learned to not freak out! I do love to set a beautiful table, ministering through beauty of food and fellowship. But with schedules and people not always fitting with to that, I have my system worked out to hopefully avoid melt down and yelling sessions fraught with tension.
We call and email typically a week to 7 -hours ahead. After Sunday church seems to be a good time in general for many peoples’ schedules. Friday nights after a long week…
I have told my daughter if their friends can never come, find some new friends who will make time for you! Loneliness is a huge malady in today’s society.
When I want to plan ahead or do something a bit more special, I invite via phone or email. If it is an occasion like a shower, written mailed invites with email RSVP address and phone number given.
As to drop ins or impromptus, I always have some food on hand. Fired rice or baked potato are quick meals along with frozen spaghetti sauce. One night we had box mac and cheese, PBJ crackers and tomato, carrot, cucumber pepper and cheese salad and popcorn. We had played games all afternoon after church and it drifted into the night. Love those times!
That bag of frozen chicken and a few canned or frozen staples never go to waste!
Sorry for the long answer…I could write about about what I have learned through trail and error in 30 years of
hosting of friends, coworkers and others.
Linda´s last [type] ..Where I am blogging these days…
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Last week, I decided to throw an “Impromptu End of Summer Potluck Party”. My kids wanted to do a luau and I wanted to get all the fun decorations and make all the great food but soon realized that I wouldn’t be able to pull that off financially. Sooooo, last week I sent out Facebook invites to the potluck to my friends, a couple emails and let my neighbors know in person. Tonight is the night. I made a handmade banner with paper I already had and I am making hot dogs and brats on the grill. The sangria is chilling in the fridge and everyone else is bringing a side dish. So simple. I hope you enjoy your dinner party.
Carmen @ Life with Sprinkles on Top´s last [type] ..Squeezing in the last bit of summer
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