Business Invitation Business invitations can be informal or formal. Although formal invitations are usually sent through the mail, informal invitations via e-mail and phone invitations are becoming more acceptable. Invitation Timing For most formal occasions, it’s best to invite guests three or four weeks in advance. If you choose to invite your guests by phone, remind them again in writing two weeks before the gathering. Here are a few guidelines for your information: ● Six to eight months before an important seminar to which out-of-town executives are invited. ● Four weeks before an evening reception. ● Two to four weeks before a cocktail party. Invitation Format Formal business invitations are most commonly printed on white or off-white high-quality paper. A company can use any color of paper it desires, as long as it upholds and promotes the company’s image. With preprinted invitations, you simply fill in the blanks to tell what, where, and when the party will be and who is giving it. It’s also acceptable to include an RSVP notation and your phone number or address on the invitation for more accurate planning. Responding to an Invitation Either use the address or phone number printed in the lower left corner of the invitation or return the RSVP card sent with the invitation. If a “Please reply by” a given date is included in the invitation, be polite enough to reply by that date. If the words “Regrets only” are printed in the lower left corner of the invitation, you need only to inform the host if you will not be able to attend. If your host does not hear from you, you are expected to attend. Never ask to bring a guest unless the invitation states “Mr. Louis Winthorp and Guest.” Most likely, the host will have only enough food and drinks for the number of people he invites. Showing up with an uninvited friend could turn out to be an embarrassing situation for everyone.