Accept a Formal Invitation to a Social Event
Letter #1
[Name] and [Name] are delighted to accept your kind invitation to brunch at the Springfield Country Club on Saturday, March 31st, at 10:30 AM. Unfortunately, due to a prior commitment, we will need to depart early.
Letter #2
[Name] and [Name] are honored to accept your invitation to the Springfield Charity Ball on Saturday, June 16th, at 8:00 PM at the Springfield Country Club. We look forward to a wonderful evening.
Letter #3
Thank you for the invitation to the annual Springfield Foundation benefit luncheon on Tuesday, November 20th, at 12:30 PM. I (Ms. Doe) am grateful to be able to attend. Unfortunately, a previous commitment will require me to leave before the 2:00 PM awards presentation.
Letter #4
[Name] and [Name] are delighted to accept your kind invitation to celebrate the graduation of your daughter, [Daughter's Name], on Saturday, June 20th, at 4:00 PM at the Riverside Country Club (4500 Riverside Drive). We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
Letter #5
Dr. Jane Doe is delighted to accept your gracious invitation to a reception for Dr. Joyce Smith on Sunday, February 19th, at 8:00 PM at the University Alumni House. Unfortunately, Mr. John Doe regrets that he will be unable to attend due to another commitment.
How to Write this Acceptance Letter: Expert Tips and Guidelines
Always answer a formal invitation promptly with a very brief (one or two sentences) written response which pays careful attention to detail. Keep in mind that the format of the acceptance should mirror that of the invitation. For example, if the invitation is centered on the page, the acceptance should be also. Begin the acceptance by using the third person, unless you are using personal stationery that contains your full name in the letterhead. Then you may begin by using the first person "I." Use a more natural flow while maintaining a respectful tone. Use enthusiastic language to express acceptance. Consider mentioning something specific you're looking forward to. Remove redundancies for a clearer message. Vary sentence structure for better flow.
Steps
- Announce that you accept the invitation and acknowledge the host's kindness in inviting you. Then restate the occasion as well as the date, the time, and the location of the event exactly as they appear on the invitation.
- If necessary, send any regrets at the close of your acceptance.
Write Your acceptance in Minutes: Easy Step-by-Step Guide with Sample Sentences and Phrases
1 Announce that you accept the invitation and acknowledge the host's kindness in inviting you. Then restate the occasion as well as the date, the time, and the location of the event exactly as they appear on the invitation.
Sample Sentences for Step 1
- Mr. John Doe gratefully accepts your kind invitation to dinner at the Springfield Hotel Dining room on Wednesday, September nineteenth at six-thirty p.m.
- Mr. and Mrs. John Doe
are pleased to accept your kind invitation
to a reception in honor of your daughter, Ashley,
on Tuesday evening, the thirteenth of October
at six-thirty o'clock
at the Springfield Country Club. - John and Jane Doe
are pleased to accept your gracious invitation
for Friday, November second
at half past six o'clock. - Mr. and Mrs. John Doe
are pleased to accept your invitation
to the marriage of your son, Eric, to Ashley Johnson,
daughter of Robert and Suzanne Johnson,
on Saturday, the twentieth of May
at nine o'clock in the morning at the Johnson' home,
located at 648 Maple Lane, Springfield, Kansas. - John Doe accepts with pleasure your kind invitation to celebrate the inauguration of Springfield's new mayor on Saturday, April twentieth, at three o'clock in the afternoon.
Key Phrases for Step 1
- accepts with pleasure
- appreciate the invitation to
- are honored to accept
- are pleased to accept
- are delighted to accept
- gratefully accepts
- in honor of
- join you at
- join you in celebrating
- to dinner at
- to celebrate the
- to the marriage of
- to a reception
- your cordial invitation to
- your kind invitation to
- your invitation to
- your considerate invitation to
- your gracious invitation to
2 If necessary, send any regrets at the close of your acceptance.
Sample Sentences for Step 2
- However, we regret
that we must leave the party
at eight o'clock. - We regret that due to a prior engagement,
we will not be able to attend the reception
immediately following the wedding. - I regret, though, that Mrs. Doe will not be in attendance.
- I look forward to attending, but am I sorry that I will not be able to remain for the entire engagement.
- Although both Mr. Doe and I will attend the wedding, we regret that Mr. Doe will not be free to attend the reception.
Key Phrases for Step 2
- are unable to
- are disappointed that
- are very sorry
- because of previous commitments
- because of other commitments
- due to a prior engagement
- immediately following the
- must leave early
- out of town on
- prior commitments make it impossible
- regret that we
- sincerely regret that
- to remain for
- to attend the
- we will be unable to
- will not be able to
- will not be free to
- will have to leave
- will be late for
