准备晚会是一个繁琐而开心的过程，当你订好菜单，重新布置了客厅，购置了全新的餐具，还差什么呢？邀请朋友们来晚会！打电话当然简单可取，但写一封诚恳的英文邀请函会显得更加隆重。
Hosting a dinner party can involve a lot of preparation, depending on how many people it is for and how elaborate the proceedings will be. One of the first jobs of hosting a dinner is to write the invitations for each of your guests. These invitations should contain all the important information about the dinner party that your guests need to know. How formal your invitation is ultimately depends on the type of dinner party you intend on having.
一封完整的邀请函要包括晚会的所有重要信息，包括时间、地点、人员、着装要求（有些晚会主人会确定dressing code，通常是一个主题元素，比如polka dots波点，大家的身上都要有一个波点的元素）。邀请函要多正式是根据晚会的正式程度定的。下面就向大家介绍写作晚会邀请函的步骤。
1 State the request and the purpose of the dinner in your first line. For example, "James and Natalie invite you to join them for dinner to celebrate their first wedding anniversary." A more formal invitation might read, "Mr and Mrs Smith request the pleasure of your company at a dinner to celebrate their first wedding anniversary."
在文章的第一行写上邀请对方来晚会的初衷和目的。比如“James和Natalie邀请你来参加一周年结婚纪念日晚会。”更正式的写法比如“Smith夫妇希望能有幸邀请您共同见证他们的结婚一周年纪念日晚会。”
2 Write the date and time that the dinner party will be held. For example, "Tuesday, 5th July 2011, 7:30 p.m."
接下来写上晚会的时间。比如“2011年7月5日（周二），晚上7：30”
3 Inform your guests where the dinner is taking place. For example, "At Home," or "At Two Chefs Restaurant." Be sure to include the address of the venue.
记得写明地点。比如“在我家”，或者“在双主厨餐厅”。记得要写明具体的地址。
4 Provide details concerning the dress code. Black tie or smart casual are typical dinner party choices.
提供具体的着装要求。黑领带，或者休闲正装是常见的晚会着装。
5 Place an RSVP at the base of the invitation with contact details such as a phone number or email address. The RSVP requests that recipients inform you whether they will attend or not. With a more formal invitation, you can include a reply card and a self-addressed envelope for responses.
在邀请函下方附上回执。（RSVP是回执的意思，来自法语 répondez s'il vous plaît, 意思是 "Respond, if you please.”）回执可以通过电话或者邮箱回复。回执是让对方告知你愿不愿意出席。更正式的回执通常会有一张卡片和一个用来答复的信封，方便客人回复。
其实写清楚一封英语的晚会邀请函也不是那么难，对不对？只要掌握要点，饱含诚意，记得要回执，这个过程就可以简单有序地完成啦！
