Farewell Party Invitation Wording: 26 Examples for Leaving Dos, Send-Offs and Goodbye Drinks
Someone's leaving. The job, the city, the country. The one thing a farewell invite has to do is get people into the same room before the boxes are taped, and the way to do that is a clear date and a reply-by line.
Here are 26 examples sorted by who's leaving and where the party is. Pick one, swap in the details, and put a date on the reply.
Colleague leaving the company
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[Name]'s last day is Friday, October 9. Drinks at [bar, street] from 6 pm. First round is on the team. Reply by Wednesday so we can hold the corner table.
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After six years, [name] is off to [new company]. Send-off at [bar] on Thursday, October 8, 5:30 pm until whenever. Come for one or stay for all. Let us know by Tuesday.
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Farewell lunch for [name] on Friday, October 9, 12:30 at [restaurant]. The company is covering lunch, drinks are yours. Reply by the 6th, the kitchen wants numbers.
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[Name] is leaving us for a sabbatical and we're not okay about it. Goodbye drinks on Friday from 6 at [bar]. Card and collection with [organizer] until Thursday. Reply here so we know how many glasses.
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Team send-off for [name], Friday, October 9, 4 pm in the kitchen, then [bar] from 6. Speeches will be short, we promise. Say yes or no by Wednesday.
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It's a surprise. [Name] thinks Friday is a normal 5 pm. Be at [bar] by 5:45, they arrive at 6. Reply by Wednesday and keep it out of the team channel.
Friend moving away
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[Name] and [name] are moving to [city] at the end of the month. One last house party at theirs, Saturday, October 17, from 7 pm. Bring a drink, take home a plant. Reply by the 12th.
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Before [name] leaves for [city]: dinner at [restaurant] on Friday, October 16, 7:30 pm. We'll split the bill, and there might be a speech. Reply by the 10th, the table is for a fixed number.
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Goodbye BBQ for [name]. Sunday, October 18, 2 pm at [address]. Burgers and buns covered, bring something for the grill or a salad. Kids welcome. Let us know by Thursday.
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Leaving drinks for [name] on Saturday, October 17 at [bar] from 8 pm. No gifts, just come and say a proper goodbye. Reply so we know whether to book the back room.
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[Name] is moving out of the flat and out of the city. Last night on the roof, Friday the 16th from 7. Blankets provided, drinks are bring-your-own. Reply by Wednesday.
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One more Sunday brunch before [name] goes. [Café], Sunday, October 18, 11 am. Reply by Friday so I can book a long table.
Going abroad
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[Name] flies to [country] on the 20th for a year. Send-off at [address] on Saturday, October 17, from 6 pm. Bring stories, embarrassing photos and something to drink. Reply by the 13th.
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Bon voyage drinks for [name] before [city]. Thursday, October 15, 7 pm at [bar]. Come and help them practice the language. Let us know by Tuesday.
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[Name] starts the new job in [country] next month. Farewell dinner at ours, Saturday the 17th, 7 pm. Vegetarian menu, bring dessert if you like. Reply by the 12th with any allergies.
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Gap-year goodbye for [name]. Backyard, Saturday, October 17, 4 pm until late. Fire pit, marshmallows, playlist requests welcome. Reply with names by Thursday.
Retirement send-off
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[Name] retires on Friday, October 30 after 31 years. Farewell reception in the main hall at 3 pm, drinks after at [bar]. Reply by the 26th so catering has a number.
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Retirement drinks for [name], Thursday, October 29, from 5 pm at [bar]. Partners welcome. A card is going round, see [organizer]. Let us know by Tuesday.
For a proper retirement party rather than a work send-off, the retirement party wording post has longer examples.
Formal or company-wide
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You are invited to a farewell reception for [name], [title], on Friday, October 9 from 4 to 6 pm in [room]. Light refreshments will be served. Please reply by October 5.
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Please join us to thank [name] for [number] years of service. Farewell gathering on Thursday, October 8 at 4:30 pm, [location]. RSVP by October 2 for catering.
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[Department] is hosting a send-off for [name] on Friday, October 9, 3 pm, [room], followed by drinks at [bar]. Reply by Wednesday to help us plan.
Short versions for the group chat
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[Name]'s last day Fri. Drinks at [bar] from 6. Who's in? [link]
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Leaving do for [name], Sat 17th, 7 pm at theirs. Reply with names: [link]
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Send-off dinner Fri 16th, 7:30, [restaurant]. Need numbers by the 10th: [link]
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Surprise farewell for [name]. Fri, [bar], be there by 5:45. Quiet please. Yes or no here: [link]
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Goodbye BBQ Sun 18th, 2 pm. Kids welcome. Say if you're coming: [link]
What every farewell invite needs
- Who's leaving and, if it's not obvious, why: new job, new city, a year abroad.
- Date, start time and, for a bar or restaurant, an end time for the booking.
- The place. Name and street for a venue, since people will search it.
- Whether it's a secret. Half of office farewells are.
- Food and drinks: provided, a tab, or everyone pays their own.
- A collection or gift, if there is one, and who's handling it.
- How to reply and by when.
The reply-by date is what turns "we should do drinks" into a table for twelve.
RSVP lines that get answers
- "Reply by Wednesday so we can hold the table."
- "Let us know by the 12th, the kitchen wants numbers."
- "Tap the link to say yes or no. Ten seconds, no account."
- "Reply with names so partners get a seat too."
Say when, say why, make it one tap.
Sending it
Farewell invites usually go out in the team channel or a friends' group, and the replies come back as thumbs-up, "should be able to", and silence. None of that books a table.
Send a link instead. With the free farewell party invitation maker you put your wording on a card, share one link, and guests reply with their name and plus-ones. No signup for them, and the headcount updates as replies come in. For a surprise, turn off the visible guest list so the person leaving can't see who's coming.
If you already have a card and only need the replies, the farewell party RSVP page does that part.
Safe travels to whoever it is :)
Planning something else? Here are invitation wording examples for every occasion.
