Is putting 'dinner party' on an invitation uncouth?

[Tailfeather]

I'm getting an invitation designed for my husband's and my joint 40th birthday. We're having caterers in and we're planning on canapés and cocktails followed by a 3-course supper. Would I invite people to a 'dinner party' or just invite them for supper or just invite them to a party?

(I do realise this isn't a massive issue in the grand scheme of things! But google hasn't helped, so I'm just looking for some opinions).

Thanks!

my mum said i had to have carriages @ whatever on our wedding invites

it's all bizarre

why when it's a formal do, do we all have to pretend we're in the 1850s or something?

The only carriages I have been in are railway carriages.

I suppose maybe it could be used by people who are keen supporters of public transport which would get a thumbs up from me TBH

It doesn't mean that at all

An Uber is nto a "carriage" by any strecth of the imagination

I suppose IF you lived in Eastenders where they always get black cabs irrespective of the eye watering cost then MAYBE

i can't think of any other carriages

I think the word "supper" sounds pretentious!

I would actually like the opposite of "at home" cards because I'm an antisocial bugger

Well obviously this is a carriage and what they're harking back to.

I would love to have some "at home" cards.
I would say "you are invited for dinner"-or "to a dinner to celebrate our 40 th birthday " if it's a formal thing.
Then my cards could say " to find us just turn left at the abandoned Toyota Corolla with no tyres and head for the house with the peeling concrete wall. Mind not to overshoot as the junkie next door might set his staffy on you."

I’m so sorry Cherrypavlova but you really have given me a laugh. I actually laughed out loud on a crowded train at ‘just use your usual at home cards’

I once got a inivitation that said ‘Lounge suit’ on it and —because I am uncouth— didn’t realise that was a dress code and spent ages wandering round a hotel looking for the Lounge Suite!

What in God’s name does that mean? Carriages?

Carriages at 12:00 aka "we are assuming you will be buggering off at 12:00 or thereabouts"

Surely, you all have to instruct your drivers to bring the carriage (nowadays shortened to car) at a certain time? Hence the invitation gives you a clear steer for when the driver should bring said carriage to pick you up!!!!!

Doh!

As someone who had to google uncouth I am probably not best placed to offer advice on this (I’m definitely not a grown up).

But CherryPavlova and MM18 I would love to come to one of your dinner parties, at home card or no at home card.

I don’t understand what an ‘at home card’ is confused
You send all of your friends a card saying ‘at home’ why??
Is it the 1800’s version of ‘checking in’ on FB?

I will forever refer to cabs as carriages thanks to this thread.

You're invited for
Cocktails, Canapés and Supper

That's what I'd say
Sounds a lovely party

Sounds nice but with saying supper I would be waiting for Horlicks and a piece of toast!

I love this thread and suggest it's moved to classics! Cherry, you sound very grown up!

How do we nominate for classics? It needs to be preserved

You could be really cool and call it a dinner party in an ironic way. The 90s have made a big comeback. But you will have to alter your menus a tad to fit the theme.

We didn't have dinner parties in the 90s! We went to slam poetry nights and drum and bass clubs!

@IfNotNowThenWhen1 I went to drum and bass clubs as recently as 5 years ago and still want at home cards.

Oh God me too. I am an old bag now who doesn't like leaving the house after 8 pm!

I’d say dinner party, sounds more festive than just dinner, and more of an occasion. Doesn’t sound old fashioned to me, I’m late 20s if that makes a difference.

I know ‘carriages’ sounds mad but in many rural places there are only a couple of cabs in the village and no Uber (imagine!) so you have to book your cab in advance. Otherwise Dai assumes that it’s a slow night and knocks off at midnight (bitter experience).

Carriages at... is just a more polite way of saying bugger off by midnight

"at home" cards

My (absolutely filthy rich, works for a hobby, 'pops' to London for tea) CEO has just come in my office and I mentioned these to her for her next party and got a "fuck off, no one uses those, what's wrong with an Outlook invite?"

If I tried to say "carriages at such and such" to my mates they'd probably wet themselves with laughter at me.

I want “at home” cards, complete with carriages at 10 for the comedy value

@ThanksItHasPockets you're not from Aber are you? I got stranded by a Dai knocking off early myself.