To invite neighbours over?

[Justwantafairsociety]

I grew up in a household where both parents were bohemian / black sheep in their families. Long story.
Fast forward to my life now with husband, two children (10 and 9) and life on a newbuild estate - though we have been here 5 years so not brand new IYSWIM.
Lots of the houses are very nice - ours is more WYSIWYG and we are not fussy / house proud.
We probably would be in a rural cottage if we could ever have afforded it and so our house has that kind of feel.
There were some community / neighbourly efforts during the covid lockdowns - organised through the whatsapp group - think Street bingo, Street quizzes etc. Even carols.
Noe everyone is back to their normal lives. A good few have moved. The whatsapp group is no more.

And I'd like to actually meet the neighbours. To be welcoming and find new connections WITHOUT covid as a driver.

I'd like to invite the whole street to ours for some drinks and nibbles say 4pm to 8pm one night, but for it to be really relaxed.

How do I invite people?

Written invite? At Home card?

I need advice from clever mumsnetters who have done this and it worked

Thanks :)

Written invitation through the door. How lovely :)

Written invitation. Lovely idea

I don't think I'd come but that might be just me. The timings seem really odd. I'd expect relaxed 'getting to know you' mixing to take place FROM 8 not till....unless of course it was more of a garden party in the summer.
If it was in the evening and bring a bottle I might pop round for a nose.

Thankyou. How would you phrase it? I feel very out of my depth, like others do this all the time and know how to write a casual invite to neighbours you have never met!

That's a good point @JudgeRudy

I was thinking 4-8pm would allow people to drop in with children, but 8pm onwards would be more relaxed with wine etc.

Maybe the 4-8 option is only for the summer and for winter I need to do an evening thing. With warmth and wine.

I'd wait until spring/summer and have a bbq instead with pop by anytime.

When you say your house is bohemian what do you mean?

Sounds like a lovely idea OP. I’d just knock on doors and give them an invite x

Off the top of my head:

We've been thinking how much we would love to get to know our neighbours so are delighted to invite you for drinks and nibbles at ours on at until _.

Please do come along - we look forward to meeting you!

Include your house number and contact number, ask for a text rsvp to confirm.

Keep it short and sweet 2-3 hours max

Ugh don't know what's going with paragraphs! Use normal paragraphs!!

Bohemian as in - never remember having the neighbours over, no dinner parties, a bit anti establishment. Not sure i can be more specific!

Written note through the door... "open house from 4..."
Something for the kids..bouncy castle?
I did this last year in summer and we had a brilliant day... enjoy!

Could you revive, or start up a new, WhatsApp group and invite people using that?
Personally, I would wait until the summer and have an afternoon BBQ.

@underneaththeash thanks!
@007DoubleOSeven I LIKE the phrasing.

I think I'm just going to do it.

Invite them all, knocking on doors with an invite or posting if no one in.

If they come it's a win!

Feels like a good start to 2023! 💡:)

I was very very confused about the addition of your family history! 😂😊

Can't you just revive the WhatsApp group?

I might just do both @Leeds2

A starter with drinks from 4 onwards in the winter and a BBQ in the summer months

I'd just like to feel more connected generally! Need a bit of post lockdown community spirit.

Thanks all

We did this in our street. We already knew our next door neighbours so we had an Easter party in our combined front gardens and invited the whole street. We did an Easter egg hunt for the kids in the backyard. Most people brought some food or drink.

The first year DH took our kids (aged 5/6) around doorknocking with the invites. After that we made it an annual event and would put invites in letterboxes. I think we just phrased it ‘Come and meet your neighbours at the XYZ street Easter party’. We got one of the kids to design the invites, it was very family friendly. Was a roaring success, we’ve been doing it for 10 years now, with a couple of interruptions for covid.

We found having it in the front garden was less intimidating for people as they could see what what happening and didn’t have to knock on a stranger’s door not knowing if they were dressed appropriately or whatever. A few people said they weren’t going to come but walked past and it all looked very friendly so they popped in.

I guess it depends what vibe you want. I think you need to make it clear if it's for adults or children too. Also is it 'dropping in for a bit' or 'join us 8 till late'.

I've never been formally invited to anyone's house for an hour or 2, unless it's someone I know well and they've said pop in on way home/after work etc. Inviting multiple people sounds more like a party and I'd expect to stay for the evening. I think l might enjoy sitting on a bean bag debating whilst someone strums a guitar in the conservatory.

Can we come🍷
Go for it. Adult first then plan an open day for kids when it's warmer

I've got no advice, but you sound lovely, if you were my neighbour I'd pop in for a short amount of time due to kids with additional needs and being quite anxious myself. I have wonderful neighbours and it's so lovely to have an extra little support network. We all help each other with the small stuff and it really makes a difference to the daily grind!
Even if only two people turn up, that's two new friends. I hope you have a fab time!

@Justwantafairsociety any update op? Was wondering how this went if you've had the get together yet!