Invitations
Invitations set the tone for your gathering. There are many different ways to create birthday invitations, party invitations and shower invitations that will both excite and inform.
Email
Online services such as Pingg, mypunchbowl and Evite.com let you create and distribute party invitations online for free! Evite makes it really easy to track RSVPs.
Traditional "snail mail" fliers
Usually a single 8½" x 11" sheet of paper that's folded in half or in thirds and mailed in an envelope. Microsoft Office offers templates for fliers. You can also visit your local party store to find fun paper to print them on.
Postcards
Postcard invitations are inexpensive and great at getting attention. Their size, however, limits the amount of information you can include.
Cards
Sending printed invitations can be expensive, but a lot of fun. Visit a party supply store or a card outlet to find the best deals on bulk invitations.
Personal letters
Personal letters are very effective because they can address the specific interests of the recipient. But personal letters take time to write, and they can be costly to mail.
Phone calls
Phone calls are great for building camaraderie and generating excitement. But calls can be time-consuming and expensive because they tend to get sidetracked with recent family news. Consider a phone tree to pass the word along.
For greatest attendance, make one or more reminder contacts before the event.