Question:

Hello,

I have a question regarding the up-coming retirement party I am giving for my husband.

On the invitations, I wrote: No gifts are necessary.  My sister just informed me that gifts are not usually given at a retirement party and, if she is indeed correct, I will feel foolish for putting "no gifts are necessary" on the invitations.

Is she correct, or do you normally bring a gift to a retirement party?  Thank you in advance for your help.

Sincerely,

Visitor

Reply:

Dear Visitor,

Thank you for your question.  And, I believe it was proper for you to write 'no gifts are necessary' if that is what you desire. 

It used to be that we would never mention gifts on invitations because it implies that we expected gifts.  But, today so many are expecting gifts for everything that we have had to alter our perception a bit. 

The private retirement party is not usually considered a gift giving event, but many guests bring gifts to retirement parties and would probably appreciate direction is this matter. 

Sincerely,

Rebecca Black

Question:

How should I write a rescheduled retirement invitation without sending the same invitation over again?

Visitor

Reply:

Dear Visitor,

It depends on the amount of people you need to contact and time constraints.  You could simply call all of the invitees to tell them about the change, especially if there is little time before the event and it is a small intimate group.  However, if you have invited over fifteen people, calling all of them may be time prohibitive.  So, your best bet would probably be one of those blank, multipurpose cards in which you write the new information.  Please include your phone number stating that if anyone needs more information to please call, just in case that person lost the first invitation. 

Enjoy the party and the new life that retirement will bring.  Please visit again soon.

Sincerely,

Rebecca