If you need to decline an invitation to attend a birthday party, it’s important you word it the correct way so you don’t offend the host.
Whether you have a legitimate reason why you can’t attend or you just don’t want to, as long as you reply promptly letting them know, I’m sure it’ll be fine.
Here are some examples of how to politely decline an invitation to a birthday party:
How to Politely Decline an Invitation to a Birthday Party Examples and Samples
Depending on how well you know the host or birthday boy/girl, one of the following examples should suit your needs:
Hey [name],
I appreciate your invitation, but I’m really sorry that I won’t be able to make it. Thank you so much for inviting me and I hope you have a great time.
Best,
[Your name]
Hey [name],
Thank you so much for inviting me to your birthday party!
Unfortunately, I already have plans for [date], so I won’t be able to attend.
I hope you have a wonderful time celebrating this special occasion and please pass on my best wishes to [birthday guy/gal].
Regards,
[Your name]
Hi [name],
Thanks for inviting me to [name] birthday party on [date].
I’m super sad to say that I won’t be able to come as I already have plans booked for that day.
Have a great time without me and give [name] a big hug from me.
Best,
[Your name]
Hey [name],
I was thrilled to receive your invitation for [name]’s birthday party.
I can’t believe he’s [age] already, it makes me feel old!
Sadly, I won’t be able to attend as I’ll be out of town on business during that time.
I hope you all have a great time and I’ll be sure to give [name] a birthday call.
Cheers,
[Your name]
Hey [name],
Thanks for the invite to [name]’s birthday party.
I’m actually gutted to have to say this but I’m not going to be able to make it!
I’m sure you’ll all have a great time without me though.
Happy birthday to [name] from me!
[Your name]
Hey [name],
Thanks for inviting me to your birthday party on [date].
I wish I could come, but I have prior engagements that day.
If only you could change the date of your birthday (joking!).
Anyway, I’ll be thinking of you and I’m sure you’ll have an awesome day.
Best,
[Your name]
Hey [name],
[Name] birthday party sounds like it’s going to be a great time!
I wish I could come, but it clashes with [reason] that day so I won’t be able to make it.
I’ll be thinking of you and I’ll be sending you something in the post.
Best,
[Your name]
Hey [name],
Thanks for thinking of me and inviting me to [name]’s birthday party.
I had an awesome time last year, can’t believe another year has come around already!
The sad news is that I’m not going to be able to make it this year due to [reason].
I’ll be sure to check in on social media to look at all the pictures and what I’m missing out on.
Have a great time and give [name] my best.
[Your name]
Hey [name],
Thanks for the invite to your birthday party on [date].
I can’t make it unfortunately as I’ll be busy [reason].
I’m really disappointed I’m going to have to miss this one and I hope you understand.
I’ll make it up to you soon.
Happy birthday,
[Your name]
Hey [name],
Thanks for the invite to your birthday party on [date].
I’m really sorry but I won’t be able to make it as I’ll be busy [reason].
I’m sure you’ll have a wild time without me!
Happy birthday buddy,
[Your name]
Related content:
Here’s how to decline an invitation to a family wedding;
Tips for declining job interviews via email;
Tips for declining job interviews without burning bridges.
As you can see, it’s really not that difficult to decline an invitation in a polite way. Just remember to be grateful for the invite, mention that you’re sorry you can’t attend, and wish them all the best.
I’m sure the birthday boy or girl will understand and, if they’re worth their salt as a friend, they’ll catch up with you in the near future.
Things to Remember when Declining an Invitation to a Birthday Party (Or Any Invitation)
I thought I’d cover some basic etiquette and things to remember when writing an email, text, or even calling someone and declining their invitation.
You should always:
- Be prompt about replying – the sooner you reply, the better. If you wait too long, it might seem like you’re not interested or that you forgot about their invitation.
- Thank them for the invitation – even if you don’t want to go, they still took the time to invite you. A simple ‘thank you’ goes a long way.
- Keep it short and sweet – you don’t need to write a novel about why you’re declining the invitation or go into too much detail. A sentence or two is perfectly fine.
- Follow up after the event – if you have to decline an invitation to an event that means a lot to you and/or the host such as a birthday bash, drop the host a message after the event asking how it went!
If you feel really bad about missing someone’s birthday that is close to you, you could always make it up by sending them an extra special birthday present!
Image credits – Photo by Nati Melnychuk on Unsplash
Phil lives in England, UK, and has around 20 years experience as a professional life, career and executive coach. He started this blog to help others find and define their own self development journey. Blogging about a wide range of topics to help facilitate a better future.