Hogwarts Style Party Invitations

Dear Mr. Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress

excerpt from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry lives in a closet under the stairs at the Privet Drive home of the Dursleys.  When he becomes 10 years old, invitations from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are sent to him by Owl Post, but his uncle keeps intercepting the letters.  Hagrid finally arrives to reveal to Harry his magical heritage.

For party invitations, I printed out letters on parchment colored paper and used cream colored envelopes.  In the story, the writing is emerald green and the seal is embossed in purple.  The feel is kind of old or medieval English.  There are several old English-style fonts available online for free download. You can read about how to download and install fonts on this post.  I used Microsoft Word with the Monotype Corsiva font.  It had a nice formal calligraphic look.  The letters could also be handwritten.  The exact text I used is lifted from Book 1:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr. or Miss {child's name},
We are pleased to inform you that you have been invited to attend the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where we will be having a special birthday celebration for {child's name}.
Term begins {Day, date of the party} at {time}. Take the Hogwarts Express to {address}. We await your owl post response by no later than {RSVP date}. If you have trouble acquiring an owl, you may respond by Muggle phone {phone number}.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

P.S. Wizard or Muggle (non-wizard) attire are appropriate. Term will end at approximately {planned end time}.

Address your envelopes in handwriting or print them with the same font as the invitation letter. Envelopes from Hogwarts are embossed with the school seal.  If you're good with centering and printing on envelopes, you can download a Hogwarts seal image and print it on the back of your envelopes before filling and sealing them.  I actually used photo editing software to change the multi-color to purple with an embossed special effect.  I printed the seal on the back of quarter-fold envelopes.

Multicolor Hogwarts Crest

Embossed Hogwarts Crest

Or you could use a rubber stamp of the letter H and purple ink pad. Try Etsy.com for cool stamps; I even saw a Hogwarts one there.

Sample Invitation

If you would like to include a souvenir ticket to board the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9¾, download a printable image here, from harrypotterparaphernalia.blogspot.com. This is the best site for all kinds of printed materials and other props from Harry Potter.



Next Stop:
Hogwarts Party Decorations