21st birthday invitations: Twenty One Finally Invitation and 2 glasses of lemon juice

Turning 21 is a major milestone! It signifies the next phase of adulthood, new experiences are unlocked, and there are plenty of exciting adventures on the horizon. It’s the perfect time to gather your crew, and kick things off with a celebration.

Set the vibe for the party and give your guests all the details they need with a customized 21st birthday invitation. Get tips for creating and sending your invites, find wording inspiration, and see top invite designs to match a variety of styles.

How to Create and Send Memorable 21st Birthday Invitations

The right invites can put your guests in a party mood from the moment they hear about the big event. Whether you’re planning a relaxed get-together or a sophisticated soirée, here’s how to approach creating and sending those 21st birthday invitations.

1. Match the Party Theme

21st birthday invitations: Misbehave Invitation

Design: Loree Mayer Design

Are you throwing a birthday theme party? If so, look for an invitation design that matches. For example:

If you’re not throwing a theme party, pick a design that matches the birthday guy’s or gal’s style. From minimalist to abstract, there’s an option for any personality or taste.

2. Choose a Color Scheme

Whether you have a birthday theme or not, a color scheme can be a great way to elevate your invite and make it feel special.

For an elegant vibe, choose black and white or black and gold. Rose gold with soft pink and green is ideal for a boho birthday party, while bold reds, oranges, and blues are perfect for a throwback party.

If you’re not sure where to start, use the guest of honor’s favorite colors, or take inspiration from something they love — like a sports team.

3. Customize the Party Invite

Generic party invites won’t cut it for this birthday celebration. Luckily, all of our birthday invitation templates are highly customizable, so you can fine-tune the layout to be as unique and special as the birthday honoree.

With our easy-to-use design tool you can change the fonts, colors, wording, and more. And if you don’t see a color combination that works for you, our design team can help you put together the perfect palette.

4. Include the Essentials

As you create your birthday invitation card, make sure you include all the essential details. Without these, your guests won’t know who they’re celebrating or where to join you.

Be sure to include:

  • Who the party is in honor of
  • Venue and full address
  • Date and time

There might be a few other details to mention, which we’ll talk about later, but these are must-haves if you want your event invite to be a success.

5. Mention the Dress Code

There’s such a wide range of options when it comes to 21st birthday parties that you want your guests to feel comfortable in their attire, so include a dress code. A glamorous Hollywood-themed event or cocktail party might have a formal or cocktail dress code, while a more relaxed get-together in your backyard or at the beach will call for casual attire or a bathing suit.

6. Add Your Party Details

Next, add any other information that your guests might need to know. If it’s a surprise party, make this really clear on the invitation so they don’t accidentally tell the guest of honor.

You might also want to include a link to contribute toward a big group gift or a page with birthday gift ideas, a line about what entertainment to expect, or details about what type of meal and refreshments you’ll be serving.

7. Include an RSVP date

Chasing around RSVPs close to the event date can be frustrating, so give your guests all the information they need upfront. Include a clear date to RSVP by, and let them know the best way to do that.

If you’re sending your online invitations with Greenvelope, your guests can RSVP in just a few clicks. You’ll also be able to include survey questions, so your guests can respond with menu choices, food allergies, or song requests.

For other invites, you might ask guests to RSVP by sending you an email, calling you, or messaging you on social media.

8. Send Your Invites Out

Once you’re done creating your invitations, it’s time to send them on their way. With Greenvelope, you can either send immediately or schedule for a date in the future — perfect for if you want to be prepared!

You have the option to send invites to your guest list via email, SMS, or both — depending on which contact details you upload. If you’re sending printable or traditional invites instead, be sure to put them in the mail at least a few weeks before the RSVP date.

Wording Ideas for 21st Birthday Invitations

Looking for a lovely way to invite people to this milestone birthday bash? Here are some fun wording ideas:

  • [Name] is finally turning twenty-one! Time to get together and toast to their future.
  • Happy bday to [Name] — it’s the big 2-1!
  • Join us to celebrate the birthday of [Name]. It’s finally their big moment!
  • [Name] turns 21 on [Date]. Join us for the biggest party yet!
  • Let’s celebrate [Name]’s big birthday together on [Date]. 

Celebrate the Moment with These Stunning 21st Birthday Party Invitations

Now all you need is the perfect invitation design for your party.

We’ve brought together some of our most-loved adult birthday invitations that work beautifully for a 21st birthday celebration — with a mix of styles and themes to give you an idea of what’s available.

And while these are some of our favorites, don’t feel limited by category. You can transform a confetti-themed kids birthday invite into a whimsical invite for an adult, or turn an elegant watercolor wedding invitation into a lovely garden party invite. Our templates are so customizable that the options are endless.

1. Twenty One Finally Invitation

21st birthday invitations: Twenty One Finally Invitation

Design: Claudia Owen

This bold type invitation creates a sense of finally achieving that milestone and all the fun and adventure it can bring. The design is available in lots of contemporary color palettes, and it’s ideal for when you want a minimalist design that doesn’t lack style.

2. Vintage Cake Invitation

Vintage Cake Invitation

Design: Hollei Anne Design Co.

Invite everyone to your afternoon tea or elegant birthday get-together with this vintage-inspired party invite. We adore the delicate border details and sweet illustrations, and there’s lots of room on the back for all your event information.

3. Glam Arch Invitation

Glam Arch Invitation

Design: Signature Greenvelope

If you’re looking for a photo card, this arch-shaped party invite is our top pick. The pastel rainbow text is upbeat and whimsical, or you can switch it for metallic text instead. Add a photo of the birthday guest of honor or a lovely group shot, and you have a memorable party invitation.

4. 21 Milestone Collage Invitation

21 Milestone Collage Invitation

Design: Signature Greenvelope

Sometimes space for just one photo isn’t enough. If you’re overflowing with images of your favorite person, this photo collage invite is the best choice. Select from a handful of color palette options, or ask our designers to customize it with your honoree’s favorite colors.

5. Twenty One Invitation

Twenty One Invitation

Design: Blustery August

The bold typography on this 21st birthday party invite can work for both a modern celebration or something more classic, like a Great Gatsby party or a sophisticated cocktail party. If you’re looking for elegance, this invite is perfect.

Make the Moment Memorable

You only turn 21 once, so it’s natural to want to make the moment as exciting and joy-filled as possible. Use this guide to create beautiful, personalized invites that create a sense of anticipation for the big celebration to come.

When the time comes to spread the word about your event, choose one of our 21st birthday invitation templates to help you out. With so many stunning themes and designs, and the ability to customize them to suit your guest of honor, there’s no better way to get people excited about the party.