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As with any party, choosing which guests to invite to dinner is very important. Whether it be family, old friends, or new friends, giving ample time for them to save a date is the most polite thing to do.
If I were to host a dinner party for “Come and Dine”, one of the first people on my list of guests would be my dearest Norwegian friend, Karine, along with her lovely yellow Labrador, Finse, of course! She, along with Viking Cruises, has so kindly offered to provide the flights for the lucky group of eight to travel to dine at Highclere Castle. As “Downton Abbey” has become a household name over the last few years, so has Viking Cruises, so what a wonderful opportunity to reminisce about the six series that were filmed at the Castle.
Viking Cruises were of course the sponsors of “Downton Abbey” in America. More importantly, Karine and I are friends, related through our dogs (she has one of my puppies) writing children’s books called “Dogton Abbey” together to support the Viking Education Foundation, whilst also planning various tours to Highclere for her Viking Cruise guests.
Using the invitations sent out for formal events at Highclere Castle as inspiration, we have created some helpful templates to send out for your party invitations and RSVPs. I don’t think any of us keep enough records, as our parents and grandparents did, so this is a lovely way of keeping something tangible along with any photos or letters from people later on who have enjoyed themselves. To personalise them for your event and guests, just add to the blank fields. You can write your guests’ names by hand or, if it’s easier, just type them out. Here are examples of how your invitations and RSVPs should look, and what to include:
Guide to using the invitation/RSVP template:
- Open here
- Type your name into the first field
- Either type your guest’s name into the second field or leave blank to write in by hand
- In the third field add the location of your party e.g. “at Highclere Castle”
- Add the date and time of your party to the fourth field e.g. “1 February, 2018 at 8pm”
- Under “RSVP” give either your address or phone number so that guests can return the RSVP or give their response
- Under “Dress Code” give your chosen dress code and perhaps guide times for your guests
- Repeat for your RSVP, allowing guests to delete the response as appropriate
- Ideally an invitation or RSVP should be printed onto card rather than paper
- Print off double-sided to include the Castle logo on the reverse, if not, only print page one
Instagram
Because of the beautiful Viking sponsor commercials before every Downton episode along with Ralph Lauren, we enjoyed our first Viking cruise this fall from Paris to Normandy. It was an amazing experience! Of course I was wearing my Ralph Lauren handbag in every photo too! Thank you PBS, Viking and Highclere for providing lovely fun and lifetime experiences! We are already starting our party planning and are all buzzing with fun ideas to make it a wonderful memory!
Viking Cruises are a great and generous company, it is honestly always an honour and joy to work with them. I went on a sea cruise last year and so enjoyed it. It is the detail that makes the difference. I would love to take the Normandy Cruise.
Good afternoon Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you so much for this post
I was planning on sending invitations for my dinner party but love having your advice and direction so that I can prepare them properly.
I ordered your book “ At home at Highclere” and it just arrived this morning!! I was so excited when the postman delivered it to my door!!
I look forward to reading it and gain additional inspiration for my gathering.
It’s quite chilly here today however just thinking about the “possibility” of returning to Highclere Castle with my family and friends, warms my heart a little.
I’m going to at least enter your contest, after all it doesn’t cost anything to dream LOL☺️
I hope you and your family are having a wonderful Saturday.
Blessings,
Tressa Lemky
Winnipeg Canada
Thank you for entering – it is fun and joins us all together – this is the good part of social media! Dreaming is good, and if it helps support PBS or other organisations then it is only positive I hope!
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you sincerely for hosting, “Dine and Dream”….
From the moment you posted the contest my imagination began to work overtime; first forwarding your blog to my “Downton” following friends. I received an immediate response from my friends of sheer excitement and inspiration they loved your idea’s of creating a celebration in the name of charity! I was thrilled to receive your update this morning regarding the guest list and invitations; it was as if you were reading our minds and your timing was perfect! We have been gathering our resources (our collection of your entertainment book, “At Home at Highclere” along with all of the “Downton Abbey” books that also include recipes and etiquette references for the period. Next on our list is a morning meeting over scones and tea to put our plan into action! We will take photos and e-mail them to you so you can see our progress! Also one more comment, your cooking videos are not only really fun, your recipes work too!
Thank you, from the sunshine state, Scottsdale, Arizona,
Che’rie
Wonderful, and if you think Lady Carnarvon 140 years ago was wondering who to ask with Henry James (second story in At Home) and 20 years earlier was welcoming Charles Adams, with his wife and daughter Mary. I find it amazing. Thank you for your enthusiasm and interest!
It can be tricky if you only slightly know the guests you’ve invited. So as not to cause any embarrassment to yourself or the guests I almost always check in advance if they like certain foods.
I’m not a lover of anything fishy in the least, and several years ago we were invited to a lunch of people who we did know fairly well. So sitting in the garden waiting to see what delights my friend had cooked up, she plonked a huge bowl of paella in the middle of the table, complete with octopuses legs haging over the edge. She gave me the 1st huge bowl full saying “is that enough for you ?” Rude as it was I just had to say that I couldn’t eat it. So my lunch consisted of a bowl of a green salad (just green leaves) not even any crusty bread 🙁
The other friends around the table did later agree it was a bit of a strange lunch to prepare, without checking out people’s taste.
We’re having firends round tomorrow and I know in advance they thet all like prawns, turkey and christmas pud. Yes! yes! I know not more turkey, but infact we are doing an other complete Christmas dinner. Just a twist at the end we’re finishing it off with Christmas pudding pancakes with warm orange sauce and home made ice cream mmmm.
I guess also if there’s time, a second dish is also an option, when entertaining people you’re not too sure about.
I know our lunch tomorrow will all go down well, not too well I hope, I’m hoping they’ll be some turkey for butties the next day mmmmmm
If I don’t know people I am careful and steer away from shellfish – I think you right here and I do think it is kinder to let people help themselves.
Thinking of turkey I am also working on my next book and my husband loves turkey rissoles, great way to use it up and I thought they must go in. I love pancakes that sounds delicious.
Thank you for the invitation template. I will be using this as a guide for my invitations.
Radine Klein
Williamsburg, VA
U.S.A.
How lovely hear from you and to see you are in Williamsburg – I was lucky enough to give some talks there! I so enjoyed my visit it was in February a few years ago, very cold but utterly magical.
Love your Blog…:) Not sure I will be able to pull off a Come and Dine Event…but did want to comment a couple things. Your friend and I look so much alike, and I thought it was strange…as someone asked if I was from Norway recently :D…(I’m American.) Also the book, Dogtown Abbey sounds really cute. I love dogs…have a houseful of little ones here. Anyway, I have to come up with some creative ways of connecting with other fans…I’m out past Palm Springs now..so it may be tough. And I have pneumonia at the moment..so double tough. However, whether or not I can be part of this contest…I so enjoy reading everything you write and your beautiful photos. One day we will meet…:) xo K
I hope you get better soon. I am sure a lot of us have Viking blood perhaps it is nearer your ancestry? Have a kitchen supper with friends ..
This is wonderful! I will use it for my next dinner party. I hosted a dinner party at Christmas and was inspired by the place settings from Downton Abbey, as well as from your lovely book, “At Home at Highclere.” I have some cutlery and dining accoutrements that belonged to my grandmother and great-grandmother. I have used them for years, but I feel that, due to the new ideas, my table has taken on a renewed spark of elegance. Thank you again for publishing such a marvelous – and helpful – book.
I hope it is a fun excuse to have dinner!!
How nice is to see the invitation cards written in style, tradition and class, instead of an email announcement, as we are now sadly accustomed.
It is nice to receive one isn’t it?
I love seeing the cards, everything so beautiful. For me to make a dinner will be a bit difficult when I almost did not finish the move. Even so, I would like to see all the videos to learn how to do things with distinction. I have already made a decorative fireplace, of which this Christmas is already used to decorate it. For something one starts.
Thank you very much for delighting us with your teachings. A tender greeting.
Dear Lady Carnarvon:
I had the pleasure to see you and your dog at the Christening of our Viking Ship in the middle of London, we were on the Viking Sea.
I had watched every episode of Downton Abbey and it was my favorite show, your Castle is amazing, I could only imagine the way of life of those times, I cannot believe that you live in that Castle. I felt I was special to have such an honor to have you in our same Ship.
I will never forget our trip and the Christening of the Viking Sea, we are about to take another Viking Ocean Cruise this month, and have taken several more and have 1 more for this year and 2 more next year. My husband and I love the Viking Cruises and won’t try any other.
I would love to take another one and visit your Castle, I will ask my husband to grant it for me!
Thanks for giving us the opportunity to enjoy your Castle.
Many Blessings,
Hortencia Ray
Columbus, Georgia, USA
I’ve heard such great things about Viking Cruises and it occurred to me that it would be just amazing to be able to combine a Viking Cruise, at our expense of course, with Come and Dine. (If we win!)Would that be possible since the round trip travel is covered with the prize? Could it be extended to cover the time a cruise would take? We live in NW Montana and the travel time will be considerable, so an extension would be so wonderful.
Also, I registered our interest for the contest but don’t see any where to check that you received our information.
I am sure it would – Viking are a great family company – I will ask Jonah in my office to check he has you on his radar
Lady Carnavon
My wife and I are great fans of Downton Abbey and admire Highclere Castle immensely. As a surprise for my wife I was wondering if it would be possible to attend a dinner at the castle during our next trip to the United kingdom in late October of this year. I’m attending a military function in London and think it a great opportunity to dine at Highclere and stay a night in this amazing setting. I hope this is possible and I look forward to your response.
We have not yet sorted our diaries for that time of year – There are more likely to be tours and teas – when are you in London? – you can always email [email protected]