What to write to invite guests to a Sheva Brachot
One dinner, seven blessings, a different host family each night: here is how to announce it simply and clearly.
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Sheva Brachot (“seven blessings”) is a series of festive meals held during the week after the wedding, each at a different host’s home (family, close friends) in honor of the newlyweds. At each meal the seven wedding blessings are recited again, provided that a “new face” (panim chadashot) is present: a guest who has not yet taken part in the celebrations, neither at the wedding meal nor at the earlier meals that week. Unlike the wedding invitation, a Sheva Brachot invitation is almost always informal, often sent by WhatsApp or text, for a specific dinner at a specific host’s home.
What the message should spell out
- The names of the newlyweds, and a reminder that the meal is in their honor, after their wedding
- The name of the family or couple hosting that evening (a Sheva Brachot changes host each day)
- The exact date and time
- The exact address
- If needed, a note on the meal (kosher level, dairy or meat, attire)
The seven days of Sheva Brachot are not always consecutive without exception: depending on the community, some days (for example a Shabbat, or a day when no “new face” is available) may be adapted or moved. Check your family’s custom before setting the full schedule.
Example wordings
Hi! We’re hosting the Sheva Brachot for [First name] & [First name] this [weekday] at 8 p.m. at our place, [address]. We’d love to have you with us to bless the newlyweds one more time. Are you free?
[First name] and [First name] [family name] request the pleasure of your company at a Sheva Brachot dinner in honor of [First name] & [First name] [Weekday], [date] at 8:00 p.m. [address] Kindly reply by [date]
Sheva Brachot for [First name] & [First name]: Wednesday 8 p.m. at [First name] & [First name]’s, [address]. We’d love to have you with us for the 4th dinner of the week!
In honor of [First name] and [First name], who were married last Sunday, we are hosting Friday night’s Sheva Brachot at our home, [address], after services. Fully kosher meal (Chabad), Shabbat attire. Please let us know by Thursday if you’re coming.
The Sheva Brachot for [First name] & [First name] continue! Here is the week’s schedule: Sun. at [Name]’s · Mon. at [Name]’s · Tue. at [Name]’s · Wed. at [Name]’s... A different host every night, the same seven blessings every night. Join us whenever you like, just let that evening’s host know!
A week after their wedding, [First name] and [First name] are still glowing, and we’re lucky enough to host them tonight for their Sheva Brachot. Join us at 8 p.m., [address], for dinner, blessings and a lot of joy. Bring your good mood (and let us know if you’re coming)!
Honorifics
Sheva Brachot is a more intimate setting than the wedding, so formal honorific titles are rarely used in the invitation itself. However, if a rabbi or religious authority leads the meal (Birkat Hamazon, the blessings), you can name him with “Rav” followed by his name, out of respect.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting to say WHO is hosting that evening: a Sheva Brachot changes host every day, so the address changes every time.
- Not repeating the names of the newlyweds on the assumption that “everyone knows”: many guests for a single evening do not yet know the young couple well.
- Sending the invitation too late: these dinners are often organized within a few days, and a clear message sent early avoids mix-ups.
- Overlooking the “new face” needed to recite the seven blessings, which is useful to mention if the host needs to invite someone who has not yet taken part in the celebrations.
- Leaving out practical details (kosher level, allergies, attire), when it is a meal shared in someone’s home, not a reception hall.
Checklist: don’t forget
- Names of the newlyweds, plus a reminder of the recent wedding
- Name of the host family or couple for the evening
- Exact date and time
- Exact address
- Kosher level and attire if useful
- Contact to confirm attendance
What’s next?
An invitation true to your traditions.
In 4 languages, with Hebrew set the way it should be and replies tracked household by household.
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