← All articles
· TeamRally · 5 min read

Retirement Party Invitation and Announcement Wording: 30+ Examples

Retirement party invitation and announcement wording for an office send-off, a company-wide email, a family celebration, a surprise party and a teacher or nurse retiring, plus how to invite former colleagues.

A retirement party marks the end of a working life, so the invitation can afford a little more ceremony than a birthday. It usually goes to two groups at once: the people who work with them now, and the people who worked with them years ago. Here’s wording for both, for the office and for the family.

What to include

  1. Who is retiring, and after how long, if that’s part of the story.
  2. When and where, with an end time for an office event.
  3. Who’s welcome: partners, family, former colleagues.
  4. Reply by, about a week ahead.
  5. Speeches, if there will be any, so people can prepare.

Announcing the retirement and the party

Often the first anyone hears of it is an email or a team-channel post that announces the retirement and invites everyone in the same breath. It needs the retirement date and how long they’ve been with you, then the party details. For clients, add who looks after them from now on.

  • After 28 years with us, Linda is retiring at the end of November. We’re marking it with drinks on Friday 27 November from 5pm in the canteen. Everyone’s welcome, former colleagues too. Please reply by 20 November.
  • Some news to share: Raj retires on 30 June after 32 years in finance. Come and say thank you at his send-off on Thursday 26 June at 4pm in the boardroom.
  • It’s official: Pat is retiring! Their last day is Friday 12 December, and we’d love the whole team at the party that afternoon from 3pm. Cake guaranteed, speeches optional.
  • Mike retires on Friday after 19 years. Send-off at 4pm in the kitchen. Come and say goodbye, and if you can’t, sign his card at the link below.
  • After 25 years with us, Ana is retiring on 31 March. Sam will look after your account from 1 March, and we’d be delighted if you joined us to celebrate Ana on 28 March.

Office send-off

  1. After 32 years, Raj is retiring! Join us for drinks and a few stories on Friday 27 November, 5pm, at The Old Mill.
  2. Please join us to celebrate Linda’s retirement with lunch on Thursday at 1pm. Former colleagues very welcome.
  3. Happy retirement, Pat! Cake and a send-off in the main office, Friday at 3pm.
  4. The end of an era. Help us say thank you to Mike, Thursday from 4pm in the canteen.
  5. Please join the finance team in celebrating Ana’s retirement after 25 years. Drinks on Friday at 5:30.

Family celebration

  1. Dad is retiring! Join us for a family lunch on Sunday at 1pm.
  2. Mum’s last day is Friday. Help us celebrate the start of her next chapter on Saturday from 4pm.
  3. Forty years of hard work deserves a party. Join us for John’s retirement dinner, Saturday at 7.

Surprise

  1. Shh! Surprise retirement party for Linda. Please arrive by 5:30 on Friday and keep it quiet.
  2. We’re surprising Raj on his last day. Meet in the boardroom at 3:45 on Friday.

Teachers, nurses and long careers

  1. After 30 years of teaching, Mrs Hughes is retiring. Former pupils, parents and staff welcome. Friday at 4pm in the school hall.
  2. Please join us in celebrating Sister Ana’s retirement after 35 years of nursing. Saturday at 2pm.
  3. The last shift. Celebrate Pat’s retirement from the fire service, Friday from 6pm.

Casual

  1. Retirement drinks for Mike! Friday from 5, the usual place.
  2. No more alarms. Celebrate with Jess on Saturday from 4.

Funny

  1. Raj is retiring. Someone else will have to fix the printer. Drinks on Friday at 5.
  2. Out of office: permanently. Join Linda’s retirement party, Thursday at 4pm.
  3. Pat’s new job title: professional napper. Celebrate on Friday.
  4. Finally, a holiday that doesn’t end. Retirement party for Mike, Saturday at 6.

Inviting former colleagues

  1. Former colleagues are very welcome. Please pass this on to anyone who’d want to be there.
  2. If you worked with Raj at any point in his 32 years, we’d love to see you.

Speeches and messages

  1. There will be a few short speeches at 6pm. If you’d like to say something, let us know.
  2. Can’t make it? Add a message to Linda’s card: link below.

The RSVP line

  1. Please reply by 20 November so we can book the room.
  2. Let us know if you can come, and if you’re bringing a partner.
  3. Please reply in the link below and tell us about dietary needs.

Gifts and collections

  1. We’re collecting for a leaving gift; details are with Sam.
  2. No gifts, please. Just come and say goodbye.

Virtual

  1. Join Linda’s online retirement party on Friday at 4pm. The link is below.
  2. Remote colleagues: there’s a video call for Raj’s send-off at 5pm on Friday.

Sending it

You can make a free retirement party invitation and send it by email or a share link that former colleagues can pass along. For everyone who can’t come, a free group card lets them sign from wherever they are. Invitations are free for up to 100 guests.

Frequently asked questions

What do you write on a retirement party invitation? Who is retiring and after how long, when and where, who’s welcome, and when to reply by.

Who should be invited to a retirement party? Current and former colleagues, and partners and family for an evening event.

How do you announce a retirement party at work? One message to everyone: who’s retiring and when, how long they’ve been with you, then the party’s time, place and reply date.

How do you word a surprise retirement party invitation? Say it’s a surprise first, give an earlier arrival time and ask people to keep it quiet.

More: retirement wishes for a coworker · farewell party ideas

Keep reading