Gone are the days when a divorce was a “we don’t talk about this” scenario. In fact, formerly hitched couples who have decided to go their separate ways are using this occasion to live it up and celebrate their newfound freedom from each other. Evite has seen a 22% increase in divorce party invitations since 1999, with 2023 setting a new record. After all—a new beginning should be celebrated with others!
Here’s how to throw a divorce party—and embrace a new chapter in your life—that celebrates YOU and toasts your brilliant future! But before we get into our epic divorce party ideas…
What’s the etiquette around throwing a divorce party?
Divorce parties are still a relatively new idea, so the guidelines around them aren’t completely defined, but there are some basic rules of etiquette to consider:
- If you have children (esp. young or school-aged kids), it’s recommended to keep them completely uninvolved (and even unaware) of the party. While you should celebrate yourself and this new step in your journey if you wish, your kids may not fully understand what’s happening and they could be upset by it. Divorce triggers a lot of various emotions, and what may be feelings of freedom and joy for you isn’t necessarily what your kids will feel. If your children are adults, they may be totally fine with it and want to celebrate with you, but be mindful and consider their feelings.
- Every divorce is different and happens for a whole variety of reasons. It’s recommended, though, to apply a positive tone to your celebration. Make it about YOUR new era and YOUR exciting new future, not about your past with your ex. You’re the star here, and don’t forget it!
- You can have a huge divorce party if you want to, but it’s often best to keep your guest list exclusive to only your nearest and dearest—your close-knit group of ride-or-dies who have been supporting you throughout your divorce. That being said, occasionally, people will co-host a divorce party WITH their ex. Which, if this is a “we’re simply just better off as friends” situation, go for it. It might be the last time you have to split a bill together!
- You CAN include a divorce registry. Registries are about helping loved ones know how they can celebrate and/or support you during a major life milestone, and a divorce registry can make all the difference in helping a newly single person rebuild their life. As with any registry, no one is required to purchase something from it, but creating one and adding it to your event makes it easier for family and friends to understand what you need without having to ask directly.
What should you write on a divorce party invitation?
Divorce party invitations are just like any other invitations—you need to include the date, time, location and, of course, the reason for the party. The first 3 components, you’ve got that, but how to say “Hey, come celebrate my divorce!” takes finesse. Or a clever sense of humor. You can absolutely opt to keep it simple with “Join me as I celebrate a fresh start!” or “You’re invited to my divorce party!”, or you can get creative with your wording.
Here are some divorce party invitation messaging ideas:
I do. I did. I’m done.
Newly UNwed
Boy, bye
Problem solved
Finally free
In my divorce era
It must have been love (but it’s over now)
The end of an error
Divorced AF
Straight Outta Marriage
Legally single & ready to mingle
Just divorced
(Pro tip: Many of these sayings also work on a cake. Because what’s a party without a cake?)
Top divorce party ideas
“In my divorce era”
This theme is so good, we even created an Evite just for it! Whether you’re a Swiftie celebrating never ever getting back together with your ex or just really like the whole “in my ___ era” vibe, this top divorce party theme means dressing up in your sparkliest ’fit and gathering your best girlies for a night of fun.
“I changed my name back”
Perfect for anyone who took their spouse’s name during the marriage and, like that hideous chair you always hated, would now like to give it back. We recommend doing it up with tons of personalized decor featuring your reclaimed last name (check out Amazon for some great options!).
All the single ladies
Okay, this theme doesn’t mean you have to invite single ladies only to party with you. This is your chance to get a drink in your cup, put gloss on your lips and let the dance floor/world know you’re single and ready to celebrate it!
Housewarming hangout
While many divorcees treat their divorce party as its own special event, it’s also common to combine a divorce party with another milestone celebration. Housewarming-divorce party combos are a popular option if you also have a new addy to share with your loved ones.
“Next chapter” book club
As a divorce party really is about celebrating the next chapter of your life, why not take it literally (or should we say, literarily)? Consider throwing a one-off book-themed party where everyone shares their fave empowering books, or start up a new book club so you can keep the good vibes coming week after week.
“May divorce be with you”
Look, if you’re a Star Wars fan, why not get your geek on with your party? After all, Han and Leia didn’t work out either.
Adult sleepover
As you look forward to the future, why not indulge in a little light-hearted nostalgia and have a grown-up slumber party with your BFFs? Stream some rom-coms (or horror movies), swap soda and Doritos for wine and charcuterie (or have it all!) and break out the tarot cards to divine what’s in the cards for all of you.
“Sweet ending”
Any excuse to throw a candyland-themed party is a good one, but this one feels especially sweet. Whether your divorce was amicable or you’re just happy to be free from a relationship that wasn’t working for you, celebrate it with lots of your favorite candies, desserts and maybe some sugary cocktails.
Spa day
Looking for a more low-key way to celebrate (and treat yourself to some much-needed self-care)? Bring your besties together for a spa day, either at your local spa for a private pampering party or right in the comfort of your own home.
Create-your-own cocktail competition
No drowning in your sorrows here—combine the excitement of a competition with the fun of a cocktail party! Have everyone bring ingredients for their go-to cocktails, then make, drink and rank them. Regardless of whose concoction wins, everyone wins!
Happy trails
Forget the “Yes” of the engagement and instead, embrace the “Yee-haw!” of this Western theme. Grab some cowboy/cowgirl hats, kick-butt boots and your best pals to enjoy a shindig you’ll never want to forget.
(Long) weekend getaway
What better way to make a fresh start than by taking a step back from your everyday life and going on a trip with your support system? While a whole “Eat, Pray, Love”-style journey is probably unrealistic for most, a trip to a place you’ve always wanted to go to (but never visited with your ex), near or far, is a fantastic way to greet and treat the new you.
It’s all gonna be karaOKe
Get those feelings out, via the medium of karaoke! This one is easy—head to your local karaoke bar (if they have private rooms, go for those!) or invest in a home karaoke machine your neighbors are sure to side-eye you for (let them) and sing “I Will Survive” at the top of your lungs with your backup group.
What makes Evite SignUp Sheets different from other signup tools?
Developed hand-in-hand with community organizers, PTA presidents, parents and teachers, Evite's signup sheets are designed to make organizing volunteers a breeze. Here are a few ways SignUp Sheets are different than other signup tools:
- 100% free: SignUp Sheets are free to use.
- Ad-free: No popup ads ever! Our signup sheets remain clutter-free, keeping your volunteers focused on signing up.
- No extra login required: Seamlessly use your Evite account to create and manage your signup sheets, keeping all your events in one convenient location.
- Automatic reminders and notifications: Stay on top of your event with automated reminders and notifications for you and your participants. Perfect for busy parents, teachers and anyone juggling multiple commitments.
- Customization options: Tailor your signup sheets to your specific event, whether it's a school fundraiser, potluck, volunteer opportunity or team activity. Add custom tasks, time slots and requirements for smooth coordination.
- User-friendly experience: Our intuitive interface makes creating and sharing signup sheets simple for everyone, regardless of tech experience.
- Real-time updates: Get instant notifications whenever someone signs up or makes a change, so you always know where things stand.
Choose Evite SignUp Sheets for the easiest, most streamlined way to get volunteers and signups for your next event!
What is a SignUp Sheet?
Signup sheets are the perfect way to streamline scheduling, volunteer recruitment, class parties, snack duty, potluck organization, parent-teacher conferences and more! You can think of them as your digital assistant for coordinating events and tasks and ensuring that your event is a success.
Evite SignUp Sheets offers parents, teachers and event planners customizable online forms that organizers and volunteers can access and update effortlessly. Volunteers can choose their preferred time slots, sign up for tasks or indicate what they'll bring to the event. It only takes organizers a few minutes to create a signup sheet and send it out with a shareable link, so they can get the word out via text, email or social media—whichever way they prefer!
Long story short, SignUp Sheets save everyone involved tons of time, avoid scheduling headaches and ensure everything runs smoothly before and during the event.
How do I create a SignUp Sheet?
Creating a signup sheet has never been easier than with Evite! Here’s how to create a sheet that’s sure to make your event an absolute success:
- Go to Evite SignUp Sheets and choose the template that best fits your needs. Evite offers multiple signup sheet templates perfect for every occasion, including:
- Signup sheets for one day events (without different time slots), perfect for when you’re organizing a class party, potluck or end-of-season party.
- Signup sheets for single or multiple day events (with time slots), perfect for when you’re organizing concession stand volunteers, fundraisers, parent-teacher conferences, meal train, post-game snack duty or during appreciation week.
- After selecting your sheet template, create a title for your signup sheet and add the date, the location, the time (if applicable), who the organizer is, the organizer’s phone number or email and an optional note describing the event to your volunteers. You can also change your signup sheet background and title image if you wish!
- Next, create slots for your signup sheet. If you aren’t logged into your account, you will need to do so at this point, but luckily, you can use your existing Evite account (no need to create yet another login!). What you’ll include here will depend on what your event needs, but you can include a list of what’s needed (along with optional descriptions), how many volunteers are needed, and dates and times.
- After creating your slots, you can then add a wish list from any retailer or include supply suggestions from Evite’s retailer partners. These are to help your volunteers find and purchase supplies quickly and easily.
- Finally, review your sheet, copy your shareable link and send it out to everyone on your list! Every time a volunteer signs up for a slot on your signup sheet, Evite will email you. We will also send reminders to you and your volunteers before your event so no one will forget about it, and we’ll even let volunteers know if you remove their slot or cancel your event sheet so you don’t have to!
What information should be included on a SignUp Sheet?
When it comes to signup sheet information, there are some essentials to include regardless of what you’re organizing:
- A title for your signup sheet. Tip: Aim to keep your signup sheet title concise but clear. You want volunteers to read it and have a general understanding of what your event is about, and also make it easy for them to look for later if they need to reference your sheet again. You have the option to include a more descriptive note in a different field about your event, so save the more in-depth details for that!
- When and where the event is taking place.
- The organizer’s name and phone number.
- Slots for volunteers to choose from. Once you choose the SignUp Sheets template that fits the occasion, the slots you’ll need for your sheet will be right there and ready for you to add the relevant info, such as dates, times, items to bring and tasks to complete.
When adding your slot information, clearly define what people are signing up for, especially for a what-to-bring list or role assignments. If you want someone to bring healthy snacks for kids to enjoy after a game, specify that. You want your volunteers to feel confident in what they’re bringing and to make it easy for them to know what’s expected of them. It will save them time and stress (and you, too!). That being said, if you make your ask too specific (for example, asking for a hard-to-source item or something expensive), you may not end up with a volunteer for it. So be clear about what you expect, but also be reasonable!
Aside from providing the basic signup information, you can also add optional descriptions to both your entire signup sheet and individual slots. While not required, they can help guide your volunteers further and provide more information. You can add information about allergies, preferences and general info about the event. You can also add a wish list to make it easier for your volunteers to bring exactly what you need!
What are the benefits of using a SignUp Sheet template?
Signup sheet templates offer a ton of advantages for both organizers and volunteers and with Evite SignUp Sheets, you'll enjoy even more benefits than other digital and paper signup sheets! Some benefits our signup sheet templates offer include:
- A 100% free experience (no subscriptions required!).
- Shareable links for quick and easy sharing.
- No need to create another login—you can use your existing Evite account.
- The option to add a wish list to help your volunteers out.
- Automatic reminders—we’ll remind everyone on your behalf.
- An easy-to-use experience with eye-catching guided templates.
- Clean, modern designs with no pop-up ads.
With Evite SignUp Sheets, you can enjoy organizing and coordinating all your events with ease. Signup sheets streamline the signup process for everyone involved, ensuring that everything will go to plan on the day of your event while saving you precious time in the process.