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October 29, 2026

Ugly sweater party invitations: wording, contest rules and prizes

Ugly sweater party invitation wording, what to put on the invite, contest categories and prizes, a sweater-making station, food, and a version for work or kids.

An ugly sweater party is the easiest holiday party to say yes to. The dress code is the whole theme, nobody has to dress up, and the contest gives the room something to talk about from the first knock. The invitation sets the tone: it should make people laugh, tell them the rules, and get them digging through the back of the closet early. Here’s what to include, wording to borrow, and how to run the contest.

What to put on the invite

  • The dress code, loudly. “Ugly sweaters required” belongs near the top, not in the fine print.
  • Date, start and end time. December weekends fill up, so give a clear window.
  • The address, with parking notes for a full street.
  • The contest: that there is one, the categories, and when judging happens.
  • What to bring, if anything: a dish, a drink, a wrapped gift for a swap.
  • How and when to RSVP.
  • A no-sweater plan: “No sweater? We’ll have a decorating station.” It keeps the shy guests coming.

When to send it

Send ugly sweater party invitations three to four weeks ahead. People need time to find a sweater, or to make one, and the weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas book up fast. Ask for RSVPs about a week before, so you know how much cocoa to make.

Sample wording: funny

Deck the halls with tacky sweaters. Ugly sweater party, [date] at [time]. The uglier, the better.

Dig out the reindeer. Dust off the tinsel. Ugly sweater party at our place, [date], [time].

Have yourself an ugly little Christmas. Sweaters mandatory, judging at [time].

Warning: this party will be tacky. Ugly sweater party, [date]. Prizes for the worst one.

It’s the most hideous time of the year. Join us in your ugliest sweater, [date] at [time].

Sample wording: warm and simple

Come cozy up with us in your favorite ugly sweater. Cocoa, cookies and a contest, [date] at [time].

Our annual ugly sweater party is back. Wear your worst, bring your appetite, [date].

Contest categories

One “ugliest sweater” prize leaves most of the room out. Five or six categories give more people a shot:

  • The ugliest: the classic, by popular vote.
  • The most festive: the most holiday packed onto one sweater.
  • Best homemade: glue guns, tinsel and courage.
  • The one that lights up, or jingles, or both.
  • Best couple or family match.
  • The worst pun.

Keep voting simple: a jar for each category and a slip of paper, or a show of hands. Judge about an hour and a half in, once the late arrivals are there and before anyone leaves.

Prizes

Cheap and silly beats expensive. A plastic trophy spray-painted gold, a tin of cookies, a candy cane bouquet, a gift card for hot cocoa, or the right to keep the crown until next year’s party. A traveling trophy that comes back every year turns one party into a tradition.

A sweater-making station

For guests without a sweater, or anyone who wants to make theirs worse: a thrift-store sweater or two, felt shapes, pom-poms, tinsel, small ornaments, bells, and a low-temperature glue gun. Put it near the door so it’s the first thing people see. Safety pins work if you’d rather skip the glue.

Food and drinks

Keep it festive and easy to eat with one hand:

  • A cocoa bar: hot chocolate with marshmallows, peppermint sticks, whipped cream and a few toppings.
  • Christmas cookies, or a cookie swap where everyone brings a dozen.
  • Finger food: sliders, a cheese board, meatballs in a slow cooker, pigs in a blanket.
  • A batch drink, like mulled cider, plus something without alcohol.

Running it as a potluck? A sign-up keeps it from becoming six trays of cookies; the potluck sign-up sheet post has a list to start from.

At work, or with kids

  • At work: keep the categories friendly and the voting anonymous, make the sweater optional (“festive attire welcome”), and skip anything that needs a glue gun at a desk.
  • With kids: a sweater-decorating table is the main event. Kids judge the grown-ups’ sweaters, and everybody wins something.

How letsparty helps

letsparty has an ugly sweater design, a loud knit of reindeer, snowflakes and pom-poms, that opens like an envelope with each guest’s name on it. Put the contest time under The plan in Edit details (“7:00 Cocoa · 8:30 Judging · 9:00 Gift swap”) so guests know when to be there. If it’s a potluck, tick Let guests sign up to bring something and list what you need, so the cookies don’t crowd out the food. Turn on the photo wall, and guests can post their sweaters during the party. Invites go out as texts from your own phone, or by email. Start with plan your first party.