Secret Santa invitation messages

Basics

What should a Secret Santa invitation include?

A good invitation is short, clear and complete. Everyone should understand whether they want to join, what the budget is and when gifts will be exchanged.

Include the reason for the exchange, signup deadline, budget, gift style or theme, exchange date, possible exclusions and a short note that the draw will happen in Wichtlify once participation is final.

If you want to settle budget, gift expectations and exclusions first, start with the Secret Santa rules before sending the invitation.

Short

Short Secret Santa invitation text

Use this when your group is small and only needs the essentials. It works for family, friends or a simple holiday exchange.

Hi everyone!
We're doing Secret Santa this year. If you'd like to join, please let me know by [date].
Budget: [amount]
Gift exchange: [date/event]
I'll run the draw online with Wichtlify and send everyone their own personal Secret Santa link.

WhatsApp

Secret Santa invitation for WhatsApp or group chat

WhatsApp works well for signups, rules and reminders. The secret draw stays in Wichtlify; afterward, you send the right personal link to each person. To keep chat and draw separate, Secret Santa on WhatsApp.

Hi everyone!
Who wants to join our Secret Santa?
Budget: [amount]
Please confirm by [date].
We'll exchange gifts on [date].
I'll run the secret draw with Wichtlify and send each person their personal link, so everyone only sees who they are gifting.

Office

Office Secret Santa invitation

At work, the invitation should make voluntary participation, budget and gift tone especially clear. For the full workplace setup, continue with office Secret Santa.

Hi everyone,
we'd like to organize an office Secret Santa this year. Participation is voluntary.
Budget: [amount]
Please choose something friendly, neutral or practical, nothing embarrassing or too personal.
Gift exchange: [date]
The draw will be handled through Wichtlify, and everyone will receive their own personal link afterward.

Family

Family Secret Santa invitation

Family rounds often need rules for couples, households, kids and relatives who live elsewhere. When those details matter, use family Secret Santa next.

Hi everyone,
we're doing family Secret Santa this year.
Budget: [amount]
Gift exchange: [date/Christmas/family gathering]
Please choose something personal, practical or thoughtful, but nothing far above budget.
I'll organize the draw with Wichtlify and send everyone their personal link.

Club

Club Secret Santa invitation

For clubs, make clear which group is invited, whether participation is voluntary and when gifts will be exchanged. For larger club rounds with members and exclusions, use club Secret Santa.

Hi everyone,
we'd like to do Secret Santa at our [holiday party/end-of-year event/club night].
If you want to join, please sign up by [date].
Budget: [amount]
Gift exchange: [date]
The draw will be done secretly with Wichtlify, and everyone will receive their personal link afterward.

Kids

Secret Santa with kids invitation

When kids take part, keep the message simple: small budget, age-appropriate gifts, parent help and a clear exchange date. The detailed setup lives in Secret Santa with kids.

Hi everyone,
we'd like to organize a small Secret Santa exchange with the kids.
Budget: [amount]
Please choose a small, friendly, age-appropriate gift.
Gift exchange: [date]
The draw will be handled through Wichtlify. I can send the personal links to parents or families.

School

School or daycare Secret Santa invitation

In school, daycare or group settings, the invitation should make clear whether participation is voluntary, what the budget is and when the wrapped gift should be brought.

Wichtlify can prepare the secret assignment. Parent communication, permissions, school rules and the actual exchange remain your group or institution process.

Dear parents,
we would like to organize a voluntary Secret Santa exchange in our group/class.
Budget: [amount]
Please send the wrapped gift with your child by [date].
We'll exchange gifts on [date].
The draw will be prepared online so each child receives one fixed assignment.

White Elephant

White Elephant invitation text

For White Elephant, the invitation should be clear about what counts as funny and what is off-limits. Wichtlify can organize a secret assignment; dice, swaps or live game rules remain group rules. For more detail, use White Elephant.

Hi everyone,
we're doing a White Elephant gift exchange this year.
Please bring one wrapped gift that is funny, unusual or unnecessary, but not broken, gross or hurtful.
Budget: [amount or “no need to buy anything”]
Gift exchange: [date]
We'll organize the draw with Wichtlify.

Reminder

Reminder text before the gift exchange

A short reminder helps when several weeks pass between the draw and the exchange. Wichtlify does not send these chat messages automatically; you send them yourself in the right channel.

Quick reminder for our Secret Santa exchange:
We'll exchange gifts on [date].
Please remember to buy or prepare your gift and bring it wrapped.
Budget: [amount]
If you can't find your personal Secret Santa link anymore, please message me.

Personal link

Message with a personal Secret Santa link

After the draw, each person should receive only their own link. Do not post a list of all links in the chat if the assignments should stay secret.

If participants should join without entering their own email address, you can Secret Santa without email.

Here is your personal Secret Santa link: [link]
Please open only your own link and keep your assignment secret.
Gift exchange: [date]
Budget: [amount]

Order

How to use the invitation with Wichtlify

Pick a template, add budget, date and rules, then ask who wants to join before you draw names.

Next, create your group in Wichtlify, add all participants and set exclusions if couples, siblings, households or close coworkers should not draw each other.

Run the secret draw only once the participant list is final. Afterward, manually share the personal links by WhatsApp, email, Slack, Teams or directly with the right people.

Tips

Tips for better Secret Santa invitations

Keep the message short but clear. Most questions come from unclear rules about budget, participation or the exchange date.

For larger groups, a slightly more formal message helps. For family or friends, a casual chat message is usually enough as long as the budget, deadline and gift style are clear.

Mention exclusions briefly in the invitation, then set them properly in Wichtlify. That keeps the message readable and puts the draw rules where they belong.