Invitation Wording - at [a/the] Welcome Dinner

[PC.Cheung]

I am preparing an invitation on behalf of my boss. Shall I put "a" or "the" in front of the Welcome Dinner?

requests the pleasure of your company at ___ Welcome Dinner for Executive Committee Members on Wednesday 28th November 2012 at 6:30 pm at the InterContinental HK

Thanks

 

[Copyright]

I would use "the welcome dinner" only.

 

[Istarion]

I would use "the welcome dinner" only.

And I much prefer "a welcome dinner"! I think this is a standard case of a vs the (link to forum search) - if the addressee already knows about the dinner it's "the" and if they don't it's "a". On invitations like this I would expect to see "a", since part of the invitation's purpose is to let people know about the event.
-I

 

[Copyright]

Funny, I put a note on my answer saying that "a welcome dinner" wouldn't bother me at all (before deleting it). I might even use it if I were asked on a different day of the week, and you may be right about its being more common.

 

[PC.Cheung]

Thanks.

 

[Copyright]

Ok, it's not a different day of the week, but go with "A."

 

[JamesM]

To me, "a" makes more sense. You have no way of eliminating any other Welcome Dinner for the same guests. It follows the same logic as "You are invited to a party" or "You are invited to a celebration of Harold and Maude's 25th wedding anniversary", in my mind. It is one celebration but not necessarily the only one. (I would use "the" with a wedding, since presumably there will be only one for this couple. )