Secret Santa message templates
Organising Secret Santa is mostly sending the right message at the right time. Here are short, friendly templates for every step. Copy them, change the details in brackets and paste them into your group chat, Slack, Teams or email.
1. The invitation
Friends or family:
🎅 Secret Santa this year? Budget [£20], presents swapped on [Saturday 19 December] at [Mum’s]. Reply 🙋 by [Friday] if you’re in!
Work:
Hi all! We’re running an optional Secret Santa this year 🎁 Budget [£15], exchange at the [Christmas party on Friday 18 December]. React with ✅ by [Wednesday] if you’d like to join. No pressure at all if not!
2. Sharing the draw
🎁 Names are drawn! Open this link, tap YOUR name (only yours, please) and you’ll see who you’re buying for: [link]
You can only reveal it once, so save the picture of your result.
3. Asking for hints
To help your Santa, reply with 3 things you like and 1 thing you have too much of 😄 (or fill in this quick questionnaire: drawmysecretsanta.com/secret-santa-questionnaire/)
4. Nudging people who haven’t revealed
👀 A few people haven’t checked who they got yet! Here’s the link again: [link]. Tap your own name and save the picture.
5. One-week reminder
⏰ One week to Secret Santa! Reminder: budget [£20], bring your wrapped present on [date]. Don’t forget to put your recipient’s name on the tag (and not yours 😉).
6. Posting deadline (remote groups)
📦 If you’re posting your present, please send it by [date] so it arrives before our video call on [date]. Send your address privately to me if you haven’t yet.
7. Reveal day
🎄 It’s Secret Santa day! We’ll open presents one by one. Before each reveal, everyone gets one guess at who the Santa was. Ready?
8. Thank-you message
Thank you, Secret Santa, whoever you are! 🎁 [The gift] is perfect. Great job everyone, same again next year?
Most of the work disappears if you put the budget, date and rules inside the draw itself: everyone sees them when they reveal their name.
Create the draw and get your link
🎁 Draw names for freeFrequently asked questions
What should I write when inviting people to Secret Santa?
Keep it short: the budget, the date and place of the exchange, and a clear deadline to reply. Make it easy to say no, especially at work.
How do I remind people without spoiling the secret?
Send general reminders to the whole group, never to individuals about their recipient.