--- title: "Make your event invitation-only | Ticket Fairy Guides" description: "Compare a shared password, personal invitations and a ticket access code, or approve each order after checkout before the buyer gets their tickets." canonical: "https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/make-an-event-invitation-only" --- 1. [Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/) 2. [Guides](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides) 3. Make your event invitation-only Setting up an event # Make your event invitation-only At a private launch, a members' night or a guest-list-only show, only the people on your list should be able to buy a ticket. A shared password, personal invitations, a hidden-ticket access code and order approval each give a promoter a different level of control over who gets in. Compare a shared password, personal invitations and a ticket access code, or approve each order after checkout before the buyer gets their tickets. For: Controlling who can buy tickets before or after checkout Takes: 5 minutes [Watch the video: Make your event invitation-only](https://d3lcdr963b5ubl.cloudfront.net/uploads/guides/video/make-an-event-invitation-only/da75f0ba53fde743caca466e9669e9f40931a5a3895ad4bcfffbd77ca8b8c986/d70fb44ffed9a82c/guide.mp4) · [English](https://www.ticketfairy.com/resources/captions/guides/guide-make-an-event-invitation-only-d70fb44ffed9.vtt) **Watch how it's done** 2 min 34 s, with captions. - [Choose how you control who can buy](#step-1) - [Turn on Password required to view event](#step-2) - [Turn on Invitation required to attend](#step-3) - [Attach hidden tickets to a No Discount promotion](#step-4) - [Turn on Require order approval](#step-5) - [Test your chosen access method before sharing it](#step-6) ## Before you start - You can edit the event and its ticket types. - You know whether you want to share one password, invite named guests, share an access code or approve each order after checkout. 1. ## Choose how you control who can buy [Play from here](#guide-video) Choose whether to share one password, invite named guests, share an access code or approve each order after checkout. - **Password required to view event**: One shared password hides the event page. It suits a private sale where you trust everyone who receives the password, and each group can have its own. - **Invitation required to attend**: Each person gets a personal link with its own ticket and transaction limits. It suits an approved guest list. - **Promo codes**: A code reveals hidden ticket types without changing their prices, while the event page stays public. It is shared access, like a password, but for the tickets. - **Require order approval**: Anyone who can reach the ticket can place an order, and you accept or decline each one after checkout. It suits admission that depends on your decision. 2. ## Turn on Password required to view event [Play from here](#guide-video) If you chose a password, open **Event Settings**, turn on **Password required to view event** and add a password for each group under **New Password**. **Note:** A password controls access to the page. It does not prove which person typed it, so anyone who receives it can pass it on. ![Ticket Fairy event settings with Password required to view event enabled and two existing passwords](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-event-settings--password-protection.png) Event Settings, Password required to view event. 3. ## Turn on Invitation required to attend [Play from here](#guide-video) If you chose invitations, turn on **Invitation required to attend** in **Event Settings**, then draft the email, add people one at a time or import a CSV, and set each recipient's ticket and transaction limits. **Note:** Send the link to the person you mean to invite, and treat a forwarded link as shared access within that invitation's limits. If your event already lets buyers purchase through referral links without an invitation, those links still work. ![Ticket Fairy Event Settings with Invitation required to attend enabled](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-event-settings--invitation-required.png) Event Settings, Invitation required to attend. 4. ## Attach hidden tickets to a No Discount promotion [Play from here](#guide-video) If you chose an access code, keep the event page public, hide every ticket type, then attach those tickets to a promotion with **No Discount**. The code reveals the tickets without changing their prices. **Note:** An access code is shared access, like a password, but it protects the tickets rather than the event page. A buyer can read the event details before entering the code. ![Ticket Fairy promotion editor with a Guest List access code, No Discount and two hidden ticket types attached](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-promotions--hidden-ticket-access-code.png) Marketing, Promotions, Edit Promotion. 5. ## Turn on Require order approval [Play from here](#guide-video) If you chose order approval, open **Tickets**, select **Settings** and turn on **Require order approval**, or turn it on for selected ticket types only. A buyer who can reach the ticket can then place an order for you to accept or decline. **Note:** Order approval does not restrict who can request tickets; it gives you the decision after checkout. ![Ticket Fairy Ticket Settings with Require order approval and Hold payment until approved enabled](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-tickets--event-order-approval.png) Tickets, Settings, Ticket Settings. 6. ## Test your chosen access method before sharing it [Play from here](#guide-video) Open the event in a private browser window, try to buy a ticket without the password, invitation or code, then try again with it. The first attempt should stop you and the second should reach checkout. **Note:** For invitations, try to add a visible ticket without the invitation and confirm the purchase is refused; the ticket choices may still be visible. For approval, place your own order and check that it waits for your decision. ## Try these steps on your own event Create a free account, build your event and follow the steps above in your own dashboard. It takes a few minutes and you do not need to book a sales call. Your email address [Create a free account](https://manage.ticketfairy.com/welcome) [Book a demo](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing/book-a-demo) No setup fees. No required monthly ticketing fee. No credit card required. ## Or have it done for you Fai, the assistant inside your dashboard, can compare the four approaches, check how your event is currently configured and set up the option you choose. She explains who gets access and when, then asks you to approve each change separately. You can also make every change in the dashboard. ### In your dashboard, with Fai Find my event by name. Ask me whether access should use shared passwords, personal invitations, a shared access code, or a decision after checkout. Recommend the best fit from my answer, explain who can get through and when access is decided, then show me every setting, ticket, promotion or invitation message you would change and ask me to approve each change separately ## Let Fai do it for you Fai works inside your Ticket Fairy dashboard. Create your account, open Fai and paste the prompt above. [Create a free account](https://manage.ticketfairy.com/welcome) [Book a demo](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing/book-a-demo) No setup fees. No required monthly ticketing fee. No credit card required. ## Questions you might have Which option gives each person their own access?: Use invitation-required access. Each recipient gets a personal link and their own **Max Tickets** and **Max Transactions** limits. A password or access code can be used by anyone who knows it. Which option keeps my event page public?: Use hidden ticket types with a no-discount access code. The event details remain visible, while the tickets appear only after the code is entered. Is order approval the same as an invitation-only event?: No. Invitation-required access checks for a personal invitation when a buyer adds a ticket, apart from any valid referral-link access your event already allows. With order approval, a buyer who can see the ticket can place a request. You decide after checkout. Can I combine two private-access methods?: Yes. You can protect the page with a password and also require personal invitations, or use invitations to reveal selected hidden tickets. Every extra check adds another step for the buyer, so test the complete path before sending it. How do I stop access after I have shared it?: Remove or replace a password, cancel a personal invitation, or delete the access-code promotion. To close a pending request, approve or decline it. ## Still have a question? Book a demo and we will answer it on a call, on your kind of event. Or create your account and see it for yourself. [Book a demo](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing/book-a-demo) [Create a free account](https://manage.ticketfairy.com/welcome) No setup fees. No required monthly ticketing fee. No credit card required. ## Related guides - [More ways to use Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features/private-sales-and-presales) - [Password-protect your event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/password-protect-your-event) - [Sell tickets by personal invitation](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/sell-tickets-by-personal-invitation) - [Share one invitation link to your event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/share-one-invitation-link-to-your-event) - [Unlock hidden tickets with an access code](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/unlock-hidden-tickets-with-an-access-code) - [Approve orders before buyers receive tickets](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/approve-orders-before-buyers-receive-tickets) - [Sell tickets only to your NFT holders](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/sell-tickets-only-to-your-nft-holders) - [Use Freefund to reduce no-shows at free and RSVP events](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/reduce-no-shows-at-free-rsvp-events) - [Run an A/B test for your event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/run-an-ab-test-for-your-event) - [Schedule when your event goes live](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/schedule-when-your-event-goes-live) - [Postpone or reschedule an event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/postpone-or-reschedule-an-event) - [Cancel an event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/cancel-an-event) - [Take pre-registrations before your ticket on-sale](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/take-pre-registrations-before-your-on-sale) - [Create a reusable event template](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/create-a-reusable-event-template) - [Set up ticketing for a multi-day festival](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/sell-a-multi-day-festival) - [Sell parking, camping and merchandise with your tickets](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/sell-add-ons-with-your-tickets) - [Group your tickets into categories](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/group-your-tickets-into-categories) - [Issue reusable event passes to crew and artists](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/issue-entry-passes-to-your-crew) - [Create an event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/create-an-event) - [Set up ticket types](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/set-up-ticket-types) - [Limit who can buy a ticket type](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/limit-who-can-buy-tickets) - [Add your flyer and description to your event page](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/design-your-event-page) - [Answer your buyers' questions on the event page](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/add-faqs-to-your-event-page) - [Choose who Ticket Fairy support contacts about your event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/choose-who-ticket-fairy-support-contacts-about-your-event) - [Sell timed-entry tickets for an attraction, exhibition or food event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/sell-timed-entry-tickets) - [Duplicate an event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/duplicate-an-event) - [Run a recurring event series](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/run-a-recurring-event-series) - [Sell VIP tables and bottle service through your promoters](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/sell-vip-tables-and-bottle-service) - [Hold back tickets for later](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/hold-back-ticket-stock) - [Schedule ticket releases](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/schedule-ticket-sale-windows-and-release-tiers) - [Every Ticket Fairy guide](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides) ## Do this on your own event Create your account, build your event and follow the steps in your own dashboard. You do not need to book a sales call. [Create a free account](https://manage.ticketfairy.com/welcome) [Book a demo](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing/book-a-demo) ## Sell tickets with Ticket Fairy Everything in these guides is in your dashboard from the day you sign up. - Set up your event in minutes - Free events are free - Fai, your co-pilot, is built in [Create a free account](https://manage.ticketfairy.com/welcome) No setup fees. No required monthly ticketing fee. No credit card required. ## See it on a call Book a demo and we will show you how Ticket Fairy handles your kind of event. [Book a demo](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing/book-a-demo) [More ways to use Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features/private-sales-and-presales) ### Tips for selling more tickets Practical advice from working organizers, and every new guide as it is published. We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime. --- This page is on Ticket Fairy, a ticketing, marketing and operations platform for live events and the venues that host them: festivals, club nights, concerts, conferences and tours, and night clubs, beach clubs and concert venues. It grows revenue with fan rewards that turn an audience into a sales channel, and runs the money side with payments and payouts, Vault business banking, and working capital advanced against ticket sales. [How Ticket Fairy ticketing works](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing) · [Ticket Fairy for AI assistants](https://www.ticketfairy.com/llms.txt)