---
title: "Sell tickets by personal invitation | Ticket Fairy Guides"
description: "Send each approved guest a personal ticket link, set how many tickets they can buy and how many orders they can place, and track or cancel an invitation after you send it."
canonical: "https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/sell-tickets-by-personal-invitation"
---

1. [Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/)
2. [Guides](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides)
3. Sell tickets by personal invitation

Setting up an event

# Sell tickets by personal invitation

A promoter handing a sponsor an allocation, or opening a members' preview, gives each person their own ticket link and their own limit. Invitations go out one at a time or from a spreadsheet, and you can track, resend or cancel any of them after they go out.

Send each approved guest a personal ticket link, set how many tickets they can buy and how many orders they can place, and track or cancel an invitation after you send it.

For:  Selling tickets through an approved invitation list

Takes:  16 minutes

- [Turn on Invitation required to attend](#step-1)
- [Select Save Event Settings](#step-2)
- [Start a new invitation](#step-3)
- [Enter the subject and message](#step-4)
- [Choose hidden tickets or a held allocation](#step-5)
- [Add a recipient](#step-6)
- [Upload a CSV for a larger list](#step-7)
- [Review the import results](#step-8)
- [Correct any rejected rows](#step-9)
- [Send now or schedule the invitation](#step-10)
- [Review invitations waiting to send](#step-11)
- [Send a test invitation to yourself](#step-12)
- [Test the event page without the invitation](#step-13)

## Before you start

- You can edit **Event Settings** and send invitations for the event.
- Your brand is verified. If your brand is new or you do not know whether it is verified, contact Ticket Fairy Support before creating an invitation.
- Your account is verified. Check **Account Verification** in **Account Settings** and complete the verification if you have not.
- Your approved list has a first name, last name and email address for each person.
- You know how many tickets and separate orders each recipient may place.

1. ## Turn on Invitation required to attend

   Open **Event Settings**, turn on **Invitation required to attend**, and confirm the change.

   **Note:** A visitor who opens the event page without a valid personal invitation cannot add a ticket. A buyer arriving through a valid referral link can still buy when your event already allows that access exception.
          ![Ticket Fairy Event Settings with Invitation required to attend on and Save Event Settings below it](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-event-settings--invitation-required.png)    Event Settings, Invitation required to attend.
2. ## Select Save Event Settings

   Select **Save Event Settings** before you open the invitations area.
3. ## Start a new invitation

   Open **Interact**, select **Invitations**, then start a new invitation.
         ![Ticket Fairy invitation form with Subject, Invitation Content, hidden-ticket access and two CSV recipients](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-invitations--compose.png)    Interact, Invitations, Send Invitation.
4. ## Enter the subject and message

   Enter the **Subject** and **Invitation Content** in the same voice as the rest of your event messages.

   **Note:** Tell the recipient what the invitation opens, when sales close and whether the link should remain private. Ticket Fairy adds the ticket link to the invitation when the message does not already contain it.
5. ## Choose hidden tickets or a held allocation

   Optional: Use **Unhide Hidden Ticket Type (optional)** when this invitation should reveal tickets that everyone else cannot see, and **Hold Tickets (optional)** when you already have a held allocation set aside for the invited list.

   **Note:** Leave both fields empty when every invited person should choose from the normal visible tickets. The invitation requirement still applies.
6. ## Add a recipient

   Under **Recipients**, select **Add Recipient**, then enter **First Name**, **Last Name**, **Email**, **Maximum number of tickets** and **Maximum transactions**.

   **Note:** **Maximum number of tickets** is the total this recipient may buy with the invitation, and **Maximum transactions** is the number of separate orders they may place; set the transaction limit no higher than the ticket limit. The recipient table shortens these headings to **Max Tickets** and **Max Transactions**.
         ![Ticket Fairy Add Recipient dialog with name, email, maximum tickets and maximum transactions fields](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-invitations--add-recipient.png)    Interact, Invitations, Add Recipient.
7. ## Upload a CSV for a larger list

   Optional: Select **Upload CSV**, then drop a CSV with no header row onto **Add CSV File**, or select it and choose the file from your device.

   **Note:** Put first name, last name, email address, maximum tickets and maximum transactions in that order on every row, one row per person. Each limit must be from 1 to 50, and maximum transactions cannot exceed maximum tickets.
         ![Ticket Fairy Upload CSV File dialog listing the five recipient columns and the Add CSV File area](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-invitations--upload-csv.png)    Interact, Invitations, Upload CSV.
8. ## Review the import results

   Check the **Processed**, **Imported** and **Failed** totals, then select **OK**.

   **Note:** **Imported** recipients have already been added to the invitation. When **Failed** is greater than zero, Ticket Fairy opens those rows for correction after you select **OK**, and you do not need to upload the valid rows again.
         ![Ticket Fairy Import Results dialog showing three processed recipients, two imported and one failed](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-invitations--import-results.png)    Interact, Invitations, Import Results.
9. ## Correct any rejected rows

   In **Fix CSV Import Errors**, enter each missing or invalid value, then select **Import Row**. The red message identifies the field that needs attention.

   **Note:** **Import Row** remains unavailable until the row is valid. When several rows failed, correct every row you want to keep, then import the valid rows.
         ![Ticket Fairy Fix CSV Import Errors dialog with a recipient row whose required email address is missing](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-invitations--fix-csv-errors.png)    Interact, Invitations, Fix CSV Import Errors.
10. ## Send now or schedule the invitation

    Review the subject, content, ticket access and recipient rows once more, then select **Send** to send now. To send later, select **Schedule Email**, choose the date and time in the event timezone, then select **Schedule**.

    **Note:** A scheduled invitation remains under **Scheduled invitations** until its send time.
          ![Ticket Fairy Schedule Email dialog with the event-local start date and Schedule action](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-invitations--schedule-email.png)    Interact, Invitations, Schedule Email.
11. ## Review invitations waiting to send

    Return to **Invitations** and check **Scheduled invitations**, confirming each recipient, ticket type, ticket limit and scheduled time.

    **Note:** Scheduled times use the event timezone. Correct the event timezone first when the displayed time is not the time your audience should receive the invitation.
          ![Ticket Fairy Scheduled invitations table with recipients, ticket types, ticket limits, scheduled times and Delete actions](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-invitations--scheduled.png)    Interact, Invitations, Scheduled invitations.
12. ## Send a test invitation to yourself

    Send an invitation to an address you control, then open it in a private browser window and confirm that the intended tickets appear.

    **Note:** Complete a test order and check that the recipient changes to **Bought**.
13. ## Test the event page without the invitation

    Repeat the test from a normal event visit without the invitation link: try to add a visible ticket and confirm that you cannot add it.

    **Note:** Ticket choices may remain visible until you try to add one.

## 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 turn on the invitation requirement and prepare and send the approved list. She asks you to approve each change before she makes it. To check, resend or cancel an invitation you have sent, use the Invitations page, or your own AI assistant over the MCP server.

### In your dashboard, with Fai

Find my event by name, turn on Invitation required to attend, and prepare an invitation email for these approved guests: \<names, email addresses, maximum tickets and maximum orders\>. Unlock these ticket types with the same invitation: \<ticket type names\>. Show me the event setting, subject, message, ticket access and each recipient limit, then ask me to approve the event change and the send

### From your own assistant, over MCP

Connect your assistant to [our MCP server](https://www.ticketfairy.com/mcp-server) and ask it:

The copied MCP configuration includes `--read-only`. Remove `--read-only` only when you want your assistant to make changes. Routine changes run when requested; destructive actions ask you in a compatible client. If your client cannot ask, make the change in your dashboard.

Find my event by name, list its invitations, and resend the invitation for \<recipient email\> if it is eligible to resend. Show me the recipient and current status, then ask me to approve the resend

## 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.

## Cancel a scheduled invitation

Under **Scheduled invitations**, select **Delete** beside the invitation. Check the warning, then select **Confirm**.

**Note:** This cancels the scheduled email. It does not affect invitations already sent.

      ![Ticket Fairy confirmation before canceling a scheduled invitation](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-invitations--cancel-scheduled.png)    Interact, Invitations, Scheduled invitations.

Cancel a scheduled invitation in the dashboard. Fai, MCP and the CLI cannot cancel it before it is sent.

## Check what happened after you sent an invitation

Return to **Invitations** and check the recipient table. **Sent** means the email was sent, **Link opened** means the recipient opened their link, **Bought** means they bought or started a payment plan, and **Withdrawn** means the link was canceled.

**Note:** The table keeps each recipient, ticket choice, limits and order IDs together.

       ![Ticket Fairy Invitations table with recipient status and actions](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-invitations--recipients.png)    Interact, Invitations.

Your own AI assistant over the MCP server can list the invitations and their current statuses. Fai cannot list them, and the CLI does not have an invitation status command.

### From your own assistant, over MCP

The copied MCP configuration includes `--read-only`. Remove `--read-only` only when you want your assistant to make changes. Routine changes run when requested; destructive actions ask you in a compatible client. If your client cannot ask, make the change in your dashboard.

Find \<EVENT NAME\> and list its invitations with recipient, ticket choice, status and order

## Resend one invitation

Select **Resend** in the recipient row, then select **Resend** again in the confirmation.

**Note:** The recipient receives the same personal link, and their ticket and transaction limits do not increase. Resend is unavailable after the invitation is bought or withdrawn.

       ![Ticket Fairy confirmation before resending a personal invitation](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-invitations--resend-recipient.png)    Interact, Invitations, Resend.

Your own AI assistant over the MCP server can resend one active invitation after you confirm the recipient. Fai cannot find the invitation, and the CLI does not expose invitation resends.

### From your own assistant, over MCP

The copied MCP configuration includes `--read-only`. Remove `--read-only` only when you want your assistant to make changes. Routine changes run when requested; destructive actions ask you in a compatible client. If your client cannot ask, make the change in your dashboard.

Find \<EVENT NAME\> and the invitation for \<RECIPIENT\>. Show its current status, then ask before resending it

## Cancel one invitation

Select **Cancel** in the recipient row, check the recipient named in the confirmation, then select **OK**.

**Note:** The invitation changes to Withdrawn and its personal link stops working. Other invitations remain active.

       ![Ticket Fairy confirmation naming the invitation recipient being canceled](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-invitations--cancel-recipient.png)    Interact, Invitations, Cancel.

Your own AI assistant over the MCP server can cancel one active invitation after showing you the recipient and ticket choice. Fai cannot find the invitation, and the CLI does not expose invitation cancellation.

### From your own assistant, over MCP

The copied MCP configuration includes `--read-only`. Remove `--read-only` only when you want your assistant to make changes. Routine changes run when requested; destructive actions ask you in a compatible client. If your client cannot ask, make the change in your dashboard.

Find \<EVENT NAME\> and the invitation for \<RECIPIENT\>. Show its current status, then ask before canceling it

## Send an invitation reminder

Select **Send a Reminder**, then choose **Resend same message** or **New message**. A new message needs a subject and a message before **Send a Reminder** sends it.

**Note:** The reminder goes to invited people who have not bought: resend the original message when its wording still applies, or use a new message to explain a deadline, low availability or a changed plan. The action can contact several recipients, so check the event and wording before sending.

       ![Ticket Fairy Send a Reminder dialog with original and new message choices](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-invitations--send-reminder.png)    Interact, Invitations, Send a Reminder.

Send an invitation reminder in the dashboard. Fai, MCP and the CLI cannot send this reminder.

## Questions you might have

What is the difference between Max Tickets and Max Transactions?:  **Max Tickets** limits the combined ticket quantity across completed purchases and active payment plans. **Max Transactions** counts each completed purchase, active payment plan or pending order once. A pending order may still be waiting for approval or payment confirmation. One order containing several ticket types still uses one transaction.

Can someone forward a personal invitation link?:  Yes. Anyone with the link can use its remaining ticket and transaction allowance. Tell recipients to keep it private and cancel it if it reaches the wrong person.

Can an invitation reveal a ticket that is hidden from everyone else?:  Yes. Choose it under **Unhide Hidden Ticket Type (optional)** before you send. The personal link reveals that ticket while everyone else keeps it hidden.

Can I invite the same email address again?:  Use **Resend** on the existing row when you want to send the same access again. Use **Send a Reminder** only when you want to contact everyone who has not bought. Create another invitation when that address needs a separate link and allowance.

What does Link opened mean?:  The invitation URL was opened. It does not mean an order completed. **Bought** confirms that the recipient completed a purchase or has an active payment plan.

How do I revoke one person without closing the event?:  Select **Cancel** in the recipient row. Its status changes to **Withdrawn**, while the other personal links and the invitation-required event setting stay in place.

## 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)
- [Make your event invitation-only](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/make-an-event-invitation-only)
- [Share one invitation link to your event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/share-one-invitation-link-to-your-event)
- [Password-protect your event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/password-protect-your-event)
- [Unlock hidden tickets with an access code](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/unlock-hidden-tickets-with-an-access-code)
- [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)
- [Approve orders before buyers receive tickets](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/approve-orders-before-buyers-receive-tickets)
- [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)
- [Sell tickets only to your NFT holders](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/sell-tickets-only-to-your-nft-holders)
- [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.

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---

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)