Wedding Invitation Etiquette & Saying Thank you

Life moves quickly these days with instant communication via email, blogs and cell phone calls. When one receives a piece of mail there is something special about it. With an impending marriage and many pre-wedding celebrations like engagement parties and showers, there will be thank you notes that must be written.

See You There Invitations, http://www.seeyouthere.ca Windsor, Ontario

See You There Invitations, Windsor, Ontario

There will also be invitations to accept from good friends and family that wish to share in your news. Thoughtful and timely correspondence needs to be thoughtful.

It’s very important not to send your wedding communications via email. In some cases, the older generation may not be internet savvy or even own a computer or if the person who is getting your mail is not a regular contact of yours, they may never ever see your messages as they will go to SPAM.

If you send your invitations via email and ask for RSVP back, it will be virtually impossible to track those 50 to 200 + guests without missing someone or getting extremely confused. It works for a small party like a birthday but your wedding day is different and special; treat it that way and avoid a whole lot of potential disorganization which will in the end, cost you time.

See You There  custom designed. http://www.seeyouthere.ca

See You There Invitations, Windsor, Ontario

It’s never too late to send it out and during busy times such as a holiday season, people will understand why your note is delayed. Be sure to write your note and mention the gift or gesture that you are thanking the person for. It need not be a letter;  three or more sentences is more than enough unless it is someone extremely close to you. Be sincere with your thanks!

A formal note is  correct protocol for a wedding gift,  flowers, bridal showers or any present received for a special occasion. Informal thank yous are sent to the host/hostess who gave a party, gifts that you receive via delivery or special favours that are appreciated.

 Receiving an invitation requires proper social etiquette. RSVP (répondez s’il vous plait simply means, please respond. Also, indicate if you are bringing a guest (the invitation will say and guest) Your host wants to know whether you are attending, so they can have a proper guest count for food. They also will be ordering table seating cards and will require lead time for those items.

When you are unable to attend an occasion where an invitation was issued, regrets is the term used. Fill out the RSVP  and get it in the mail quickly. When issuing your wedding thank yous, it is nice to include something special like a favourite picture from your special day. Family and friends, both from far and near will love to see you happy and glowing!

Knowing the proper protocol of etiquette makes you stand out with your message. It will surely set the tone for making someone’s day as they bring in their daily mail.

Correspondence that is on time and thoughtful will be appreciated by the receiver. It will also let them know that you received their gift and, that you are acknowledging it. Although life has changed in many areas, those special thanks yous are a necessity, particularly after an event like a wedding day.

Your First Steps Together Wedding Planning

So much to do! Where to start? What is the first thing you should do after becoming engaged?

 

Relax! Enjoy the moment! Allow yourselves a little time to simply enjoy the excitement, to talk and dream about your wedding, your honeymoon, and your future together. How will you set up your home as a married couple?

Mike Kovaliv Photography

You’ve been dreaming about this very special day since you were little. Your good news has probably bubbled out as you’ve told a few people, family and friends perhaps, but there’s no need to rush into future wedding plans until you’ve had time to enjoy the present moment. Your life partner has arrived and you need to cherish these oh-so-special, never-to-be-repeated days together.

Will travel

Where shall we start? First, don’t be overwhelmed with the details. Instead, try to make each step of your planning an event. For example, reserve a day to shop with your wedding party or with your mother. Treat yourself to a nice luncheon along the way. Plan a romantic Friday evening in a special spot to cap off a week of endless consultations. Schedule an “invitation addressing” party to break the monotony of the tedious task.

will travel

Getting organized will help you put your wedding planning in order. Plan now to look back on these days as a wonderful adventure to beginning your “first steps together.”

Your Wedding Invitation Etiquette

It’s never too early to get your invitations in the mail. They should be addressed by hand and mailed no later than six weeks prior to your wedding.  They’ll need to be ordered before that but here’s a few tips about quantity before you move ahead.

Your invitations for 100 guests does not mean that you will need 100 invitations. Half or a little more should be enough. Order one for every married couple, single adult guest, single attendant and every unmarried guest older than eighteen years of age. Don’t forget invitations  for your attendants’ parents (if invited),  everyone in the groom’s family, your attendants; dates and your clergy or officiant. You can then add a few more invitations for keepsakes and emergencies.

 

Invitations should be mailed no later than 6 weeks prior to your wedding day.

Be sure to order lots of extra envelopes! You will need them for addressing errors.

It is customary to address by hand in blue or black ink. Printing address labels on a computer is not the way it is done.

When you assemble your invitations you need to follow one simple rule; all that’s inside must face the back flap of the outer (mailing envelope). This applies to everything from RSVP cards to inner envelopes.

Insert the left edge of a single card invitation first. The folded edge of a folded invitation should go first.  If you have two envelopes, place all the enclosures in the inner envelope. Do not seal the inner envelope. Place it in the mailing envelope with the name of the guest facing the flap.

Place your insert in front of the invitation in the inner envelope or inside a folded invitation. Follow these simple steps and you can make the process a little simpler:

Address thank you notes and invitations at the same time. You’ll thank yourself after your honeymoon.

Discreetly assign a number to each guest and their RSVP card. Use these numbers to track down missing RSVPs and to create your seating charts.

Choose an early RSVP date. Most of your guests won’t reply until that deadline draws near, so save yourself the stress.

Wedding Guide Professionals Live on the Radio, April 22,2012

Experts on Call, Sunday Morning Live, April 22, 2012

Talking Weddings & Trends

A round table talk on http://www.am800cklw.com with  Sunday Morning Live host, Arms Bumanlag, and Publisher Sheryl Davies, http://www.theweddingguide.ca as we talk to the Wedding Guide experts and discuss the upcoming season.
Celebrating 20 years of assisting local area brides and groom-to-be.

Pick up our 128 page bridal  planner, FREE from bridal salons on our website abo

Click here and listen to:

April22-2012ExpertsOnCall

Alicia Quigiatto,  Elmara Flowers,  http://www.elmaraflowers.com

Tanya Hedrick,  The City Grill         http://www.thecitygrill.com
Judene McCalla,  See You There Invitations http://www.seeyouthere.ca
Mike Kovaliv,       Mike Kovaliv Photography http://www.mikekovaliv.com/

&
Paul Pannone, http://www.ewednewz.com,  New York City veteran in the wedding industry and editor-in-chef , investigative reporter.

 

Plan Well with The Wedding Guide Windsor|Essex County

Save the Date cards makes sense in these days of long distance weddings and airfare savings. The arrival of a wedding invitations six weeks before the day of the wedding sometimes just isn’t enough notice. The growing popularity of “Save the Date” notices are a blessing to our busy lives. These simple cards, notices, magnets or other clever communication ideas, give advance notice to guests that you plan to invite to the celebrations so you can plan to be there!

John Lyons Photography, will travel

These cards require no response from the potential guests. They do not make a commitment to anyone’s presence, but are meant as a happy advance notice to the wedding plans and the expression that the couple would like you to be there to share in their special day.

Sending “Save the Date” cards gives you the opportunity to work with a local stationer early and to establish a relationship now.  It’s an indication of the level of service that you should receive in the future when you order your wedding invitations and other paper goods.

Today’s engaged couples have lots of options  for the many wedding celebrations that will be held in their honour. You may decide to design invites for your reception, rehearsal dinner, bridesmaid’s luncheon, or any other parties that may be happening. Look carefully at the paper samples, your colour choices and trust your specialist. Get all the information you need before you make your final decision.  Your stationer will be able to take your ideas and pull them together for the finished product.

Be sure that you proof anything that is printed carefully before signing off your approval and putting them in the mail. Is the date correct? Are your names spelled correctly? Are the addresses right?  One more pair of eyes will ensure that everything is absolutely perfect!

Wedding planning feels like you are making decisions constantly and there are many things that need to be decided on.  Do your homework, check your paperwork and references, so you can move ahead feeling good about your choices.  Since there are a lot of couples marrying, waiting means that the dates you have chosen for the caterer,  location, and dresses may vanish before you finalize your arrangements.

We recommend that if you feel it’s the right decision- move on with your plans and complete the task as per your wedding timetable.