How to Prepare and Mail Your Wedding Invitations

So, you've found your ideal Wedding Invitations! Now what do you do? There are most likely numerous questions you have in relation to how many to order, addressing the invitations and who gets an invite. Considering that the Wedding Invitations will set the tone for your upcoming wedding, it is important to remember the recognized etiquette of a wedding while ordering and mailing out your invitations.

1. Who gets an Invitation? Of course all your guests that you wish to invite should get an invitation. In addition, your wedding party should also get an invitation as well as clergy and parents. The wedding party understands they are invited, but this gives you the opportunity to formally invite a spouse or provide the option for a guest to attend with a single attendant. This holds true for any clergy you wish to invite.
   
2. How many invitations do I order? Once you have compiled your guest list, it is always best to add on at least an additional 25 invitations. If you have the option to just order additional envelopes, this is advised as well just in case errors are made during the address writing. Having additional wedding invitations on hand is ideal for keepsake purposes as well as return mailed and the last minute invites you may want to send.
   
3. When are Send the Date Cards mailed? Send the Date Cards can be mailed anywhere from six to nine months before the wedding. These are still considered optional in terms of etiquette, but about 90% of couples today are choosing to send them in order to ensure family and friends across the country and world are able to attend. If you are planning a destination wedding, these really are a must as travel and hotels will need to be booked.
   
4. When are Wedding Invitations mailed? Traditionally, wedding invitations are mailed six to eight weeks prior to the day. However, if you are having a destination wedding, you may elect to send out the invitations eight to ten weeks ahead in order to ensure that all accommodations can be made by your guests.
   
5. Do I really need a Reception Card? A Reception Card isn't necessary, if the reception is immediately following the ceremony and if it is at the same location. A Reception Card is proper etiquette, if the reception is at a different location. The Reception Card is also the appropriate way to communicate what type of party you are hosting. For example, if you are hosting an "Adult Only" reception, the card is the avenue to communicate this important information. Directions should also be provided or at least the address of the reception.
   
6. Do I really need a Respond Card? A Respond Card is the most traditional way for your guests to acknowledge the invitation and advise as to whether or not they will be attending. Although some couples are electing to print a website on the invitation itself for guests to RSVP online, this is not the proper way to solicit a response and it does take away from the invitation which is typically a keepsake considering the personalized verse and wedding details.
   
7. How do I provide the reception menu options? The Respond Card is the perfect place to outline to your guests what meal choices they will have at your reception. Selecting a meal is the indication they will be attending. Another line is then provided below the meal options for those who regretfully cannot attend.
   
8. How long should I give guests to RSVP? Your final number of guests is typically due to your venue about one to two weeks prior to your wedding. With this in mind, asking for the RSVP two to three weeks in advance will provide ample time for you to evaluate who has responded, call those who haven't and contact the venue with your final count. If you are planning a destination wedding and accommodations are a factor, asking for a response four weeks in advance is perfectly acceptable.
   
9. Where do I put my Return Address? Your return address should be printed in two places. The first is on the back of the outer envelope. This will ensure that any invitations that are not deliverable will be returned to you. This can be printed by your invitation vendor. The second place is on the front of the respond card envelope. This can also be printed by your invitation vendor and is typically printed at no additional charge. Be sure to place a postage stamp on the respond card envelope as well.
   
10. How should the invitations be addressed? The outer envelope can be mailed to a family just by indicating Mr. and Mrs. The outer envelope for a single person can just be addressed to that person. The inner envelope traditionally is the indication of who is actually being extended the invitation. If you are hosting a family oriented wedding where kids can attend the ceremony and reception, the invitation should be to the adults and "family." If you are just inviting the adults of the household, "family" should be left off. If you are inviting a single person who can bring a guest, the invitation should indicate the person's name and the word "guest." If you are just inviting the single person, it should only state his or her name.
    
11. Do the envelopes for the Wedding Invitations need to be handwritten? The return addresses can be printed for the invitations. However, everything else should be handwritten. This is, after all, a personal and intimate invitation.

How to Enjoy Your Wedding Reception

Your wedding reception will most likely be a whirlwind event that is over before you know it.  It will be filled with friends and family as well as food and dancing.  Yes, this is a party to celebrate the ceremony the preceded and it is a time to celebrate you and your new spouse as a couple.  Making sure you enjoy the reception is critical. Believe it or not, things can get overwhelming and chaotic if you don't plan ahead.  Occasions In Print has a few suggestions on how to ensure you enjoy your reception.
  
1. Visit Each Table.  If you don't have a receiving line then you and your spouse must have a plan to visit each table.  Typically the easiest time to do this is right after people are done eating.  This will give you the opportunity to thank everyone for coming and make sure that you spoke with everyone.  Take your camera man around with you so that he can get shots of you with your various guests.  There will come a day when you forget who attended your wedding and photos are a great way to keep those memories alive.

2. Family Pictures.  Be sure to get pictures at the reception of all your family members.  Sometimes relatives will get lost in the crowd and your photographer may not know who is related to you.  This is especially critical if you have family members who won't be out on the dance floor.  Photographers tend to drift towards where the action is in order to capture the candid moments of your reception.  If you have family who aren't likely to be in the midst of the action, be sure to let you photographer know ahead of time.

3. Take a quiet moment.  There is a ton of action and traditional events that occur at wedding receptions.  From the bouquet toss to the line dancing, the reception will be filled with activity.  Be sure and take a few quiet moments with your new spouse to remember that you are now married and that the party is for the wonderful life you are beginning. Don't let the reception go by and then remember that you haven't even had a moment of piece just to gaze into each other's eyes.

4. Eat! Eat! Eat!  This maybe one of the most critical items on this list.  It is so important that you eat at your reception.  Yes, you may have a lot of people to say hello to and yes, you may feel that you need to get the party started by being out on the dance floor, but none of that will be truly enjoyed unless you have a full stomach and a clear head.  The stress of the day and the cocktails of the night will catch up to you quickly if you don't take the time to eat.  And let's face it,  you have paid good money for the food, so be sure and partake.

5. Gift and Flower Plan.  It is really important to have a gift and flower plan prior to the day of your wedding and reception.  Have a designated person or persons who will be responsible for getting all your gifts either back to your house or to wherever you plan to open them.  The flowers also need to be assigned to someone.  These make great decorations for the morning after brunch or select a place that takes flower donations.  Don't leave this decision until the last few minutes of the reception and end the night by scrambling to find someone who has a vehicle large enough, knows where to go and is willing, possibly late at night, to deliver these items for  you.

At Occasions In Print, we are all about helping create the first impression with the elegance and distinction that reflects your style and sensibility. Our Wedding Invitations, Birth Announcements and Stationery are of the highest quality and greatest value. Each can be personalized and previewed. We offer fine stationery store quality, but with low online prices
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Wedding Thank You Notes - Q & A from Occasions In Print

Getting ready to write out Thank You Notes for your wedding gifts?  Here are common questions that you might be having about how to handle the notes along with helpful advice from Occasions In Print.

I received gifts from people who couldn't attend the wedding.  How do I write "sorry you couldn't be with us?"

The best way to address someone who couldn't attend your wedding is to first thank them for the beautiful gift they presented you with despite not being able to make it to the actual wedding.  Then let them know that they were thought of during the day and truly missed at the celebration.  Here is an example: "Thank you so much for the beautiful vase you sent us in celebration of our marriage.  We thought of you at our wedding and wanted you to know that you were truly missed."

If a wedding guest didn't bring a gift, should I write a thank you note anyway?

A thank you note is still a great way to thank someone who didn't buy a wedding gift.  It gives your guest an opportunity to ask about something you should have gotten or let you know if something is on the way.

Should the thank you notes be handwritten?

Although there are many ways via technology to send someone a thank you note, proper etiquette and decorum still advises that the notes be handwritten.  We all live in a fast paced society and most schedules take up every minute of our day, but some traditions should never be set aside.  A handwritten note is as personal as the wedding your guest attended. 

How do I thank people for wedding gifts that are returned because they were something we either didn't want or didn't need?

It is a safe bet that at least one of your wedding guests will go rogue and give you a wedding gift that isn't on your registry and that you have no real use for in your home.  When this occurs, the best thing to do is to thank your guest for the thoughtful gift and leave your real intentions out.  There is no need to possibly insult them when he or she most likely believes they have given a special gift that will be welcomed.  Take the high road and finish the note with how much you appreciated them attending your wedding.

Should I have my husband sign the cards?

Having your husband sign the cards is another great way to personalize the thank you notes you are sending out.  However, it is really not something that will be analyzed the any great length by your guest.  Married couples for the most part are traditionally okay to sign for each other without incident.  Unless of course, we are talking about a life insurance policy!

How do you thank someone for a cash or check gift?

The best way to thank a guest who has given you a cash gift is to let them know how you plan to use the funds.  Are you putting it towards a down payment on a house?  Did you take it with you on the honeymoon? 

Our cards got separated from our gifts.  How do I write a thank you note that doesn't say a specific gift?

This can happen pretty easily in the shuffle of gifts and wrapping paper.  One great way to avoid this is to write a detailed list as you open the gifts.  However, if it has already happened, the best way to write your note is to simply outline how thoughtful their gift was and then focus on how wonderful it was that they could also attend and spend the day in celebration with you.
 
Should I write a thank you note as soon as I receive a gift, even if it is before the wedding?

It is a good idea to get a thank you note out right after receiving the gift.  Especially if it is prior to the wedding.  This is important for two reasons.  First, it will make your post wedding thank you note list that much shorter and there will be less chance of cards getting separated from gifts as time has passed.  Second, it could be a bit embarassing if your guest has to ask you at the wedding if you received their gift.  Part of a thank you note is validation for your guest that the UPS guy got it there.

Do you send a thank you note to each person when they are part of a group gift?

The best thing to do is to send a note to each person when a group gift is presented.  Sometimes group gifts are expensive items which means that each person paid as much or more than if he or she had purchased something separate.  Letting each person know how much it meant is as important as letting everyone who gave individual gifts know the significance of their gift.
Follow these answers and writing your thank you notes will be easy, quick and you will tell your friends and family how much you truly appreciate them.