Never, Never, Never, send a preprinted thank you card.

When you send a preprinted card, you are telling the person receiving the thank you that their gift didn't mean enough to you to even receive a mention in your note. A warm personalized, handwritten note, regardless how brief, tells the guest how much you appreciated the gift and how it will be cherished for years to come. Handwritten notes express sincerity.
Be sure to send thank you notes to friends and relatives who arrange showers and parties for you. It is appropriate to thank them for the party or shower in the same card you send thanking them for their gift.

When you receive more than one gift from someone, each gift must be recognized with its own thank you card. If you receive a shower gift from a friend or relative and then, three weeks later, receive a wedding gift from the same person, it is not appropriate to thank them in one card. Shower gifts should be acknowledged within ten days of the party and wedding gifts within two weeks after returning from the honeymoon. Wedding gifts arriving in advance of the wedding, should be responded to immediately, so that an extended period of time does not pass between receiving the gift and it's thank you.
Be sure to put your new return address on all thank you cards. Your guests will appreciate having your current and correct address.
Although colored ink is readily available in your favorite stationery store today, it is still more appropriate to write your notes in dark blue or black. It is more easily readable.
When writing thank you notes, never start the note with "I." Always use "you" more than "I" or "me" in the note.

Suggested Wording Ideas for Thank You Cards

1.When writing to a close friend or relative:

Dearest Aunt Mary:
It's beautiful and we love it!!!!! How thoughtful of you to give Keith and me such a lovely family treasure. Grandmas' hand-crocheted bedspread will be my most prized possession. We both thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Love and Kisses,
Stepanie

2.When writing to a person you don't know very well:

Dear Mrs. Monnie,
Mother just gave me the beautiful crystal cake pedestal you left and I couldn't wait to tell you how lovely it is. Keith and I will think of you each time we use it. Thank you so very much.
Yours truly,
Stephanie Hall

3.When writing to a group of friends who have gone together on a gift:

Dear Friends:
Thank you all very much for the place setting of sterling you so kindly have given to us for our new home. Keith and I now have a service for eight and are so looking forward to using it for every special occasion in our life. What a thoughtful idea. You are such a great group to work with and I appreciate each one of you.
Affectionately,
Stephanie Hall

If less than ten people have gone together on the above gift, then a personal note to each must be written. If more than ten have participated and signed the enclosure card, such as in the case of coworkers in the same office, one note, placed on a bulletin board is considered proper etiquette. Be sure to speak to each person individually as the opportunity arises and express your gratitude.

4.When writing a thank you note for a gift not really cared for:

Dear Mike and Mary,
Thank you so much for the gum ball machine. We'll be sure you're among our first guests to visit, so don't forget your pennies! Looking forward to seeing you soon.
Sincerely,
Stephanie

5.When writing a thank you note for monetary gifts

Appreciation for monetary gifts are expressed in the same way you would thank a friend or loved one for a purchased item. If you have a particular item you intend to buy with the money, you can share that with them. Example:

Dearest Aunt MaryKevin and I want to thank you so much for the check you sent for our wedding. We have been saving for a down payment on our first home andhave added your gift to our special account. It was so thoughtful of you. Someday soon, we will be inviting you to our housewarming!!! Can't wait to see you and Uncle Ted again.Love, Sarah

Company policy states, if I wish to have coworkers at my wedding I have to invite the entire staff which is about a dozen more coworkers than I planned on inviting. To save on invitations, is it rude to send just one invitation to the store? And, since, again by company policy they all have to be seated together, is it rude to request that they don't bring guests?This is done in the formality of the invitation, including the language. It is also indicated by the venue/location and time of day. So, if you stated that your wedding is in a park in the afternoon, your guests would most likely know that it will be casual. Of course you could also verbally inform themThat would be a blessing of the marriage. However, this is not a wedding and should not appear to be one. Invitations are sent to those close to the couple and can be handwritten informally or printed out on a postcard style card.Traditionally the bride and groom's family can split the guest list 50/50. You have the option of fine tuning the list if it gets out of hand. Remember your budget, venue and church accommodations and the intimacy you desire when providing the number of guests.You can't combine an announcement and invitation since an announcement is sent after the wedding to announce that you have been married and an invitation is sent before the wedding to invite your guest to attend. So, send invitations to anyone you want to invite and let them decide if they want to attend a destination wedding. Then send announcements to any one not invited to the wedding that may need to be informed that you've been married.You certainly can but are not required to invite the church coordinator.Pocket invitations are a popular pick which includes a insert for printed directions and/or Pre-printed maps are fine to enclose.

Often times a wedding consists of shifting guests from one place to another in order to culminate this day of celebration. If you are a thoughtful bride looking to make these transitions as easy as possible I would like to introduce you to a wooden sign maker experienced in the customization of such a dilemma.

Many signs for weddings that you see are flimsy paper signs. Not the case with her artistic flair and touches of old world innocence. Hers are, made to order, wooden signs that come in a wide variety of designs and colors. They add to the overall decor of a wedding with tasteful elegance and are sure to last you many years as a token from this momentous day.

She can make it possible for you to display your wedding sign in any way you may need to.

Whether you need it staked to mark a turn off, ribbon to hang, or even propped in a key location; she is able to make these delightful signs into quite resourceful additions to helping your day run smooth.

With special care always taken in the upmost consideration of each, individual, customer.


“I answer emails and convos within 24 hours (usually right away!) and like to communicate often if necessary with my customers so I know exactly what they want.”

To reassure you of what you have placed an order for photos of the finished product are taken before it is shipped out so the customer can see it and there won't be any surprises.

“I offer full customization. You can match the color of a sign to a bridal party's colors. “

Want something a bit more detailed?

She is able to add special touches such as attaching mirror hooks to the backs so a bride can add ribbon to coordinate with her colors and use it for easy hanging.

Also able to paint the backs as well as the fronts of all of my wedding signs because you never know where they will be displayed and I like to cover all bases. It's nice to have the backs have a finished look as well as the fronts.

“I recently made a sign for a bride who is getting married in Hawaii and wanted a tropical look. I added a starfish to one end of the sign for her and we kept the tropical beach theme going for her wedding."

As anything customized from a store can often be a bit unfriendly on a budget this is not the case with her. Prices are reasonable and very fair! To include reasonable shipping prices.

"Most signs I ship using FedEx which I find to be very and I've never had a problem with then.”

A tip If I May:

Thread ribbon through the hooks I provide on the backs of the sign for easy hanging. Coordinate the ribbon with the bridal party's colors. Signs can be hung on hooks, trees or sit elegantly on either a short or tall easel. For a staked sign add a big bow just under the sign where the stake and sign meet. It looks gorgeous!

In preparing for your big day I'm sure you are finding there is a lot to "study" up for. I have compiled a list of comonly asked questions on etiquette specifically related to wedding invitations. Please keep in mind these are just guidlines to give you a foundation to start with in what can seem to be an overwhelming task.
Always remember to let your personal style and personality shine through on every aspect of your wedding to show off to loved ones and the world how you plan to emerge, full of pride,
Mrs.------- on your wedding day!

Congratulations, enjoy.

Q.
What is the etiquette regarding hand-delivered wedding invitations? I want to bring them to my coworkers and a few friends who live near my office. Is this appropriate?
A.
Delivering some of your wedding invitations by hand is a fine and acceptable option. However, rather than slipping them into your coworkers' mails slots or onto their desks, make sure it is an actual hand-delivery -- from your hands to theirs. This way, you will get to say a few words to each guest while you present the invitation and, most important, the invitation will not be overlooked.





Q.
My fiance and I do not want to have any children at our wedding. Should we indicate this on the invitations?

A.
This is always a touchy subject. Never print "no children" or "adults only" on an invitation. The way an invitation is addressed, whether on the outer or inner envelope, indicates exactly who -- and by omission, who is not -- invited to the wedding. Make sure your wedding party and family members know that there will be no children at the wedding so they can spread the word if necessary. If people ask to bring their children even after receiving their invitation, it's best to be as direct as possible, saying that your wedding plans really do not include children.





Q.
What is the correct wording to tell people where we're registered? How do we let the guest know we'd prefer cash gifts?

A.
It is never proper to include information about gifts in the wording of the invitation. Traditionally it was also considered improper to include any sort of announcement of your gift registries as inserts with your invitations. But times have changed, and many couples choose to include these enclosure cards, which guests find convenient. Often the company at which the couple is registered will provide these cards, making it appear that the store itself, rather than the couple, is informing guests about the registry. If you do not wish to include enclosure cards, the more traditional route is to let your family and wedding party know the details. They are the best resource for the guests. Some couples would prefer that their guests bring no gifts to the wedding. It is not appropriate to print "No Gifts Please" on the invitation, instead you should rely on word of mouth generated by your attendants and wedding party. If you would prefer guests to donate to a certain charity, the wedding party can pass along that information, too. Guests want to show their happiness by bringing a present, so no matter what you do you're bound to receive several. Never print a request for cash gifts on your invitations. Asking your wedding party to spread the word of your desire for cash is also impolite, both to the wedding party and the guests. If the "No Gifts" request is spread, guests wishing to offer some sort of token will often bring or send cash. The giving of cash is common in many cultures, so it may be appropriate for you to have a money box or designated place where cash gifts can be left. The bottom line is, it is never appropriate to mention wedding gifts in the wording of the wedding invitation.





Q.
Can I use printed labels on my wedding invitations?

A.
Affixing labels to your wedding invitation envelops makes them appear far less personal than they should be. Even if you are inviting many guests to the wedding, hand-address the invitation or, budget permitting, hire a calligrapher to handle the project. If you are worried about not being able to complete a large number of invitations, plan to order them as early as you can so you'll have enough time to finish them. Printing is always an option since there are many fonts to choose from and is much cheaper than a calligrapher.





Q.
What are the correct titles to use for guests when addressing my envelopes?

A.
Most of the titles we use in addressing envelopes will be familiar, but here is a breakdown:

A married couple: Mr. and Mrs. Carl Fallow
A married couple in which the woman has kept her name Ms. Janice Collins and Mr. Kevin Black
A widow Mrs. Carl Fallow
A divorced woman Ms. Sally Fallow (or her maiden name if she's reclaimed it).
Married doctors The Doctors Stevenson, Dr. Carmen Stevenson and Dr. Andrew Stevenson, Drs. Carmen and Andrew Stevenson.
The Doctors Stevenson, Dr. Carmen Stevenson and Dr. Andrew Stevenson, Drs. Carmen and Andrew Stevenson. A couple living together or a gay couple (written on two lines) Robin GossettMatthew Doring
Husband is a doctor Dr. and Mrs. Andrew Stevenson, Dr. Andrew Stevenson and Ms. Carmen Gomez.
Wife is a doctor Dr. Carmen Stevenson and Mr. Andrew Stevenson
Teenage girl Miss Gloria Johnson
Teenage boy (under 18) Christopher Jones
Judge, Governor, Mayor,United States Senator,Member of Congress,Cabinet Members,AmbassadorsThe Honorable
Husband is a colonel Colonel and Mrs. Michael Jones
Husband is a major Major and Mrs. Lawrence Tanaka
Husband is a lieutenant Lieutenant and Mrs. John Warren
Wife is a captain Captain Alicia Huang and Mr. Albert Huang
A Catholic Bishop The Right Reverend Mark Wells Bishop of [insert city name]
A Catholic Brother Brother Coleman Harris
A Catholic Sister Sister Anita Canesto
A Catholic Priest The Reverend Father James Keough
Husband is a Rabbi Rabbi and Mrs. Adam Lohman
Wife is a Rabbi Rabbi Ellen Freed and Mr. Robert Freed
Husband is a Protestant Clergyman The Reverend and Mrs. John Smith
Wife is a Protestant clergywoman The Reverend Susan Carlson and Mr. Thomas Carlson





Q.
Is it acceptable to use a nickname when addressing an invitation to a friend?

A.
In formal communications such as a wedding invitation never use a nickname in the address. If you don't know a person's real name, ask them or a mutual friend for clarification. If either member of the couple getting married is typically known by a nickname, it is not appropriate to refer to the individual by that nickname on the invitation. When a name appears on an invitation it should be the full, legal name.

Q.
How should I write times and dates on my invitations?

A.
For traditional invitations, all numbers in the date and time should always be spelled out, for example, "the thirty-first of July". The exception to this is a long number in a street address, for example, "1853 Glenn Road". The year is also written out in full, for example, "two thousand and one". Half-hours are written as "half after two o'clock" -- never as "two-thirty." Less formal invitations use numerals in the date only, for example, "January 5th 2002". The time is still written out in full.

Q.
What is the proper etiquette about mentioning a parent on the invitation if that parent isn't hosting the wedding?

A.
When one parent is not hosting (which may occur for any number of reasons), it is up to the couple and the host parent to decide if the non-host should be included. Generally, the host alone is mentioned on the invitation, but including both parents' names is perfectly acceptable. The etiquette on this issue is not influenced by the gender of the parent who is not hosting.

Q.
When should I address and send my invitations?

A.
Begin to address your wedding invitations two to three months before the event. Err on the side of three months if you're addressing them yourself and you have a large guest list. At six to eight weeks before the event you can send out the invitations. This will give you plenty of time to receive the responses and make final head counts. Some people you expected to attend will probably decline, and with this lead time you can send out invitations to people you thought you couldn't invite. If you are mailing some invitations overseas, allow ten weeks. Send your wedding announcements out on the day of your wedding or the day after. Use our convenient timeline to find out more about when to accomplish you invitations tasks.

Q.
There are so many rules of etiquette about wording for my invitations. A lot of these rules don't feel comfortable or natural to me. Do I have to follow them all?

A.
That's a very interesting question, and you're right, the etiquette rules can seem overwhelming. Think of these rules more as etiquette guidelines or recommendations. If certain wording doesn't feel natural or appropriate to you, find a way to convey the information in a manner that feels right. Many of the so-called etiquette rules are designed to keep events on schedule and ultimately to make life easier for the couple (the mailing time for invitations, for example). You shouldn't follow guidelines that don't work for you, but by the same token, think twice before you reject all etiquette suggestions. Often they'll help to make the event turn out just right.