The Do's and Don'ts of Reception Cards

I’ve received a fair amount of inquiries lately about reception cards and what purpose they serve as part of your wedding ensemble, thus I thought I’d share my reception card etiquette with my dedicated wedding bloggers.

When planning your wedding, you have two options for your reception – your reception will either be at the same location as your ceremony or at a separate location following the ceremony.  When your reception immediately follows your wedding ceremony at the same location, a simple “reception to follow” or “reception immediately following” at the end of your wedding invitation is appropriate, and you won’t need an enclosure card with additional details.

If your reception and ceremony are at two different locations you will want, (and likely need), a separate reception card, which you can include with your wedding invitation.  It should list “reception to follow” followed by the  time of the reception, (if not immediately following), as well as the name and address of the reception location.  You can even choose to include attire information, parking information or age requirements, (adult reception), at the bottom of the reception card.  The reception card is great because you can keep your wedding invitation about the ceremonial love, vows and commitment you’ll be making, and add any little extra important details to your reception card.  Just be sure that you don’t list wedding registry information on this card.

When you assemble your wedding invitations, your reply set will be placed ontop of your wedding invitation, and the reception card ontop of that, so that the reception card is immediately noticed by your guests.  You don’t want to put it behind the invitation in case they miss it.  Your guests may want to bring the reception card with them to your ceremony so that they are able to find your reception location easily.  Be sure it is a small card that coordinates with your wedding ensemble.

 

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Perfect Postage for Invitations

It’s what everyone fears.  You spend $200 on the perfect party invitations, another $75 on having a calligrapher hand-write your envelopes, and then you put the invitations in the envelopes and mail them and then realize later that you haven’t yet had one RSVP.  The next day you receive all your invitations returned to you with hideous markings all over them from the post office for insufficient postage.  Now not only did you waste money on stamps, you now have to re-stamp them, add extra postage and purchase new envelopes, putting you another week behind.  It happens to the best of us!

Make sure your next party mailing isn’t a postage catastrophe by checking the required postage requirements prior to mailing out your invitations.  At Noteable Expressions I do my best to alert customers when an item automatically will require postage, be it due to size, weight or bulk.  There are so many factors that go into postage that you may not think of.  It’s not just the size of the item.  It can be the size, for example, a square envelope, which adds 20 cents to your normal postage fee.  It can be the weight, which adds another 20 cents, or the size, which can start at 80 cents an envelope, plus 20 cents an ounce for weight.  Remember that things like rhinestones, bows or pockets also increase your postage costs due to the “bulk” of the envelope when mailing.  Many of these types of invitations may need to be “hand cancelled” at the post office, which means someone, (or you), hand stamp the envelope for mailing, rather than having the invitation envelope run through a machine, as with a normal bill or mailing envelope.

So how do you avoid a postage disaster?  I always say, if you are concerned or have the slightest feeling that your envelope may be too heavy or too large, go to the post office and have the postman check for you before you mail them – especially if you are sending multiple cards in one envelope, like an invitation with a registry card or a directions card.  Remember that even the slightest thing, like the humidity, can affect the weight of your paper, especially if you have a textured or particularly porous stationery.  When in doubt, add on an extra stamp or two, it may just save you from a return postage mishap. 

 

Stop by to shop my designer postage stamps!

Party Invitations vs. E-Vites

It’s the word that makes me cringe when I hear someone suggest it…the dreaded e-vite. Of course I understand the coolness factor of the e-vite, it’s convenient, quick and cost-effective. However, it also can be so impersonal. When did things switch from the hand-made, crafty and creative days over to the quick, need-it-now society that we all (self-admittedly) adore?

A printed party invitation is the perfect way to create a memento for your event, before the party, at the party and after. From the moment your guest opens their party envelope, your printed invitations say a little bit about you, the host, being that you took the time to find the perfect invitation to coordinate with your event. Your invitation will set the scene for your event by reflecting your party theme and being elegantly printed with your party details. Guests will post your invitation on their fridge to save the date and get excited before the party date arrives.

At your party your invitation will come to life with your party theme, and afterwards you can save your party invitation for scrapbooking or framing to commemorate the event. Whether it’s your child’s birthday party invitation, graduation invitation or a wedding invitation, I know that just glancing at your invitation will bring back memories. Something tells me that a printout from your e-vite or facebook party page can’t do that.

Let your next party invitation stand out and grab the attention of your guests…years from now you’ll remember how much fun you had picking out your special invitation, the rave reviews you received from your guests, and how much fun it is to relive your party every time you glance at that party invitation page in your scrapbook.

Crown Regency in Gold and Ivory Wedding Invitations

This beautiful design, called Crown Regency in Gold and Ivory, is a regal way to set the tone for your modern but elegant wedding or event. The background is ivory and has a thin gold border. In the center at the top is a gold crown emblem.

Crown Regency in Gold and Ivory Wedding Custom Announcements by NoteableExpressions
Find more Wedding Invitations at Zazzle

Five Quick Tips: Wedding Invitations

There’s so much that can be said about invitations but here are 5 quick tips:

1.Personalize your invitations – Even if you decide to do something simple, perhaps even go to Michaels and do-it-yourself, you can still find ways to personalize by choosing the colours and font type you like best. I would also encourage you to choose wording that suits you both, and make changes until you’re completely satisfied. It’s your wedding and you’re setting the tone for your special day!

2.Order the correct quantity – Remember that you don’t have to order 1 invitation set per person, couples and families count as one wedding invitation set. Typically the rule of thumb is to order 60% of your guest list, or count the total number of sets and add on an extra 20 sets just in case, it’s always safer to have extras.

3.Give yourself ample time – Wedding invitations should be sent out 6-8 weeks prior to your wedding date. These days, many couples are sending them out 12-16 weeks in advance to give guests more time to make arrangements should they need to travel etc. Planning ahead and staying organized will also save you stress and rushing to print last minute. This is where your wedding planner can also stay on schedule!

4.Be sure to send an invite to everyone you’ve sent a save-the-date to – Keep track of everyone you’ve sent save-the-dates to, and make sure they also receive an invitation! It’s awkward if you suddenly reduce your guest count and decide not to send certain guests invitations, it pretty much implies they are no longer invited and will save you that awkward phone call, text, or email asking when your wedding invitations will be sent out?

5.Check for correct postage - Depending how many elements your invitation has, you may need extra postage. Take one set of your wedding invitations to the post office and have it weighed before you buy your stamps.
 
Like I said, this is just a quick intro! Stay tuned for more tips about wedding invitations in the future… in the meanwhile, what style and design have you decided for your wedding invitations?

 

If you need some inspiration, take a peek at Noteable Expressions

Tom James Wedding Trend: Custom Wedding Suits

For the 2013 wedding season, wedding celebrations are expected to be an opportunity for true expression of a bride and groom’s personality.

While there is always great interest in the traditional black and white, many of today’s weddings are an opportunity for the couple – not just the bride – to express their own style.

“We’re seeing strong trend in the groom being involved in the decisions.” said Catherine Conway, Director of Merchandising for Tom James, a custom suit retailer. “Perhaps it’s because today’s brides and grooms are often a bit older and able to pay for some of the wedding, or perhaps it’s because today’s couples are just more individualistic.”

Either way, trends show a movement away from the expected and may include a blending of formal décor perhaps with an outdoor setting. Eclectic is perfectly acceptable with many couples opting to dress attendants and groomsmen in attire that can be worn again.

“We’re seeing a movement toward groomsmen wearing neutral colored suits, with the groom in either the same color or in traditional black,” said Conway. “It opens up an entire new array of color options. And since we offer over 1100 different fabrics, a couple can truly ‘art direct’ their wedding in ways typically unheard of before.”

That gives the bride, said Conway, the option to match the perfect gray suit to the bridesmaid’s dresses, or to find the complementary color for the setting. A pale blue-gray, for example, is perfect for a beach wedding as it looks great with the sky and the water. “Photos last, so why not have something that looks like it came from a magazine?” asked Conway.

Black and charcoal are still the preferred colors for evening weddings, but you’re likely to see lighter colors, even seersucker, on a summer groom, especially in the south. The ever popular bow tie adds the perfect touch, especially when matched to the bridesmaids’ colors.

“Since more grooms are getting involved in the planning,” stated Conway, “The custom suit or tuxedo makes so much sense. He’d rather put the cost of a rental toward something he’ll actually wear again and a custom suit fits that bill. Plus, with a rental, there are such limited color options appropriate for a wedding.”

Another touch, Conway tells of is the custom label underneath the inside left breast pocket. “The label can read how you like it, meaning some of our grooms have chosen personal sayings, or even the wedding date,” said Conway. “It puts a most meaningful message close to the heart.”

According to Conway, if custom suits are not in the budget for the groomsmen, grooms will often elect to purchase custom shirts or ties for their groomsmen. “A monogrammed tie can be the perfect way to make the groomsmen gifts more personal.”

“We know how important that special day is for everyone involved,” said Conway. “We have some great looks featured on our Facebook album, ‘Say Luxe to the Tux.’ These are photos sent to us by our clients. It’s the best way to envision the beautiful options custom affords today’s couples.”

Tom James has over 100 locations, internationally, with 500 clothiers and stylists who can assist every bride. Because they own the factories that fashion the clothing, Tom James controls the process every step of the way. Tom James was founded in 1966 and is proud to say that 95% of its tailored clothing is crafted in the USA.

For more information, consult http://www.tomjames.com

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/2/prweb10448679.htm

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1086603#ixzz2LdV3XzXl

2013 Graduation Announcements and Invitations

I've updated my Graduation lens on Squidoo so you can get a sneak peek at this years HOT announcement and invitation designs. Check it out here: http://www.squidoo.com/2012-graduation-announcements