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March 9, 2018

Got Writer’s Block? Here’s What to Say in a Wedding Thank You Card

Filed under: Wedding Wording & Etiquette — Megan Duffy @ 10:00 am

what to say in a wedding thank you card

Your wedding left you feeling like a million bucks, but nothing can bring you back to reality more than having writer’s block when writing your wedding thank you cards. Skipping the cards is not an option, as your guests came from miles around to show their support. Bust through the writer’s block with these handy tips outlining what to say in a wedding thank you card.

Overview of What to Say in a Wedding Thank You Card

Before you get down to specifics, a general overview gives you the basic rundown on what to include and what to leave out.

What to Include

  • Thanks for attending your wedding
  • Even more thanks for the wedding gift
  • How you’ll use the gift, if applicable
  • Personal touch by mentioning something about the person
  • Anything positive that’ll put a smile on the recipient’s face

What Not to Include

  • Vaguely referring to the gift
  • The exact amount of money given as a gift
  • That you’ve already returned or exchanged the gift
  • Anything negative that’ll put a grimace on the recipient’s face

Examples of What to Say in a Wedding Thank You Card

Snag a straightforward formula for writing a thank you note by simply going down the list in the “What to Include” section. Your note ends up with about three sentences:

  1. Thanks for attending as well as the gift
  2. How you felt receiving the gift, how you’ll use it
  3. How the gift enhanced your lives, as did the recipient’s presence at your wedding

Example Text for Gift

Dear Lori and Sam,

Thank you for being part of our wedding, as well as for the fabulous wedding gift. John and I are thrilled with the crystal candle holders and have already put them on our mantle. They help make our new home warm and cozy, the same way our hearts felt seeing you on our big day.

Best,

Ellie and John

Example Text for Gift of Money

Dear Lori and Sam,

Thank you for being part of our wedding, as well as for the generous wedding gift. Thanks to you, John and I were able to book a week’s worth of massages on our honeymoon. Your gift left us relaxed and happy, with the same level of happiness we felt seeing you on our big day.

Best,

Ellie and John

Example Text if Guests Were Unable to Attend

Dear Lori and Sam,

Thank you for the magnificent wedding gift. John and I have already put the espresso machine to great use, and we’ll think of you every time we take a sip. We missed you at our wedding, but we look forward to other opportunities to celebrate together in the future.

Best,

Ellie and John

Thank You Card Options

Choosing thank you cards that match your wedding invitations and theme is one option. Another is going for thank you cards that are straightforward yet eye-catching. An attractive and sophisticated design, like bold stripes, can do the job beautifully, as can sending a customized thank you card that features a photo of your wedding on the front.

Whatever style of wedding thank you card you choose, your message inside is what counts the most. These tips can help ensure your message expresses your thanks in a heartfelt way that makes the recipients smile. Shop PaperDirect for all your wedding or other stationary needs.

February 27, 2013

Is There a Polite Way to RSVP “No” When You Really Should Go

Filed under: Wedding Wording & Etiquette — Tags: , — PDWriter @ 8:02 am

Pristine Specialty Response Set by PaperDirectYour second cousin twice-removed’s fourth – but still surprisingly formal – wedding. Your college roommate’s third baby shower in as many years. Your husband’s annual – always potluck-style, never-catered – work party, held in the dank, gloomy break room in the back of the warehouse.

Maybe it’s for the benefit of your mental health, your wallet, the sake of convenience, or maybe you truly have a scheduling conflict; sometimes you’ve just gotta RSVP with a big old “NO” – even when you know you technically could, or should, RSVP “yes.”

But here’s the good news: When you get stuck in one of those “heck no, I won’t go” situations, there are a few ways to soften the no-RSVP blow.

Etiquette, PleasePristine Specialty Response Set by PaperDirect

According to Ms. Emily Post, queen of all things etiquette, whether you reply “yes” or “no,” the rules of polite society dictate that you must RSVP promptly. That means responding a day or two after you receive the invite, regardless of how far in the future the event is planned.

After all, RSVP is an acronym for “Répondez, s’il vous plait.” Translated from French to English, that means “please reply” – in other words, a direct command, not a suggestion.

So get the dirty work done fast. Not only will the event host appreciate your quick response, it’ll give her more time to forget – and forgive.

Stylish Specialty NoteCards by PaperDirectThe Prettier, the Better

Make your negative response more attractive by wrapping it in a beautiful package. RSVP cards, also known as response cards, provide a more formal – and by extension, more polite – way of turning down or accepting an invitation.

For even more positive impact, hand write your response. In today’s digital world, full of printed text and electronic communication, a note written by hand means so much more and sends a much more personal message – in this case, your regret at not attending the event.

As for the wording of your decline note, don’t feel like you must go into great detail or over-explain. A simple “I regret that I must decline your kind invitation” will suffice.

Following these etiquette rules will mitigate any potential hurt feelings that your no-RSVP may cause. Your polite courtesy – and the fact that you bothered to send a handwritten RSVP note in a timely manner – will be remembered much longer than the fact that you didn’t make it to the event.

 

December 26, 2012

Thank You Notes for Gifts You Don’t Love

Filed under: Wedding Wording & Etiquette — Tags: — PDWriter @ 9:09 am

Thanks Personalized NoteCards™ by PaperDirectWe all know that feeling–the feeling you get when you open a gift (especially if the gift giver is sitting next to you) that you really don’t love but you have to be gracious and appear as though it’s wonderful and that you love it! Sometimes we even have to write thank you notes for gifts we’re less than thrilled with receiving, but common sense (and proper etiquette) dictates that we must send thank you notes for gifts we don’t like or will never use (check out our blog on re-gifting if you are considering re-gifting an unwanted holiday present).

There’s an old saying you should keep in mind when you have to write thank you notes for gifts you hate, “When you’e not grateful, simply appreciate,” which obviously means even if you aren’t happy with the gift, show how much you appreciate the thought with a handwritten thank you note. No, a text message will not suffice, nor will an email!

Classic Thank You Greeting Card Set by PaperDirect

Tips for Getting the Kids Excited About Thank You Notes

Let’s assume that since you’re an adult, you can motivate yourself to write those thank you notes you dread. We should turn our focus to the kids. Children should be taught at a young age the value of money and what gratitude and appreciation are. Even when they’re young, kids should be strongly encouraged to write thank you notes to family members and others who have given them gifts. In fact, they really should write the notes fairly soon after the holiday is over.

It’s important to reach out to gift givers and let them know how much the gift and thought were appreciated. Here are some tips to get your kids writing thank you notes:

  • Vintage Elegance Specialty Thank You NoteCards by PaperDirectGet the kids involved by allowing them to choose the thank you cards or stationery. Explain why a text message or voicemail is insufficient, and explain why they must send a note even if they see the person regularly.
  • Make sure the kids are comfortable and have a snack ready for when they’re finished.
  • Give them a deadline (but a reasonable one) in which to finish and allow them to write a few minutes at a time at their own pace.
  • For little, little ones, you can use fill in the blank notecards and they can simply write single words instead of full sentences.
  • Help the kids think of something positive to say about the gift. Even if it’s a gift they don’t like, there’ something about it they may like. Color? Style? Anything.
  • Include a picture of the child with the gift, is possible.

Check out PaperDirect’s extensive line of thank you notes for all occasions!

June 15, 2012

Wedding Response Card Wording for DIY Weddings

Filed under: Wedding Wording & Etiquette — Tags: , , — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

Supreme Black Response SetIf you’re in the midst of planning a do-it-yourself (DIY) wedding, you may find yourself amazed at the number of items that must be tended to, decisions that must be made, and minute details that must be addressed. Have you thought about your wedding response card wording yet? Are you not even sure you know what a wedding response card is? It’s another name for the RSVP, which stands for the French phrase, “répondez, s’il vous plaît,” which means “please reply.” Now that you you know what a wedding response card is, let’s take a look at the important issues regarding them:

  1. When response cards are necessary
  2. Wedding response card etiquette
  3. Wedding response card wording

Formal vs. Casual Wedding

Most, if not all, formal weddings will have a response card inside the wedding invitation. The response card, in case you don’t know, is the little card that lets the bridge and groom whether or not you’ll be attending. Have you heard of “plus one”? Plus one is the phrase used when you are invited to a wedding and are allowed to bring along one guest–your “plus one.” Wedding response cards are extremely important to formal weddings because the bride and groom must know how many people will be attending (i.e. eating a dinner, having drinks, and for seating purposes at the reception). An accurate “head count” for a formal wedding and reception in a must.Felicity Response Set

Nowadays, invitations often carry a “regrets only” notation at the end, which means that the couple will count on your being there unless you tell them otherwise.

If your wedding is casual, a phone response may be all you need or even an email. If you’re not planning a sit-down dinner, are not providing free alcoholic beverages and have plenty of seating for everyone you invited, it’s not quite as crucial to have an exact head count for your DIY wedding.

Wedding Response Card Etiquette

The enclosures included in your wedding invitations do more than just help you keep track of how many guests will be attending your special day. That is why wedding response card etiquette to wedding reception card etiquette is so important. Enclosed within the invitation, the wedding response card is always sent with a stamp affixed to a self-addressed envelope. This helps to ensure that you get an accurate count of the number of guests expected to attend. Wedding response cards will also include the guests’ meal preferences so the precise amount of food and drinks is ordered.  wedding reception cards also are good if you are inviting more guests to the ceremony than the reception. In this case, these cards are inserted into the invitations of only certain people.

In addition to wedding reception cards, map and direction cards should also be printed and included if since some guests may not be familiar with the area where you’re holding your ceremony. Be sure to include these along with the wedding response cards; if money is an issue, you can cut corners by providing directions in some other way (via email perhaps).

For the guests, be sure to respond by the date indicated on the card. If you don’t respond, the couple will be forced to call you to verify your attendance, which just adds to their already huge “to do” list. The first thing you should do after receiving a wedding invitation is respond promptly because so much is riding on whether or not each guest is attending. Everything from seating arrangements to placing the liquor order, depends on how many people are attending. If an RSVP card is enclosed, feel free to add a more personal note of congratulations or explanation of regret. If a blank reply card is enclosed, you must write a response on the card in language that is similar to that of the invitation–formal or casual.

Wedding Response Card Wording

There really is no right or wrong wording for a response card, but there are traditional “guidelines” you may want to follow; the easiest way to explain how wedding response cards should be worded is to provide examples here. The same basic elements appear in most wedding response cards:

Request Lines

A “please respond by” line is typically included on every response card, though some brides may choose not to include a date on their card, as they feel it might insult guests who know very well when to reply. The request lines may be in either the first two lines of the reply card or in the lower left-hand corner. Most brides ask that their replies be rEnchanting Response Seteturned 2 weeks before the wedding date.

Guests’ Name

“M” followed by a line for the guest to write in their name(s), should be sufficient in most cases. If your parent(s) and or the bride and groom are doctors, you may wish to omit the “M” as many of your friends will likely also be doctors, as such the “M” will not apply, as they will be using their professional title.

Guests’ Response

The most common response line format is to have the word “will” separated by a line for their response followed by “attend”. You may also choose to split the Guest’s response line into two lines. “will attend” will be preceded by a line for their response, on the line beneath it “will not attend” will be preceded by its own response line. Either way is considered proper.

Here are some PaperDirect blogs that may help to address some of your other DIY wedding questions:

Also, remember to view PaperDirect’s extensive line of DIY wedding necessities. We are your one-stop online shopping source for DIY wedding supplies.

May 11, 2012

Invitation Wording for A Christian Wedding

Filed under: Wedding Wording & Etiquette — Tags: , , , , — PDWriter @ 8:00 am
Supreme Black Flat Invitations

Your invitation wording is very important because it must convey the thoughts and feelings that you and your future spouse hold true. Also, the wording on your wedding invitation is something that requires thought regarding your guests because the invitation is the first impression they will have of your wedding, and many people keep the wedding invitation as a souvenir.

If you are planning a Christian wedding, you will want to include wording in your invitations that may not be found in an invitation to a less religious or less traditional wedding. If you are concerned that your guests may be put off by Biblical verses or other Christian-like additions to your wedding invitation, you must remember that this is your day–you and your spouse should have the exact type of wedding ceremony and reception that you have always dreamed about.

Cascade Specialty Folded Invitations

If Christian wedding invitation wording is something that you need help with, you have come to the right place. PaperDirect has some suggestions based on what others Christian brides and grooms have included in their wedding invitations to help get you started.

Your wedding invitations let guests know what to expect at your wedding, including color scheme, theme, and ambiance. Letting prospective guests know that religion will play a  part in your ceremony will help them decide what attire is appropriate, or they may (unfortunately) even decide to not attend your wedding due to their own religious convictions. Your Christian wedding invitation wording should reflect your personalities and your religious beliefs as a couple. One popular way to incorporate your Christianity into your wedding invitation is to include Bible verses.

Dumont Specialty Folded Invitations

Here are some suggestions for do-it-yourself (DIY) Christian wedding invitation wording:

  • Design the front of your invitation by including a meaningful Biblical verse. The Internet provides hundreds of suggestions of Biblical verses that are appropriate for the wording on the front of a Christian wedding invitation or you may add a Bible verse that is a personal favorite.
  • When you write the actual wording include a reference to God such as the following: “Mr. and Mrs. John Doe request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter, Susan Kay, to Thomas Michael Jones, when they ask God’s blessing on their union and His presence in their new life together as a married couple.”
  • Conclude the invitation with the specific church name, address, date, and time. Close with a Bible verse, if you desire. For example, “A chord of three strands is not quickly torn apart,” Ecclesiastes 4:12 or “This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes,” Psalms 118:23.

If you are in the midst of a DIY wedding, PaperDirect can help– a one-stop online shopping source for several DIY necessities including wedding invitations, reception cards, response cards and thank you notes.

March 8, 2012

Wedding Program Wording: What to Include

Filed under: Wedding Wording & Etiquette — Tags: , — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

Wedding programs are incredibly One Rose Programs by PaperDirectunique–the layout, the adornments, and the content for every wedding program is different. And since many people keep wedding programs as a “souvenir” of the special day, it’s important to have a beautifully crafted, professionally worded wedding program. If you have been struggling with wedding program wording, we have some tips for you that will help get you started.

Your wedding program should have the same “feel” as the rest of your wedding and should add to the ceremony, not distract from it.  There really is no set rules as to what must be included in your wedding program or how the wedding program wording should be organized. Here we are going to offer some of the more traditional wedding program wording and what is included in most traditional wedding programs.Floral Elegance Programs

On the cover of the wedding program, you can include:

  • Full name of bride and groom
  • Wedding date, year and time
  • Wedding location
The wedding ceremony:
  • Prelude
  • Names of parents and grandparents and seating
  • Vocal selections
  • Processional
  • Entrance of Bride
  • Statement of intent
  • Prayer
  • Reading of Scripture
  • Poem reading
  • Charge to couple
  • Exchange of vows
  • Exchange of rings
  • Pronouncement of marriage
  • Lighting of unity candle
  • Blessing of the marriage
  • Presentation of the couple
  • Recessional
  • Postlude
  • Invitation of guests to reception
Red Red Rose ProgramsThe wedding party:
  • Officiate
  • Parents of bride and groom
  • Grandparents of bride and groom
  • Matron and/or maid of honor
  • Bridesmaids
  • Flower girls
  • Best man
  • Groomsmen
  • Ring bearer
  • Musicians
  • Bell ringer (if applicable)
  • Registry attendants
  • Program attendants
  • Reception attendants
  • Wedding director
  • Wedding coordinator
Adorable Hearts ProgramsAdditional items that are optional:
  • Special thanks
  • Directions to reception venue
  • Dedication
  • Your new home’s address
  • Brief history of your relationship
  • Special poem meaningful to couple
The PaperDirect blog often has information about do-it-yourself weddings to get you started, and PaperDirect is your one-stop online shopping source for everything you need for your DIY wedding from invitations to thank you cards.

 

March 2, 2012

Wedding Thank You Note Etiquette

Filed under: Wedding Wording & Etiquette — Tags: , , , — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

Dancing Daisies Correspondence Card SetWriting wedding thank you notes may seem like a daunting task, but it’s a necessary one. Wedding thank you note etiquette experts will suggest various and numerous tips for sending out thank you notes after your wedding, but if you follow these simple wedding thank you note etiquette “rules,” your guests will feel that their gift was appreciated. It’s in such poor taste to not send out thank you notes or to send them out so late that the giver of the gift may not even remember what he/she gave you!

Here are some basic wedding thank you note etiquette rules to keep in mind as you plan your writing marathon:

While many experts say you have up to three months to send wedding thank you notes, it is best to get them mailed out within two weeks of returning from your honeymoon. If you get a gift before the wedding, thank you note etiquette advises you should write and send those out immediately after receiving the pre-wedding wedding gift. If you do this, you should use your maiden name on the thank you note and include the name of your future spouse.Floral Vine Specialty Thank You NoteCards

If you and your groom write a few wedding thank you notes each day, it will not take that long. You should definitely enlist the help of your husband even though it seems like the woman is often the one who writes all the thank you notes. The gifts are for both of you; both of you should write thank notes.

One wedding thank you note etiquette NO NO is sending out preprinted, generic thank you  cards that say the same thing. In the same vein, do not send out a thank you via email or text message. These thank yous are impersonal, unacceptable and downright offensive. People took the time to attend your wedding and buy you a gift; the least you can do is send them a hand-written, specifically-worded thank you note to show your appreciation for their generosity.

Willow Specialty Thank You NoteCardsEven if you thanked the gift giver personally for the wedding gift, you still must send a hand-written thank you note. Also, the wording of a wedding thank you note is very important. You have to be specific when thanking your guest. You must specifically name the gift in the thank you note and include something brief about how the gift will be used. For example, if your aunt and uncle gave you a vase that matches your living room, you can write something like, “Dear Aunt Joan and Uncle Bill, Thank you so much for the lovely ceramic vase you gave John and me. It will go beautifully on the mantle above the fireplace. We appreciate your generosity very much, and it was so nice to see you at the wedding. Let’s get together soon. Love, Sherry and John.” Yes, it’s that simple! You just have to mention the gift specifically, so the giver knows you remember what he/she gave you and include how you plan to use it so the giver knows you value it. You then simply include a sentence or two about how nice it was seeing them (or that you understand they could not make it to the wedding but hope to see them soon) and that’s all there is to it.

Need some help with writing your thank you notes? Read “Proper Wedding Thank You Card Wording” for some help getting started.

PaperDirect is your online shopping source for wedding thank you notes, and our blog frequently offers advice and tips on how to pull off a wonderful, beautiful DIY wedding. From save-the-date magnets to place cards for your reception, PaperDirect has it all!

November 25, 2011

Proper Wording for Wedding Thank You Cards

Filed under: Wedding Wording & Etiquette — Tags: , , — PDWriter @ 8:00 am
Elegant Thank You Specialty NoteCards

Writing thank you notes after your wedding is a must. Even in this world where most correspondence is done electronically, when it comes to thanking your guests for the wedding presents you received, nothing but a handwritten thank you card is acceptable. An email, voicemail, and especially a text message saying “thank you” for the gift are all simply unacceptable. By taking the time to hand write a wedding thank you card with proper wording, you have shown your gift givers that you truly appreciate their thoughtfulness and generosity.

Estate Embossed NoteCards

Proper wedding thank you card wording involves being very specific about the gift you received and including what you plan to do with that gift. It’s also imperative that you address the thank you card properly. For example, if the gift is from your aunt and her boyfriend, then you must address the thank you card to acknowledge both your aunt and her boyfriend. It is important to be specific when thanking the gift giver because if you’re not specific, the gift giver may feel as though you are just writing hundreds of generic thank you notes and that you don’t even remember their gift.

Ribbon of My Heart NoteCards

Wording Example for Proper Wedding Thank You Card:

Dear Grandma and Grandpa,

Thank you so much for the beautiful China tea set you gave us on our special day. We are planning a get together for Mom, Dad and you both in November, and this will be the perfect addition to our afternoon of great food and delicious tea. Your thoughtfulness and generosity are greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Jenny and Jack

When it comes to proper wedding thank you card wording, and the gift you received was money, it’s important to not say “thank you for the cash” or “thank you for the money.” Instead, you can word your thank you card something like this:

Dear Aunt Pat and Uncle Tom,

Thank you very much for your generous wedding gift. That will come in very handy when we start remodeling the den into a nursery for the baby we hope to have in the next couple of years. As always, you were much too generous, but we appreciate your thoughtfulness very much.

Can’t wait to see you again,
Jenny and Jack

PaperDirect is your online source for all types of thank you notes. Shop for the perfect note cards for your wedding today.

October 14, 2011

Homecoming Tips for Military Marriages

Filed under: Wedding Wording & Etiquette — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

All American Casual InvitationsMilitary weddings can be both exciting and difficult. There is nothing more exciting than pledging your love to your soul mate and vowing to love and honor that person for the rest of your life. But after your military wedding, one or both of you may be deployed, and separating a newly married couple can sometimes complicate marital issues.

First and foremost, the time apart causes the spouses to miss each other, and with that, comes sadness, but that sadness can quickly turn to joy when you find out that your loved one is coming home. If you had a  military wedding, your spouse left, and now is coming home again, there are some homecoming tips for military marriages that may help make the transition of an emotional reunion go much more smoothly. These suggestions apply most to military marriages in which one spouse has been gone for several months or even years.

  • Take things slowly upon reuniting. Do not rush getting to know each other again.
  • Understand and accept that things may be different. Your spouse’s personality may be different because he/she has witnessed combat or other wartime experiences that many people will never see in their lifetime.
  • Ask your spouse if he/she wants to talk about those experiences. If not, don’t take it personally and lash out at your spouse. Simply give him or her time and eventually the stories may begin to unfold.
  • Get to know each other again by going on dates and spending a great deal of alone time together. If you have children, ask family members or friends to babysit so you and your spouse can get reacquainted.  But don’t isolate your children from their mom or dad. Include your children in family activities as they will be frightened and curious about this parent that they may not know very well. Gradually involve the entire family inFreedom Casual Invitations activities that will put everyone at ease and give the kids the sense that things are “normal.”
  • Plan a welcome home celebration when you feel your spouse is ready.

Military weddings bring with them many issue that civilian weddings do not. If you are planning a military wedding, please visit PaperDirect online for all your Welcome home party needs. If you need help with planning your military wording, you can read about military wedding invitation wording here.

October 7, 2011

Examples of Wedding Card Thank You Note Wording

Filed under: Wedding Wording & Etiquette — Tags: , , — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

Elegant Lilies Specialty NoteCardsWhen you just have just a few short sentences to express your gratitude for a generous gift, you want to make sure the wording of your wedding thank you note is spot on. Don’t get hung up on the length of your wedding thank you note. You can say what you have to say in just a few sentences, and the more specific and to the point you are, the better.

We recently published a blog about thank card etiquette and when to send thank you notes. The blog also included information about what components should be in thank you cards and suggestions for wording. Here, we will focus on examples of wedding thank you card wording only.

If you are sending a wedding thank you card to a close relative or dear friend, you can include more personal details than you would to someone you barely know. Here is one example:

“Dear Grandma Susan and Grandpa Tim,

Thank you so very much for the beautiful hand-crafted cedar chest! It looks amazing in the master bedroom and matches the rest of the furniture very well. As usual, you put so much thought into your gift and picked out something we will both treasure forever. It was nice seeing you and we can’t wait to see you again at Mom’s birthday party this September. Thank you again for your generous gift.

Love,

Julie and Jason”

Here is an example of wedding card thank you note wording to someone you don’t know so well:

“Dear Dr. and Mrs. Anderson,

Thank you for the lovely lace tablecloth you gave us for our wedding. It was so nice to finally meet you after having heard so much about you all these years from my parents. Now I can see why they consider you their best friends. Again, thank you so much for your generosity.

Sincerely,

Jason and Julie Thompson”

Here is wedding card thank you wording when the gift is cash (you want include what you plan to do with the money):

“Dear Aunt June and Uncle Bill,

Thank you so much for the generous check you gave Jason and me for our wedding. We are going to use it to re-do the guest room into a nursery for the baby. As soon as the baby’s room is finished, we’ll have you over for dinner so you can see what we’ve done.

Love,

Julie and Jason”

Here is an example of how to word a wedding thank you note if you don’t really like the gift:

“Dear Sherry and David,

Thank you so much for the velvet painting. You are always so generous, and it was so nice to share our special day with you.

See you soon,

Jamie and Jason”

PaperDirect is your online shopping source for everything you need for your Do-It-Yourself Wedding.

April 15, 2011

Wedding Invitations – Response Cards and Their Wording

Filed under: Wedding Wording & Etiquette — Tags: , , , , — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

Enchanting Response SetWeddings take a ton of planning and making changes to plans in order to have the wedding come off exactly the way the bride wants it to. This means attention has to be paid to every detail along the way. Perhaps the most important part of the wedding planning is the invitation because that is often the first indication to potential guests that the couple is getting married. And, a lot of planning is going to be based off of how many people are actually going to show up. That’s where the RSVP, or wedding invitation response cards are vitally important.

Including RSVP cards (RSVP is actually short for the French phrase Hint Response Set‘respondez sil vous plait’ which translates into English as ‘respond if you please’) with the invitation including a self addressed, stamped envelope will give you the knowledge of how many people are going to be at the wedding and reception. This helps planning immensely because you’ll know how many wedding programs you’ll need, how much food to have on hand and how large of a reception hall you’ll need.

In order to have response cards returned, you have to make it as easy as possible for the potential guest to send it back. While there’s not a ‘correct’ way to word a response card, there are lots of ways to determine if the potential guest is coming and how many will be in their party. Any variation of this…

The favor of a reply is requested by July 1, 2011

M____________________

(_) Accepts with pleasure and will have ____ in our party

(_) Declines with regrets

… will work quite well. The date needs to be far enough in the future to give them time to respond comfortably, but leaving plenty of time to finalize plans for food and other accommodations for the guests.

By including the SASE, you’re removing one more barrier that can keep people from responding. It’s easy enough to say “I’ll send it in, but I have to get an envelope and a stamp” and forget to do so. By including the SASE, all they have to do is fill out the card, stick it in the envelope and drop it in the mail.

Pristine Response SetThere are lots of great invitation and matching response card blanks available so you can make your own and word it exactly how you want. With all the great blanks available and the matching templates for your favorite word processor, you can create exactly the invitation you want and the RSVP card as well. Not only will this save you money, but it’ll save you time and help your wedding planning as well. Check out all the great designs available. You’ll definitely find at least one you’ll fall in love with.

January 7, 2011

Wedding Invitation Wording for Military Titles

Filed under: Wedding Wording & Etiquette — Tags: , , , — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

Stylish Specialty Flat InvitationsWhen writing military wedding invitations, many of the same etiquette rules apply as in general or non-military weddings. The difference however, is in the use of military titles. While some brides who are in the military choose to omit mention of military titles in their wedding invitation wording, it is also perfectly acceptable to include her military title in the military invitation wording. In a military wedding the bride/groom’s rank and service is used as well as that of their parents. For enlisted military personnel, rank is omitted. Military titles should also never be abbreviated.

For brides and grooms who are members of the armed forces, the following formats apply for military wedding invitation wording.

NAVYPristine Flat Invitations
Commander and Higher
Commander Steven James Smith
United States Navy

Lieutenant Commander and Below
Steven James Smith
Ensign, United States Navy

Petty Officers and Seamen
Steven James Smith
United States Navy

ARMY, AIR FORCE, MARINES
Captain and Higher
Captain Jane Marie Jones
United States Army

LieutenantFelicity Flat Invitations
Jane Marie Jones
Lieutenant, United States Air Force

Noncoms and Privates
Jane Marie Jones
United States Marines

 

Regardless of rank, military weddings are amazing occasions that be celebrated and respected. Using the correct wording for your military wedding invitations will help set the tone for the entire event. Use the above tips to do it correctly. Still have more questions? We recommend this site to address any further concerns. Congratulations! We wish all military brides/grooms-to-be many happy years together.

December 24, 2010

Wedding Invitations Etiquette & Wording

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Fantasia Pocket InvitationsThe Value of Following Wedding Etiquette
Whether you are planning a small, informal wedding or an extravagant event, you will want to make sure that you start your marriage  on the right foot with your extended family. Wedding etiquette helps guide a bride and groom and provides an assurance you have done your best to properly acknowledged important parties and avoided any unnecessary hurt. Following etiquette can help set the tone for your future relationship with your new in-laws.

The Importance of Wedding Whisper Pocket InvitationsInvitation Etiquette
When it comes to making every effort to have the perfect wedding, no detail can be overlooked. Following the proper protocol provides the tools needed to handle the nuances of a situation and the complex relationships often involved without causing the appearance of alienation or favoritism. This is particularly true of wedding invitations, when everything from wording to whom to send invitations, matters.

Hint Specialty Flat InvitationsCourtesy Must Prevail
It is important to remember that wedding invitation etiquette is intended to assure that the feeling of others remains a priority. Sometimes, etiquette may suggest something that in your situation would cause undue hurt feeling. When adhering to a guideline would cause hurt feelings, courtesy must prevail and you do what is most right in your circumstance.

December 17, 2010

Wedding Invitation Wording for Complex Relationships

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Carefree Layered Invitations by PaperDirectWhen it comes to wedding invitation wording, ensuring all the aspects of a relationship are covered is important. Knowing how, or whom to include can sometimes be difficult. However, since weddings are such special occasions, it is important to use the opportunity to honor important people in your life.

Even in difficult situations, following etiquette can not only help family to feel honored, it can also mend bridges and help set a new tone for the future of the relationship.

Wording invitations for complex relationships also gives guest valuable information about the current situation for the hosts and help them avoid uncomfortable situations. Inspire Flat Foil InvitationsFor example, perhaps a bride or groom’s parent is recently deceased and only a few people are aware. The wording of an invitation can guide a guest into understanding the situation and avoid asking or stirring up something painful. Or perhaps a parent has a new spouse that should be included. How you word the invitation is an important part of ensuring that respect is shown to all parties involved.

Here are some sample formats for trickier situations:

One parent deceased and remaining parent not remarried:
God has led two lives
to take one path
Mr. John J. Jones
requests the honor of your presence
at the marriage of his daughter
Jean Marie
to
Mr. Steven James Smith
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

From the bride’s parents:
 (divorced)
Mrs. Anne M. Jones
Mr. John J. Jones
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jean Marie Jones
and
Steven James Smith
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado
Dinner and dancing to follow

From the bride and groom and their parents:
Before they met, their strength was of one
Through marriage, they will experience
the strength of much more than two
Jane Marie Jones
and
Steven James Smith
together with their parents
request the favor of your presence
at their marriage
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

From the bride’s mother:
(remarried)
Mrs. Anne Marie Hughes
requests the honor of your presence
at the marriage of her daughter
Jane Marie Jones
to
Mr. Steven James Smith
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

From the bride’s mother and stepfather
Love isn’t love ’til you give it away . . .
Mr. and Mrs. Gary Scott Hughes
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of Mrs. Hughes’ daughter
Jane Marie Jones
to
Mr. Steven James Smith
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

From the bride’s relative:
(both parents deceased)
Mr. Jonathan H. Jones
requests the honor of your presence
at the marriage his sister
Jane Marie
to
Mr. Steven James Smith
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

Bubble Bash Invitation PapersWhen it comes to wedding invitation wording, ensuring all the aspects of a relationship are covered is important. That’s where all the rules of etiquette apply, and that’s the detail that makes a wedding invitation special. Paying attention to those details may be one small part of the overall wedding plan, but it is still an essential part.

December 3, 2010

Traditional Wedding Invitation Wording

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Loops Flat Invitations by PaperDirectWeddings are a momentous occasion that most people hope to share with friends and family. No matter the type of wedding, or where it is held, it is important that we follow wedding invitation etiquette to properly honor the hosts and or parents. How an invitation is written gives guests important cues on relationship dynamics and helps them to avoid small blunders which can cause problems. Wording for example can indicate that the bride’s mother alone is hosting the affair, which gives guests a cue that the father is absent or deceased, and treat the situation accordingly.

Here are some examples of less complicated invitation wording situations:

From the bride’s parents:
For everything there is a seasonEntice Folded Invitations
a time and a purpose
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Jones
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jane Marie
to
Mr. Steven James Smith
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

From the bride’s parents
with mention of the groom’s parents:
A life of sharing, caring
A love of endless giving together
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Jones
invite you to share in the joy
of the marriage uniting their daughter
Jane Marie
to
Mr. Steven James Smith
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Smith
On Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

From the bride’s parents:
Each hour, each day, each yearPristine Specialty Tea Length Wrap Invitations
We grow as two, yet as one,
We grow apart, yet together
Forming an eternal love
John and Anne Jones
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Jane Marie Jones
and
Steven James Smith
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado
Dinner and dancing to follow

From both sets of parents:
We have experienced love . . .Pale Roses Casual Invitations by PaperDirect
in our parents, our families and friends
and now a new love in each other
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Jones
and Mr. and Mrs. Andrew A. Smith
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Jane Marie Jones
and
Steven James Smith
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

From the groom’s parents:
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew A. Smith
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of
Miss Jane Marie Jones
to their son,
Steven James Smith
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

Destination wedding—from the bride’s parents:
The most joyous of occasions
is the union of man and woman
in celebration of life . . .
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Jones
invite you to share the joy as
Jane Marie Jones
and
Steven James Smith
are married in a
torch light ceremony
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at seven o’clock in the evening
Waimea Falls,
Oahu, Hawaii

Reception invitation:
Love was meant to be shared
with parents, family and friends
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Jones
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage reception of their daughter
Jane Marie
and
Mr. Steven James Smith
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at seven o’clock in the evening
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

Contemporary—from the bride’s parents:
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Jones
invite you to share the joy
as two special people
Jane Marie Jones
and
Steven James Smith
become one in marriage
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at seven o’clock in the evening
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

Reception invitation from the bride and groom:
My family, your family — blending as one
Sharing, caring — a new life’s begun
Jane Marie Jones
and
Steven James Smith
are pleased to announce their marriage
on Saturday, March Sixteenth
during a private ceremony in Hawaii
Please join us for a celebration
when we return as husband and wife
Friday, April 10th at 8:00 p.m.
La Baguette Cafe
Denver, Colorado

Fun contemporary—from the bride and groom:
His love is the sunshineHeart Shaped Wishes Casual Invitations
that keeps me warm
To me, she’s the rainbow
after the storm
His love gave me wings
it has set me free
And wherever she is
that’s where I want to be
We invite you to be with us
as we begin our new life together
Ms. Jane Marie Jones
and
Mr. Steven James Smith
are pleased to announce
they will be married
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

From the bride and groom and their parents:
Before they met, their strength was of one
Through marriage, they will experience
the strength of much more than two
Jane Marie Jones
and
Steven James Smith
together with their parents
request the favor of your presence
at their marriage
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

From the bride and groom and their families:
It is our moment to celebrate
the love that unites us
Together with their families
Jane Marie Jones
and
Steven James Smith
request the favor of your presence
at their marriage
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
1234 Main Street
Denver, Colorado

From the bride and groom with reception following:
In the presence of our loved ones
we will exchange vows of marriage
and pledge to live all our tomorrows
together in love
Jane Marie Jones
and
Steven James Smith
request the honor of your presence
to share in the celebration
of their marriage
on
Saturday, the sixteenth of March
Two Thousand Ten
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Mountain View Community Church
Denver, Colorado
Reception to follow
The Victorian at Heritage Square

November 19, 2010

Proper Wording for Wedding Programs: Make Ms. Manners Happy

Filed under: Wedding Wording & Etiquette — Tags: , , — PDWriter @ 8:00 am

Adornment Program PaperWedding programs have long been used to give guests an idea of what is going on during the ceremony. Not only does it give a sequence of events so people have an understanding of what is going on, but it helps in giving guests an idea of what will be happening. And, when all is said and done, it gives the guests a way to memorialize the day. It is suggested that all guests teens and older be handed a program as they come into the ceremony.

As an example of how to properly word a wedding program, see the following:

Introduction:
The Marriage Ceremony UnitingInspire Gold Program Paper

Jeannie Renee Wilson
and
Edward Robinson Smith
on Saturday, June 18, 2006
at half past five o’clock in the evening
St. Michael’s Cathedral
Toronto, Ontario

Order of Ceremonies:

Prelude …………………….. “Here We Are”
Solo …………………………….”Love is All There Is”
Lighting of the Candles
Seating of the Mothers
Processional ……………….”Canon in D Minor”
Invocation
Wedding Message ………Rev. Jim Reeves
Solo ……………………………..”O Canada”
Exchange of vows
Exchange of rings
Announcement of marriage
Solo …………………………….”Frankie and Johnnie”
Presentation of the Bride and Groom
Recessional ……………….”Ode to Joy”

Wedding Party (in order):

– Parents of the Bride
– Parents of the Groom
– Grandparents of the Bride
– Grandmothers of the Groom
– Maid of Honor
– Matron of Honor
– Bridesmaids
– Junior Bridesmaid
– Honorary Bridesmaid
– Flower Girl
– Best Men
– Groomsmen
– Ring Bearer
– Officiant
– Pianist
– Soloist

Charisma Program PaperWhile all parts aren’t necessary, these are the suggested guidelines in order to maintain proper etiquette and protocol. When it comes time to print or have these bulletins printed, this would be the proper sequence.

September 22, 2010

How to Address Wedding Invitations

Filed under: Wedding Wording & Etiquette — Tags: , — PDWriter @ 8:30 pm

Pristine Wedding InvitationsInvitation Envelopes Etiquette & Wording

As with any aspect of a formal occasion, every nuance of etiquette needs to be followed. There are conventions for thank you notes, for invitation wording and even on how to properly address wedding invitations and envelopes. By sticking to the rules of etiquette that are pertinent to this particular aspect of the wedding invitation, the “perfect wedding” can be achieved. While there are some that won’t care if it is perfect, there are those that want every single detail to be exacting. This guide is for those people.

The outer envelope should contain the names of the invited guests and their address. Write your return address on the outside envelope in the event that the sender doesn’t have a recent address. Traditionally, the return address, without names, is written on the back flap, not on the front of the invitation envelope. This will also ensure that those guests who want to send cards and gifts directly to your home will have the correct address.

Each guest’s title and family name is written on the inner envelope, along with the first names of the invited children.
Mr. and Mrs. Miller
David and Susan

Use formal names. If you would like to use middle names be sure to write out the full name.
Mr. and Mrs. David Miller
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Allen Joseph

Spell out words such as apartment, avenue, street, and state names.
543 South Maple Street
Denver, Colorado

Abbreviate only Mr., Mrs., Ms., Jr., and Messrs. Write out professional titles, such as doctor.
Mr. and Mrs. David Miller
Doctor and Mrs. Henry Anderson

Address envelopes to both members of married couples even if you only know one.
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Morris
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Adams

The phrase “and Family” should only be used when everyone under the same roof is invited.
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Morris and Family
Doctor and Mrs. Henry Anderson and Family

Address envelopes to unmarried couples with the names on separate lines, listed alphabetically by last name.
Ms. Roberta Smith
Mr. Joseph Thompson
Mr. Henry Albright
Mr. Jeremy Barnes

Single guests should be listed by name on the outer envelope.
Mr. Robert Smith

For single guests, you may also add “and Guest” to the inner envelope.
Mr. Smith and Guest

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