Hi All, we promised a recap of the Q&A session we held on our facebook page. So if there was something you missed, we have everything below in one place! I’m thinking since this has been so popular, we might add these questions permanently to our website and hold Q&A sessions on our facebook page. And remember if you have any stationery questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out, we would be more than happy to help!

Q: Do I need to send a save the date if I have already sent an engagement announcement?
A: short answer, yes! Long answer, an engagement announcements simply announces your engagement to the world. Typically this is sent by the parents of the the bride to be. The save the date card let’s your potential wedding guests to pencil in the date and are typically sent 4-6 months before your wedding date.

Q: Should my thank you notes match my wedding stationery?
A: Yes, according to etiquette. But with that said, a lot of couples like to use a photograph from their big day. as long as you write and send thank you notes, we feel this is totally up to you as a couple and what your style is.

Q: what does the # symbol mean when looking at your paper samples?
A: That is the short hand symbol of pound. There are typically two types of paper weights that we work with; cover weight and text weight. Each weight then in measured in thickness by pounds, which is typically the number you see associated with that paper. So as an example, most of our invitations are printed on 100# Cover stock. I’m more than happy to explain this more technically if anyone needs it.

Q: what is the order I should place my invitations, RSVP and insert card in my envelope?
A: we get this question a lot and because of this, we include a sample in with your invitations if you don’t use our concierge service. The order typically goes: The invitation itself is first. The enclosure cards are stacked on top of the invitations, and not inside if your invitation folds. The reception card is placed on top of the invitation. Then the reply envelope is placed face down on the reception card. The reply card is slipped face up beneath the flap of the reply envelope. Any other enclosures are added face up in size order. And if you are using inside and outside envelopes: Once stuffed, the inside envelopes are inserted into the outside envelopes. The front of the inside envelope faces the back of the outside envelope.

Q: What color envelopes can I use?
A: Pretty much any color you want (and that we can find). Now there are a few things to keep in mind. Light color envelopes (pale blue, white, cream, baby pink) are great for hand addressing, calligraphy or printing directly on, the post office will have no trouble reading these with the automated sorting. Darker colors, like black, navy, red are better suited for labels or silver/white ink. If going with a dark color envelope, think about having them hand cancelled at the post office. This costs a little bit more, but will guarantee you invitation will make it to the final destination.

Q: How many days before the wedding should I have my RSVP date?
A: Typically caterers/venues need about two weeks prior to your wedding for a head count. Which means you want at least one weeks prior to that to gather everything. Yes there will be people who don’t RSVP and you will have to call, I know, frustrating. I typically tell my brides anywhere from 3-4 weeks prior to your wedding depending on when the caterer/venue needs a head count. The extra time will give you some breathing room to organize your seating chart without pulling out your hair, because this can be one of your most difficult tasks of planning.

Q: What is the best way to attach envelope liners?
A: We have a tutorial on our blog: http://sdinvites.com/wordpress/?p=255 and Paper Source has some great envelope liner templates. So much fun! And if you aren’t the DIY type of bride, that is okay, we offer this as a service when we do your custom package.

Q: Is it necessary to have multiple inserts in a wedding invitation?
A: the quick and dirty answer is, they are your invitations, do what you want! I have created both formal and informal invitations that we utilized the front and back. With brides being more eco-conscious this has become a bigger and bigger point. For a more formal invitation the invitation it self still need to remain separate, but the insert pieces can most definitely be 2 sided. I created an invitation that was a poster and everything was on one sheet of paper, so in this day in age it really comes down to the personality of the bride and groom and what they want, especially since there are so many great customizable options out there.

Q: If I have a guest list of 150, should I do 150 invitations?
A: That depends. Is it 150 guests counting each person individually or 150 guests which includes couples and families. You don’t need to send an invitation to each individual person, one invitation per family or couple. So let’s just assume that it is 150 and that number includes couples and families. I always suggest ordering a few extra too, you might realize down the road you forgot about Aunt Millie’s (who you only see once every 10 years) daughter, or there is a distinct possibility that someone might spill or mess up an invitation (we will tell that story another time). A few extra can never hurt, but my rule of thumb is 10-25 extra. So you would order about 175. Oh and don’t forget to include your vendors, your parents, and bridal party!

Q: How do I address an envelope if the husband is in the military and overseas?
A: Over the past few years we have seen this question more and more. First if the husband or wife is serving overseas, you will still send it to their spouse who is stateside. As for the title, you have to take into account if the person is an officer or a non-commissioned officer or enlisted.

If the person serving is an officer, you will address the envelope with their commissioned rank:
Captain and Mrs. Joseph Miller
If non-commissioned or enlisted it would appear:
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Miller

That is the quick and dirty. If you need more explanation, I will be more than happy to help! And for all those serving, or who have served, thank you!

Q: What exactly is an A7 envelope?
A: An A7 envelope is one of the industry standard Announcement (see the A) envelope sizes. The envelope size is 5.25″ x 7.25″ and the card that fits inside is typically 5″ x 7″ in size. This size envelope comes with two styles for the back flap, one is a pointed back flap and the other is a squared off back flap. And if you want an outside envelope with an A7 there are two options, and A7.5 or an A8 (but both are difficult to find).

Q: Is your preference to spell out the name of the state, or to abbreviate it?
A: It is not only our preference, but it is also proper for a wedding invitation. If the city and state doesn’t fit on one line, it is okay to break the line and place it on the line below.

Q: How do I address an envelope if the wife is a doctor?
A: Mr. and Dr. John Smith is incorrect. When a woman has a title she should be listed first, and her first name should be noted. For example: Dr. Jane and Mr. John Smith. Or, if they are both doctors with the same last name, Doctors Susan and John Smith.

Q: What exactly is color edging and is this something I should think about for my invitations?
A: ah, one of our favorite things to do with letterpress invitations. You can see this listed as color edging or edge painting, and it has been around for centuries, and master bookbinders gilded the edges of books with gold, to show a preciousness. For modern day the edges are painted with color to either highlight an existing color in your palette or to introduce an entirely new color. You can also do foil edging which gives a great flash of a metallic color.

Q: Should I weigh my invitations at the post office?
A: Yes, that is something I always tell my brides, and I do that as well with all my custom designs. It is rare that a wedding invitation will be a forever stamp. Many of our digital printed invitations are about $.64 per invite, but that does change, depending on the weight of the paper and how many parts and pieces are within the envelope or box. And please make sure you figure in postage for your overall budget, it can really add up!

Q: I have a need for bilingual invitations, are there any etiquette protocols that I need to follow?
A: Not that we are aware of. Most brides that we have worked with that have a need for bilingual invitations get very creative. Some will have us produce two different sets of invitations and others will print everything in one package. I think overall it comes down to you, we personally like the two languages on one invitation, it sets the stage for the union of both cultures. Any other bridal vendor have input on this?

Q: When are rehearsal dinner invitations sent, and do I have to invite all of our out of town guests?
A: Rehearsal dinner invitations are usually sent two weeks before. Typically the rehearsal dinner is for the bridal party only, but more and more couples have been including out of town guests, especially if they have traveled a long distance, but of course that is totally up to you and what you can afford within your budget. Any other brides want to weigh in? Thoughts, comments, advice?

Q: Do I need to include all of our ceremony details in our program?
A: If you are having a ceremony that not all of your guests will be familiar with, such as a unique ceremony that incorporates cultural rites or unique religious ceremony, you may want to consider putting that information in your program. Most programs should include the processional, service components and explanations of any ceremonial elements that may be unfamiliar. But then again, it really is up to you. Many brides and grooms take this opportunity to write a message to their guests too and honor or remember family members.

Q: We have 35 guests coming to our reception and would like to keep it as informal as possible, do we need to do placecards/escort cards for our guests?
A: Excellent question. Seated dinners of more than 20 guests typically require place cards to help them find the right seats. We do place cards for all of our functions, it makes guest feel like they have a place and then don’t feel left out when trying to sit at a table and are unfamiliar with the guests.

Q: What are wedding announcements and who should I send them to, and do I even have to send them?
A: okay so that is three questions in one. I hope this answer sheds a little light on the subject. As a good rule of thumb, wedding announcements, while not required, should be sent to acquaintances, friends and relatives who were not invited to the wedding, but may show an interest in your marriage. You should not send them to those who were invited to your wedding, which is a common mistake. These are meant to announce your marriage, just like placing an announcement in the local newspaper. And if you decide to send them, they should be sent within a few weeks after the wedding. The best part is you can pretty much copy your wedding invitation and tweak a few words.