Wedding Invitation Etiquette

Addressing Invitations

When addressing invitations is it appropriate to use abbreviations in names?
No, it is not acceptable etiquette. Traditionally, all names are spelled out in full and this tradition still stands today. Do not abbreviate a person's name or an address.

Should we use a calligrapher to address the invitations?
This is your personal preference. It can be costly, so if you have it in your budget, go for it! But don't feel like it is something that is required. Nice handwriting on the envelope is just as lovely.

Should an invitation be sent to the following people (general questions)?
Invitations should be sent to:

• The person who performs the ceremony and their spouse? yes

• The fiancé of an invited guest? You need the fiancé's name so that you can put their name on the invitation of the invited guest.

• The bridal party members? yes

• The groom's parents? yes

• Family and friends who live too far away to attend the wedding? yes

• Small children who are not invited to the reception?

• People in mourning? yes

• Only one member of a married couple? no

• Only one member of an unmarried couple living together? no

• Ex-spouses? A personal preference

How should the following titles appear?
The following titles are addressed as follows:

• Lawyer:
  Outer Envelope - Ms. Mary Jones, Esq.
  Inner Envelope - Ms. Jones

• Physician:
  Outer Envelope - Jane Doe, M.D. or Doctor Jane Doe
  Inner Envelope - Dr. Doe

• Professor:
  Outer Envelope - Professor Keith Null or Keith Null
  Inner Envelope - Prof. Null

• Judge:
  Outer Envelope - The Honorable George Ham
  Inner Envelope - Judge Ham

• Mayor:
  Outer Envelope - The Honorable Charles Lane, Mayor of Orlando
  Inner Envelope - Mayor Lane

• Captain (armed forces, police force, fire department):
  Outer Envelope - Captain Oliver Sandman, U.S. Army
  Inner Envelope - Captain Sandman

• Minister:
  Outer Envelope - The Reverend Mark Johnson
  Inner Envelope - The Reverend Johnson (Roman Catholics use Father)

• Rabbi:
  Outer Envelope - Rabbi Harold Feldman
  Inner Envelope - Rabbi Feldman

• Contact us for additional title etiquette.

Can we address the invitations by handwriting?
Yes, handwriting the invitations is just fine. It gives a personal tone when you hand write the names and addresses. You can also use a calligrapher, but if you want to save significantly on the invitations, you and several friends can easily address the invitations for a personal touch.

When may a wedding invitation be addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. Frank John Antonio and Family"
There are a few circumstances: 1) When it is clear that you are inviting just the people living under that roof, and not another relative that lives next door; 2) When the children are young; 3) When every person living under the same roof is intended to be included in the invitation.

Is it acceptable to write "and guest"?
No, typically "and guest" it is too impersonal. It is much warmer and welcoming if you find out the name of your friend's guest and write their name on the envelope. Another option is for you to find out the name and address of the guest and send the guest their own invitation.

If we do not know the middle name should we use initials?
No, you should not use any abbreviations for middle names.

Can we use computer printed labels to address the invitations?
Printed computer labels, whether done on white or clear labels will detract from the personal tone of your wedding. I would recommend not to do this. Instead have yourself and/or some friends hand write the addresses.

When should children receive their own invitations?
Children who are over age 18 should receive their own invitation if they are still living with their parents. However, if you have extra invitations and there are children in the home over the age of 13, it would be acceptable to send them their own invitation. This will be a personal touch and will make the children feel special.

If children are not receiving their own invitation, their names may be written on a line below their parents' names on the inner envelope and do not have to listed on the outer envelope at all.

When should Ms. be used for a female guest?
Use this for single women or if you unsure if the female guest is married.

How is the inner envelope addressed?
This can be less formal than the outer envelope. You need to include the names of all invitees at the address including children. For a traditional wedding you would put 'Ms. Ball'. But for a casual or intimate wedding you could put, 'Amber' or 'Aunt Amber'.

How should thank you notes be written?
You should personalize each note so it addresses the specific gift that they gave to you. You should express your appreciation for their thought and effort through personalization of each thank you note.

Should the outer envelope contain a pre-printed return address?
All outer envelopes should have a return address just in case the Post Office cannot locate the addressee. You can hand write them but it looks more formal if you have them preprinted to match the type and ink of your invitation. It is also easier to address hundreds of invitation with pre-printed return addresses already complete.

Should I consider creating an alternate guest list?
An alternate guest list is a good idea if you are limited with the amount of people you can invite, or have relatives that live far way from the wedding site whereby you are pretty sure they will not be attending but you send them an invitation anyway. Once you get back a definite 'no' from the limited guest lists or out of town family, then you can turn to your alternate list and send out additional invitations.

If you do alternative invites, you may want to consider sending out your invitations earlier, using an early reponse date on the original invites, and using a later response date than the original for the alternative list so the alternative guests have enough time to respond.

Invitation Basics

What is a "within the ribbon" card used for?
"Within the ribbon" cards are sent with the invitation to guests who are family members or close relatives. The "within the ribbon" cards are to be used for your guests whom you want seated in reserved pews. These are typically seats with white ribbons across the ends. The usher escorts the guests who hold these special cards to their exclusive seats, the ribbon is lifted and then replaced after the guest is seated. Within the ribbon cards are also known as Pew Cards and are sometimes sent separately after acceptances and regrets are received because then the bride knows how many reserved pews are needed and can plan accordingly.

How do announcements differ from invitations?
Announcements are generally sent to those friends, family, and business associates who were left off the guest list because the celebration was too small to accommodate everyone or because you are not close to them, but they might still wish to hear the news of your marriage. The announcement is not an obligation, just a nice idea. Announcements are never sent to anyone who has received an invitation to the ceremony or reception.

What is calligraphy and should it be used?
Calligraphy is the art of curvy yet beautiful handwriting. This can be an expensive process so be sure to look at samples before you hire someone to do your invitations.

What is the difference between engraving and thermography?
Engraving is the most expensive of print methods that are typically offered for wedding invitations. The printer uses a metal plate engraved with the text you have provided to stamp the words onto the paper from behind. The final product is textured, with raised letters in the front and "cavities" in the back. Engraving can be applied to the invitation, or it can be applied for accent touches such as the return addresses on envelopes.

Thermography is the most popular method for wedding invitations in that it produces raised print, but is not nearly as expensive as engraving. The print is raised and is "shinier" than the raised print. The letters however do not press through the back of the paper to form raised lettering.

Should we order Table cards with the invitations?
Table cards should match the ink and stock color of your invitations, so you might as well order everything at one time.

When should thank you notes be sent?
Every time you receive a wedding gift you should send a thank you note. It is important that they be sent out very soon after the gift is received. This means that thank you notes can be sent out before and after your wedding.

You also should send a thank you note for each gift you receive for your engagement and your showers.

When should I use a "Save the Date" mailing?
If you have a lot of relatives or friends that live far away from where your wedding is taking place, it is a good idea to send out an announcement about your wedding date asking them to "save the date", that way you'll have a better chance of them attending.

Send out the save the date information at least three months prior to the wedding date, the sooner the better. Include helpful travel information such as suggested hotels and booking information if a block of rooms is reserved with a special rate.

What typestyle should I select or avoid?
For formal or traditional invitations you should choose shaded and antique Roman faces. There are so many to choose from, and again, I would have it match your style or theme. Keep in mind that ornate or flowery styles are a little more difficult to read so in general, you may want to stay away from them.

What is an informal and when is it used?
An informal is used for a thank you card and in essence the only real difference between an informal and a thank you is that a Thank you note has a "Thank you" on the cover of the card and can have a blank inside or a preprinted message and an informal usually has the couple's name or monogram on the cover and typically is blank inside.

What is a respond set or response card?
The respond set (also known as a response card or set) is used to provide quests with a means of easily replying that they will be attending your wedding ceremony and/or reception. It used to be that the only correct response to a formal invitation was an equally formal reply, handwritten by the invited guest. Such replies are still correct, but because fewer and fewer people will take the time to pen a formal reply, in the last decade or so, response cards have replaced the handwritten reply in popularity. The response card is inserted with the invitation and is engraved or printed on card stock in the same style as the invitation, in the following form:

The "M" precedes the space where the guest writes his or her title and name, as in " Miss Jane Johnson" or "Mr. And Mrs. Joseph Sites." A printed, stamped envelope is included so that all the guest has to do is write in his, her, or their names and then check by "accepts" or "regrets", place the card in the envelope, and mail it. When one guest is able to accept and the other is not, it is necessary to make this clear on the response card.

To avoid confusion, a response card should not include the phrase "number of persons", which could lead the recipients to think that other family members may be included, even though their names didn't appear on the inner or outer envelopes a misunderstanding that could result in a wedding overflowing with guests. The absence of other family members' names means they are not invited. When one invitation is received by a couple whose children are included, every name must be written in on the response card.

If one invitation is sent to a friend with "and guest" written on the envelope, the friend should write in the name of the guest so that his or her name can be written on a place card. If the friend is not bringing a guest, then only the friend's name should be written on the response card.

What is embossing and when should it be used?
Embossing is a raised printing method usually used for large initials (mongrams) or borders. Embossing is an expensive process and is used if you want spectacular looking initials on your thank you notes, return addresses or if your wedding is very formal and you want a border or other raised detail on you invitation.

Some invitations contain embossed flowers, figures, and other ornamentation, adding a special touch of class. Sometimes the embossing contains a sheen to it, called varnishing, which can add drama to any invitation.

However, the border between drama, and over dramatic can be crossed easily when too many elements are combined on a single invitation. Embossing should be selected and used sparingly to create a dramatic yet restrained look for your invitations.

What color ink should I use on the invitations?
For a formal or traditional style wedding you should use black or grey ink. These simple selections are our favorite, for almost any wedding occasion.

For a more contemporary wedding, or for a touch of personal flair, you can select a more avante garde ink color such as red, purple, or teal to make the invitations your own.

What is an "at-home" card used for?
If you wish to let friends know what your new address will be, you may insert an at-home card with the invitation or wedding announcement. These cards traditionally read:

It is acceptable to put your married name even though you are not married at the time the invitation is sent because if you just put your address on the card and your guest does not put it in their address book right away, they may forget who is at the address on the card they find in their wallet a month later. An at-home card also gives the woman who plans to keep her own name the opportunity to let friends know what her married name will be.

Should we elect to use an envelope seal to seal the outer envelopes?
Envelope seals are a nice added touch to complement your invitations. Envelope seals are not required, but can be applied to add a personal flair to your invitations.

Although a seal is used, it is important still to seal the envelopes properly, with the envelope seals being used just for decoration.

Should we include a map card and what information should it provide?
If you are getting married in an out-of-way place or have a lot of guests from out of town, you may want to include a map card with your invitation. On the card you should also have hotel information for your out of town guests; this would include the reservation line and rates for a few different hotels. The directions to the hotels, ceremony and reception should include information directing the guests from a major highway or airport.

What is a reception invitation?
When the wedding ceremony is private and a large reception follows, the invitation to the ceremony is extended personaly with a phone call or conversation, or by a personal note. The wording of the reception invitation is typically as follows:

What is a Rain Card and should we order one?
A "Rain Card" is used if you are having an outdoor wedding so that your guests know where to go in case of bad weather. Give the location of the wedding and reception "In case of rain" and the new time if there is one.

Why are two envelopes used and what purpose does each serve?
The outer envelope is the one that is addressed, stamped, and mailed to the guest. The outer envelope contains all invitation components. The inner envelope is used to hold the invitation and inserts, but only has the names of the people to whom the mailing envelope is addressed.

For example a married couple's inner envelope is addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. Johnson" with no first names or address. This allows the bride and groom to be very specific as to whom is invited. For example, if a close friend is invited and the bride and groom want her to bring a guest (and they don't know the friend's name), the outer envelope is addressed to the friend while the inner envelope reads "Miss Jones and Guest." An inner envelope that reads only "Miss Jones" clearly indicates that Miss Jones cannot bring a guest.

What color invitation should I select?
This again depends on the style of your wedding. If you are having a formal or traditional wedding the correct shades of paper are ivory, soft cream, and white. The heaviest-weight paper in these shades may cost a little bit more, but the appearance and feel are well worth it and speak "formal."

For any other style you can use these shades of paper too, but make it fit your style with your choice of ink color.

What is a reception card?
The reception card is an invitation to the reception, and it is often sent when the ceremony and reception are held at different locations. The reception card is enclosed with the wedding invitation. The reception card comes in a set which includes the card itself and the envelope. The reception card contains details about the reception time and location.

The reception card is also used when the guest list for the ceremony is larger than that for the reception. Here, the reception cards would only be enclosed with the wedding invitations for those being invited to the wedding and reception.

Invitation Wording

We are giving our own wedding but would still like to send out the invitations in our parent's names. Is this proper?
Yes. Put the bride's parents first.

When the bride's parents are divorced and both have remarried, is it proper to include all four names on the invitation?
Yes. If they share the wedding expenses and act as co-hosts, both sets should appear on the invitation and the bride's mother's name appears first:

How should the time be written on the invitation?
The time on the invitation should be written as follows:

• If the time of your wedding is before 12 pm: 'at ten o'clock in the morning'

• If the time of your wedding is in between 12 and 5 pm: 'at one o'clock in the afternoon'

• If the time of your wedding is after 5pm: 'at six o'clock in the evening'

• If your wedding is being held on the half hour: 'half after four o'clock'

Details about our wedding have changed since we have printed the invitations, how can these be corrected?
If they have not been mailed out yet and there is time, you may enclose a printed card with the change. If they have been mailed out, you may mail a card or a personal note indicating the change.

What should the invitation's wording contain?
The invitation needs to communicate the following information:

• Who is hosting the wedding

• Who is getting married

• The date and year of the wedding

• The time and location of the ceremony

My fiancé will be a doctor at the time of the wedding, but will not be when I order the invitations, should I include his title?
I recommend not to put the title doctor on the invitation if he is not a doctor at the time the invitation is mailed. However, it is a personal preference.

We cancelled our wedding plans shortly after mailing the invitations. How do we inform the invited guests?
If there is no time left, guests must be notified by telephone. If there is time, printed cards may be sent out:

Should we include the year on the invitations?
Traditionally, the date of the wedding on a formal invitation did not include the year, but today it is considered correct to include it.

How can the couple indicate that children are not included?
The way an invitation is addressed, whether on the outer or inner envelope, indicates exactly who is, and by omission, who is not invited to the wedding. Never write that children are not invited as this is viewed as inappropriate etiquette.

Should numbers be spelled out on the invitation envelope?
You will find it more frequent today, that the post office prefers to see numbers rather than words on the envelopes. The post office can sort more efficiently when it is reading numbers. However, it is still acceptable, especially for formal invitations, to write all the numbers out. Envelopes for formal or informal invitations should have your address printed on the back flap. For formal envelopes, the apartment number is spelled out only through the number ten. For example, for apartment 8, it would be Apartment Eight. All street numbers are spelled out. For example, Nine West Seventy-ninth street or 30 West Seventy-ninth street. The less formal style is 9 West 79th Street and can be used for formal wedding invitations.

In a military wedding, how should the wording appear?
For ranks below Lieutenant Commander in the Navy or Coast Guard or below Major in the Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps?

Reserve officers on active duty?

A non-commissioned officer or enlisted man?

or

The bride is in the military?
Use both her rank and the branch of military on the invitation. The name of the bride appears on one line with her rank and the branch of the military on a separate line:

My sister and I are planning a double wedding, who should be listed first?
The older sister's name should be listed first.

The wedding ceremony is private, immediate family. How should we address the invitations for reception to others?
The invitation should be worded as follows:

We would like to have a very private ceremony. How do we invite the people we want to attend?
For a small private ceremony, rather than ordering invitations, you could send an invitation in the form of a personal note.

How should punctuation be used in the wording for the invitation?
Punctuation on times and dates are as they would appear in other documents. Other punctuation is typically not used.

We got married overseas and upon our return, our parents are giving us a reception. How should the invitations be worded?
The invitation should be worded as follows:

The invitation states "requests the honour of your presence" but this spelling does not seem correct, is it?
If you are inviting someone to an event you request the "honour of their presence". If the event is being launched for an individual, the celebration is "in honor of" the celebrant.

If the bride's parents are paying for the wedding, should we also list the groom's parents?
Many couples do this and there is nothing wrong with this. It is a personal preference. We would suggest that the bride's parents be consulted on the decision since they are paying for the wedding and could possibly take offense if not consulted.

Ordering and Mailing Invitations

What should I expect to pay for a typical set of a hundred invitations with standard text?
Typical prices for an invitation set of 100 invitations, including reception cards, respond cards, printed return envelopes and thank you cards will cost around $375 retail. Because the invitations are available in many styles and with many options you can typically create the perfect invitation for any budget.

How should the invitations be assembled?
Depending on the style of your invitation it will be left flat or folded in half or in fourths, with the text on the front and the fold on the left. Tuck any enclosures inside, or set them on top of the card. Place the invitation and all the inserts in an unsealed (inner) envelope with the print facing the back so that it is visible upon opening. Leave the inner envelope unsealed.

Hand write the guest's name on the inner envelope. Place the inner envelope inside the outer envelope, with the guest's name facing the back. Hand write the guest's full name and mailing address on the outer envelope, or have it done with calligraphy.

Should the style of the invitation match the wedding?
Your invitation reflects the degree of formality of your celebration and it is the first indication to your guests of the style and tone of your wedding.

As much as possible. try to select an invitation that matches the wedding ceremony and reception in terms of style.

My wedding is a weekend long affair, should I print agendas for the parties involved?
Agendas are very helpful to the parties involved. Just put the time and location of the activities so that each member of the wedding party and festivities know what is happening and can be there on time and ready to have fun!

How far in advance of the wedding should I order my invitations?
You should order your invitations as soon as you have your wedding date, location and times, as well as guest list finalized so you know exactly what to print on the invitations, and how many invitations you will need. You should order the invitations between 3-5 months in advance of your wedding date. This will give you plenty of time to address the invitations, as well as having time to recover should a mistake occur with your order or additional quantities are needed.

With regard to invitation count, you will want to be pretty confident in the count required because if you have to reorder, the minimum reorder amount is a 25 count, and because quantities on the re-order are low, the costs are higher.

Can I use offset printing for my wedding invitations?
Offset printing is very common, but not typically used for wedding invitations.

Offset printing is flat printing that is used on most letterhead and birthday cards. A rubber cylinder is used to press the ink onto the paper. The lettering is not raised as with thermography or engraving.

Typically offset printing is used on ready made invitations or thank you cards.

Offset printing provides the most economic form of printing, however our personal opinion is that offset printing is not special enough for wedding invitations. This of course is subjective, and if budget requires, although many will say never use offset printing, we say, do what you need to to stick within your budget and enjoy your special day.

We do not offer offset printing services, but would be happy to help you find a provider and discuss the options with you.

Should additional envelopes be ordered to account for errors?
Yes. You should get approximately 30% more outer and inner envelopes than invitations. For 100 invitations, you would order an additional 25 extra outer and 25 extra inner envelopes. Envelopes typically come in 25 count increments, so adjust the additional account accordingly.

Also don't forget to order extras for both types of envelopes, both inner and outer envelopes.

How many Thank You notes should we order?
You need a lot of these. Keep in mind you will get gifts for your engagement, gifts for your showers and of course gifts before, during and after your wedding.

And you can never have too many thank you notes because if you don't have a preprinted message on the inside you can use them forever. So get as many thank you notes as invitations, plus about 50% extra.

How many invitations should we order?
After you have assembled your guest list, figure out how many married couples you have because they get just one invitation, and count how many single people you have. Also figure that children over the age of 18 who still live with their parents should receive separate invitations, while children under 18 are included on the parent's invitation.

Always order extra just in case you forgot to put some names on your guest list or to cover replacement guests. To reorder more invitations (the minimum is usually 25) is more costly than ordering the correct amount initially.

How far in advance of the wedding are invitations mailed to the guests?
The rule of thumb is to mail the invitation six to eight weeks before the wedding date. However, if you have many relatives in various parts of the country or are getting married during a holiday period, send the invitations out ten to twelve weeks before the wedding to give guests time to plan their travel schedule.

For out of town guests you may also want to consider sending out a "save the date" announcement which will provide your guests with the wedding date and hotel information three months or more prior to the wedding.

Should I have a ceremony program and what should it say?
The Cermony Program is not a mandatory item but they are a creative addition to most ceremonies. The cermemony program can be especially helpful to guests of other religions who may not be familiar with your service. Program elements that are appropriate and helpful can include:

• processional

• service music

• translations

• the order of the service

• explanation of symbolic meaning of service components

• text for group prayers or readings

• poem or thought of thanks and love

Can I use a laser printed invitation for my wedding invites?
Laser printed invitations are special paper products that can be formatted and printed on a regular laser printer, either at a professional print shop or at home. A word of caution: great care must be taken to ensure that the forms are fed through the desktop printer straight and evenly. You should also use a typeface that is formal, crisp, and easy to read, duplicating other professionally produced print.

Laser printing is the least expensive form of printing, and when it is used for a formal wedding it can also look inexpensive. Be sure to print out a few practice invitations to get the look you want before it is too late to have your invitations professionally printed.

We do not offer laser printed invitations. We would be happy to assist you in discussing laser printed invitation options and providing assistance to overcome some of the issues involved in printing your own invitations.

Should we select an invitation to match our personal style?
If your ceremony will be contemporary, then match it with a contemporary invitation. Your invitation sets the tone for the style of your wedding so it is important to let that style shine through via the invitations.

My wedding has a specific color and theme, should I get invitations to match?
That is a personal preference but I recommend it. Your invitation sets the theme for your wedding and it is usually the first thing your guests see. So just from the invitation, your guests will know what type of style or theme your wedding will be.

How can I check on the correct postage for mailing?
Go to the post office and weigh a complete invitation set; an invitation with all of the inserts and an invitation without the inserts so that way you will know exactly how much postage to put on each one.

Be sure to do this because having your invitations returned to you for lack of postage can throw off your whole schedule.

How is the inner envelope inserted into the mailing (outer) envelope?
When two envelopes are used, the invitation (folded edge first for a folded invitation, left edge for a single card) and all enclosures are put in the inner envelope, facing the back. The inner envelope is then placed, unsealed, in the outer envelope, with the flap away from the person inserting it.

How soon after a wedding are announcements sent?
Ideally, they are mailed the day of the wedding but this is difficult to accomplish. A family member or friend can be recruited to assist. In today's busy world, often the announcements are sent the day after the wedding, but can also be mailed up to three months later.

Should we order envelopes early?
We can provide the inner and outer envelopes early, which is a great idea so that you can start addressing them at your leisure. Ordering the envelopes early is essential if you do not have much time before your wedding to get the addressing completed. An extra charge will apply for this ordering option.

The Reception Invitation, Reply Cards and R.S.V.P.

Is it acceptable to indicate Black tie as appropriate attire?
No, it is not acceptable to put appropriate attire instructions on the invitation to the ceremony. The formality of the invitation often guides proper attire. As well, word of mouth or a phone call can be used to communicate attire preferences.

If it is essential, such as guests not being able to enter the reception without proper attire, you can put the proper attire instructions on the reception card and place it in the lower right hand corner. Print "Black tie"

If we do not include a reception card, how should we word the invitation to invite our guests to the reception?
If the ceremony and reception are not at the same place, I recommend ordering reception cards with the name and address of the reception sight.

If the ceremony and reception are at the same place, and the size of the invitation permits, you could put a corner copy in the lower left hand corner of the invitation "reception immediately following".

When do you need R.S.V.P.s?
Almost always. Your reception location or caterer will need a headcount so it is very important to know how many people will be attending your wedding. If you are having a very small intimate wedding you may avoid the R.S.V.P.s and just make a phone call.

Traditionally personal notes were returned by invited guests rather than using R.S.V.P.s., however, with today's hectic schedules R.S.V.P.'s are a welcome time saver for both parties.

Should the R.S.V.P. card envelopes be stamped with postage?
Yes. You should have a stamped response-card envelope sent to each guest.

If the invitation is to the ceremony alone, should we include an R.S.V.P.?
No, that is not necessary unless the location where you are having your ceremony is small and you require a head count so that you have prepared enough seats.

We are having more people attend the reception than the ceremony, how should we word the invitation to the reception?
The invitation should read:

Should a reception reply card solicit an entrée' of choice from guests?
The solicitation of an entree' choice is not recommended but sometimes it cannot be helped.

As an option, if you are offering menu choices, work out the arrangements with the club, restaurant, or caterer to provide service where each server carries a tray with both or all entrées already plated and offers each guest his choice, or have the server ask each guest his preference at the table before serving.     

If these options are not available, then place the entree' solicitation on the reply card.

What is the proper way for our guests to respond to a wedding invitation?
The most desirable way for Guests to respond to an invitation is to hand write a response, including a special note to the bride and groom to be.

Should I number code the response cards?
A number code on the response cards can be a good idea. Sometimes guests write in their names, but the names are illegible. By numbering the cards and recording a key of who received which numbered response card, you can quickly and easily tell who returned their response card.

How to write a thank you note

When should thank you notes be sent?
Every time you receive a wedding gift you should send a thank you note. It is important that they be sent out very soon after the gift is received. This means that thank you notes can be sent out before and after your wedding.

You also should send a thank you note for each gift you receive for your engagement and your showers.

How should thank you notes be written?
You should personalize each note so it addresses the specific gift that they gave to you. You should express your appreciation for their thought and effort through personalization of each thank you note.