1. Often confused with placecards, escort cards indicate guests’ table assignments. Placecards are found on the actual dining tables, and tell guests precisely where to sit. There’s no table assignment needed on a placecard since the card is already placed at the guest’s seat.

2. Often called table assignment cards. Use the term you like!

3. For couples (whether married or not), one escort card is appropriate since they’re sitting at the same table.

4. Arrange the cards alphabetically by last name. Position them near the entrance to the cocktail hour venue (but not right next to the door). A good place is in the center of the room, where guests can approach from all sides.

5. Use appropriate titles such as “Mr. James Miller” or “Dr. Linda Ross” at formal weddings; for casual weddings, go with first and last names only (”James Miller”).

6. When ordering escort cards, be sure to indicate the style you’ll need. Will the cards need to stand on their own (tent style) or will they be placed in some type of holder (in which case, you may just need a single panel card).

We often get couples requesting wording in which both parents are listed on the invitations as hosts. Here are some examples which we hope you’ll find helpful!

Mr. and Mrs. Scott Lee
and
Mr. and Mrs. John Jones
request the honor of your
presence at the marriage of
their children
Stacey Maria Lee
and
Tim Michael Jones
as they happily unite their
hearts and their lives through marriage
on Saturday, the twenty-seventh of October…

The Chase family
and the Kennedy family
invite you to share in the joy of
the marriage uniting
their children
Madeline Camille
and
Tyler Steven
on Saturday, the sixth of July…

With Joyful Hearts,
David and Kimberly Chester
and
Bob and Susan Mayfield
invite you to the marriage
ceremony uniting
Analisa Marie Chester
and
Wyatt Ronald Mayfield
on Saturday, the tenth of May…

The year is optional on invitations, but it must be used on announcements.

If the wedding is in a place of worship, then the phrase, “the honour of your presence” is used. If the wedding will take place at a home, or in a hotel or elsewhere, then phrases such as, “the pleasure of your company” or “the honor of your presence” is used. This has to do with the sanctity of holding a wedding in a sacred place.

If the city is large and the wedding site is not well known to your guests, then the address should be printed on the invitations.

With well known cities such as Washington DC, San Francisco and Atlanta for example, it is not necessary to list the state. However, for layout and spacing purposes you may prefer to do so.

The party after a wedding is called a reception if it takes place after one o’clock. It’s called a breakfast if it takes place earlier than one o’clock.

The time for the ceremony typically is written “at four o’clock” or “at half after four o’clock.” The abbreviation A.M. and P.M. are too informal and never used, but a couple may substitute “in the evening” or “in the afternoon” or “in the morning” if they wish.

No nicknames and no initials. Full names should be used unless one you hates your middle name so much that you just can’t bear to have it known.

If the word junior is used, it is written lowercase, unless it is abbreviated. Then it’s capitalized – go figure, I can’t explain this one!

Ack! Sorry I’ve been away for a while. I’ve been super busy since the wedding show and kind of let the blog go…sorry! I’m back on track though!

Stumped for how to word your Rehearsal Dinner invitations? Here are some examples

Camille and Bruce
request the pleasure of your company
for dining, merriment and celebration
on the eve of their marriage
Friday, December 18th
at seven o’clock
Katana Robata and Sushi Bar
8439 West Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, California

Regrets only to Stacey at 703-869-1298

______________________________________

A Rehearsal Dinner
in honor of
Camille and Bruce’s big day!
We wouldn’t celebrate any other way
than in the company of our family and friends
Please join us
on Friday, December 18th
at 6:30 p.m.
for great food, wine and conversation
Katana Robata and Sushi Bar
8439 West Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, California

Regrets only to cami@cami…..

______________________________________

Please join us to celebrate with
Cami and Bruce
at their Rehearsal Dinner
Friday, December 18th at 7 p.m.
Katana Robata and Sushi Bar
8439 West Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, California

______________________________________

Please join us for a celebration
on the eve of the wedding of
Cami and Bruce
Friday, December 18th at 7 p.m.
Katana Robata and Sushi Bar
8439 West Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, California

______________________________________

Your presence is kindly requested
at a Rehearsal Dinner
on the eve of the marriage of
Camille and Bruce
on Friday, the 18th December
at 7:00 in the evening
Katana Robata and Sushi Bar
8439 West Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, California

Writing thank you notes can be quite a big job, especially if you wait until the last minute. If you start the job as soon as gifts begin to arrive, you’ll find this final important task congenial and gratifying.

Get Organized!
Buy thank-you cards ahead of time and set up a spreadsheet when you begin addressing your invitations. This will help to help keep track of the correct spelling of names, addresses and phone numbers. Use this list to record guests’ responses and, ultimately, gifts you receive. When you open presents, immediately record who gave you what. Despite your best efforts, a few gifts may become separated from their cards. If the gift was from your registry, call the store to see if it has a record of who purchased it. If not, you may have to try figuring it out by the process of elimination.

How Much Time Do You Have?
Ideally, you should acknowledge every present immediately; writing a note within a couple of days is best, But sending it within two weeks is also acceptable. Absolutely do not wait any longer than three months. Contrary to popular belief, you do not have one year.

To ensure the task doesn’t become too overwhelming, write notes in small batches. Diane Warner, author of “Contemporary Guide to Wedding Etiquette” (Career Press; 2005), offers this strategy: “Set a goal of writing three or four thank-you notes per day. Don’t try to tackle them all at once, otherwise they may tend to become too brief or start sounding trite.” She also recommends that both the bride and the groom divide the note-writing duties, which theoretically should cut the time it takes to complete the entire job in half.

What Should Our Notes Look Like?
For weddings, the most traditional thank-you cards are white or ecru and measure approximately 3 1/2 by 5 inches, with a top fold. They can be monogrammed or embossed with a motif you’ve used on other decorations; many couples buy thank-you notes that match the style of their invitations. With a monogram, remember that it’s improper to adopt your married monogram until after the ceremony. You might combine the initials of your first names, instead, or use different cards for thank-you notes that are sent out before the wedding date. There are also lots of beautiful store-bought note cards, even some with letterpress designs.

What To Say?

You don’t need to write a lot — four or five sentences will suffice — as long as what you do express is heartfelt. Identify the gift, say why you appreciate it, why it has a personal meaning for you, and how you plan to use it. If the giver came to the wedding, especially from a distance, also include a sentence thanking him for attending: “Thank you for coming to our wedding. Your presence made our day extra special. David and I love the coffeemaker. We’ve used it every day since we got back from our honeymoon. Thanks so much.” For cash gifts, you need not mention the dollar amount, but it’s a nice touch to say how you plan to spend the money. (”Robert and I are putting the money toward our new patio furniture. We hope you’ll come for a visit with us soon.”) Every giver — even someone whose present you did not like very much — deserves to receive a sincere expression of your thanks.

Who Should Write and Sign?
It is customary for just one person to write and sign each note, mentioning his or her spouse’s appreciation (”Robert and I want to thank you. . . .Love, Sarah”). However, co-authored notes, signed by both the bride and groom, are also acceptable. One easy way to share the work is for the bride to write to her own family members and friends, and the groom to his. The sign-off should reflect your relationship to the recipient. “Love” is suitable for close friends and family;  “sincerely” may be the most appropriate when you’re writing to someone such as your manager at work. You needn’t sign off with your full names with people you’re close to, but you may want to use them in thank-you notes to business associates and friends of your parents.

Here you go…here’s more super important info which is sure to make you look like a super savvy couple!

How to determine your RSVP date:
Ideally your invites should go out eight weeks before your wedding date. If you do this, then make your reply-by deadline approximately three weeks before the wedding date. If you’re running a little behind and find yourself sending the invitations out six weeks before the wedding, then make your reply-by deadline two weeks before the wedding.

Addressing Invitations for Doctors, Lawyers, Priests, Judges, etc.

Here’s how to address  your envelopes properly for some of the most common professions: Lawyer: Madeline Chase, Esq.; Doctor: Dr. Madeline Chase; Judge: The Honorable Madeline Chase; Rabbi: Rabbi Madeline Chase; Clergyperson: The Reverend Madeline Chase: Catholic Priest: Father John Westin; Military: Captain (Commander or Major) Madeline Chase.

Ceremony now, Party Later. How to word this?

This is actually quite simple. What you’re really doing here is announcing that you’re already married and you are now hosting a party. Be sure to introduce yourselves as a married couple, then continue with the details of your celebration.  For example: “We’ve Tied the Knot! Anthony Mele and Katherine Rivers were married on Saturday, August 8, 2009. Please join us as we celebrate on Friday, September….”

Addressing wedding invitations can seem a bit confusing, but the rules are relatively simple for most of the people on your guest list. Spell out titles and degrees (“Doctor”), and always use “Mr. and Mrs.” for married couples. If a couple is unmarried but living together, or is married but uses different last names, put their names on separate lines in alphabetical order. Unmarried couples who do not live together should receive two separate invitations.  If a guest is in the military, the title of an officer whose rank is equal to or higher than a captain in the army or a lieutenant in the navy is placed next to his or her name with the branch of service below. You should also include titles for retired high-ranking officers, inserting (Ret.) after their names. And the branch of service should always be listed below the names of reserve officers on active duty, noncommissioned officers and enlisted persons.

As for children, it is unnecessary to include their names on the outer envelope of a wedding invitation. Instead, list them on the inner envelope with their parents (“Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Justin”). The absence of a child’s name altogether implies that he or she is not invited. However, many guests may not realize this and assume their children are invited. If you don’t want kids to come, be sure to spread the word that you can only accommodate adults at your reception, and do not leave a space with “Number of guests” to be filled in. If you are not using inner envelopes, simply write the child’s name on a separate line below the parent’s name. 

Finally, inner envelopes should be addressed to “Mr. and Mrs. Johhson” without first names or addresses. Close relatives can be addressed as “Aunt Shirley” or “Grandma Mary” on the inner envelope only. And if a single person is invited with an unspecified guest, add “and Guest” to the inner envelope to indicate that he or she may bring a date (however, it’s always preferable to send an individual invitation to someone’s guest if you know who the guest will be).

Sorry things have been quiet on the Paperie blog for the last week or so. I am gearing up for a bridal show this summer and on top of that, working on my Adobe certification. But I’m back! And I’ve got some great blog posts planned, so keep checking back!
Today’s topic: Invitation Wording (super important!) I get lots of requests for help on this, so I thought I’d post some ideas.

Dana Lauren Smith
and
Daniel Seth Johnson
invite you to share in the joy
when they exchange marriage vows
and begin their new life together
on Saturday, the tenth of Septemeber
Two thousand and eleven
at three o’clock in the afternoon
River Bend Country Club
(address…city, state)

Dana Lauren Smith
and
Daniel Seth Johnson
invite you to join in the circle
of praise and celebration
as they are joined together in marriage
and begin their new life together
on Saturday, the tenth of Septemeber
Two thousand and eleven
at three o’clock in the afternoon
River Bend Country Club
(address…city, state)

Dana Lauren Smith
and
Daniel Seth Johnson
invite you to share in their happiness
as they exchange marriage vows
and begin their new life together
on Saturday, the tenth of Septemeber
Two thousand and eleven
at three o’clock in the afternoon
River Bend Country Club
(address…city, state)

The sun, the stars, the earth
and all of God’s creatures
join in His divine plan of the universe

Come celebrate with us
when we, Dana Smith and Daniel Johson
exchange vows of marriage
on Saturday, the tenth of Septemeber
Two thousand and eleven
at three o’clock in the afternoon
River Bend Country Club
(address…city, state)

With joyful hearts
we ask you to be present
at the ceremony uniting
Dana Smith
and
Daniel Johnson
on Saturday, the tenth of Septemeber
Two thousand and eleven
at three o’clock in the afternoon
River Bend Country Club
(address…city, state)

Dana Smith
and
Daniel Johnson
together with their parents
Thomas and Anne Smith
and
Arnold and Judy Johnson
request the pleasure of your company
at their marriage and celebration
on Saturday, the tenth of Septemeber
Two thousand and eleven
at three o’clock in the afternoon
River Bend Country Club
(address…city, state)

Dana Smith
and
Daniel Johnson
invite you witness
their exchange of wedding vows
Saturday, the tenth of Septemeber
Two thousand and eleven
at three o’clock in the afternoon
River Bend Country Club
(address…city, state)

It is our greatest pleasure
to invite you to join us
as we are united in marriage
Saturday, the tenth of Septemeber
Two thousand and eleven
at three o’clock in the afternoon
River Bend Country Club
(address…city, state)
Dana Smith
and
Daniel Johnson

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene S. Smith
would be very pleased to have you
share in the joy of the marriage
of their daughter
Dana Marie
to
Dr. Daniel R. Johnson
Saturday, the tenth of Septemeber
Two thousand and eleven
at three o’clock in the afternoon
River Bend Country Club
(address…city, state)

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene S. Smith
would be very pleased to have you
share in the joy of the marriage
of their daughter
Dana Marie
to
Dr. Daniel R. Johnson
Saturday, the tenth of Septemeber
Two thousand and eleven
at three o’clock in the afternoon
River Bend Country Club
(address…city, state)

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene S. Smith
would be very pleased to have you
share in the joy of the marriage
of their daughter
Dana Marie
to
Dr. Daniel R. Johnson
Saturday, the tenth of Septemeber
Two thousand and eleven
at three o’clock in the afternoon
River Bend Country Club
(address…city, state)

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene S. Smith
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Dana Marie
to
Dr. Daniel R. Johnson
son of Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Johnson
on Saturday, the tenth of Septemeber
Two thousand and eleven
at three o’clock in the afternoon
River Bend Country Club
(address…city, state)

Coming next…reception card wording ideas!

A great Save the Date card serves not only as a way to let guests know to keep that day reserved for your wedding, but also as a way to communicate other important information such as travel arrangements and accommodation info. Your Save the Date should have all the important details your guests will need to prepare for your wedding. Creating your Save the Date card is one of the first printing jobs you’ll have, so here are some useful tips for the design and content to get you started on the right track!

Actually use the words, “Save the Date” Yup, crazy as it seems, actually use the words “Save the Date” or “Reserve the Date” on the front of your card. Lots of people mistake Save the Date cards as invitations, so be sure to also put on there, “invitation to follow” or “formal invitation to follow.”

If you have a wedding Web site, here’s the place for it - Your Save the Date is a perfectly appropriate place to let people know about your personalized wedding Web site, not on your invitation.

Need help with wording? Click here!

Here at the Paperie, I get lots of inquiries about programs. Programs are wonderful because not only do they help your guests follow along with the ceremony, they make your guests feel welcome and involved. Plus they are a wonderful keepsake!

Cami’s Paperie offers a wide range of highly customizable programs. We can match your wedding colors, coordinate with your invitations and even create a one-of-a-kind custom monogram for you!

Not sure what you should include in your program? Here’s a helpful list of some items you can include:

• Your Names, wedding date and ceremony location.
• The elements of the ceremony, such as prayers, readings and musical pieces.
• The Participants including your officiant, wedding party, readers and musicians.
• An Explanation of any cultural traditions
• Thank-You’s to your guests of family.
• A tribute to deceased relatives

Here’s a general guideline of Cami’s Paperie program offerings (click twice on each pic to enlarge):