Etiquette

[By Invitation Only]

I'm afraid I'm a stickler for etiquette, but over the years I've tried to become more lenient. Brides are becoming more and more informal, so I try to let certain things slide and have adopted a more informal code of etiquette. But there are times when I just want to throw my hands up in the air, especially when a bride is insistent on including wording that is inappropriate. Putting "monetary gifts are preferred" on an invitation hits a nerve with me, as does putting just a first name when addressing envelopes because the bride can't remember the last name.

Anyone else have any horror stories? Or am I being too much of a stickler? Is this an instance when the "customer is always right"?

[Gail Jones Diggs]

I have to say mine is RSVP... Its there for a reason ... and guest should respect it. We offer rsvp tracking for our brides - I find it sad that 2 days AFTER the cut off date, we have to call guest and ask them if they are attending. Not to mention if the invitation does not include a guest ... don't decide on your own to bring a guest.

[Denise M. Stewart]

In order to avoid having to put my companies name on this offensive request for monetary gifts, in any invitation I have offered the suggestion of a die cut insert printed with a subtle appeal. some favorites have been "If you would like to invest in success an educational account has been established...... (this is printed on a die cut graduation cap) another that was well received was a card featuring a wished for dining room set telling people (from the furniture) I am at Bob's discount furniture waiting to be united with my family. For weddings I have been able to just flat out refuse with a strong reminder that requesting money is innapropriate. I do however suggest that your invitation will dictate the elegance of your wedding which in turn will set the tone for generous and Classy gift giving (smile)

[By Invitation Only]

Denise - I love your ideas...how wonderful and unique! and I've copied down your final sentence and plan to use it ... with a smile, of course!!

[Denise M. Stewart]

yes a smile....of course. I need a tip for photographing my work to show online the details are not sharp enough can anyone offer suggestions? also I have discovered that the xyron labelmaker 5" is a miracle for making layered invitations, cuts down time and gives a great finish but EXPENSIVE! is there an alternative that anyone can suggest that is more cost effective? Finally, at the present I use a special software by mountain cow has anyone heard of a software with lots of font choices and graphics?

[By Invitation Only]

Hi Denise:

I've been looking into the Cricut die-cutting machine, don't know if that's along the lines of what you've been looking for. As for graphics programs: I use PrintShop 21 for basics and for its font selection and then I purchased the Art Explosion cd program - it has 80,000+ graphics but it's on the expensive side.

Hope this helps.

[Denise M. Stewart]

Art explosion...by who? ? The one I use platinum press was also expensive but worth it based on the card sizes ect. I actually have the wishblade but have not mastered it and of course xyron has NO customer support and it is extremely hard to obtain replacement parts. Thanks I will look into print shop21. p.s. I added the picture of one of the die cut insert cards to my photos , i created the graduation cap with the zyron wishblade.

[Rachel Snyder-WeddinCalligrapher]

Oh my gosh!! I haven't had any like that yet! The worst thing that has happened to me is when someone orders their invitations and they haven't really planned for calligraphy and they want me to address the outer and inner envelopes of approx. 400 in two days :( Not good! I can do some addressing but I do all of my own writing and some things I am not capable of. However, most Brides that I have done calligraphy for have planned and know that it takes a wee bit longer to address when the pen is actually dipped in ink.