Cescaphe Univeristy – Invitations & Stationary

In our February Cescaphe University, we talked all things Invitations & Stationary! We had five local experts lead a panel about the most frequently asked questions on this topic.

Robyn from Chick Invitations talked to us about Trends & Colors. Here’s what she had to say!
“Branding is a popular trend right now and a way to really make your day unique and personalized to you. Whether that’s a custom monogram, logo or crest, incorporating those details throughout the evening sets your event apart.
We have a lot of couples who like the idea of incorporating a small theme to their invitations. Iconic things like the city they are getting married in or special things about their lives are all ways to add a personal touch to your invitation without detracting from the formality.
I recommend choosing colors that coordinate with your overall style first and foremost. Other things to consider are your wedding season, location, venue and theme for the day. I usually tell couples to pick a base color, which would be the one that is used most predominately throughout the day, and then add accents from there. Adding complementary accent colors will help round out the palette and add dimension. We also always recommend having a neutral tone involved as well.
This year, we’ve seen that dusty blues and roses have been popular. Other fun pops have been emerald and sage greens, terracotta colors and champagne.”

Lindsay from Paper & Posh answered questions on proper invitation etiquette!
We asked Lindsay how to make it politely clear that kids are not invited to the wedding. She responded that, “Proper etiquette would be to list only those invited on your invitation envelope (there are ways to properly address guests on either double envelopes or single envelopes). Guests should know that if children are NOT on the envelope then children are not invited. A lot of guests simply will not “get the hint” and rsvp for their children anyway, and everyone knows this, which is why couples want to make it very clear on the invitation. It is considered poor taste to mention children at all on an invitation. I agree that blatantly saying something like “no children” on the invitation is a bad move – it’s rather negative and may not resonate well with guests. My recommendation would be to address it as a positive and say “adult reception to follow” or “please join us for an adult reception” if you feel it necessary to mention it on the invitation.”
We also asked Lindsey to discuss how to address the dress code and how plus-ones should be considered. She said that “The best way to note dress code is to list it on a separate reception card. For plus-ones, if a guest is in a relationship, it is customary to invite the guest with that specific person. In such a case the person should be named specifically on the invitation envelope (again there are ways to properly address a plus one on either double envelopes or single envelopes). Guests who are NOT in a relationship should not expect to be entitled to a “plus-one,” meaning a guest of their choice. If you want to invite a guest with a plus-one, it is proper to address the invitation to the invitee “and guest.””
Our last question to Lindsey asked the appropriate time to send out thank you cards. She responded that “Etiquette has always told us to allow one year for couples to write their thank you notes. I personally think that is too long, and that thank you notes should be written within about six or eight weeks of the wedding. Guests may fly in, book hotels, hire sitters, rent or buy tuxes, purchase new clothes and gowns, drive long distances, pay for taxis and Ubers, and of course bring a wedding gift. They go to great lengths to be part of your wedding and celebrate with you. A prompt personal thank you is definitely in order!”

Cecilia from Casa Papel answered our questions about Save the Dates!
We asked her how early Save the Dates should be mailed, what information should be included, and why they are important. She responded that “Save the dates should be sent six to nine months before the wedding – six months if it is local and nine months if it is a destination wedding. You should add the name of the couple, city, state, location of venue (not necessary, but helpful) and, of course, the date! The hotel block may also be included if it is a holiday weekend or some other special event is going on in the city. Save the Dates are important because as we are all busy human beings, this is a subtle way of telling your friends and family that they are important to you and you want them to be at one of the most special days of your life. Also, if a destination, they are a gentle reminder to book their tickets, get passports in order, book their rooms, and start saving some cash for the trip.
She also added to “start gathering your guest addresses ASAP! This is not an easy task so give yourself some time and patience.”

Cindy from Paper On Pine answered our questions about Invitations!
We asked her to talk about the Invitation process, including what to include, how long it takes invitations to be printed and shipped, and the deadline for RSVPs. She responded that “Wedding invitations should include all of the pertinent information (names, day, date, time and location). If the ceremony and reception are at two separate locations then a Reception card that includes the reception details (venue name, address, time and attire (if they choose) should also be included. Details cards are also a good idea and can include accommodations info, parking/transportation info, weekend events, brunch and website.
Invitations should be mailed 6 to 8 weeks prior to the wedding. Design and printing can take anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks depending on the printing method and complexity of the job (layers, ribbons, pockets etc). We recommend setting up an appointment approximately five months before the wedding to discuss design ideas and place the order. The RSVP card should have an RSVP date approximately four weeks prior to the wedding and can include entree choices, if applicable, a line for names, and a line each for acceptance and decline.”

Meghan from House of Catherine discussed Branding & Signage. She explained that signage is an important tool to let your guests know where things are physically set up in the venue and menu/drink options. Seating charts are one of the most popular forms of signage, as they let guests know exactly where to sit and remove the extra hassle of finding your place with place cards. She also discussed branding and how House of Catherine can personalize everything from the start with Save the Dates to invitations to day-of signage to give your event a unique and uniform appearance. Every couple wants their wedding day to be personalized and special, and using branding tools and signage is one way to differentiate your wedding!