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Archive for the ‘Greeting Card Etiquette’ Category

Posted by admin at 21 June , 2010

Are you planning an upcoming event but aren’t quite sure when to put your invitations in the mail? This list will come in handy. To allow plenty of time for attendees to plan and for you to organize, especially if food is involved, here is a guide for sending out your invitations.

Party Invitations

3 to 6 weeks:
Birthday invitations
Anniversary party invitations
Formal dinner party invitations

Baptism Invitations

4 weeks:
Christening and Baptism invitations
Bar or Bat Mitzvah invitations
Baby Shower Invitations
Graduation invitations
Holiday party invitations

6 – 8 weeks:
Wedding InvitationsWedding InvitationsHoliday dinner party invitations

2 – 8 weeks:
Thanksgiving invitations

1 – 4 weeks:
Cocktail party invitations

A few days to 2 – 3 weeks:
Housewarming party invitations
Luncheon invitations
Tea party invitations
Baby Shower Invitations
Of course, allow enough time to gather mailing addresses and to hand address and prepare the invitations for mailing. Keep in mind that if you are expecting invitees to travel long distances, allow plenty of time for them to make their own travel reservations. Have a great party!

[Source: Emily Post’s Great Get Togethers]

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Posted in: Baby Shower Invitations , Birthday Invitations , Graduation Invitations , Greeting Card Etiquette , Holiday Invitations , Invitations , Party invitations | No Comments »

Posted by admin at 8 February , 2010

Computer GreetingsAccording to a recent survey, 63% of Americans feel that sending a greeting via Facebook or Twitter is inappropriate with 19% believing it is downright tacky! There is simply nothing like a traditional greeting card to surprise someone on their birthday or anniversary or other special occasion. I remember when ecards first came on the scene. It was nice to be remembered but when receiving greeting cards I take into account the effort behind the thoughtfulness and an ecard just doesn’t take all that much effort.

Greeting cards are often kept as treasured memories and I have yet to knowingly keep an ecard or Facebook “wall” wish. 37% of Americans think that sending a thank you note through a social network is inappropriate. Given that a thank you is meant to send appreciation, isn’t it worth the effort to hand write a short note on lovely Thank You Cards and put a stamp on them or hand deliver them?
Thank You Cards
The next time you want to reach out to someone, do it with style. Some may call greeting cards printed on paper, signed and delivered old-fashioned, but I call it personal. The effort you take is sure to be warmly received and returned in kind. Which do you prefer, paper or virtual?

{Source: Kelton Research}

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Posted in: Birthday Cards , Business Anniversary Cards , Business Happy Birthday Cards , Greeting Card Etiquette , Greeting Cards , Thank You Cards | No Comments »

Posted by admin at 13 November , 2009

Holiday cards are a great way to strengthen existing business partnerships and encourage new ones. Holiday cards help you stay connected with friends and family too. Whether for business or pleasure, here are some points of etiquette to be considered before this year’s cards go in the mail.
Business Relations Holiday Card C5261
1. Consider the recipient. With so many attractive holiday cards to choose from, what should you look for when selecting the perfect card to send? You first need to consider the recipients. A card that says, “Merry Christmas” may not be appropriate for business as not everyone on your list may celebrate this religious holiday. A “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings” sentiment may be the better choice so as not to offend anyone.
Layered Holiday Card C6103
2. Choose quality cards. The cards you send are an extension of your business and professional image. Very nice looking card designs with matching envelopes on top quality card stock are available at affordable prices. Personalization and custom imprinted verses add a touch of elegance as well. If unsure, work with a vendor who will furnish a sample so that you can confirm the quality before you make your purchase. From a high end unique layered card design embossed and stamped in foil to value cards that are thoughtfully designed and personalized, choose the best option for you and your budget.
Die Cut Holiday Card C6225
3. Personalize. Nothing is more professional or of a higher perceived value than a personalized holiday greeting. Printed in ink or foil, many card designs also allow your company logo to be included as well or feature die cut windows through which your imprinted company name can be seen. You might also want your actual signatures printed as well.
Front Imprint Holiday Card C3108
4. Customize your message. Put thought into your sentiment or verse. At cardsdirect.com you have the ability to print whatever you want so make the most of this feature by targeting your message to your recipients.
Calendar Card C6204
5. Show off. Holiday cards are generally displayed throughout the holidays. Front imprint cards will easily show off your company name. Even better, Calendar Cards are displayed the whole year long!

Take advantage of this marketing opportunity and send professional best wishes for the holiday season in style. The minimal expense and effort is certain to be rewarded throughout the year ahead.

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Posted in: Business Christmas Cards , Calendar Cards , Christmas Cards , Customer Appreciation Cards , Greeting Card Etiquette , Holiday Card Etiquette , Holiday Cards | No Comments »

Posted by admin at 11 November , 2009

Happy Holiday Cards
I admit I sincerely enjoyed receiving Christmas cards each year as I was growing up. I knew Santa was coming soon by the sudden influx of colorful holiday cards brought by the mailman. I remember fondly my mother allowing me to go ahead and open the cards that included the words “and family” or “and girls” (I had a sister) or “Dear Occupant” as part of the address. And, of course, I got to also open those that actually included my very own name too. An even bigger thrill was receiving a card addressed just to me!

So don’t forget to remember the entire family when addressing those envelopes and remember these pointers:

If you know the individuals by name on an informal basis, go ahead and list them all. For example:
Bob and Mary Jones
Bobby, Barbara and Ben

The more formal treatment would be:
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jones
and family

For something in between you could use:
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Jones
and family (or) and children
Holiday Cards
Another source of mystery to me was wondering why my last name seemed to change from card to card. My maiden name was Cress and I remember receiving holiday cards addressed to The Cresses, The Cress’s, The Cress Family, and so on. We even got them addressed to The Crest Family but that is an entirely different story.

Rules of thumb:
If the family name ends in O or Y, add an S—The Romanos , The Sandys
If the family name ends in S, X, Z, CH or ES, add an ES—The Joneses, The Foxes, The Cortezes, The Bunches, The Marshes
If in doubt, just add the word “Family” as in—The Jones Family
The use of an apostrophe indicates possession or ownership like The Jones’s House so doesn’t really apply for holiday cards. Of course, if you are sending holiday party invitations you may want to indicate that the party is at the Jones’s House.

Party, did someone mention a party?! Count me “and Family” in!

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Posted in: Christmas Cards , Greeting Card Etiquette , Holiday Card Etiquette , Holiday Cards , Holiday Invitations , Invitations , Party invitations | No Comments »

Posted by admin at 21 May , 2009

Graduation invitations and graduation announcements send word of your accomplishment. One is for inviting friends and family to the ceremony itself or a party afterwards. The other lets everyone know you have achieved a goal.
Graduation Invitation
See this helpful article regarding Graduation Invitation Etiquette as you get ready to mail both out.

Congratulations, graduate!

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Posted in: Congratulations Cards , Graduation Announcements , Graduation Invitations , Graduation Thank You Cards , Greeting Card Etiquette | No Comments »

Posted by admin at 25 August , 2008

Dear Ms. Cards Etiquette,
When signing a card (i.e. birthday card) whose name should go first? Is etiquette to put the man’s name then follow with the wife and then the kids, or does it matter which name goes first?
Lisa

First Lisa, I think it is great that you are sending greeting cards and are concerned about signing them properly. There is nothing quite as nice as receiving a thoughtful greeting card that is hand signed and sent as a lovely surprise.

When it comes to signing the card, the rules are not quite as formal as they once were. Conventional etiquette dictates that the man’s name goes first, then the wife and then the children, from oldest to youngest. However, it is perfectly acceptable to put the woman’s name first, especially if she is the one most closely connected to the recipient. For example, if a woman was to send a birthday card to her mother, she could sign it … Love, Mary, David, Katie and Sam.

Birthday Cards
For business purposes, when the recipient knows the family, the first name should be that of the business associate, then the spouse. Include the children if appropriate. A business greeting should be more formal so often does not include the extended family, depending on the level of professionalism you are attempting to portray.

Of course the nicest greetings are those that are individually hand signed by all who know the recipient. And, a short note added with each signature makes the recipient feel just that much more special.

There is really no absolute right or wrong way to sign a greeting. It is the effort and thoughtfulness in sending it that will be noticed and appreciated.

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Posted in: Birthday Cards , Business Happy Birthday Cards , Greeting Card Etiquette , Greeting Cards , Holiday Card Etiquette | No Comments »

Posted by admin at 31 July , 2008

Dear Ms. Cards Etiquette:

What is the correct or proper way to put a card into an envelope?
Lori Howell

Well, Lori, this is actually a widely debated subject! There are advocates supporting various sides of this discussion for a number of reasons so no one way is necessarily the rule. This seems to be the most popular method and the one I recommend–
Place the fold of the card in the envelope first. This is done to prevent slicing through the card if a letter opener is used when opening the envelope. Some have argued that if there are other pieces tucked in the card it may be better to have the fold at the top so that all the pieces don’t fall out when opened. But, then you’re back to the possible slicing issue.

Place the card in the envelope so that the face of the card is towards the flap. If done this way, the nice front of the card is the first thing you see when removing it from the envelope. I know I’d much rather see the colorful front of a greeting than the black barcode on the back of it when I first open a greeting!

Placing the card in the envelope this way also provides an almost solid surface showing through on the front of the envelope, if the envelope is thin, thus making the address easier to read and not spoiling the surprise by allowing you to see the design before opening the card.

Hope this helps and happy stuffing!

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Posted by admin at 12 June , 2008

Dear Ms. Cards Etiquette,
What do I say on a card for a friend who has invited me to dinner?
Jennifer G

Leaf Shadow Thank You Card
Jennifer, I totally understand your conundrum. I’m a big believer in always having something in hand if you are invited to someone’s house to eat. I try to bring a bottle of wine or flowers for the table, or even a watermelon if it is a barbecue.

As for the card, it depends on what the dinner is for. If this is a dinner celebrating a special occasion, such as a birthday party or anniversary, then I’d bring along a congratulations or happy birthday card or other card that is appropriate to the celebration. If the dinner is just for people to get together to have fun, then all you really need to do is send a thank you card after the event thanking your friend for the invitation to the dinner.

The thank you card can be short and sweet, with just a sentence or two. Something along the lines of “Thank you for the wonderful dinner party last Thursday. I really had a good time” is perfectly appropriate.

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Posted by admin at 30 May , 2008

Dear Ms. Cards Etiquette,
For my housewarming party, I’d really like gift cards instead of gifts people bring me. How do I put that in the invitations?
New House Girl

New House Card!While it is perfectly proper to state “no gifts please” or “your presence is your present”, it is absolutely, never ok to ask for a particular gift in an invitation unless you are collecting gifts or donations for someone else’s cause.

What do I mean by this? Well, if, for example, you were throwing a party for someone else who had a child who was in a car accident and was hospitalized and you wanted to ask for donations to help the family, then saying “Donations will be collected for the family” is ok. Asking for donations on your own behalf, however, is not, as is asking for a particular type of gift.

However, in this case, you’re setting up your own new house, and since people often want to give gifts to help you out, what do you do?

The gift registry comes to the rescue! All you need to do is register with a popular department store and list what you really need. You can then be assured that if people want to get you a gift for your housewarming, they will get you what you need.

Sometimes, though, people need stuff they don’t feel right asking others to buy for them. (We all need a toilet plunger, for example.) For items such as that, you can list a gift card as one of the items on your registry list.

Be sure that you have several amounts of gift cards so people can get you a gift card they can afford. Listing only a $50 gift card might be a little much for some people’s budgets.

On the invitation, all you need to do is state that you are registered with whomever you are registered with. “I am registered at the following locations” and then list them.

Hope this helps you, New House Girl, and have a happy housewarming.

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Posted by admin at 28 May , 2008

Dear Ms. Cards Etiquette,
Is an e-greeting card less valuable than a paper card? Is there ever a time when an e-card is more appropriate than a regular greeting card?
John T

The key here, John, is the word ‘appropriate’.

E-cards are fun. They are happy little diversions of your day that usually bring a smile to your face. Even Ms. Cards Etiquette appreciates receiving an e-card in her mailbox every now and again.

That being said, there are few times when an e-card is more than that. “Fun” does not equal “appropriate.”

When you pick out a paper greeting card, sign it and send it through the mail, it takes time. People enjoy seeing when others put a little extra effort into the things they do. It makes them feel special and needed.

Greeting cards in the mail stand out. How many e-mails do you get in one day? How many paper cards do you get in your mailbox? Enough said.

There is something about the tactile feel of a greeting card that an e-greeting card just does not have. Paper cards are something that people hang on to and read over and over again. People simply like the feel of a real card in the hand, they like to see the other person’s handwriting. The entire experience becomes more personal.

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