Thank You Card Etiquette

There’s so much focus on the lead up to your wedding day that it’s easy to forget that you will still have wedding-related things to do after the big day has come and gone. The one thing that every newly-married couple must do is send out thank you cards.

• When to send them: The general rule of thumb is no more than 8 weeks after your wedding date. This gives you enough time to decompress, but isn’t so long that your guests will feel like they are never going to get a thank you. You can send them earlier, with some couples choosing to send them as soon as gifts are received, even if it’s before the wedding date.
• Who to send them to: Your thank you cards should obviously go to anyone who has given you a gift, but you might not want to stop there. If a family member or friend was particularly helpful in planning, they should get a card even if they didn’t get you a separate gift. You can also send a card to your vendors who put in extra effort to make your day perfect. Every guest should also get a thank you just for attending and being part of your big day.
• What to send: Most couples choose a thank you card that matches the rest of their wedding stationery. When you plan a save the date and invitation, have your wedding stationery designer produce a thank you card at the same time. This saves the delay of printing later on. You can send different cards, though, and some couples choose to send a wedding photo with a note on the back.

Sending your thank you cards can be a big task, but it helps to see it as a way of extending the enjoyment of your wedding day. Use the time to think about all the special moments that made your day so perfect.

If you need help planning your Arizona wedding, or would like more advice on thank you cards and other etiquette questions, get in touch today!

 

Photo: Flickr/treespacestudio

 

How Many Guests Can You Expect?

When it comes to weddings, so much depends on your guest list. Your budget will often come down to a price per person, especially for things like the meal. The size of your guest list can also determine the venue you use. One question many brides ask is how many people they can expect for their big day.

When you create your invitee list, not everyone will be able to attend. The reasons can vary greatly, but in general most brides will have around 30 percent of their initial invitees say they are unable to attend.

This can be an opportunity to invite additional people, such as coworkers and distant relatives who didn’t make the first cut. It can also be a way of planning a slightly smaller wedding. (It can be dangerous to expect a lot of unable to attend replies, as there is always the chance that everyone you invite will be free and happy to come!)

You should also make a plan for plus-ones on your invitations. It is customary to invite couples, even if you only know one of them well. However, it is up to you when it comes to the “plus guest” part of your invitation. If you don’t state it, the assumption should be that you are only inviting the person whose name is on the envelope.

The best way to plan your guest list, and get an accurate number of guests, is to work with somebody who has done it many times before. If you’re looking for an experienced Arizona wedding planner, give us a call today!

Is It Ever Okay to Postpone The Wedding?

This week, some of the biggest celebrity wedding news has been about the postponement of Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux’s wedding. The couple, who were expected to wed in May, have pushed their nuptials to the summer. The two can’t agree on how big of a wedding to throw, with Jennifer wanting something big and Justin wanting something more intimate.

Jennifer and Justin’s postponement raises a big question that many brides ponder: Is it okay to postpone your wedding?

The short answer is yes. While it might create some problems for guests, particularly if the postponement is likely to cost them money for changes to travel and accommodation, it really is down to you as a couple.

If you and your fiancé have a real need to push back your wedding, your guests will understand. They should be concerned with your happiness, and if your happiness is contingent on getting married later than planned, they’ll understand.

Wedding planning can be a challenge for any couple, and is a process full of difficult decisions. If you want help planning your Arizona wedding, get in touch with us today!