The helpful hints listed below are strictly for your general information, but don’t worry about remembering them. Working with our experienced C’est Papier® professionals will relieve you from dealing with all the details regarding invitations.
WHEN CUSTOMIZING
Every invitation in our catalogs has been carefully synchronized to blend the right typestyle, paper and ink color to the style of the invitation so that the ultimate esthetic result is pleasing to the eye. However, when changing colors, typestyles and papers to fit your personal preference, the expertise of your C’est Papier® stationer or party planner will be invaluable to assure that the changes will be well coordinated and maintain the effect you envision.
WHEN TO ORDER
Three to four months before the affair date provides ample time to have the invitations assembled, addressed and stamped.
RESPONSE SETS
It is customary to select a reply date that is no less than three weeks after the invitation has been received and three weeks before the affair date.
To avoid the dilemma of receiving a response card without a signature, it is advisable to write a small penciled number in the lower right corner on the back of the response card. This number should correspond with an alphabetized and numbered guest list.
SAVE THE DATE CARDS
The save the date card has become an extremely popular item for several reasons. These days, more than ever before, families and friends are geographically widely dispersed, destination weekend affairs are more popular and people generally have busier schedules. Save the date cards provide the additional time to make flight and hotel reservations well in advance of the affair date when the probability of lower prices and space availability are possible. Some save the date cards simply provide the affair date, others provide hotel accommodations and weekend itinerary information.
CALLIGRAPHY
Now that you have selected a beautiful invitation, you will want the envelopes to look equally impressive. A professional calligrapher can provide the ultimate elegant touch with handwritten addressing. Our C’est Papier® professional dealers can recommend a suitable calligrapher for you. It is advisable to request samples of the different styles each calligrapher provides, as well as to get prices and reserve a date. Also available are calligraphy machines. These machines have a range of calligraphy styles and ink choices and provide a neat, but more commercial result.
HOW TO STUFF THE ENVELOPES
The invitations should be placed with the printed side up. The response card should be placed printed side up under the flap of the response envelope (never inside of it). The set should then be placed flap side up on top of the invitation. If there is a direction card it should be placed on top of the response set. If there is a reception card it should be placed on top of the direction card, or the response set if there is no direction card. All pieces should be placed printed side up. Then the entire set should be placed printed side up into the envelope so that when it is opened from the back flap the printed side is facing up.
SEALING THE ENVELOPES
High quality envelopes are made with a costly and very hard glue that prevents envelopes from sticking together before they are sealed. To easily seal your envelopes follow these simple steps.
1. Use lukewarm water.
2. Use a sponge applicator.
3. Lightly wipe the glue line on 3 to 5 envelopes at a time.
4. Press flaps down immediately, then stack 3 to 5 envelopes, press and hold again.
When linings and thick invitations are used, extra pressure and time may be required to “set” the glue.
WHEN TO MAIL
Proper social form requires a four to six weeks mailing prior to the affair date. However, with the busy schedule of today’s society, a six to eight week mailing is more practical. Six weeks for local guests and eight weeks for out of town guests who need to make reservations.
