Sunday, March 14, 2010

The Lost Art of the Thank You Note...



There is something so wonderful about opening your mailbox to find a beautiful piece of stationery containing a heartfelt note of gratitude! It is such a simple act that brings such joy to the person receiving it but it seems these handwritten notes are starting to be few and far between! Here are a few tips straight from Peggy Post that will hopefully make this task easier for you!

Ten Do’s and Don’ts of Thank You Notes

1.Do personalize your notes and make reference to the person as well as the gift.

2.Do remember that a gift should be acknowledged with the same courtesy and generous spirit in which it was given.

3.Do be enthusiastic, but don’t gush. Avoid saying a gift is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen unless you really mean it.

4.Don’t send form letters or cards with printed messages and just your signature; don’t use email or post a generic thank you on your wedding web site in lieu of a personal note.

5.Do promptly acknowledge the receipt of shipped gifts by sending a note right away or calling and following up with a written note in a day or two.

6.Don’t mention that you plan to return a gift or that you are dissatisfied in any way.

7.Don’t tailor your note to the perceived value of the gift; no one should receive a perfunctory note.

8.Do refer to the way you will use a gift of money. Mentioning the amount is optional.

9.Don’t include photos or use photo cards if it will delay sending the note.

10.Don’t use being late as an excuse not to write. Even if you are still sending notes a year later, keep writing!

The bottom line is, we have all let Emily Post down at one point or another! Just remember to keep it simple, be sincere, write from the heart and send it out as quickly as possible!

Happy Writing!
*The "Thank You" Note featured above can be found on www.paper-source.com

Monday, March 1, 2010

Furry Friends at the Wedding...

Let’s face it – we all love our animals way too much!
I am crazy about our dog – General Patton!



So when my bride’s start to plan their most special day, they always ask, “How we can incorporate our family pet into the wedding?” Sometimes people want to have the pet at the wedding to participate in some way however logistics don’t always make this possible. Here are a few fun ways to include your furry family member in your most special day without having to break out the leash…

1. Postage: Perhaps you have an adorable photo of your pet that you can upload to www.zazzle.com and make it into custom postage for the save the dates or the invitations. This way each guest will receive the invite from the “whole” family!



2. Wedding Party: You could make the pet an honorary Bridesmaid, Groomsman, Flower girl or Ring bearer! You could take photos of the pets and frame them with a sign that says “Honorary Bridesmaids” and place them on the guestbook table where each guest can see your important family member!





3. Favors: Instead of having a traditional favor you could make a donation to your local animal shelter and then have your baker provide cookies in the shape of your pet with a tag that says “In Lieu of a favor, we have made a donation in your honor to Pet Helpers.”