Helpful Tips
HOW MANY INVITATIONS SHOULD YOU ORDER
ASSESSING POSTAGE AND BUYING STAMPS
HAND CANCELING - IS IT A THING OF THE PAST ?
ASSEMBLY
· Some invitations will require some assembly on your part. A detailed assembly guide may be included with your order.
· Please note that most invitations and bows will be shipped with the ribbons flat. Rest assured that the beautiful result of individually tied bows is worth the effort!
· Tissue Paper – A Thing of the Past?
All wedding invitations were once shipped with small pieces of tissue separating each invitation. This prevented the slow-drying ink from smudging. Before mailing her invitations, the bride removed the tissues as they were merely packing material and served no point of etiquette. Through the years, many brides, unaware of the impropriety of sending invitations with protective tissue left in use. As this practice grew, tissued invitations became as proper as non-tissued invitations.
Today, wedding invitations are properly sent both ways. Since the tissues are meant to prevent smudging, they should be placed over the copy on each invitation and enclosure. If you are sending invitations without tissues, you may be able to ask your local post office to hand cancel them. Hand canceling also prevents the postal service from printing their advertising, disguised as part of the cancellation mark, on your wedding invitations.
· Get Organized
Get organized about a month before your desired send-out date. Allow yourself enough time to
have the envelopes addressed and for you to assemble.
· Envelope Stuffing
Invitations typically come unassembled; however, some vendors may offer a stuffing service at an additional charge.
Assembling wedding invitations is really quite simple, albeit time consuming. All enclosures should be printed in the same method and on coordinating papers; traditionally, there is a specific order for assembling invitations for mailing. Here is the recommended stacking order:
○ Addressing – Address outer envelopes, inner envelopes (if applicable) and the response envelope by hand. Use calligraphy if possible.
○ Invitation – Place printed side up, so that when guests open the envelope they will see the lettering.
· Single-folded invitation – place printed side up (enclosures go on top)
· Front Design invitation – fold with design on the outside and the printing on the inside (enclosures go on top)
· According, French-fold, Double-fold or Tri-fold – fold with printing on inside (enclosures go inside card)
· Protective Tissue - If you are using protective tissue (originally used to prevent smearing), it can be placed on top of the invitation, folded edge first.
· Stack all other inserts on top or inside invitation (depending on fold vs. non-fold – see above), in order size (with the largest enclosure near the invitation and the smallest on top), usually you start with reception card:
○ Reception card – facing up
○ Enclosures with accompanying envelopes (like R.S.V.P. / response cards) should be tucked under the flap on the stamped pre-printed envelope (so the triangle covers part of the writing on the card) then placed on the pile with the partially covered writing on the card face up (and consequently, the writing on the front of the envelope face down).
○ Any other insertions, such as a map or directions, should go in last and in order size (smallest on top)
· Pick up the pile in your right hand. Pick up the inner envelope in your left hand. Stuff the pile into the envelope with your first fold of the invitation at the *bottom* of the inner envelope, and with the writing on the invitation facing the *back* of the inner envelope.
· Put the inner envelope in your right hand and turn it over so the writing on your inner envelope is facing you. Stuff the inner envelope into the outer envelope with the bottom of the inner envelope to the bottom of the outer envelope and the front of the inner envelope facing the *back* of the outer envelope.
The purpose of this whole elaborate scheme is to ensure that when your invitees receive the invitation, they open the outer envelope and immediately encounter the inner envelope with the writing facing them as they withdraw the inner envelope. Then when they flip the inner envelope over and pull out the invitation itself, the envelopes are on top (so they won't get lost hidden in a fold somewhere) and the writing on the invitation will be in the appropriate orientation for them to read without twisting about.
· No inner envelope – Pick up the pile in your right hand, print side up. Pick up the outer envelope in your left hand. Stuff the pile into the envelope with facing the *back* of the outer envelope. Print side will be facing guest as they open the envelope.
PHOTO TIPS
If you are ordering photo invitations, please refer to the following photo tips.
· To Get Started:
○ If you are using a digital camera, please turn the date stamp OFF.
○ If you are using a digital camera, please make sure the camera is set to its highest resolution.
· Lighting:
○ Natural light is best. Try to take the photo during peak daylight hours.
○ If you are using a flash, stay in the flash range. Pictures taken out of flash range will be too dark. If you do not know your camera's flash range, then take the picture no further than five feet away.
· Picture Backgrounds:
○ Backgrounds solid in color are best. Patterns can take away from features and be distracting.
○ Black or white fabric that is not sheer and does not have shimmer and using natural lighting creates a beautiful shot!
○ Capturing the moment, instead of posing, makes great photos.
○ Specific aspects such as a baby's little hands, feat, ears, etc. are very sweet!
· Taking the Picture:
○ Stand fairly close, but not too close, above the object, or the picture could be out of focus.
○ If the picture is of people, the subjects may or may not want to look directly at the camera.
○ Try several different angles.
○ You can take several delayed shots of the same position, allows for movement and expression changes.
○ If you are taking a picture of a baby, focus on the baby in the picture; your goal is to fill the picture area with your baby's body.
· Sending the Finished Pictures:
○ When using a scanner, please clean the scanner top first. Any dust on the scanner will pick up on the picture that you send. Scan the pictures at 600 dpi, in color, for the best resolution/type of picture.
○ The file sizes of the pictures should be large. Try sending only 1-3 pictures per e-mail to prevent the e-mail system from shrinking the pictures. Attach the file to your order or e-mail photos to orders@rsvps4u.com.
○ Please send the pictures in natural color. In some cases, we may be able to change them to black & white or sepia.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING SALES AND USE TAX
We collect and remit sales tax for shipments delivered in the State of Florida. We are not required to and do not collect sales tax in other states. Shipments to other states may be subject to sales or use tax unless the purchase is specifically exempt. Please note that there is no exemption from state sales or use tax based merely on the fact that a purchase is made over the Internet, by catalog, or by other remote means. Some states require that a consumer declare sales or use tax to be paid annually on the appropriate tax forms. Additional information may be found on the respective Department of Revenue website.