Don't Forget to Say Thanks!

Your friends and family have gone to great lengths and expense to grace you with their wonderful gifts. It's time to say thank you! For gifts that have arrived on or after the wedding, tradition dictates Thank You notes are sent within three months. Personally, I think three months is a very long time to acknowledge a gift. If you receive your gifts before your wedding, you should thank the recipient within two weeks. I like that timeframe-- it's much more cordial.

Thank you notes can be flat or folded but must always be handwritten. Never, under any circumstance do you ever send a pre-printed thank you note. Even if you have 300 guests giving you 300 presents at your wedding, you better believe you need to handwrite 300 separate thank you notes. Just one reason to keep your wedding small I suppose! One of my favorite passages in Emily Post's Etiquette book from 1934 says this regarding pre-printed thank you notes. It's true, but quite funny in its tone:

"It would not be possible to overemphasize the inexcusable rudeness of the Bride who sends a printed or engraved card of thanks for wedding presents sent to her. Whoever devised this flagrant affront to the traditions of common decency was, obviously, more concerned with making sales to stationers than with acquiring knowledge of the precepts of polite behavior. "

At any rate, send out your thank you notes as soon as you can... it is truly gracious to be thankful.

Wedding Thank You Notes by Gilded Swan Paperie

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Vintage Celestial Weddings

There is noting more glamorous or heavenly than a celestial wedding theme. It's an omnipresent theme for any decade. Think of the early 1900's when Harry Houdini and mystics were big. Think of the flapper in the 1920's with glitter star headbands. The star shape itself is so geometric it can easily become Art Deco. And think about the 1950s and Elizabeth Taylor in her "new look" gown- it just screams for stars and romance under a glittery moon.

Perhaps it's the adventure and unknown that draws us to celestial themes...or the love of nature and the elements? Maybe that the star is such a nice balanced shape and moons convey romance. And just maybe, the biggest reason is that we all love glitter. The more the better! Whatever the case, celestial-themed weddings will surely have you and your guests starry-eyed! A few ideas to help with your theme:

-- twinkle lights

-- glitter, the more the better!

-- vintage rhinestone bouquet

-- fortune teller, mystics 

-- lake wedding with canoe bar and bistro lights

-- zodiac and astrology imagery

-- indigo and gold

-- navy and copper

-- paper moon photo backdrop from Paper Moon Shoppe

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Celestial Themed Great Gatsby Wedding Invitations from Gilded Swan Paperie

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Paper Moon:@papermoonshoppe // Dress: @carolinaherrera // Signs & Calligraphy ~ Typecast Lettering and photo by Peterson Photography // Celestial Wedding Invitations by Gilded Swan Paperie // Invitation photo by David Perlman

Unraveling the "Plus One"

Who is invited to your wedding and how do we let them know? I probably receive this question more than any other. With proper etiquette getting nudged lower and lower on the civility totem pole these days, some of our guests need hit over the head with an Emily Post book to understand basic etiquette. Therefore, we have to make it very clear who is invited and who is not. Unless you are one of the lucky few where money is no object, you will have to whittle down your list to meet your budget. The best way to start this colossal task is to make a list of your invited guests. From there, designate who is married, engaged and in a serious relationship. Serious is relative of course. My bachelor friend says he is "seriously committed to monogamy with as many lady friends as possible". But you get what I mean. Traditionally, ONLY the names written on the outside of the envelope are to attend the wedding. Period. Let's look at a few basic ways to address your envelope:

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Frost

Charlotte Frost and Guest

Charlotte Frost and Henry James

Miss Charlotte Frost

It is scarcely necessary to say that unless Miss Charlotte Frost was born in a barn, she should not bring a guest to the wedding in the last scenario. The other scenarios are clearly identified as to who is invited. It is always nice to pick up the phone and ask your guest for their date's name. Otherwise, "and guest" is perfectly acceptable. Another easy way to denote who is invited is on the reply card. Often times we put, "we have reserved _____ seats in your name". You will fill in the blank line with the number you are allowing. It's not always the prettiest way to invite guests, but it does work, especially if you have guests that might not pay any attention, whatsoever, as to what is written on the outside of the envelope.

In general, I do think it's good form to allow your bridesmaids to invite a "plus one" even if they are not married or in a serious relationship. It's a nice way of saying "thank you" for their commitment to you. Lastly, if you look at your list and realize there are only a few single guests invited, then go ahead and allow them a "plus one" so that they too, can have a good time and not look like chairpersons of the Lonely Hearts Club.

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Gilded Swan Save the Date and Fawn Lettering Calligraphy

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