Love and Smiles

{Etiquette Thursday} Are mailed RSVPs still necessary?

2011-03-25T01:37:00.000-07:00

I'm working on this lovely custom design for an upcoming bride who has chosen not to use mailed RSVPs. Instead, she's asking her gusts to RSVP on her wedding website. I must admit, this is the first bride that's asked for this so I had to do a little research myself. Are RSVPs a thing of the past?

It seems with rise of wedding websites, RSVPing online is fairly common. It's easier, it's cheaper and in a lot of ways makes much more sense. Do people really take the time to send back RSVPs anyway?

Any marketing person would tell you to consider your audience. Are most of your guests older without online access? Or are your guests techie-nerds obsessed with all things online? If you consider who the majority of your invitations will be sent to, the answer will be clear.

Are you a modern bride? Did you use online RSVP? How did it work for you?

{Etiquette Thursday} How much does it cost to send an invitation?

2011-03-03T14:18:00.000-08:00

This week's question is one that isn't easily answered. How much does it cost to send an invitation?

That depends completely on what's included in the invitation.

Small invitations with no additional enclosures generally fall into the 1-stamp category. Unless the invitation is square. Square invites always require additional postage.

If your invitation has additional enclosures (Pocketfold, Layers, RSVP, Directions, etc.), more than likely you will be requred to pay extra postage. How much? That's a question only a mail-person can answer for sure. Your best bet is to take a completed invitation to the post office and ask them to weigh it for postage. They will be able to tell you exactly the cost to mail each invitation.

It's very important to make sure you use the correct postage. After all that you've spent on invitations and more importantly the wedding, you want to make sure the invitations actually arrive to your guests promptly and without error. =)

Happy Mailing!

{Friday Freebie} Weekly To-Do List

2011-02-28T01:54:00.000-08:00

Better late than never! Friday's Freebie is here just in time for Monday morning and for you to get ready for your week! We're working hard to get the L&S office organized and with that in mind, this week's printable was born.

Be a STAR: just print this lovely little To-Do list and stay on top of your chores for the week! =)

Try it out, it's free! Just click the image above to download! =)

{Etiquette Thursday} When should I send invitations?

2011-02-24T20:00:00.000-08:00

When planning your invitation set, one of the very first things I'll ask is "When is the event?" This determines when we should get to work on your design and most importantly, the completion date.

According to The Knot, formal invitations for events such as weddings should be sent 8 weeks (and no later than 6 weeks) prior. If you are sending RSVP's, invitations should reach your guests with ample time to respond. RSVP's should be returned no less than 3 weeks before the event to allow ample planning and preparation.

For parties, showers and other informal events, 3-4 before the event should suffice. Just be sure you've left enough time for your guests to clear their calendar and prepare for a gift.

If you are planning to use one or our invitations or custom designs it's best to let us know so as soon as possible. We can then get you on our calendar and plan your design in plenty of time before your invites should hit the mailbox!

Is it time for a Royal Wedding Invitation makeover?

2011-02-21T15:46:00.000-08:00


courtesy of jezebel.com

1,800 of these fancy pants invites hit the mail last week...and ohhh what I wouldn't give to see one! I don't want to actually go to the wedding...but I'd love to feel the paper, inspect the envelope and see how the real Royals roll!

The folks over at The Wire weren't so impressed. And from the looks of the photos, I can't say I disagree. The design is simple and traditional, but with all of the amazing designs available today...these just seem boring.

It wouldn't take much to bring the design up to date. Adding a shimmering golden pouch or pocket to the design with the Royal emblem on the front would be beautiful, and still keep the traditional design intact.

What do you think? Is it time for a Royal Wedding Invitation makeover? Or does traditional always win?

{Friday Freebie} Sunny Days Cupcake Toppers

2011-02-19T00:29:00.000-08:00

It's been beautiful this week in Atlanta, and it's killed my winter blues! Thank goodness! In honor of that lovely sunshine, I created a new Sunny Days set! It's the first in my Party Printables series and will be available in .pdf and print format. The set's not quite finished yet, but I couldn't resist sharing the Cupcake Toppers for this Friday's Freebie! =)

Just print, and print or punch as needed! (There were set up for use with any 2" craft punch).

Just click the image to download!

Ettiquette Thursday: Are Thank You Notes from Children Necessary??

2011-02-10T14:04:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite little girls recently turned one and had one of the most precious birthday parties I've ever been to. She was showered with adorable cupcakes by Sugar Baker's, all the candy she could ever want, and presents for days.

Afterwards, her mother and I started discussing the need for Thank You notes. Is it really necessary to send Thank You notes these days? From a 1 year old?

I think that there is absolutely nothing wrong with teaching your child good manners, even at an early age. Of course, the child can't write the notes herself but lots of Mom's choose to write in the child's voice. Others simply write from the family as whole. Personally, it doesn't matter...any gesture of appreciation is acceptable.

Thank You notes are a great way to show your creativity! Use photos from the party to personalize your notes and be sure to include any cute stories mentioning their attendance or gift. Once the child is old enough to 'help' let them draw pictures or even use fill-in-the-blank Thank You notes so they can add their own details.

What do you think? Do you send Thank You notes for birthday gifts? What about at Christmas? Are Thank You notes still necessary?

Etiquette Thursday: Do you have a baby shower for your second child?

2011-02-03T17:53:00.000-08:00

It's Etiquette Thursday! This week I'm talking babies!

I recently saw an expecting friend ask on Facebook "Do you have a baby shower for your second child?"

There is an old belief that baby showers are only thrown for first-born children. The thought was that the mother already had all the baby gear making another shower unnecessary. The reality is, with each child comes new needs and new expenses and this old way of thinking is quickly going by the wayside.

I believe every child is special and should be celebrated in some way. Non-traditional showers are a great way to change things up the second time around. Diaper Showers (where guests bring only diapers and formula) are great for Moms who may not need all the baby gear again. Luncheons and Brunches are another great way to get the ladies together to welcome a new bundle of joy without all the fuss of a full shower.

I asked a Mom-friend if she wanted another baby shower if she decides to have another child. Her response...'It depends. If I have another girl, I don't have the space or storage for even more girl stuff. But if it's a boy, I'll need everything.' And she's right...it really all depends on what the Mother wants and needs. It might be best to ask her what she wants, that's what's most important anyway. =)

What are your thoughts? Should every baby get a shower? Or is that too much??

Valentine's Day Freebie!!

2011-01-28T13:34:00.000-08:00

Are you ready for the holiday of Love? If not, this Friday freebie is for you!
This printable includes 4 Valentine's that are ready for sending. You'll get
1 - 'You're Cool',
1 - 'You Rock!',
1 - 'ILY!' and
1 - 'You're sweet'

Just Print, Trim (embelish) & Send!

Click the image below to download!

'Adults Only' Weddings & NEW Etiquette Thursday!

2011-01-27T15:57:00.000-08:00

It's Thursday! And I'm starting something that every paper blog should have....Etiquette Thursdays!

Etiquette is a funny thing...just about the time you get it all figured out, it changes. So in this new world of no rules, I'm going to try to set some guidelines. I'll be checking with Emily Post, The Knot, and some of the other known etiquette sites as well as getting opinions for all of you. So let's not waste anymore time...here we go:

A good friend called me last week mad as fire because she found out that an upcoming family wedding would be an 'Adults Only' event. She has two little ones and would be traveling out of state for the wedding...which puts her in an odd place. If the kids aren't allowed to come, can she even find/trust an out of state sitter? And should she be asked to cover that expense? She felt like there was just no other option but to not attend and was heartbroken by it.

These days, it's becoming fairly common for brides to ask me to include "Adults Only" somewhere on their wedding stationery. I suggest this is noted somewhere on the RSVP or other insert and not on the actual invitation. This is never a topic I broach with them, as I'm sure this is a decision that's been discussed and decided, but I always wonder how it went over.

Time and time again, I try to express to the brides that I work with that this is their wedding to do as they please, regardless of what etiquette says. The hosts of the event pay for all of the pretty details and get to make the decision of who to invite and who not to invite. And if they choose to make the event 'Adults Only'...well, that's really their choice to make. BUT, every choice has a consequence.

If you decide that you'd like your event to be 'Adults Only', know that you may be offending your friends and relatives with children...that just comes with the territory. According to The Knot, this can be done...but must be done tactfully. If you choose to exclude children, this must apply to all children...you can't invite just your best friend's or cousins' kids. The only exception would be children that are part of the wedding ceremony...but even that gets touchy. One of my brides offered on-site baby-sitting, which I thought was a brilliant compromise. Maybe a family member would be willing to watch over the kiddos while the adults enjoyed the event?

Did you invite kids to your wedding? Did they add to or take away from the event? How do you feel about 'Adults Only' weddings?

New Website

2011-01-11T05:38:00.000-08:00

A new year, a new beginning and most importantly...a new website! I am proud to say that the new website is up...and ~~pretty much~~ running! This website was many months (years?) in the making and actually went through three major revisions (and ecomm platform changes) before settling into it's current form.

In an effort to recession-proof my invitations, I am now offering custom invitation designs in digital file (.pdf) format. I found that too many people in this economy were scared away by the big price tags of fancy printing, and more and more brides were wanting to do the work themselves. With the digital file, custom designs start as little as $19.95 and can be printed as many times as needed from any printer you'd like. It's a win-win for creative types on a budget!

Don't worry, I won't make you do all of the work if you don't want! Full-service printing and assembly is still available. Just Contact Us for a quote!

It's time to get back to work! Check out the new website at www.sendingloveandsmiles.com and let us know what you think!

2010-10-11T02:35:00.000-07:00

Funny how Spring turns to Fall...but the launch is near and the closer it gets the more excited I get. It's turning out better than I ever could have imagined. =) That makes me smile. =)

The Beginning

2010-03-08T21:16:00.000-08:00

There's no easy way to start a blog. But like any other adventure, I just have to put one foot forward and start my journey. So this is it, the beginning.

But this isn't the beginning at all. It started long ago...the summer of 2007 actually...when a good friend in NYC was complaining about having the worst time finding an affordable designer for her wedding stationary. As I listened to her I realized I could totally do what she was asking for! I'd been making postcards and catalogs and websites for years...and her project actually sounded fun. So, I stepped up to the plate. I started studying papers and pocketfolds and postage and printers. I learned there was a whole world of pretty, shimmery designs and by the time my friend's project was done, I was hooked. My heart raced when I graced the doors of paper stores and I had a new found respect for classy correspondence.

I had no idea my friend had posted photos of her invitations on The Knot, so I was shocked when orders started arriving in my inbox. I started working with brides one on one to create their perfect design...and the more work I did the more orders I received. I spent hours gluing invitations, studying designs, learning etiquette and becoming an invitation girl. In June 2008 I opened my Etsy store and I haven't looked back. ;)

Since then, I've had the pleasure of working with event planners, wedding coordinators and some truly creative brides to create a unique variety of designs. It's really amazing to me now to look back and see all that I have learned, built and accomplished in only a few short years. Of course there were bumps along the road. There were re-prints and re-orders and all that jazz, but those were mistakes that had to be made so I can know what I know now. =) It's been a journey...but it's just getting started.

This Spring (yes, in just a few short weeks) I will launch my online stationary boutique. Not only will my designs be available for purchase, but so will the papers and accessories I use. It's a place to get exactly what you're looking for...whether it be a complete custom desgin or just the tools to DIY! I'm starting small and growing big. Watch.

Now, it's back to work.

Love & Smiles,
Katrina