We decided that we would give phone calls or even send personalized notes to those who had not responded by the date.

I went through the same thing last year waiting for my response cards, I know how it feels to be so excited about your shower and people are not yet responding. I didn’t realize until I had my own wedding shower how important it is to respond and quickly to show enthusiasm about the person’s special event. I tried to comfort her and let her know that a lot of people wait until the last day to respond. My own experience taught me to respond as soon as I get the invite and I am sure the next time she gets an invite she will RSVP much more quickly also.

Here are some general rules:
1. Reply as soon as possible, Ideally within two day of receiving the invitation
2. If you cannot reply that quickly send a personalized note or message with a brief explanation of what is holding you up
2. Depending on what kind of party it is offer to help or bring a dish to pass

Why reply:
There are many reasons…
1. The person is excited and is looking forward to your response
2. Parties can require lots of planning and the planner needs time to know the quantity of food, drinks and favors
3. People who respond are more likely to be invited to the next party

Shop all Personalized Notes

Have you contemplated having both the wedding and the reception outside to take advantage of the landscape and the angle of the sun? It’s been done before and it will be done again. Imagine carefully arranged lawn chairs and tables that were whisked in for the perfect location in the park, reserved garden or perfectly preserved sight looking out over what’s become a developed city. A period ceremony would be perfect to capitalize on surrounding landscaping, architecture and the reception to follow. Complete all your loose ends with our historic stationery: invitations, napkins, favors, coasters and more. Coordinate everything around a theme rich in tradition. Use pictures of your grandparents or parents wedding. Wear one of their gowns if you’re able. You might try to serve period Champagne with period glasses and whatever style monogrammed, embossed or foil stamped beverage napkins you think would be fine.Make striking accents with simple solids and detailed designs. The Domain Chandon NV Imperial would still taste very much the same. Raise your glass, raise your glass.

We offer nearly 52 styles of Personalized Thank You Notes and Cards that shimmer and shine in solid rich textures, unique embossing, and highlighted borders in your choice of 13 colors of ink and your name in fine raised print. This Valentine’s Day you will become a fervent believer in giving and getting the best in personal expression in Giftsin24 whether you’re saying thank you with a custom thank you note or saying I love you with a Valentine. If actions do speak louder than words and gratitude is in your heart for the wonderful rewards you’ve received from your most significant personal or business relationships than by all means go ahead and send one of our thank you notes to let a friend, family member, or significant other know how much you are grateful, how much you care with a Bordered, Scroll Delicate, Colored Thank You, Vegas or Classic Frame Cards or Notes. Send a thank you. Your action says so much more.

Giftsin24 presents a diverse variety of Thank You Cards for every purpose imaginable. This holiday season has already brought many memorable moments of smiles, laughter, and perhaps tears we have yet to see. Not everyone will receive a Tiffany diamond, Rolex Watch, or Louis Vuitton bag. Whatever you receive in kind, even if it is a heartfelt note or sincere card expressing warm thoughts and holiday wishes it will deserve a thank you. Giftsin24’s Banner, Bordered, City Stripes Family, Mocha, Navy or Green Thank You Notes would all be more than appropriate to simply say thank you. It is important that you select a Thank You Card that presents an image, conveys an emotion to suit your response. A simple Thank You Card or Note in Giftsin24 never said it so good.

There are 44 card styles that are considered classics that run the range from Colonial and Executive to the Embossed One Initial and Pink and Stately Striped Card. Of course few classics offered in eco friendly versions in spaces in between. The Railroad Card takes two lines of personalization on the top and bottom of your card on light elegant blue, white, ivory or pink paper. The lines run like a rail road around the card featuring your name, logo or novel idea you’d tag on the card. Embossed One Initial Cards provide a warm classic back drop of one letter that will become your defining point, your personal calling card also in white, ivory, pink, or blue. The green Scroll Card is also a classic. It can be used to say thank you, express sympathy or reintroduce yourself to a colleague or friend, even introduce yourself to someone new. Introduce yourself to Giftsin24′s classic card styles to extend greetings and to say thank you. Begin and rekindle ongoing relationships with the classics in Giftsin24 high style.



Weddings, baby showers, anniversaries, Bat Mitzvahs, Bar Mitzvahs, graduations, special days, christenings, and communions are another set of special occasions when personalized napkins can turn what would’ve been a hum drum event into something unique, something they’ll warmly associate with you and the personalized napkins that you’ve created for the event that you can use again or change with the season. Most people don’t know exactly what they want their personalized stationery to say but they usually will have the event printed on the napkin, some script and some type of design to go along with it. What they don’t realize is the more novel or unique the message the better. Making “special, one of a kind” napkins will insure your guests remember the event and you.

Personalized napkins at the wedding, reception, graduation or wherever can be a big scene stealer. Can you imagine your initials, your husband or your wife’s, or both your initials embossed or monogrammed on what would be less than lifeless paper, why not try more than memorable napkins in any color under the rainbow complete with a warm, heart felt, humorous statement that is worth remembering?

Personalized napkins add the perfect touch of elegance next to the wedding cupcakes, along side the wedding cake, or on top of plates at the reception. Personalized napkins are that unique accompaniment that create a unique personal touch that can really make an event more than memorable. This year couples are celebrating their marriages and divorces by having a capital “D” or an “M” embossed on the napkin with the couple’s names and dates artfully tagged underneath. A personalized beverage or table napkin immediately becomes a memento worth saving. Are your guests asking about your caterer as well as where you got your cute little personalized napkins on their way out?

Personalized napkins can often be ordered with a variety of other accessories. Giftsin24.com has a unique selection of logos that include hearts, initials, spring flowers, tributes, foil stamped napkins and accompanying balloons. Visit the site and take the time to see what’s there and then make a few simple choices to add some brilliance to your event where other wise the plain, unexciting napkins would’ve gone unnoticed.

Spring is a time to celebrate new beginnings and you can lend various aspects of this theme to all of your events. The point is to let the personalized napkins make the statement that you cared enough about the event and the guests, that you took the time to stamp it with your own personal seal of approval from beginning to end with personalized napkins and personalized stationery. That is what the choice of personalized napkins will do for your affair. They will say so much by doing so little and signature stamp it with your approval and ours, Giftsin24.com.

There are some obvious statements that you can and should put in your sympathy cards. Saying “I’m sorry for your loss” might seem weak or trite, but it doesn’t matter. Put it in your own words if you have to, but no matter what, these words won’t sound empty to the person in mourning.

Let the person who has experienced a loss know that you will help them in any way in the sympathy cards. And then follow through. Talk to them once and ask if there is something you can do, and give them suggestions. If you know they have a lawn that is being ignored, tell them you can go over on Monday to mow it. Or let them know in your card that you donated money in the name of their loved one to a charity. Don’t be pushy – you might really want to help, but they might be overwhelmed. If they turn down help, give them some space. Come back in a month to see what you could do then.

Use the card to tell a positive story about the deceased. Giving a concrete story is better then generic adjectives. Write down something small that happened with you and the deceased that the person in mourning didn’t know or wouldn’t remember. These sorts of little moments can mean more than any sort of bouquet or frozen meal. One woman mentioned a story between her and her aunt to a cousin mourning her mother’s loss. It was a small moment of silliness that passed between the woman and her aunt, a joke the aunt told about her life as a kid. The cousin never knew the story and later told the woman how much it meant to have that written reminder of her mother in a playful mood.
Remember that you might never know what to say, and that’s okay. Try not to shy away or overwhelm the mourner. Be sensitive to their needs, whatever they may be. And keep trying to learn what they need, whether that be helping around the house now, proving food for later or lending an ear in a few months, after the funeral is over and the guests have gone home.

Believe it or not, you can pick out a card and e-mail it to a friend or family member with a few simple clicks.

Although this is an extremely easy and efficient way of conveying a message to someone, make no mistake: it is not appropriate to send to someone who is grieving the loss of a loved one!

Besides being impersonal, unsympathetic and out right tacky, sending an e-card to express condolences is just plain rude.

It is a matter of simple etiquette. Sending out hand written condolences shows that you have good manners and are a thoughtful person. On the same token, thank you cards should also be written by hand and never sent via e-mail.

If a letter is hand written, it shows that you took the time to think about what you wrote. You took time away from your computer and your otherwise hectic schedule to collect your thoughts into a few sentences that will let someone know that you are thinking of them.

How warm would you feel if such a card was sent to you?

Immediately after hearing the sad news, an appropriate condolence card should be mailed out. However, it’s equally important that you follow up with a phone call up after you have allowed a sufficient amount of personal time for the grieving.

Choosing a simply white card with an small embellishments on the front can serve many purposes. Send them out for condolence cards, thank you cards and greeting cards.

Be careful not to pick out blank cards that have excessive decoration or color on them; they won’t be as versatile, and if you use a card like that to convey sympathy, it might come across as brash or rude.

Even if your chosen condolence card already has a default message on the front, you still need to include a personal note on the inside.

Regardless of how little time you have to spare, it’s important that you dedicate some of it to sending hand written sympathy cards rather than simply sending an e-mail to let someone know you care.

Writing letters often seems like a lost art; however, hand written sympathy cards will never go out of style or be replaced by electronics. They will forever be the standard in times of loss and grieving.

When someone is grieving, knowing that someone has empathy for their situation makes the entire grieving process a tad bit easier for them.

Sending out cards is an excellent way to share your thoughts, and picking out the best card for the occasion will show your loved one that you are considerate enough to make a thoughtful decision during this difficult time.

With custom save the date stationery, timing is everything

Save the date announcements have made their way into mainstream wedding planning and wedding etiquette. When I got married, lo those many years ago (13 to be exact), save the date invites were hardly used at all and then only for destination weddings or holiday weekend weddings.

White Rose Save the Date Card

These days, it seems that everyone is using wedding save the date personalized stationery to announce their forthcoming nuptials. So what are save the date cards and how are they used?

Save the date invites: The when and where of planning your event

Personalized save the date stationery is designed to inform family and friends of an upcoming event, in most cases a wedding, so that they can mark their calendars to ensure their availability to attend. Save the date announcements most often take the form of a card or a save the date magnet.

Save the date announcements are typically mailed four to six months prior to the wedding date; however, those planning destination or summer weddings should consider sending save the date reminders up to one year in advance to give invitees ample time to make their plans (transportation, hotel, vacation time, etc.).

Portrait Save the Date Card

While save the date personalized stationery need not be as formal as traditional wedding invitations tend to be, they often carry the colors or theme of the wedding being announced. For instance, tropical destination wedding planners may choose the Paradise, Destination, Palm Tree or Sea Shell Save the Date Announcements to highlight the location of the wedding. Similarly, Portrait Save the Date Cards offer such a variety of ink colors, it would be easy to coordinate them with your wedding colors.

Paradise Save the Date Card

Short & Sweet: Space is a premium on personalized save the date stationery

Save the date reminders are short on space, so information presented should be kept to a minimum. Necessary information includes the names of both the bride and groom (or name of the event if not a wedding), event date and location, including city and state. Don’t assume that anyone receiving your save the date announcement will know you and your fiancé by first names only, and don’t assume that they will know where the wedding will take place. If you want them to attend, tell them what they need to know. That includes telling them that an ‘invitation will follow.’

That said, don’t bog down the reminder card with details that are not necessary at the time. For instance, the time of the ceremony and reception will be important but aren’t now. The guests of honor, the date and location will suffice. If you have a web site dedicated to your wedding or special event, include the address on your save the date announcement; that’s where you can go on and on with details about the event.

Keep your guest list in mind when sending save the date announcements

Here’s an important rule of thumb: you don’t need to send save the date reminders to everyone you plan to invite, but you do need to invite everyone to whom you send save the date reminders. So be careful of your send list; if you’re unsure of whether or not you will invite someone, or if you have space or financial restrictions, only send save the date cards to those you absolutely know you will invite.

Save the date invites makes planning your wedding or event much easier

Once you’ve sent custom save the date stationery, you can focus on other important details of your special day, knowing that you have notified your special family and friends of your big day. Sending save the date announcements can be a big step in the right direction when planning the day of your dreams.

They say that golf is essential to doing business. I don’t know about that, but I do know that etiquette is. Practicing proper business etiquette takes you (and your business) to the next level of professionalism in the eyes of your business partners, vendors and clients. That’s why learning how to write business thank you cards is so important.

Writing business thank you notes gives you a competitive edge

Knowing how to write a business thank you gives you the leg up

Business thank you note etiquette ranks among the top skills all professionals should hone in their arsenal of business etiquette tactics. Writing business thank you notes is as important as paying your bills on time and knowing your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses. Believe it or not, learning how to write business thank you cards gives you a competitive edge.

Why? Because not enough people do it. Writing business thank you notes, while imperative and considerate, is often overlooked as a mandatory business practice. And because it makes you memorable; people like to be thanked, so expressing your gratitude will distinguish you. So if you make it a practice to write business thank you notes, you will be one critical, and courteous, step ahead of your competition (you can read more about it in our blog about building customer loyalty through random acts of customer appreciation).

How to Write Business Thank You Notes

You say you don’t know how to write a business thank you note? It’s not too different from writing a personal thank you note, which we discussed in our blog about thank you card wording; just keep in mind your intended audience.  Here is a practical guide to business thank you note etiquette:

• First and foremost, do not send store-bought notes. Be sure to use either company letterhead or, even better, personalized notes and cards.  See our blog on why personalized business stationery makes business sense for more on this.
  

  The Executive Card, an appropriate choice for business thank you notes

• Address your note to the particular person who provided you a service or helped you in some way; use the person’s formal name and title on the envelope.
• Use ‘Dear Mr. / Ms. X’ unless you have already established a relationship on a first-name basis. Only use a more informal greeting, like ‘Dear Bob,’ if you know the person well.
• Maintain professional language and tone throughout the business thank you note; you can be relaxed but not too informal (avoid slang and inappropriate language).
• Identify yourself and the purpose of the note, and reference the circumstance that prompted the business thank you note.
• Polonius said it best in Shakespeare’s Hamlet: “…since brevity is the soul of wit…I will be brief.” You should, too. Without sacrificing friendliness or important information, keep your business thank you note concise.
• Close with ‘Sincerely,’ followed by your formal name and title in closing. Be sure to enclose your business card, especially if you don’t have a prior relationship with the recipient. If you are in job search mode and do not have a business card, you can order personalized calling cards that present your contact information in a professional manner.
• Address the envelope with the recipient’s formal name, title and company name, as well as mailing address. It is acceptable to handwrite the address, especially if you are sending a personalized note or card. Don’t forget proper postage!
• Mail your business thank you note promptly. If you are sending a thank you note after an interview or meeting, send it that afternoon or the next day. If you are thanking someone for speaking at an event, send it upon conclusion of the event. If you are expressing gratitude for a gift you received, follow the same business thank you note etiquette by sending it as soon as possible.

When you should send business thank you cards and notes

Now that we’ve got the ‘how’ figured out, let’s talk about when you send business thank you notes.  I can’t cite every instance for which you should write business thank you notes, but I can give you examples that can guide you for future reference.

Writing business thank you notes makes good business sense

The long and short of it is that you should send thank you notes whenever you feel a person or company has done something to merit gratitude.  Here are some examples:

• For a client referral
• For new business
• For continued business
• For a favor
• For a gift
• For granting a request (conducting an interview, providing information, giving a tour, etc.)
• To an event host (business breakfast/lunch/dinner host, conference coordinator, association manager)
• To a guest speaker
• To a mentor

The impact of learning how to write business thank you cards is clear

When writing business thank you notes, you are setting yourself apart from your competition, making yourself memorable, and practicing good business etiquette. Learning how to write a business thank you with a solid understanding of business thank you note etiquette can give you the professional edge.

The Emily Post Institute says it best: “When you say “thank you,” you are showing appreciation and displaying confidence and maturity.”