Ah yes, that old chestnut and a rather hard nut to crack, because you are not going to please everyone all the time. But if you are inviting me to a dinner party, please send me a nice pretty invitation that I can put on my mantle and enjoy while I am dusting the living room. Rest assured, I am going to love your invitation, and when I remove it from my mantle it will go in the recycling bin to please my inner eco-warrior.
2) To email or not
Are there happy alternatives to invitations that are not tree murderers, but not non-personal shortcuts like email invites? Yes, Postcard invites!
Etsy is full of budding stationary shops that embody the eco-chic image and philosophy. Like all stationary, your taste and style will navigate you towards a particular company.
3) When to use a paper invite
When drafting up an invitation, keep the following in mind:
1. Who is hosting the party;
2. Why is the party happening;
3. When is the party:
4. Where is the party;
5. What is required from your guest at the party (dress code, instructions for a surprise party, not to bring gifts for an anniversary party, et all);
6. How and when to RSVP;
Remember that the invitation sets the tone for the party, and should match the theme of your party. Sending out a standard creme invitation for a Cruise Themed party will confuse your guests. Set the tone right with the invitation and you will have guests arriving on time looking forward to a great event.
4) How to send and receive
What is the proper etiquette for sending and receiving an invite?
Entertaining etiquette
There are so many answers to this question, however when I send out an invitation, I do so 6-4 weeks in advance of a formal event, this allows my guests time to consider their social calendar and RSVP in plenty of time for me to plan a successful event. If I have not heard from an invited guest, I always follow up with a phone call to ensure they received my invitation and secure a final head count before I start planning my evening– the post office is lovely, but things do get lost in the mail and I would loathe to think that an invited guest did not receive thier invitation.
As a guest I always respond promptly to a host by thanking them for the invitation, and confirming my plans with them. This takes all the guess work away from playing host and is always well received.
Like to entertain? Tell us about your party or event that you did with a proper invitation!
Amanda, I just love gracing your pages today, thank you for having me, and the images you shared…. stunning! As we near the busy fall entertaining season, I am looking at a stack of post card invitations to send out this week for our first fall party.
All the best, Coryanne
I have always loved to entertain and have followed the rules that Coryanne mentioned here. I am constantly surprised by the number of people that do not RSVP! What are they not getting? I think that this current recession has more people entertaining at home and with practice comes perfection. I look forward to going to several parties this season and maybe even throw one or two. Thanks for the reminders!
Nice post. I am kind of out of the loop on entertaining etiquette. I would love to entertain more! The older I get the more I value personal relationships! I am also very surprised about how many people fail to RSVP. I really like the idea of sending a paper invite. I think it allows more creativity!