You’re pumped to send holiday cards. You absolutely love the joy, warmth, and act of spreading cheer. This holiday tradition is a favorite among clients and graphic designers alike because it embodies both art and sentiment. And while the magic of holiday cards serve as little messengers of joy during these otherwise cold (our least favorite) winter months, all that love and care can be lost in an instant if you spell a family’s name wrong.

Not really if they are true friends of course. But never fear! Courtney Winet Design is here! with your guide to pluralizing names on holiday cards…

1. No Apostrophes. Ever.

   Apostrophes are used to show singular possession of something. You do not own another family. Or their name. And they do not own you. Apostrophes also mark the omission of one or more letters. We are adding letters. Therefore no apostrophes are needed. Like ever.

2. Try Adding Just “-s”

   If you are sending a card from just you, please skip this section. If you are sending a card from you and anyone else (spouse, kid, dog, cat, whatever) , or if you decide to address the envelope to another family of multiples, you may address your card with the last name as plural. Usually you’re good to just add an “-s” at the end.

   • Winet ➡️ The Winets

   • Dinneny ➡️ The Dinnenys

   • Potthoff ➡️ The Potthoffs

3. The Exceptions: S, CH, SH, X & Z get “-es”

   Still keep those apostrophes out of here! And if the name ends in any of the aforementioned, then add “-es” instead of just '“-s”

   • Eilers ➡️ The Eilerses

   • Schwartz ➡️ The Schwartzes

   • Busch ➡️ The Busches

4. When in doubt, take the easy way out

   We don’t mean for that to be advice in every life situation, but it is totally okay for holiday card addressing. If you’re unsure or just don’t like how a name looks as plural, you can always use safe choice of writing it out as “The _____ Family”

Amid the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, there's something truly magical about the simple act of sending and receiving holiday cards. These little envelopes of affection carry messages of love, goodwill, and warm wishes, making them more than just pieces of paper. They're reminders of the connections we hold dear and a source of comfort and joy. Just don’t ruin it by spelling a name wrong, okay?

Cheers!

If you’re going the route of mailed invitations, whether it be for a wedding or gala, you (like us) have a respect for what some might call traditional etiquette. And no one knows the rules on etiquette quite like Emily Post. She is the GOAT when it comes to what guests might expect or consider the standard. But times are a changin! And we at CWD always believe in adding a little flair or something unique to your event; it’s usually in those details that our clients’ personalities shine and stationery truly becomes custom. So when is it okay to stray from what Emily Post says?

Bottom line: there is no set list of what is or isn’t allowed when it comes to formal invitation stationery. But here are a few guidelines from the Emily Post playbook, and a few examples how Courtney Winet Design has bent the rules a bit…

INVITATION WORDING

Emily Post Says…

THIS is how you write out a formal (wedding) invitation wording.

You Could Do This…

When an event is being hosted by the couple rather than the bride and/or groom’s parents, feel free to relax a bit on how the invitation is worded. If the family agrees the day should focus on the couple rather than the parents, that’s reason enough too.

Or This…

Don’t let how the bride and groom names are written stress you out. Want your names to fit on the invitation? Play around with how middle and last names are listed for each, and go with your favorite!

RSVP

Emily Post Says…

THIS is how you word a response card.

You Could Do This…

Ditch the formal wording, and have fun with what it says! We encourage our clients to use unique or fun wording on their RSVP card. It’s a great place to mix things up especially for those who prefer to keep the invitation card more traditional. One of our favorites is rather than marking simply “Yes”, ask guests if they will have “Dancing shoes ready, we’ll be there!” Choose what you like and remember the best invites are the ones that are a true reflection of you as a couple, whatever that may mean!

Or This…

Don’t want to be so formal with your RSVPs, but still want to keep a reply card in the invitation suite? An RSVP Postcard may be just the thing for you! Take the formality down a notch, no worries about it getting a bit messy in the mail because your guests saw the pristine version, and can even save you some money on return postage by using postcard stamps. 

ADDRESSING YOUR INVITATIONS

Emily Post Says…

THIS is where Emily says technically you should hand address all invitations (even when inviting hundreds of guests).

You Could Do This…

Hire a calligrapher! You can still have a say in the type of calligraphy that’s used (aka it doesn’t have to be just script). The money spent on having them addressed by hand by a professional is well worth the money, not to mention your time saved!

Or this…

All invitation suites from Courtney Winet Design include digital address printing because we care A LOT about a beautiful first impression (which the outer envelope is BTW) but also appreciate the time and cost savings of not having to do this by hand.

WEDDING ATTIRE

Emily Post says…

THIS one Emily Post says the consideration of guests is what’s important, and ultimately making it easy for them to determine whatever the dress code may be.

You Could Do This…

If your event is Black Tie or Formal Attire is required, it is helpful to list that on the invitation. It can also be mentioned again on the details card or event website; that would be the proper place to give a clear description or examples of the dress code requirements.

Or this…

Want to go with an unconventional dress code? We’ve seen it all, no problem there! If it is not black tie, we recommend leaving it off the invitation but definitely include it on the details card or wedding website. The most helpful thing you can do is to spell out any particular dress code details for guests (feel free to refer to our WEDDING DRESS CODE BLOG for help).

One final reminder: guests will take their cue for your event from the level of formality of the invitation. So whichever impression you want to give, Courtney Winet Design is ready to help guide and work with you to create the invitation suite of your dreams!

March is National Women's History Month. March 8th was International Women’s Day. I purposely didn’t wear purple because it’s Courtney’s LEAST favorite color, so you’re welcome boss. We could definitely dedicate an entire blog to Beyonce’s greatness like the title suggests, but this blog is to share a bit of what I know and love about the woman behind Courtney Winet Design.

I’ve known Courtney since 2009. I can’t believe that means it was almost 15 years ago, but here we are (aging like fine wine IMO). We met at Swank Motion Pictures in St. Louis where I was in marketing and she was a graphic designer. We worked together on several accounts, from cute library programming ideas to correctional facilities announcements (yes, marketing to prisons). 

We shared the title of coworkers for over three years, and in that time became friends. I asked her to help design my wedding invitations, and after I got married we kept in touch as I moved across the country with my family. We worked together again while I was Marketing Director at Aeroflow Healthcare and hired Courtney to create a new brand image for us in the emerging breast pumps through insurance space (again with the glamourous product, I know). At this time she still held her corporate job at Caleres but was freelance designing on the side.

A few job changes later, Courtney Winet decided to end the side hustle. In 2019 she took the chance at leaving corporate employment behind and made Courtney Winet Design her full-time gig. A few months later, my family moved back to St. Louis where I ran into Courtney at Nordstrom; a little chit-chat led to business talk and voila here I am as CMO of Courtney Winet Design.

Just kidding, that’s not my title (maybe it will be after Courtney reads this? :) We keep things fun around here) and my title isn’t the point of this story. Why I gave you all that history is so you understand my sincerity when I say I admire Courtney. I have chosen her repeatedly and by that I hope my actions speak volumes for the respect I have for her talent.  I am honored every day to work with Courtney because she exemplifies what I think the world needs more of: kindness, creativity, joy, compassion, fun, ambition, love. She may not have thought one of her titles to me was mentor, but she has been one this whole time.

I respect Courtney’s bravery in taking the risk of going out on her own. I respect her organization and leadership skills that have kept her business strong for several years (even through a pandemic). I respect her humility in the way she asks questions and seeks help when she needs it. I respect her generous nature in the flexible hours she gives this working mom and her support for other small businesses and unseen things she does for clients (take it from someone behind-the-scenes that she cares so much about you and your product). I’m here to say she does all this and more with grace and obviously beyond-fabulous style.

So cheers to women everywhere, but a special shout out to my favorite designer Courtney Winet who embodies what it means to rise by lifting others. She certainly makes me proud time and time again! Maybe you don’t have the means to write a blog post, but be sure to share a positive word via Instagram or text or wherever with a woman that has made a positive impact in your life this March.

Love you, friend! - Marla

oh, what a year!

Happy and Merry everything to you! What a special year 2022 was for Courtney Winet Design, and we have our clients to thank. Thanks for allowing us to design things that resemble love, bring people together at your parties, promote sending snail-mail, support local businesses, and are just overall so darn fun and colorful. We pride ourselves on unique and bold designs, and you have allowed this year’s lineup to be the brightest and best yet. Cheers to a fantastic 2022, the best clients in the business, and to keeping the good times going in 2023!

Auld Lang Syne, what?!

There are a lot of things Courtney Winet Design loves about New Years Eve. Formal sequin-attire, people gathering in mutual appreciation for sparkly disco balls, champagne toasts...it’s probably the most on-brand holiday we can think of. Reminiscing about New Years Eve will, no doubt, bring a tune to mind. We know it. You know it. Auld. Lang. Syne. But what are the words and more importantly, what do they mean? After a little research with our friend google, we discovered the who, what, when, where and why of this familiar song. Here’s what we know: The song was written by the Scottish poet and lyricist Robert Burns. He added his own phrases (mostly tributes to drinking) tied to Scottish traditions that date back as early as 1588. Ok cool, let’s break down the lyrics:
Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should we forget our old friends? We think NOT. We love our friends!
Should old acquaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne. The phrase and song title loosely translates to “fond memories of old times”
For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne, We’ll take a cup of kindness yet, For auld lang syne. Meaning to raise a glass, like we do for a New Year’s toast.
And surely you’ll buy your pint cup! And surely I’ll buy mine! I guess the Scottish were cheap and didn’t want to be stuck with the round.
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet, For auld lang syne. We’ll be raising a glass to you and yours this New Year’s Eve while listening to our favorite version of Auld Lang Syne by Guy Lombardo. The classics are always our fave!

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these are a few of our favorite things

photograph by joan fischer

Courtney’s 2022…
• Announced my marriage by sending fun Vegas themed announcements!

• Bought a house. Sold a house. It was stressful, but worth it!

• Elliott & Penny are learning to be good dogs! (a work in progress)

• Found my dream vintage coffee table on Facebook MP! Still shook.

• Visited Palm Springs again, but also ventured out to some new destinations!

• Got to use velvet paper on a lot of projects and loved every minute of it!

• Having so much fun decorating a new house! My love for bold wallpaper is still going strong.

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photography by joan fisher

Maria’s 2022…
• Kicked the year off with a family vacation to Disney World. A dream come true for my whole family!

• Learned about handmade paper that can be planted to grow wild flowers while working on a fun stationery project.

• Had my first visit to Palm Springs (read the visitor’s guide on our blog!)

• Discovered Trader Joe’s Jalapeno Limeade margaritas with Tajín rim.

• My husband, Mike, and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary! Time flies when you’re having fun.

• I picked up playing pickle ball at a court near my home in Kirkwood. Hit me up if you want to play.

Download our FUN TIMES newsletter here to keep the good times going: try our word search and crossword puzzle!

Looking for more help when it comes to addressing? Hop on over to our “How to Address Your Envelopes” page for additional info!

Did you get the name right? Are you sure? Since the invitation is usually the first impression someone will have with your wedding or event, it does make it that much more important to get the name right. You’ll probably be addressing your guest multiple times too: on place cards, welcome items, etc. Of course only you can double (even triple) check the spelling of their first and last names, but we’re here to help when it comes to that ever so tedious detail of titles.

Mr.

Mr. is used for addressing males thirteen and older

Ms.

Ms. is most commonly appropriate for single women over 18, however it technically can be used for any female single or married

Mrs.

Mrs. should only be used to address married women

Miss

Miss can be used for addressing girls or young women 17 and under (if you’re worried about offending someone, remember it never hurts to ask)

Master

Master should used for addressing males twelve and younger

Mx.

Mx. is the universal title that can be used by anyone because it is gender non-identifying

Doctor

Doctor should be used for guests who are medical doctors, dentists, and other professionals are typically addressed with this title; guests who have earned a Ph.D. or any other academic, non-medical doctoral degree should be asked which title they prefer

Reverend

Reverend is used for any clergyman or clergywoman and should always be spelled out

The Honorable

The Honorable can be used for men and women with notable positions in government, politics and military

We’re no travel pros, but we do know a thing or two about living your best Palm Springs life. From the moment you step off the plane in to the worlds cutest airport, you immediately feel a sense of relaxation, excitement and….heat. (It’s hot there, we mean HOTT in the summer month, but at least it’s a dry heat, right!?) Austin and I have been visiting this little desert oasis since the days when he lived in California. Now that he’s back in the midwest, we’re always planning our next trip. It’s something we look forward to every year…or a few times a year if we’re lucky!

We’re brimming with PS knowledge and figured why not share it!? So here’s our hot take on where to stay and more importantly what to eat & drink in Palm Springs.

HOTELS

Call us trip advisor, because we have three key categories when it comes to hotels:

1. Pina Coladas

2. French Fries

3. Bath Robes

We also take the location and overall vibe into consideration, but we’ll try to keep this short and stick to what’s important.

Holiday House

First up is our go to Palm Springs stay: The Holiday House. This was the first place we stayed so it holds a special place in our dark, cold hearts. The people are friendly, the rooms are great and you guessed it, the Pina Coladas are to die for. Entering the lobby is like walking into an art gallery and there’s something cool everywhere you look. It’s a designer and book lovers paradise. If the color blue isn’t your thing, maybe stay away.

Fries 10/10 (honestly all of their food is primo)

Pina Coladas 10/10 (our tip: stay away from the dark rum floater they offer, unless you’re a.) rich or b.) want to wake up in your dark rum hotel room at 9pm with a hazy memory of the day. And yes, we said pm.)

*If we haven’t mentioned anything about staying hydrated in the heat yet, now we have.

Bath Robes 10/10 (Austin even got me one for Christmas and I am probably wearing it as your read this)

Villa Royale

Villa Royale comes in as a close second fave in our line up. The design aesthetic is top notch, making it photo op central and they have multiple pools. We took my now husband, Adam, on his first PS trip and stayed here. He raves about it constantly and will probably never stay anywhere else. A hot tip is to snag a cabana during the day - they’re close to the bar and have misters (meaning water, not cabana boys) surrounding them so it’s maximum comfort.

Fries 10/10

Pina Coladas 8/10… They’re frozen and absolutely amazing, but we’re subtracting two points because they don’t consistently have them. We would like to give their “Forever Friends” cocktail an honorable mention because it is fantastic and always aplenty.

Bath Robes 10/10 (on my Christmas list for next year)

La Horizon

The good news is this place is absolutely stunning. The bad news is we haven’t actually stayed here. It’s on our list because it is a black and white lovers dream, beyond chic and we will for sure stay here eventually.

We love it, but honestly don’t get big Pina Colada/Fry energy from what we’ve seen of La Horizon. We’re truly hung up on the fact that there are no Pina Coladas on the menu and we just don’t know if we can get over it.

The vibe here is very spa-like, very adult and very cool, which is obviously why it has been featured in every travel and design magazine to ever exist. So if you’re looking for something more on the upscale, relaxing side, La Horizon is your place. Our guess is that the bath robes are what dreams are made of, but sources have not yet confirmed.

Casa Cody

Casa Cody is a recent find we came across that gives off rustic, SoCal vibes. While we typically don’t jive with rustic (shocking, right?), something spoke to us with Casa Cody. My bet is that it was the velvet couches, but we’ll let you know as we’re currently planning our stay here.

The menu isn’t listed, but they have a pic of a chocolate chip cookie that almost made us click book before even checking the room prices.

The Parker

If you’re a Jonathan Adler lover than The Parker is your girl. There is something interesting literally everywhere you look. You want a jumbo banana sculpture? The Parker has it. You’re a Gray Malin fan? The Parker is clearly his muse. You only stay places that Beyonce has stayed? Say no more, book The Parker.

The food is to die for, the spa is beyond and the grounds of the hotel are breathtaking. Our only hang-up is that, and this won’t be everyone’s take, kids are allowed at the Parker. While we love a good cannonball contest as much as the next, we prefer to drink our Palomas in peace. But if you’re looking for something that is kinda family friendly, book it.

Fries 9/10

Pina Coladas N/A because we don’t miss an opportunity for a Parker Paloma.

Bath Robes N/A

The Sands

The Sands is a hop, skip and a jump away from downtown Palm Springs. It’s located in Indian Wells, so if you’re really wanting to get away from the grind, this Moroccan vibe paradise is right up your alley. We have yet to stay here, but frequent their Pink Cabana bar for evening libations and always find ourselves saying, “Let’s stay here sometime soon.” We can’t report on the bathrobes, but we can vouch for the cocktails, food and really f$#king great aesthetic.

Fries 10/10

Pina Coladas 10/10 (but what drink isn’t good in a tropical pink paradise?)

Bath Robes N/A

A few other Honorable Mentions: The Sparrows Lodge, La Serena Villas, Arrive Palm Springs

Enough about where to stay, let’s get down to business with where to eat.

Sandfish

Holy sushi, it’s so good. This sounds obvious, but order the sandfish roll, you won’t regret it. For our adventurous crowd, we highly recommend the octopus carpaccio, it is absolutely fantastic. Make a reservation on a weeknight so it’s not super packed and ask for Josh as your server. Josh is super knowledgable about anything from fish to whiskey to the San Bernardino mountains. He’s one of those servers who can look at you and say “try this” and will nail it every time. A hot tip: we’ve tried the Omakase (aka chefs tasting menu) before and said we don’t need to do it again. It was good but we weren’t blown away by it. It’s deceivingly a lot, like a lot a lot, of food.

Bar Cecil

If you’re even thinking about going to Palm Springs book your reservations now. This place is the hottest little number in town. It’s owned by the aforementioned Villa Royale and Holiday house hoteliers, so it’s like they had a really well-designed, top-notch foodie love child. The owners are fantastic and will seriously make you feel like you’re a regular even on your first visit. They have a “Fifty Dollar Martini” featuring caviar. I hope to maybe someday have one if I have a really big year. (Have I mentioned I make custom stationery? You can inquire HERE if you’re interested in funding my caviar martini dreams)
*Update: We got the “Fifty Dollar Martinis” in honor of Austin’s 30th birthday. Adam and Austin loved….I did not.

The Rooster and the Pig

To be completely honest we were a little tipsy after a day of coladas in the sunshine and we have no clue what we ordered here. But we do know the food was amazing! We made the mistake of riding bikes to pick up our carry out order. Their Vietnamese style food was crazy good but the bike ride was not.

Side note: Most hotels in PS offer bikes for guests to cruise around on. They make for a great photo op, but we only recommend going on a a short jaunt, no further.

Mr. Lyons

This is a Palm Springs staple. We’re pretty sure it has been here since the Frank Sinatra days and are well known for their steaks. They have a speakeasy called Seymours behind a velvet curtain with really, really good cocktails. Drinker’s Beware: you’ll probably make a bunch of friends and go out dancing until 3am because this place in a vibe.

WORKSHOP

Run, don’t walk to have dinner at Workshop. Trust us. Ask your server recommendations because they will not steer you wrong. Our server told us to get the Sugar Snap Peas. (who orders that on the reg? Not us.) All we’ll say is they were right.

A few other Honorable Mentions: Farm, El Marisol, Tacquila

Your invitations are one of the most valuable resources for guests. They are going to need a lot of information about the big day from this small envelope…better make it count!

Many hosts choose to advise guests on the dress code for the event. There is a dress code option no matter what your wedding vibe, even if the vibe is we don’t really care what you wear! Being specific about your preferred dress code upfront by printing it on your invitation actually is HELPFUL. The most common reason hosts and attendees alike get confused is because they aren’t sure what different dress codes mean; let us help with that:

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Women: Formal floor-length ball gowns, Evening dresses, jewelry, heels

Men: Tuxedo, Long Tails, white vest, White bow tie, gloves and formal footwear

White Tie

The most formal attire possible, think Royal Ball or White House gala, not common for weddings

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Women: Floor-length gowns, sophisticated cocktail dresses, elegant pantsuits

Men: Tuxedo (black or white jacket). black bow tie, black vest or cummerbund, leather shoes

Black Tie

Usually for evening events, the more common form of wedding formal attire

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Women: Mid or Floor-length gowns, sophisticated cocktail dresses, elegant pantsuits; all of which may more acceptably show the ankle

Men: Option of wearing a tuxedo, or they can wear a formal (preferably dark) suit, white shirt, and conservative tie

Formal or Black-Tie Optional

A bit more flexible regarding clothing rules, yet indicates you’d like the event to be elegant

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Women: Cocktail dresses with a mid-thigh to mid-calf hemline, Floor-length gowns would be inappropriate; formal flats would be appropriate footwear

Men: Dress shirt and slacks, suit and tie, or a sport coat and dress pants. Dark or light depending on the time of day, with the option to wear a tie

Cocktail/semi-formal/
dressy casual

Common for outdoor weddings. Consider wearing darker/more formal colors for an evening event vs. light colors/fabrics for a daytime event

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Women: Sundress and nice sandals or wedges or flats, elegant sunhat

Men: Summer suit, or linen pants and a light shirt with flats or sandals

Beach/destination

Indicates a casual vibe, while likely still expecting guests to dress up a bit

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Women: Take advantage of not only on-theme attire, but accessories like jewelry, purses and hats to complete the look

Men: Play up a theme with socks, pocket squares, and sunglasses. If you’re worried about taking the theme too far, take a risk on the shirt or bottoms or accessories (not everything)

Themed/festive

It’s likely to be spelled out pretty clearly for this type of wedding; the important thing here is to have fun and play along with whatever the theme dictates

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Women: Try to make sure the fabric of your dress or jumpsuit isn't overly formal. And tank tops, flip flops and tennis shoes are usually a no too

Men: A collared shirt without a tie or even a polo can still show elegance without being too fancy. No tennis shoes or flip flops usually apply for the men as well

Casual

Even if the attire states “Come as you are'' they usually don’t mean jeans, shorts, or tennis shoes unless it’s specifically noted as acceptable. And remember there is such a thing as being overdressed.

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Lastly, here are a few of our favorite tips to ensure guests understand exactly what you’re looking for regarding dress code…

• Avoid ambiguous terms like “preppy” or “elegant” or “chic” because they can mean different things to different people. Stick to the defined terms above whenever possible

• Include resources on your wedding website: a picture, a “wear this, not that” visual example, links to this resource or others that define the difference between dress codes

• Talk to your guests about it ahead of time! If you care enough about the dress code that it could ruin your big day, then care enough to make the effort to communicate clearly to guests ahead of time

• A reminder text or post to your personal social media accounts can get the attention of those who might have otherwise overlooked the dress code on the invite or wedding website

Everyone at Courtney Winet Design loves pups. Chances are if an Instagram post is not sharing some of our work, it’s likely of our dogs. So how about a blog post that highlights both work and woman’s best friend!

When I got the chance to pick the theme of a family baby shower, I knew I wanted it to be two things: something personal for mom-to-be and pink. Keeping the theme personal to the mom meant I could splurge on decorations because they just might keep some forever, even if the nursery theme changes. I never found out the gender with my three babies, so knowing she was having a little girl I definitely wanted to celebrate with pink. A couple of hours on Instagram and the whole inspiration came together. The color scheme was actually inspired by my favorite designer: Courtney Winet of course! Black, white, gold and baby pink elevated the design that would celebrate mom too, not just baby. A pow-wow (or maybe a bow-wow) with my sisters and fellow hostess helped determine a theme just for our oldest sister: huskies!

Meet Penny and Rory, my sister’s huskies. They are snugglers, talkers (yes, you read that right, I think huskies talk rather than bark), peanut butter and yogurt aficionados, and toy loving pups. These dogs are just as much family to my sister as this new baby, so I knew she’d be excited to see them incorporated. I showed Courtney this picture of Penny and Rory announcing their baby sister, then she did her design magic.

The silhouettes and paper goods didn’t stop at cute invitations. Courtney was able to customize decorations and shower activities too. A Courtney Winet Design party has beauty and fun in even the smallest details.

We had a great day showering my sister and baby girl with love. I was happy to work with Courtney to create something custom not because I had to, but because putting a little extra into those personal touches is part of my love language. And let me tell you this baby girl is already so, so loved!

Forget snakes and snails, but I say puppy dog tails can be for little girls too!

Every wedding invitation is going to include a date and time—every kind of invitation for that matter. Did you know that technically there is a right way to write it all out? Writing the time and date properly is probably the most common correction we make on wedding stationery for clients. Of course, you can break tradition and choose to write your details however you want. But for anyone looking to follow traditional invitation etiquette, here are the rules…

WRITING THE TIME

- Always write out numbers: “five” instead of “5” and numbers should never be capitalized
- Technically morning is up until noon, afternoon is from 12pm up until 5pm, and evening is from 5pm and later. These phrases are not necessary, but you should never write AM or PM so if you desire clarification this is how you would include it
- Include “o’clock” when writing the time, like “five o’clock in the evening” or “half after ten o’clock in the morning”

WRITING THE DATE AND YEAR

- The day of the week and the month are capitalized; the year and numerical date are not
- All date details are spelled out: date, day of the week, month and year.

When writing a compound date or year, you should use a hyphen “twenty-ninth of June” or “two thousand twenty-three” rather than "and"

And that’s how it’s done! Oftentimes design elements can make these matters obsolete: like if you choose an all caps font or write out the time and date information in lowercase letters. We can help give your invitation a feeling of sophistication or fun through design and extra details, not just how it's written. Let us know your preference; we can’t wait to see what we’ll create together!

 Follow along on instagram to see the latest designs and good times.

Having been in the art of pretty stationery for a long time, that often goes hand in hand with mailing things. I know we don’t look it, being so young and fabulous and all, but decades of mailing things has actually made the post office feel like a home away from home at times. Why just put your paper goods in the mail, when with a little knowledge and prep you can give your paper goods their best chance at a flawless delivery.  So whether you are a client sending things out yourself or a new reader trying to navigate the ins and outs of the US Postal Service (USPS), let our expertise help you maximize your mailing.

Hand-Stamping

Since the beginning of the postal service, paying for postage has been required.  Back in the day, all mail was hand-canceled. What does that mean? A used stamp includes a mark, block of text or the name of the city the mail was sent from showing that the stamp cannot legally be used again. As the country progressed, so came automated machines to cancel postage which can leave inky residue and may impair the mailing.

Something to know is that all post offices in the US are capable of hand-stamping cancellations, meaning your envelope may bypass the machines all together avoiding damage or messy marks. All you have to do is politely make the request! A postal worker can choose not to hand cancel for many reasons including the time of day or the number of people waiting in line. So remember that a little kindness goes a long way when making your hand stamping request!

Do you have multiple cards in your envelope? Make sure you weigh your entire assembled mailing to account for correct postage!

Weighing Your Envelope

This a reminder or lesson in budgeting for postage: the amount of postage required depends on the weight and shape of your mailing! Of course we believe that special occasions call for special stationery, just make sure you check the postage rates based on size and shape.

The thicker the card stock, the heavier the entire suite will be; it could be worth asking for samples at various weights to see what works for your budget. USPS will add a surcharge per invitation if you are mailing a square envelope. This is because any envelope that is not a standard rectangular shape can't be processed by an automatic sorter, meaning it takes more time to process, thus the price increase.

Postage Value

You should always check the current USPS postage rates when planning for your mailing. But don’t just go slapping two forever stamps on something; you could be wasting money!

If your mailing requires additional postage, you have options when it comes to arranging stamps. Forever stamps can be combined with additional postage in the exact amount required to mail. Or you can piece together vintage stamps along with today’s postage. Stamp values may be available in the exact amount of your mailing, not just the First Class Mail letter standard pricing. The best bet is to know your exact mailing weight, then ask a postal worker for the correct way to account for postage.

Correct Addressing

Taking the time to double check your addresses is worth the time. If you are using a mail merge, make sure none of the zero’s in house numbers or zip codes were dropped. Read through your list one more time considering recipients who might have moved or check apartment numbers.  You might be thinking of unique ways to design the outer envelope, and CWD is here for it. But did you know: if the address is written parallel to the shorter side of the envelope instead of the long side, the USPS sorting machine probably can’t read the address and will kick it out. These issues and others can delay mailing because USPS will return rejected pieces to you, not to mention the time it will then take to get back out to the correct recipient.

Save time and money. Checking addresses for correct information and placement on the envelope can save you time and money when it comes to delivering your mail.