Frequently Asked Questions Q:  Why order from an experienced professional instead of      a mail order catalog? *  See an actual sample of what you’re ordering - Paper color, quality, and    size are hard to judge online or in a photograph. *  Party/card stores and mail order employees are not trained or experienced    in all of the aspects of wedding invitations such as etiquette rules and    wording for special situations. *  Have a person responsible for your order not a company    · Dependable delivery time quotes    · If a printing error occurs, it is corrected by us before you even know there      was an error.  Dealers get preferential treatment because we place 100’s of      orders a year - not just one Q:  Do I need to send Save The Date Cards? *  The answer is “yes” if any of the following apply to your wedding.    · Destination wedding (beach, Las Vegas, etc.) where everyone will       have to travel    · Wedding date is set for a holiday weekend or in a seasonably busy       locale (such as Nantucket in June)    · Out-of-town guests need to book travel accommodations far in advance *  Mail Save the Date cards about 6 months before the wedding to inform    your guests of the date and location. *  Include information about several hotels in the area such as phone    numbers and rates. Q:  What is the difference between thermography and      engraving? *  Thermography is a heat process that makes raised ink.  It gives the    same look and feel as engraving from the front, although the ink is    slightly shinier. *  Engraving is a stamping process using a copper plate with your wording    engraved in it.  The ink has a more matte appearance, and the paper is    debossed on the back.  It costs 50-75% more than thermography with    a longer turn around time. Q:  When should I order my invitations? The general rule is to order approximately 4 months prior to the wedding date if possible.  This will give you time for:  * Addressing and stuffing: 10-12 weeks prior to the wedding  * Mailing:  8 weeks prior to the wedding  * Guests to Respond:  3 weeks prior to the wedding Q:  How many invitations should I order? * Figure quantity needed by counting the addresses you’re mailing to,   not the number of people you’re inviting.  Mr. and Mrs. Smith are 2   people, but they get 1 invitation. * Order 25 extra (when added to original order it costs about ¼ what   they’ll cost later). * Consider ordering just extra envelopes for mistakes made while   addressing. Q:  What do I need to know about mailing the invitations? * Be sure to put a stamp on the response envelope. * Take the complete invitation with all enclosures (reception, response,   maps, etc.) to the Post Office to have it weighed. * Most invitations that include an inner and outer envelope and any   type of enclosure card will weigh more than one ounce. * Ask to see the selection of stamps with two ounce postage (60 cents).   Some sets have matching designs on 37 and 60 cent stamps. * Square invitations require extra postage if they weight one ounce or   less.  Check with the Post Office before buying and applying stamps. * Have your invitations hand-cancelled to avoid having the postal   service’s bar code printed on the envelopes. Bride's Best Friend (770) 424-6832   donna@bridesbestfriend.com