Through October 31, 2009, printed envelopes are free with all Birchcraft invitation orders.  Not just wedding invitations, either--the free printed envelopes offer is good on anniversary and Bat/Bar Mitzvah invitations, too!

Normally, blank envelopes are included with your invitation order, and having your return address printed on the envelopes is an extra charge.  Until Oct 31, having your return address printed is free.

There are two ways to receive the free return address:

Come visit us in person, and order from a Birchcraft album.  We'll automatically apply the discount when we calculate your total.

or

Order your invitations online from http://www.yourinvitationplace.com/Default.aspx?WebName=bloomeryweddings, and enter "FREE Printed Envelopes" in the Special Instructions field.  It's important you enter "FREE Printed Envelopes" in Special Instructions, or you won't receive the discount.

For additional information, read Birchcraft's information at http://www.birchcraft.com/Social/FreeEnvelopePromotion/BirchcraftStudios-Promotion.pdf.

No matter which way you order, you will also receive our everyday 30% discount in addition to the free return address printing.

Give your guests a secret number!

When assembling your guest list, give each address a number.  Write this number lightly, in pencil, on the back of your response card prior to mailing.  If guests forget to write their name on the card, or if you can not read their writing, you know who is responding by their secret number.

Consider KwikSeal Self-Sealing Envelopes!

KwikSeal Self-Sealing Envelopes are available with most Birchcraft invitations and save time and effort when mailing your wedding invitations.  Simply uncover the self-adhesive edge by peeling off the protective strip and press the envelope closed.  Save even more time when you choose to pre-print your address on the back of these envelopes.

Why is it so important to put your address on the back of the invitation envelope?

Nobody is perfect!  Should you have an error on your guest list, the invitation will be returned to you by the post office.  Otherwise you will never know your invitation did or did not arrive.  For a minimal charge, you can have your return address printed on the invitation envelope in a matching ink color and lettering style when your invitations are being printed.

Why do you send a Response Card?

Response cards are a convenient way for your guests to reply and for you to plan properly.  They save time and money on your reception cost, especially if a meal is being served, by allowing you to keep track of an exact head count.  If you are offering a meal choice, this can also be indicated on the response card.  Response cards include a reply envelope printed with your name and address (or that of a parent or friend collecting the RSVPs).  Do not forget to affix stamps to the reply envelope!

Why is using the correct postage most important?

Before addressing your invitations, put together a complete invitation ensemble with all of your enclosure cards and envelopes.  Bring your invitation ensemble to your local post office and have them weigh it and determine the proper amount of postage.  Invitations that are over one ounce, or square or oversized (which is most invitations) require extra postage.  If your invitations are returned for insufficient postage, your envelopes will be ruined and redoing them will not only cost you more money, but interfere with your time frame.  While at the post office, ask the postal clerk to show you their beautiful wedding stamps.

When do you order your invitations, and how many do you order?

Be sure to have confirmed details of your ceremony and reception before ordering your invitations.  This includes the date, time and the location(s).  You should also have an accurate head count.  Order one invitation for each single adult, and one for each couple/family invited.  Order 25 extra invitations now, just in case.

When do you send out your wedding invitations?

Invitations are traditionally sent out 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding.  Send a Save the Date card or wedding announcement 4 to 6 months before your wedding to notify guests you are getting married, especially if it is during a holiday weekend or if they need to travel.  This will provide plenty of notice if travel arrangements and hotel reservations are required.

Find more great advice for wedding invitations in our Wedding Invitation category.

The Bloomery is pleased to feature invitations from Carlson Craft and Birchcraft, most at a 30% discount.  You can order online from either site and still receive the discount.

The new Carlson Craft Pockets Invitations book has arrived!  Pockets Invitations are a trendy new style, and feature layouts, colors and styles for a more modern wedding or event.  And, The Bloomery offers a 30% discount on Pockets Invitations every day!  Just order through our site at http://bloomery.cceasy.com/.

Also available for Pockets Invitations is V.I.P. Printing--Carlson Craft will print the addresses of your guests on the outer envelopes, and RVSP return for the inner envelopes.  Printing is done in the color and typeface that your invitations are, providing a neat and uniform look to your ensemble.  When you order your invitations through our site (http://bloomery.cceasy.com/), indicate you want V.I.P. Printing.  Then, you fill out an Excel template (download at http://www.addressingonline.com/vip/) and e-mail it to Carlson Craft.  Your invitations will arrive addressed!

For the full selection of Birchcraft invitations, napkins, etc. at a 20-30% discount every day, check out our invitation site at http://www.yourinvitationplace.com/bloomeryweddings.

New Eggplant and Kiwi ink colors

Hues of purple and green are very trendy now (see our 2009 Wedding Color Trends report), and Birchcraft is keeping with the latest styles by adding inks to coordinate with the rest of your wedding.

Six Eco-Friendly Soy-Based Inks

These inks are made from soybeans, as opposed to traditional petroleum-based inks, so if you’re having a green wedding, consider the ink choice on your invitations.  The six colors are:

Eight Combination Lettering Styles

increase the options for couples who want to highlight their names in today's latest styles.

Three new Liner Colors

Crimson, Eggplant and Kiwi - to match the latest ink styles.

Wedgewood Foil

Few things say elegance like Wedgewood, and Wedgewood foil is now available as an ink choice on many invitations, napkins, etc.

We’re pleased to announce the arrival of Red Leaf Papers Wedding Invitations.  Red Leaf Papers invitations are known for one-of-a-kind designs, described as “exhilarating” and “refreshing”.  As with other invitations, you receive a 30% discount on Red Leaf Papers invitations.

Also available wit the 30% discount are special occasion invitations and holiday and party invitations from Red Leaf Papers.

Please note that there is no book for the Red Leaf Papers invitations and stationery.  This means all orders have to be placed online.

Good news for those in the market for wedding invitations--Carlson Craft now offers a proof option!  After you select your verse and personalization, you check the box at the bottom of the page and select the ensemble items you need proofs for.  Your order is saved, and within two business days you'll receive a PDF via e-mail showing your lettering and personalization.  You review the proofs, then make changes or finalize your order.  Your order will not be printed until you finalize it, so don't forget to do so.

Carlson Craft prints some of the hottest wedding invitations, including Pockets invitations, the made from recycled paper Naturally Ever After collection, and the ever popular Disney wedding invitations.  And, The Bloomery offers a 30% discount on wedding invitations every day!

In addition to wedding invitations, Carlson Craft also prints holiday cards (featuring Chloe B holiday cards) and business stationery, all of which we also offer at 30% off every day! (note: we can offer Chloe B at 20% off only)

For generations, small tissue papers were staples of wedding invitations.  Recently, Carlson Craft has discontinued tissues with most of their invitations printed with ink.  Here's Carlson Craft's message to their dealers:

At Carlson Craft, we believe it is our responsibility to make a positive impact on the communities in which we live, work and serve.  Therefore, our commitment to th environment is reflected in our industry leadership.

To extend out commitment to the environment, as of November 3, 2008, tissues will no longer be included with Carlson Craft wedding invitations, with the exception of engraved invitations.

Based on Carlson Craft's research, we have found that most customers no longer use tissues with their wedding invitations.  In the past, tissues were used as a buffer to prevent wet ink from smearing.  Today's ink does not smear, therefore tissues are no longer necessary.

Most brides choose ink printed invitations, which are lower cost and more colorful.  These invitations will not include tissues.  Some brides, however, still choose to have their invitations "engraved", which uses a different type of ink applied in a different way, leaving a raised surface and giving a more classic, elegant look.  These invitations will still include tissues, and you should still use the tissues to protect the printing of an engraved invitation.

One of the most important aspects of your wedding is your color scheme.  The flowers, dresses and tuxedos all reflect a carefully chosen palette.  Many of today's brides are choosing hot fashion colors for their weddings (check out a recent lime green and black centerpiece), so why not choose some hot colors for your invitations?  Birchcraft has added seven new ink colors as choices on invitations.  They are:

Cherry	Hot Pink	Lime Green	Raspberry
Sandstone	Sapphire	Tangerine

While you're at it, check out the three new lettering styles, also new at Birchcraft.  These are perfect if you want a sleeker, more youthful look to your invitations:

As always, Birchcraft invitations are 30% off every day, including their new pockets invitations and slide invitations.  For full selection, visit http://www.yourinvitationplace.com/Default.aspx?WebName=bloomeryweddings.

Birchcraft's Handcrafted Invitations are now available from Bloomery Weddings!  You can find them at http://www.yourinvitationplace.com/Catalog.aspx?Theme=Handcrafted&WebName=bloomeryweddings.  As usual, we offer these wedding invitations with a 30% discount everyday!  You'll receive the discount whether you order online, or in person.  If you want to see your wedding invitation before you buy, Birchcraft offers a free online proof on their website.

The Handcrafted line is a limited edition collection featuring elegantly handcrafted invitations and layered invitations.  Handcrafted invitations will appeal to brides who are looking for originality, style and elegance.  Shown below is one of the elegant invitations from the Handcrafted Invitations collection.

Last year, we covered WeddingMapper.com, a free service where you can create online wedding maps for your guests.

If printed maps are more your style, idoweddingmaps.com might be more what you're looking for.  idoweddingmaps.com offers four styles of maps, which you create online by filling out some information about you and your event.  You can choose to have a PDF e-mailed to you, or have your maps printed and sent to you to include in the invitation.

We recently attended a wedding where the map was created on idoweddingmaps.com, and it was very clear and attractive, and printed on good quality paper.

The elegant Chloe B wedding invitation ensembles are now available online from Bloomery Weddings!  Chloe B invitations are a beautiful line produced exclusively for Crane & Co, known for their fine papers and stationery.  Chloe B ensembles are designed to be distinctive and to impress your guests when they open your invitation.

We offer a 20% discount for the Chloe B invitations every day--the lowest price allowed by Chloe B (regular invitations are 30% off every day).  Samples are available by request from Carlson Craft--just find the one you want and request a sample through the website.

Birchcraft's Hearts and Flowers wedding invitations album has just arrived.  When you place your order with The Bloomery, you'll receive a 30% discount off the prices you see in the book.  You can also order online at http://www.yourinvitationplace.com/bloomeryweddings, and still receive the 30% discount.

Pocket invitations are the latest trend in wedding invitations, and Carlson Craft has sent us their Pockets wedding invitations book.  The Bloomery is pleased to announce you can now order Carlson Craft's pocket invitations online!  We offer a 30% discount on wedding invitations every day, so you can have chic invitations at a great price.

Carlson Craft's Pocket Invitations book has arrived, and it is cool.  The book itself is a stylish brown and blue-a trendy color combination we alerted you to two years ago.  Pocket Invitations is filled with the latest trendy styles of folding wedding invitations.  Over the past several years, brides have moved to more chic invitations, to reflect their weddings better.  This selection won't disappoint.

The Pocket Invitations are not yet available online at http://bloomery.cceasy.com/, but should be soon--stay tuned and we'll post when they are.  In the meantime, please stop by our shop and check them out.  As always, you'll receive a 30% discount whether you order through us at the shop or online.

KwikSeal Self-Sealing Envelopes are now available for most Birchcraft Wedding Invitations from any Birchcraft Wedding Album!   We're sure you will want KwikSeal Self-Sealing Envelopes to make it easy to seal and mail your invitations!  Optional KwikSeal Envelopes save time and effort when mailing Birchcraft wedding invitations.  They make sealing the envelopes so easy--simply peeling off the protective strip and press closed.  Even the groom can handle this.

It's easy to check on the availability of optional KwikSeal Self-Sealing Envelopes.  When ordering your invitations online at http://www.yourinvitationplace.com/bloomeryweddings, the KwikSeal option will be listed if available.  If you found your invitation in one of our books, log on to www.mykwikseal.com and enter the invitation number in the search box to the right.

The extra charge for KwikSeal Envelopes is $2.50 per 25 envelopes when ordered at the same time as the invitation. They are also available Printed with a Return Address. Please refer to your website or an album for the extra charge to print the return address. (This charge is in addition to the KwikSeal charge.)

What is the proper etiquette when writing wedding invitations when the father of the bride is deceased and the mother of the bride has not remarried? Would it be Mrs. John Doe or Mrs. Jane Doe or Ms. Jane Doe?

We have seen invitations worded with all of the choices that you listed.  However, after consulting with Carlson Craft (a large invitation printer), they advised us that the correct etiquette is to use Mrs. John Doe.  The sample they gave is "Mrs. William Lewis Baker requests the honour of your presence at the marriage of her daughter Barbara Ann"

Weddings are always a little tough when parents have passed on, and our hearts go out to everyone who faces this.  Best wishes.

Here's one way to really set your wedding apart--you can make your own paper.  Your paper could be used for programs, or invitations, or even place cards.  This isn't something you would want to do on a very large scale, but the results would be very dramatic and unique.  It doesn't look that hard, but it will take some time to make enough for your purposes.  You can see the process at http://flickr.com/photos/bzedan/sets/967347/.

(Hat tip: Lifehacker)

If you ordered stickr seals with your wedding invitations, you traditionally place them on the back of the envelope, so the center of the seal is right at the point of the flap.  In the days before envelopes with the glue already applied, not to mention stickers, this is the location wax was dripped and stamped with some sort of monogram or motif to hold the envelope closed.  In many cases these days, stickers have replaced wax seals, but wax seals are sometimes still used on formal wedding invitations, just for that Victorian look.

We're pleased to announce our new on-line ordering for Regency wedding invitations, programs and other accessories.  You'll find our site at http://bloomeryweddings.regency.ac/, and as in the store, you'll receive a 30% discount off the retail price.  You can order your complete set of invitations and reply cards, and envelopes, with wording help from Verse It.

In addition to on-line ordering for Regency, you can also order Carlson Craft online at http://bloomery.cceasy.com, and Birchcraft at http://www.yourinvitationplace.com/Default.aspx?WebName=bloomeryweddings.  These sites also offer our 30% discount.

When you order your invitations on-line, you'll be able to see your invitation, with your wording, in your ink color and type face before you place your order.

The following guide is courtesy of Birchcraft Studios.  You can view and order Birchcraft Studios invitations online at http://www.yourinvitationplace.com/bloomeryweddings.  Be sure to use this link to receive your 30% discount!

Whether you have a wedding to announce, a new baby in the family or a photogenic pet, PhotoStamps are a fun and easy way to add a personal touch to everything you send in the mail! You can also give them as unforgettably unique gifts, or keep them and frame them so you and your family can treasure your PhotoStamps for years to come!

"Perfect for weddings" is the claim, and how true.  What a cool way to personalize your invitations--the stamps can feature you and your fiancee'!  The USPS has authorized Stamps.com to offer PhotoStamps again.  After a trial last year, Stamps.com has been authorized to offer personalized stamps for your letters.  According to Stamps.com:

PhotoStamps are a new form of postage that allows customers to include their favorite digital photographs, designs or images on valid US Postal Service postage. Customers design state-of-the-art, professional-looking postage by simply uploading pictures from existing image files, digital photographs, and original graphics. An intuitive interface allows users to flip, rotate, and zoom in and out of their images, as well as add colored borders to create harmonized themes.

You set up your account, upload a digital photo, tweak it if you want to, and order your stamps in sheets of 20.  There is an additional charge for the personalization, which works out to cost about 75-cents for a 37-cent stamp (the stamps are available in other values as well).  The price goes down with each additional sheet of stamps you buy.  Remember that your invitations will probably require more than 37-cents to mail, so you may be buying a number of sheets.  It would be a good idea to weigh a complete invitation at the post office to figure the correct postage.  The average invitation costs around $1.00 each to mail, so your postage bill for 100 invitations would be approx. $150 for PhotoStamps, vs. around $100 for regular postage.

This is probably not for the couple on a tight budget, but if you have a little room to personalize your invitations, PhotoStamps are an idea to consider.  Get started today!

Your invitation order should include either a small guide, or a pre-assembled invitation for you to examine.  In case not, here's what to do:

1. Address the mailing envelopes with the invitees' full address and the return address, if necessary (on many invitations, you can order the return address pre-printed on the outer envelope).
2. Address the inner envelopes with the invitees' names only.
3. Place the invitation face-up on a table.
4. Place a piece of tissue over the imprint area.
5. Place the reception card (if any) face up, on top of the tissue.
6. Tuck the response card face up under the flap of the response envelope, and place on top of the reception card (or tissue) with the response card facing up. Don't forget to put a stamp on the response envelope.
7. Place the entire pile inside the inner envelope.  The back of the invitation should rest on the inside of the flap as you insert the pile.  Fold the flap, but do not seal the inner envelope.
8. Place the inner envelope inside the mailing envelope.  The names on the inner envelope should face the back of the mailing envelope, so that when the mailing envelope is opened, the invitees will see their names.  Seal and stamp the mailing envelope.  You should take one invitation to the Post Office and have it metered so you can apply proper postage.  Fully assembled invitations are relatively heavy, and odd shapes may also require extra postage.

There will be some variations depending on how traditional or non-traditional your invitations are.  The main point is that your guests should see their names on the inner envelope as the mailing envelope is opened, and should read the response card when the inner envelope is opened.  The image below is courtesy of Birchcraft Studios:

One of us sort of bungled the pricing on an invitation order this weekend (the couple got a really good deal), so this entry is as much a cheat-sheet as anything else.

Carlson Craft, Birchcraft and Regency invitations are 30% off every day.  Tempo invitations are 20% off everyday.  All napkins, matchbooks, seals, etc. are 20% off every day.  Shipping averages $8-$12, and turnaround time is 10-14 days.

If you can't make it in to look through our books, you can browse and order invitations on-line.  If you order your wedding invitations on-line, you will still receive the discount.

You can order Carlson Craft invitations, napkins, etc. at http://bloomery.cceasy.com.  Birchcraft invitations can be ordered from http://www.yourinvitationplace.com/bloomeryweddings, and Regency invitations can be ordered online at http://bloomeryweddings.regency.ac/.  Make sure to click these links in order to receive your discount.

One of the questions we are asked frequently is whether it is considered acceptable etiquette to print invitation envelopes on the computer. My answer?  While it may be socially acceptable to print envelopes on the computer, it is not proper etiquette.  Whether you hire a calligrapher, or simply use a nice pen and address them yourself, you should address both the inner and outer envelopes by hand.  The outside envelope contains the full mailing address of the recipients, and the inner envelope contains the names of all the specific individuals invited.  Along the same lines, the outer envelope should have the sender's return address either professionally printed by the stationer, or be handwritten as well -- no computers and absolutely no labels!

If you have a burning question, please feel free to ask our experts using the e-mail link on the right.  Then, be sure to visit the Wedding Blog at BloomeryWeddings.com often for more great wedding advice and information.

You've planned a beautiful wedding, right down to every last detail...even the stamps you use on your invitations and response cards?  Ugly stamps have no place in your beautiful wedding.  The US Postal Service will unveil four new floral stamps at the Chicago Flower Show on March 15, and the stamps will be available nationwide on March 16.

You can see the new stamps, and place a preorder at http://shop.usps.com/cgi-bin/vsbv/postal_store_non_ssl/display_products/preOrder.jsp?OID=4849352&QTY=1&orderType=PRE.  On March 16, the stamps will be available from your local post office, or from the USPS store at http://shop.usps.com.

The USPS also offers another floral stamp in both $0.37 and $0.60 denominations, and sells this design in a "wedding pack" of 20 of each.  You can see and order this stamp at http://shop.usps.com/cgi-bin/vsbv/postal_store_non_ssl/display_products/productDetail.jsp?OID=4848953.

Remember to weigh one or two of your invitations before buying a lot of postage--you want to make sure you apply enough to send your invitations!