Tag Archives: invitations

How to Ask for “No Boxed Gifts”

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One of the most popular posts on this blog is the one where I explain No Boxed Gifts and what this phrase  means.  It was something my non-South Asian guests surely were puzzled with at first, and was awkward to bring up to them.

Now, while many people might have no idea what this phrase means, you’re welcome to see this post here to get a quick explanation on what this phrase means and how to approach it.  To surmise:  it simply means that the couple prefer cash or gift cards over traditional gifts.  They have opted not to register for whatever reason.

There are some great ways to approach this and to spread the word among your guests.

On your wedding website, you can create a brief explanation such as “Having lived on our own so long, we’ve amassed everything we could possibly need for our home.  As such, we kindly request no boxed gifts.”

OR

“As we are planning on moving across the country, we kindly request no boxed gifts.”

I have seen this on both wedding websites and on inserts.  Now if you’re not moving across the country or you haven’t lived on your own… there are other options!

If you do not want to create a wedding website, you can opt instead to place a variation of the following sayings in your wedding card ensemble:

-The Bride and Groom Kindly Request No Boxed Gifts

-We Kindly Request No Boxed Gifts

-While we appreciate your love and prayers above all, we kindly request no boxed gifts.


These are just some ideas you are more than welcome to borrow if you choose to ask for “No Boxed Gifts.”

Now, on the other end of the spectrum I’ve seen it done very distastefully, so I urge all brides and grooms to AVOID these:

-NO BOXED GIFTS (written in all caps as if they are truly trying to make a point!)

-No Boxed Gifts (where’s the please?)

-Cash Only, Please (are you a merchant requesting payment?)

I took a page from my super proper cousin’s book in which she included an insert with her invitation card.  Mine had information regarding our valet parking, wedding website, and at the bottom “The Bride and Groom Kindly Request No Boxed Gifts.”  While adding an insert certainly adds to the cost of a card ensemble, I personally don’t see anything wrong with putting this information at the bottom of your wedding invitation card instead.  Some people balk at the idea of placing any gift information on the card whatsoever (ask the bridal party to spread the word instead, they suggest) so if you truly want to follow wedding etiquette but don’t wish to spend money for an extra insert, perhaps place your wedding website address at the bottom of the card and be sure to include a tab explaining gifts to wedding guests.

How has asking for “No Boxed Gifts” worked for you?  Did any guests make any comments regarding this, or were they happy to oblige?  Have you seen it any worst than what I’ve written here?  Sound off in the comments, I’d love to hear what people thought!

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How to tackle Wedding Invitations

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I think sending out wedding invitations is probably the most tedious of all wedding-related tasks.  I wish it was one of the things I did not have to do myself.  If I could have hired somebody to take care of it for me, I would.  Hand-addressing 150+ invitations and making sure they are all mailed out is just something I am glad I will never have to do again… until my own kids get married.

(cute vintage postage below from 100layercake)

I recommend compiling addresses FAR in advance from all your friends & families.  This saves all the last minute rushes to find addresses.  Keep these in an excel spreadsheet so you can refer back to them come time for Thank You cards to be sent out.

If you are hand-writing your envelopes (as proper etiquette dictates you should!), be sure to order extra envelopes!  Most companies send you extras as a precaution, but you can never be too sure.  (I myself have made mistakes on a few!)

I always hear that you need to take a finished wedding invitation (cards, reception cards, RSVP cards, inserts and all) to the post office to be weighed for postage.  I did this… and of course, I heard 4 different costs at each of the post offices I went to.  I heard from one person at the Post Office that it would be 61 cents, another said $1.05, another said 88 cents, and another told me 61 cents.  I sent a test one out and it was delivered to the recipient for 61 cents, so I went to the post office with a stack of envelopes at 61 cents and the lady FORCED me to purchase 44 cent stamps to add on to my stack of 50 envelopes.  Not fun!  Some cards were mailed with the $1.05 postage, others were mailed with the 61 cent postage.  This sent me into a panic!  What if people don’t receive their invitations?   Surprisingly, MANY invitations were received by the recipient with the 61 cent postage and just 3 were returned for more postage.

Keep track of RSVPs as they come in!  Put a date that is enough time before the wedding so you can track down lost RSVPs.  My wedding is June 5, so guests are urged to RSVP by April 20.  That gives me lots of time to track down lost RSVPs so I can create my Seating Chart.  So far I have 89 positive attendees–yay!

Cute Flourishes for my DIY Projects

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Oooooh!

I just found a blog post on Project Wedding with high-res flourishes to add to my DIY wedding stuff:


I’m pretty excited to go home and use these cute little flourishes on my DIY projects.  Woo hoo!  I was looking for files like this.  Will probably have to use Photoshop to alter the colors to match what I want, but, regardless, these are great little additions to my DIY stationary!  I think I’ll add one of these to my DIY “Welcome to Our Wedding” signs.  Yipee!