postal etiquette

Sending and receiving social stationery is a time-honored tradition that carries postal etiquette rules. The following recommendations adhere to traditional guidelines of decorum.

WHEN TO SEND

Wedding Invitations: Few life events are as significant as one's wedding. If your wedding is local, we recommend mailing invitations 6-8 weeks before the event. For destination weddings, a lead-time of 2-3 months is necessary so friends and family can make travel plans in advance.

Save-the-Date Cards: To ensure that your special event is on everyone's calendars, we recommend sending Save-the-Dates 6-12 months beforehand. Save-the-Date cards include your name, the event date and event location. Some couples choose to list travel information, but including it is not a necessity.

Birth Announcements: Everyone understands that new parents have little free time after the arrival of a newborn. As such, it is okay to mail announcements 6 months - or even more - after your child's birth. Birth announcements typically include the baby's name, date of birth, time of birth (optional), weight and family name.

Thank You Notes: After receiving a gift, attending an event or simply enjoying a meal at a friend's home, a handwritten note is a polite way to say "thank you." Ideally, a note should be sent within the week, though it will be appreciated no matter when it is received.

HOW TO SEND

Additional Postage: Keep in mind that square and heavier pieces will require extra postage. We recommend having your stationery suite weighed at your local post office to determine the proper postage. Hand-Cancelled Postage: Recommended for wedding invitations and baby announcements, the process of hand-stamping/canceling postage ensures that your thick, clean, beautiful envelopes stay that way. Today, this process is only offered at limited post offices in each area; contact your local post office to find out if it is offered at a location near you.

Stuffing and Stamping: Sugar Paper offers envelope stuffing and stamping services. Unfortunately, for liability reasons, we cannot offer mailing services.