Weddingbee Blog

Mr. Mary Jane and I are definitely going to send marriage announcements. Marriage announcements usually take the form of a fairly simple card that lets friends and family know that the couple “took the plunge” and “tied the knot”.

The problem? Everything I’ve read (including The Knot) says that you’re supposed to send your announcements on the day of, or the morning after your wedding. But we really want to incorporate one of Shawna Noel’s sure-to-be drool-worthy photos in to the announcement design. And it’ll probably take her at least a few weeks (or more) to edit them for us.

So what are we to do? The etiquette-oriented bride would create the announcements without using a photo. This is the proper thing to do because it ensures that the announcements will be delivered when they’re supposed to be delivered.

But who ever said I was proper? I want to wait for our photos, dammit! So wait I will. I ran this by FMIL too, and she said she didn’t think most people would notice if the announcement was a little late. Aside from brides and those directly involved in wedding planning, most people don’t really pay attention to stuff like what date the announcements were sent, or whether the envelopes were hand-written. In the grand scheme of a marriage, what’s a month? We’ll still be freshly-married in October. Definitely still worth announcing.

Meanwhile, I figure I will try to get the rough design hammered out prior to the photos being ready.

That way, I can just print and assemble, and send them off! Not too much extraneous thought required (since I’m going to be deep into midterms by October).

Before there was ever even a whisper about a picnic, one of the first (and only) paper products I planned to make was the announcements. And way back in March, when I was freshly engaged and not yet a Bee, Miss Mascara posted her awesome Save-The-Dates.

[See more of the Mascara S.T.D.s, and find the tutorial here.]

A source of Miss Mascara’s inspiration, she said, was these postcards.

[source]

Oh, do I love me some rounded corners. And since Mr. Mary Jane proved just what an efficient corner-rounder and brad-inserter he is, I know they’re do-able! (I just hope he doesn’t get a handover.)

I have no idea how many of these we’re sending. Originally I thought just the far away friends and relatives would get one. Then I figured the moms would like to get one too, as a keepsake. But what about other relatives (specifically in Mr. Mary Jane’s family) who will be joining us at the picnic? They don’t need one. But would they like one? I bet that Grandmas would. This is something I’ll need to figure out soon. (I’ve found that moms are a good source for advice on this kind of thing.) One thing is for sure: I learn from my mistakes! This time, I’ll be designing it first, figuring out how much paper I’ll need, and then buying the supplies at Michael’s. I do NOT want another snafu like I had with the floral invitation paper.

Will you be sending marriage announcements? Do you think it’s OK to send them a few weeks after the wedding?