Really Ridiculous Question About Addressing Invites

ashleynicole416

Ok, this is beyond ridiculous, but I'm a stickler for things looking a certain way, as I'm a DIY bride, and a bit of a perfectionist.

I'm addressing my invites myself, and while I have really rather nice handwriting, my cursive isn't so great. Actually, I just tend to overdue the number of loops on stuff, and really, really suck at "Georgia" which is where at least half of my guests live.

Is it tacky to address in print? There's one or two assistants in my office I could ask for help (with proper thanks, of course), but I'm an attorney here, and I hate asking for help with personal stuff because I feel like they'd feel obligated due to my position. Whether or not that's true is questionable, but I'm always hesitant.

We just don't have the money for a calligrapher, and while I'd love to have those beautifully addressed invitations and know other people put the money into it, my budget doesn't allow it and my dress needs major alterations!

Sorry for such a silly question - but we're Southern. If I asked my Mother, she'd probably hit me with a wooden spoon.

MRSBJS

Good Morning,

I did mine on my computer, and they came out beautifully - it's time-consuming, because you have to make sure the envelopes are feeding correctly into your printer, but for me, it was worth the time. Good luck!

annakb8

I think it is ok to handwrite your addresses in print, not cursive, if your print handwriting is very good. I wouldn't ask people in your office to help, especially assistants who might feel obligated to say yes.

If you have a few family member that are very traditional maybe you could practice and do your very best cursive on those invitiations. While I think most people would be ok with print, if you think Great Aunt Virginia is a stickler for tradition it wouldn't hurt to do hers the more traditional way.

ETA: I think any kind of handwritten address is always preferable to a computer generated one for wedding invitations.

SarahPLiz

Of course you can address them in print. In fact, the post office would prefer that!

FutureMrsTR

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_really-ridiculous-question-addressing-invites?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:b0f89d03-6cc4-43ef-b4da-2eaea76b6d65Post:15d9c699-a91a-4906-b6d9-86b67ba63d02">Really Ridiculous Question About Addressing Invites</a>:
[QUOTE]If I asked my Mother, she'd probably hit me with a wooden spoon.
Posted by ashleynicole416[/QUOTE]

DED.

I think printing is fine, but I don't know that I'm a huge stickler for invitation etiquette.

akhensley81

I think printing is fine, too.

The way I see it, it's more about the names/addresses being legible than anything else. I'm not a huge stickler for invitation etiquette either. I actually printed my addresses on labels off my computer... the invites/envelopes were 6x9 size so I got plain white shipping labels and designed them to match the wedding colors / invitation designs. They worked out perfectly.

[Deleted User]

I think printing is fine. If that is what is most legible, that's the way to go.
PS- I like your mom's ways! I thought that was just an Italian thing!

louisvillebride21

I didn't do it, but I've heard of girls printing the address in really light grey and then going over them with a dark pen. That way you have something to trace and it still looks handwritten.

MissOwl

I agree, printing is totally ok. If you want, you could write the invitees names in cursive or with a swirly first letter for their first name & last name and then print their address.
I hope these fonts come out right.

i.e.
Mr. Festive & Dr. Christmas Tree1234 Santa Claus LaneNorth Pole, Antartica 12345   Mr. Festive & Dr. Christmas Tree1234 Santa Claus Lane

North Pole, Antartica 12345  

The Mel and Todd Show

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_really-ridiculous-question-addressing-invites?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:b0f89d03-6cc4-43ef-b4da-2eaea76b6d65Post:f7b06d90-7623-4d2b-b3e8-d14d34a13a5f">Re: Really Ridiculous Question About Addressing Invites</a>:
[QUOTE]I agree, printing is totally ok. If you want, you could write the invitees names in cursive or with a swirly first letter for their first name & last name and then print their address. I hope these fonts come out right. i.e. Mr. Festive & Dr. Christmas Tree 1234 Santa Claus Lane North Pole, Antartica 12345     <strong>M r. F estive & D r. C hristmas T ree 1234 Santa Claus Lane North Pole, Antartica 12345   
</strong>Posted by MissOwl[/QUOTE]

The South Pole lies on Antarctica.  The North Pole lies in the middle of the Arctic Ocean.  This is why you can only get to Santa via flying sleigh, or by special invitiation laced with magic.  Clearly. 

noodle_oo

We printed ours on the computer and that was pretty easy. But if you are comfortable printing them, I'd jsut do that and think it is fine!

I just wnated to say that I don't think it is appropriate to ask your assistants at work to do wedding invitations for you.  I've been an assistant before and often times you do not feel like you can say no whether you want to or not.  The only way I think you could ask them is if 1) you made sure it was done outside of work time and 2) you offered to pay them.  Otherwise I think it is an abuse of your position.

squirrly

Printing is suitable.  But LVB's idea is a good one too - why not test it out, and if it works, try that? 

Instead of sending the envelope through the printer, you can print them on regular paper as dark as possible, and slip that inside the envelope.  If you can see through it, just trace that way.  If you can't see through it, you'll have to run them through the printer in order to trace.

Also - I'd get a calligraphy pen if you're going to do this, and pick a pretty but legible font.  The pens are cheap on Amazon or from your local craft store - shouldn't cost more than $20, MAX. 

ashleynicole416

Agree completely. Several have offered to help (as they see me struggling with wedding plans!) and are all incredibly kind, but I've always been conscious of not doing anything to abuse my position. The assistants in my office work their buns off, and this just isn't that big of a deal.

Thanks for the advice ladies!

cavienna

If you hand ad the invitations in print, it's totally acceptable.  However, it is completely inappropriate to print the addresses on the computer.  Printing them on the computer is viewed as you not thinking you have the time to address an envelope to your guests. 

shlni

Handwriting in print would be totally acceptable. Like Annakb8 said, etiquette calls for script over printed labels. For me, I would appreciate the time and care that went into a nicely written envelope.

MissOwl

you're right about Antartica Mel. i was so focused on the fonts that i didn't even think about it.