If you used Vistaprint (or any) postcards as your Save the Dates....

sarah0725

.....did you send them as is, or put them in envelopes?

I just got mine yesterday, and they seem like rather flimsy little things. I'm a little nervous about sending them through the mail all on their own without an envelope, but I also know I would save a lot of money just using postcard stamps. Any thoughts?

Also, I feel kind of surreal that I am actually talking about sending something out for my wedding. Is this actually happening after all these years?

Birdie1483

I"m wondering the same thing for myself. Let us know what you end up doing!

M&R7111

I used Avery post cards that I got from Staples and printed them myself.  They were flimsy and I worried how they would hold up in the mail.

The reason I used post cards, though, was to save money on the stamp so putting them in envelopes would have defeated that point. So same situation as you.

I'm pretty sure some of them may have been bent a bit or smudged with some dirt somewhere from NJ to the mid west where some of FI's family lives.  But they cost me so little to do I didn't really worry about it.

The local ones to my family turned out fine.  Can't say what happened to the ones out west - haven't heard either way!

sarah0725

So far, my investment in these things is about $6.17 for shipping them. Gosh I love Vistaprint.

akhensley81

I used VistaPrint for all of our printed items... we did postcards for the RSVP cards. But I specifically ordered heavier stock paper because I was worried about this. Even the heavier ones got pretty beat up on their way back to me. If you're really worried, it might be worth getting the envelopes.

Do you have enough time to mail one to yourself to see the condition it comes back in?

sarah0725

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_used-vistaprint-postcards-save-dates?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:fcc3dc50-0e3c-4435-9c3e-6ccc76d42f44Post:8a1c8d36-f3d4-4c15-b1c9-c70055a4bdfa">Re: If you used Vistaprint (or any) postcards as your Save the Dates....</a>:
[QUOTE]I used VistaPrint for all of our printed items... we did postcards for the RSVP cards. But I specifically ordered heavier stock paper because I was worried about this. Even the heavier ones got pretty beat up on their way back to me. If you're really worried, it might be worth getting the envelopes. Do you have enough time to mail one to yourself to see the condition it comes back in?
Posted by akhensley81[/QUOTE]

Actually, that's a good idea. I have 100 of them, only 50 or so of which I will actually need, and I'm not planning on sending them out until January. I also just calculated that the difference in price for postage will be about $7, plus the price of envelopes. I can probably afford $7. :)

AK, can I ask how else you used Vistaprint, and what products you'd recommend? I'm trying to think of other creative ways to use them since they're so cheap. I just discovered the free brochures, and I'm thinking they might make great programs.

Nebb

Stupid question, is it cheaper in the US to send a post card than an envelope? Thats the impression Im getting here.

sarah0725

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_used-vistaprint-postcards-save-dates?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:fcc3dc50-0e3c-4435-9c3e-6ccc76d42f44Post:72e5d194-c7f2-4252-bf8a-c76d1bf89c86">Re: If you used Vistaprint (or any) postcards as your Save the Dates....</a>:
[QUOTE]Stupid question, is it cheaper in the US to send a post card than an envelope? Thats the impression Im getting here.
Posted by Nebb[/QUOTE]

Aye, lass.

Nebb

Hmmm thats crap!! I dont think theres a rule like that here, everything (up to a certain weight) is 52 cents

marissa_claire

I used Vistaprint postcards as my STDs and they came out fine AND I saw them at a few houses they had been mailed to and they still looked great.  No problem here!

sarah0725

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_used-vistaprint-postcards-save-dates?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:fcc3dc50-0e3c-4435-9c3e-6ccc76d42f44Post:0d55da3b-940c-40b6-99c7-0d52cb40ae08">Re: If you used Vistaprint (or any) postcards as your Save the Dates....</a>:
[QUOTE]Hmmm thats crap!! I dont think theres a rule like that here, everything (up to a certain weight) is 52 cents :(
Posted by Nebb[/QUOTE]

Yeah, it sort of doesn't make sense, especially since these little things are so flimsy that I could easily imagine then jamming up machines at the post office. But such is life. Eliminate the envelope, and suddenly the same item is 14 cents cheaper to ship.

WildRumpus

I ordered the envelopes from Vista Print, and the little security shading inside says "Save The Date" I thought it was cute

sarah0725

Yay Tide! I was waiting for you to show up with your Vistaprint hints.

Birdie1483

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_used-vistaprint-postcards-save-dates?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:fcc3dc50-0e3c-4435-9c3e-6ccc76d42f44Post:a1282b4f-815b-4988-9b48-d39d0378bf19">Re: If you used Vistaprint (or any) postcards as your Save the Dates....</a>:
[QUOTE]Vistaprint tips and ideas are in my bio:  <a href="http://www.tidetravel.weebly.com" rel="nofollow">www.tidetravel.weebly.com</a> As far as the envelopes, I would spend the extra $7, <strong>just to make sure that your information isn't out there for the whole world to see. </strong>
Posted by tidetravel[/QUOTE]

That's the biggest problem I've had with trying to decide to use STDs or not. I know there isn't any vital information on them, but I still don't like the idea that every Tom Diick and Harry at the post office will know that we're getting married on such and such date. :)

alehayes

We used envelopes.  We didn't have too many to send, so I just picked up a box of invitation envelopes at Walmart for like five bucks.

bel138

For the STDs I put them in envelopes. I think I got a deal where they were free. Or $1.99. I was worried because I put our website address on there and of course the website has personal info.

We also used their regular postcards as RSVPs without envelopes. Most made it unscathed. A few were scraped, but no more than usual mail, and none were destroyed or unreadable. So if you don't care if the whole world sees the info on the STD, they should be ok without envelopes.

EDIT: I also used their large postcards for invitations. I got a deal for like 50 free with $4.99 envelopes. I did that in two separate orders and all the invitations were $10. I think I also did the $0.99 upload your own design for it. So in total, 100 STDs with envelopes, 100 invitations with envelopes, and 100 RSVP postcards cost me like $25. And came with a free custom tote bag.

saisongbird

I used Vistaprint for my STD, and I had postcards.  Didn't put them in envelopes, just mailed them as they were, and they held up just fine.  Don't worry about it!

MrsMLRB

I mailed my VP STD postcards today so I will let you know what happens to them as they arrive (since I sent them to my FILs and parents and FI as well). So we will see.

abbalish

I didn't use them for STDs but I did use Vistaprint postcards as RSVP cards.  We had no issues in getting them back in one piece.

abbalish

And if you're interested, we also used Vistaprint for our rehearsal dinner invitations and photo sharing cards (printed on business cards).  Oh, and thank you cards, and return address labels   God, I love Vistaprint.  We also used them for the invitations for our first anniversary party!

ETA: With the thank you cards, only 10 at a time were free so I started early and just ordered 10 at a time whenver I was ordering something else.  I used a bunch of different patterns.  They were really nice.

Beachy730

We used the postcards for our STDs and sent them without envelopes and had no problems with their condition.  The only thing I didn't like, and it was partly my mistake, was that we didn't have a return address on them, so I don't know who didn't get them.  I wasn't worried about any of our information being on them either.  It had our names and date, and the city, but no specifics.  It did also have our website on it, but I really didn't care.  If someone at the post office is that pathetic that they want to look up my website, knock yourself out.

We also used Vistaprint for my shower invites (I helped my mom and aunt with some of the stuff and picking things out), and matching return address labels.  My shower favor was homemade frosted cookies in the shape of a wedding cake, so I used the return address labels to make a sticker for sealing the bags that said thank you blah blah blah with my name.  They worked out perfect. 

My aunt (MOH) also made recipe cards on VP that they put inside my shower invite, with a post-it note with a poem asking for guests to bring their favorite recipe for us.  It was really cute and free.  There are so many things you can find on there.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

I did not use the envelopes. Did you get matte or glossy post cards? Mine were glossy and they seemed fine. They seemed to hold up fine in the mail, as well. But then, for something that cost me less than $10, including postage, I wasn't that worried about them. The invitations themselves are what I worried about looking nice!

As far as personal info, we had hotel block information, but no wedding website, so it wasn't like someone could stalk our wedding and find the time and location of the ceremony.

ETA: I just grabbed one, and I guess it's flimsier than a regular postcard, but I honestly never noticed.

thesuninherhead

We used Vistaprint but we ordered the oversized postcards... they were huge (and more expensive to post) but thick. We sent them without envelopes purely because they wouldn't fit in regular envelopes. 

graysquirrel

I used the VP postcards and sent as is. I think it defeats the purpose to put a postcard in an envelope. I'd raise an eyebrow if I got one like that. As far as I know, all of our cards arrived just fine except one-- a little white fleck ended up under FI's nose. Our friends put it on their fridge and everyone's had a good laugh over FI's little Hitler stash. 

danieliza1127

I put ours in envelopes.  I think Vistaprint was running a free envelope deal too, so I figured what the heck.  It seemed nicer and just safer somehow to put them in envelopes.

bonnyandtim

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_used-vistaprint-postcards-save-dates?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:fcc3dc50-0e3c-4435-9c3e-6ccc76d42f44Post:9c3027a8-9698-4802-849e-021be0cec696">Re: If you used Vistaprint (or any) postcards as your Save the Dates....</a>:
[QUOTE]I used Avery post cards that I got from Staples and printed them myself.  They were flimsy and I worried how they would hold up in the mail. <strong>The reason I used post cards, though, was to save money on the stamp so putting them in envelopes would have defeated that point.</strong> So same situation as you.<strong> I'm pretty sure some of them may have been bent a bit or smudged with some dirt somewhere from NJ to the mid west where some of FI's family lives.  But they cost me so little to do I didn't really worry about it. The local ones to my family turned out fine.  Can't say what happened to the ones out west - haven't heard either way!
</strong>Posted by M&R7111[/QUOTE]

My VP postcards did just fine by themselves.