Address Labels

wittykitty14 · April 2013

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to figure out what to do. After searching though old threads, it seems as though using address labels is in poor taste. That's what I always thought, but didn't think it was THAT horrible. I've been leaning towards it because I just don't know what to do anymore.

Invites are going out in a little less than a month. I have about 100 to address, completely on my own, and I'm freaking out. FI has terrible handwriting, so it's just me. I'm uncomfortable asking for anyone's help, because it's not their job. I was going to start hand addressing them 2 weeks ago, and pace myself accordingly. Then FI and I decided to do the sticky labels, and he could type everything and print them out for me, so I didn't have to worry about it. He's in favor of this option because it will bring my stress level WAY down.

But using address labels doesn't sit well with me. Doing them myself sounds too overwhelming though. We have no money in the budget to hire someone to address them. What should I do? Everyone goes through this, so how did you all find the time/motivation to do it?

I'm just really stressed out and scared that nothing is going to come together in time, and this is just one of my worries. Thanks in advance for your help.

ohmrs2014 · April 2013

Have you thought about running the envelopes through your printer?

wittykitty14 · April 2013

I've heard of it. How does one do that, exactly? (Technology is not my friend)

daria24 · April 2013

First, we ran them through the printer. It was a bit of a PITA and it took me 4 tries to get it right, but I did it. That being said, it's not the easiest thing to do and some printers just won't ever work right, so it might end up taking more time then just addressing them by hand.

Second, you have almost a month-address 5 per day. It's really not that bad, I'm not sure why it's stressing you out. If you are watching TV, address them during commercial breaks. Or while dinner bakes in the oven, etc. I personally don't care how fancy the hand writing is, I just want to be able to read it.

wittykitty14 · April 2013

I'll look into the printer thing. My FI is good at that stuff and could probably figure it out. But depending on if my printer can handle it, it might be more trouble than it's worth.

I don't have time every day to address them. Three days a week I'm gone from 7am-10:30pm. Those days are automatically out. There's a lot of other things going on as well, both for the wedding and not. I realize that this in no way makes me special, and that busy people do this all the time, but I figured I'd throw it out there. I would have had enough time, but recently, part of the wedding plans backfired a bit somehow, which has left me with hours and hours of DIY work that I could have done months ago had I known this would happen. That project has to be completed shortly after the invites go out, and it's not something I can procrastinate on. If that situation didn't come up, I probably wouldn't be having such an issue with this.

I'm usually better about organizing my time and getting done what needs to be done no matter what. Between the wedding and work and preparing for grad school, I'm just burnt out, I guess. Thanks for your help.

daria24 · April 2013

Honestly I think it might take you the same amount of time to figure out how to work the printer, and run them through. I had to hand feed the envelopes one by one because otherwise it grabbed 2-3 envelopes at a time.

As much as I hate labels, it's hardly the end of the world if you go that route.

meg2marryshane · April 2013

Do whatever you can to avoid labels! Feeding them through a printer with a beautiful font and/or one that matches the script on your invitations has become very acceptable. Not many brides handwrite their envelopes anymore.

Google digital calligraphy. Maybe there's a person in your area who does this service at a reasonable price.

daria24 · April 2013

Of the 10 or so invitations I've received as an adult-only one was handwritten. And it was obviously done by a professional calligrapher. The rest had labels. GASP.

Ella and Pedro · April 2013

Using labels (IMHO) is a lot like many of the other choices engaged couples will face. Many choices are out there that are available and frequently presented as the 'proper' choice or a viable choice, but are in fact not what is known as proper etiquette.

Having a cash bar, dictating a dress code, inserting registry information in an invitation, etc. all come to mind. Pot luck reception, tiered reception, A and B guest lists, etc. etc.

My sister and her fiance (husband of 5 years) choose to label not have handwritten invitations. She's just not one of those people who really gives two figs. We were not raised to be familiar with most aspects of wedding/formal etiquette. I'd say that is true of many Americans.

If you use labels, you just should know that it's not as classy and is considered poor etiquette. The question is, do *you* give two figs about this, vs. your sanity and stress level going up, if you do hand-write all invites yourself? If it was me, I would not find it such a chore, but everyone has their 'thing.' Maybe this is where you draw the line, for the sake of your sanity and stress?

In my case, my fiance LOVES calligraphy (took a calligraphy class at a community college, many years before we met, in fact) and he's doing our invitation calligraphy.

JoanE2012 · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_invites-paper_address-labels-9?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:cd062f89-8272-496a-b0ab-225e1f87acecDiscussion:0b917635-8b58-4b9e-9ecc-c2deb0a9c428Post:94bca4f6-c428-47ea-9767-63bc6b6e94ac">Re: Address Labels</a>:
[QUOTE]If you do 12 invitations every evening, you will have them done in about 8 days. I did daughter's like this.
Posted by CMGr[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>This. It's addresses and require no thought if you have them all together. I think once you sit down and start writing them you'll realize you're flying through them and it's not as bad as you thought.</div><div>
</div><div>ETA: I think junk mail when I see labels. It's once in your lifetime, take the time to write them out.

</div>

smith5jm · April 2013

I was going to use labels, but the invitations that we ended up getting had very dark envelopes and would have looked horrible with labels. So I addressed all of my 120 invitations by hand. It was MUCH easier and less time consuming than I thought it would be. Maybe 3 hours total- you would be surprised how fast they go once you get going. I broke it up over the course of a couple weeks, just doing some when I had a few minutes to spare. And they looked great. That being said, I am not against labels. If it is less stress for you, I say go for it.

meg2marryshane · April 2013

CMGr - Not many brides address their own envelopes anymore; you addressed your daughter's. In the last 2 years, I have not received one invitation handwritten by the bride; 1 was done by a professional calligrapher, and the rest were digital calligraphy.

Handwriting is the preferred method. Even the best stationery stores are now offering digitial calligraphy.

banana468 · April 2013

The personal experience hardly makes digital printing or labels acceptable. I taught me self a basic calligraphy font and did all 120 invitations by hand. If you take the time you can do it correctly and it will look great.

wittykitty14 · April 2013

Thanks for the replies.

I'll probably find a way to hand address them, some how. Yeah, I'm stressed out over doing it, but what else is new, right? I think this task scares me because I'm such a perfectionist-I'm worried that I won't get the addresses centered just right or my lines will start slanting. I have plenty of extra envelopes though.

Here's another question: What about using sticky labels for the return address? Is that in poor taste?

ohmrs2014 · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_invites-paper_address-labels-9?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:cd062f89-8272-496a-b0ab-225e1f87acecDiscussion:0b917635-8b58-4b9e-9ecc-c2deb0a9c428Post:ea775113-4fb5-409a-a6ca-7e4b9e971dbc">Re:Address Labels</a>:
[QUOTE]The personal experience hardly makes digital printing or labels acceptable. I taught me self a basic calligraphy font and did all 120 invitations by hand. If you take the time you can do it correctly and it will look great.
Posted by banana468[/QUOTE]

<div>This is what I plan on doing. FI used to do it a long time ago so he just needs to refresh himself and I am teaching myself how to do it. If all else fails, the printer LOL. Banana, how long did it take for you to teach yourself? I've been practicing a little bit each day but thats because I really want to address the Save the Dates like this as well.</div>

shaylagirl · April 2013

What about taking them to a professional place to have them printed if you just don't have the time to do it yourself (like Kinko's or OfficeMax or Office Depot)?

Have your FI type out all the addresses how you want them formatted, drop it all on a thumb drive and take it down to have them do it.

I know no matter how hard I practice calligraphy, it'll still be slanty, and ugly, and I'll be more angry and upset with myself than if I ran them through a printer or had someone print them professionally.

Just another option if you're technologically and chronologically challenged.

banana468 · April 2013

In Response to Re:Address Labels:[QUOTE]In Response to Re:Address Labels:The personal experience hardly makes digital printing or labels acceptable. I taught me self a basic calligraphy font and did all 120 invitations by hand. If you take the time you can do it correctly and it will look great.Posted by banana468This is what I plan on doing. nbsp;FI used to do it a long time ago so he just needs to refresh himself and I am teaching myself how to do it. nbsp;If all else fails, the printer LOL. nbsp;Banana, nbsp;how long did it take for you to teach yourself? nbsp;I've been practicing a little bit each day but thats because I really want to address the Save the Dates like this as well. Posted by 50ShadesofMe[/QUOTE]

My friend gave me a calligraphy kit and I practiced while watching TV at my leisure for about 2 weeks.

meg2marryshane · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_invites-paper_address-labels-9?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:cd062f89-8272-496a-b0ab-225e1f87acecDiscussion:0b917635-8b58-4b9e-9ecc-c2deb0a9c428Post:eac5c8e8-5b77-4135-a318-b250c38e990a">Re: Address Labels</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks for the replies. I'll probably find a way to hand address them, some how. Yeah, I'm stressed out over doing it, but what else is new, right? I think this task scares me because I'm such a perfectionist-I'm worried that I won't get the addresses centered just right or my lines will start slanting. I have plenty of extra envelopes though. Here's another question: What about using sticky labels for the return address? Is that in poor taste?
Posted by wittykitty14[/QUOTE]

No labels on wedding stationery are considered in good taste.

wittykitty14 · April 2013

Ok, I figured I should stay away from those too. That's what I've always seen people do, but I wanted to gather everyone's thoughts on it. I'm not too worried about putting the return address anyway-that's the easy part!

Shayla-thanks for the suggestion on taking it somewhere to be printed! I'm going to look into how much that would cost!

Daizy106 · April 2013

i really dont see how using labels is poor etiquette? i have not received a wedding invitation that was handwritten. they all used labels. for the envelopes that had dark colors they used clear labels and it looked fine. its really up to the bride what she wants to do. the calligrapher is a good idea, however its not in my budget. i dont want to handwrite them bc my script is not great and im worried that since there are no lines on the invitations my word will not be straight. im sure a lot of people will strongly disagree that i am going to use labels but this is what i feel comfortable with. other people have done it. no one is going to judge you for it.

MobKaz · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_invites-paper_address-labels-9?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:cd062f89-8272-496a-b0ab-225e1f87acecDiscussion:0b917635-8b58-4b9e-9ecc-c2deb0a9c428Post:eac5c8e8-5b77-4135-a318-b250c38e990a">Re: Address Labels</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks for the replies. I'll probably find a way to hand address them, some how. Yeah, I'm stressed out over doing it, but what else is new, right? I think this task scares me because I'm such a perfectionist-I'm worried that I won't get the addresses centered just right or my lines will start slanting. I have plenty of extra envelopes though. Here's another question: What about using sticky labels for the return address? Is that in poor taste?
Posted by wittykitty14[/QUOTE]

<div>
</div><div>Unless you have black envelopes, try this:</div><div>
</div><div>Use a black, thick Sharpie and trace over the lines of an index card. Insert the index card into your envelope, with the lined side facing the front of the envelope. You should see the lines well enough to use them as a writing guide. This system worked very well for my daughter.</div><div>
</div><div>ETA: Sometimes the writing <em>tool </em>itself can make the job easier or more difficult. We used a permanent marker called Elegant Writer. It was very easy to use, and did not slide or smear on the paper.</div>

wittykitty14 · April 2013

Mobkaz-that's an AWESOME idea! I think it's brilliant! Overall, I'm feeling much better about this whole process now that I've started doing it. I got a calligraphy pen-I think it was an Elegant Writer one actually, and it really does make handwriting look much neater. This weekend I ended up writing the return addresses on all the envelopes, and it went by pretty quick! I'll grab an index card tonight and give it a try! Thanks for the great tip!

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