Our family was happily gathered together at the base of an elaborate marble staircase, during the joyous wedding reception for our daughter, Caroline, and her new husband, Edward. Do you know where the venue is? Take a peek at the stamp on the envelope for a hint!
Oh my, what a brilliant reception the debut of my Dempsey & Carroll notecards have received. Thank you all for your enthusiastic support and interest… and purchases!
I hope that you are inspired to write more notes! With the plethora of emails and texts these days, a handwritten note is a precious sight to discover amongst a pile of bills and catalogs. Even the hand-addressed envelope stands out as a surprise present. Remember that a handwritten note is a thoughtful gift you can easily give at any time. It will be received like a sparkling gem or a ray of sunshine. You know that someone has taken the time to compose, and mail, their meaningful words, which are meant just for you! Often, thank you notes are cherished and kept by the recipient forever. I have accumulated several “keeper drawers” for those special notes. Do you have a keeper drawer too?
Here are a few old-school traditions and parlance for handwritten correspondence:
A “bread and butter note” is another way of referring to a thank you note sent to thank someone for their hospitality and sent within 48 hours of the event.
Thank you notes are handwritten, never typed.
The most traditional choice for a writing instrument is a fountain pen. Fountain pens have several different size nibs, as discussed in a former MMM. Blue ink is always a classic color choice. I adore using my signature pink ink and Mont Blanc pens! Remember, black ink is the most formal and always used for a sympathy note.
The salutation on a note to a married couple is:
Formal: Dear Mr. and Mrs. Holden, (Mr. comes before Mrs.)
Informal: Dear Holly and Stuart (ladies first!)
In England, stationery and notepaper are always referred to as “writing paper.”
Choose your stamp to complement the color scheme of your writing paper, ink color, or the theme of the lining paper or occasion. The wedding for our daughter, Caroline, was held at Marble House in Newport, RI. Caroline designed the splendid stamps offering a peek at the stunning architecture of her wedding venue, as shown in the first photograph above.
Coordinating your pen ink color with the color of the stamp adds a tailored detail to your envelope.
When your formal name includes a title (such as Mrs., Mr., Lady, Countess, General or Doctor) which is engraved or printed onto your stationery, you may draw a line through your name if you are writing to a dear friend. This is especially appropriate on a sympathy note. The line you draw through your name discreetly indicates that you are writing to them on a personal level, as a friend, and without formality. This is appropriate for any type of stationery that you have, and for any occasion, including a gift card enclosure. You do not draw a line through a monogram or if your name does not include a title before it.
The Forbidden Faux Pas:
No-no: To assume that an email thank you note is a sufficient expression of gratitude after attending a dinner party. It is not! The amount of time and effort a hostess puts into a party solely for your pleasure should inspire you to take a few moments to acknowledge her with sincere recognition by writing a note.
No-no: To think that brides have up to one year to write a thank you note. A thoughtful bride will write and acknowledge a wedding gift within three months of receiving the gift.
No-no: To buy writing paper or a card that has "thank you" already printed on it. You are writing a note to say thank you, so there is no need to have the stationery company print it on the card for you. The same is applicable for a store-bought “sympathy” card. Your sympathy is extended within the thoughtful words that you compose on white writing paper, using black ink.
No-no: When addressing an envelope, using the words “To” or “From.” The placement on the envelope of the address to the recipient, and the placement of the return address on the upper left-hand corner, or on the back center of the envelope flap, indicates who the envelope is addressed to, and who it is from.
For those of you who are in OR near Palm Beach… guess what?
Pearls of Palm Beach: A secret peek into eight timeless and tailored elegant houses, my new book, is available for purchase at Lori Jayne’s store at 304 S. County Road, Palm Beach! But, be forewarned... when you visit, you may come out with more than just a book upon entering her enticingly beautiful shop which is filled with all the goodies I adore!
There is such a treasure trove of talent in Atlanta, Georgia, at Fred Reed Framing, which has been creating one of a kind, fabulous bespoke frames since 1947! Their frames are made starting from the raw wood which is cut, assembled, carved, hand-painted, and gold leafed. The splendid French mats are intricately laid out, and each line and panel are hand-painted in watercolor by one of their skilled artists, all of which have graduated from SCAD (The Savannah College of Art and Design) in Atlanta. Fred Reed Framing has a full custom line of creations: bespoke TV screens with art to cover the TV (brilliant!), shaped frames for mirrors, and large pieces of art. All of their creations are stunning!
