cardSupply.com - Glossary For Papers

Blotter Tissues: Tissues, enclosed with a formal wedding invitation, which add a pretty and classic touch. These were originally a necessity, used to keep the invitation's ink from smearing; now they are simply an attractive but non-essential element of many wedding invitations.

Business Sheets: The largest of all the letter papers at 8 ½ by 11 -- the size of a standard piece of paper you would put in your copier or printer -- business sheets are exactly what they sound like -- letter sheets for business correspondence.

Ceremony Cards: These cards are accessory cards printed with the date, time and location of a wedding ceremony. Ceremony cards are enclosed with a wedding reception invitation when a number of guests are invited to the ceremony as well. These are small cards, about 3 ½ by 5 inches with four to six lines of text.

Ceremony Program: A listing of a wedding's rituals, songs and prayers as well as the musicians, the officiant and bride and groom's attendants.

Correspondence Cards: These single-panel cards are informal, used for thank yous, informal invitations and short notes. Correspondence cards are used by both men and women; they may be plain or adorned; a monogram or a name can appear at the top of the card. Write only on the front of the card. Postcards, at 4 x 6 inches, are a type of correspondence card.

Envelope Linings: Glossy paper which lines the inside of formal envelopes and adds an attractive and festive accent to the invitation.

Half Sheets: Half sheets, originally called this because they were half the length of formal letter sheets, are single sheets of paper that fold in half to fit an envelope. They are 5 ¼ by 3 ¾ when unfolded. Half sheets may have a monogram, name, name and address or just an address. Both men and women use half sheets. Write on only the front of the sheet. Half sheets are informal, used for personal notes and informal invitations.

House Stationery: House stationery, traditionally provided for the convenience of guests in one's vacation home, is now more commonly used in hotels and Bed & Breakfasts. Providing quality stationery for your guests is a courtesy; it also makes your establishment more homey and memorable. The name of your establishment and the address or simply the name or the address are printed at the top of half-sheets.

Imprintible Stationery and Cards: cardSupply offers blank stationery and cards which are described as "imprintible." This means you can, with your printer at home or by working with a printer in your area, print your own message on the cards.

Informals: Informal stationery has a deceptive name; these are actually formal papers. These small foldover notes are about 3 ½ by 5 inches. The name of an individual -- usually a woman -- or a couple's names may be printed on the front; the inside is used for a brief note; usually thank-yous, responses to formal invitations, gift enclosures and formal invitations. They may be plain or adorned with a border or artwork.

Inner Envelopes: Formal invitations, particularly wedding invitations, include two envelopes. The outer envelope, described below, has the recipient's name and address and your return address on it. The inner envelope is more plain; it only has the formal names of those invited on it in handwriting or calligraphy. There is no glue on the flap. The invitation, along with any enclosure cards, is placed in the inner envelope, folded edge first, facing the back flap. The inner envelope is then placed inside the outer envelope, the flap-side in.

Invitations: A request to join the host at a particular event. Different occasions call for various invitation guidelines. Formal invitations are written in the third person, with all names, numbers and dates spelled out except for street addresses. Invitations for formal parties are sent two to four weeks in advance; wedding invitations are sent four to eight weeks in advance, depending on the formality of the wedding. Informal invites must be written with good taste, but may be imaginative, comical and charming, as the hosts wish. Invitations for informal gatherings may be sent one to two weeks ahead.

Letter Sheets: Letter sheets are the most formal paper; these are traditionally ercu, ivory or white and 5 ¼ by 7 ½ inches. These are the same sheets used for formal wedding invitations. Letter sheets have two folds: one is along the left side; the other is top-to-bottom, to fit the note into an envelope about half the size of the sheet. Traditionally, these sheets are used to reply to formal invitations and for letters of condolence but because of their classic simplicty, letter sheets are often used for many sorts of correspondence. Do not write on the back of the sheets.

Monarch Sheets: At 7 ¼ by 10 ½, monarch sheets are traditionally a men's paper, but many women find them useful too, for long letters and personal business notes. Your name and address may be at the top of the sheet, but this is not essential. Monograms usually are not used on monarch sheets, but is is not incorrect to do so. Use only the front of the sheet; if more space is needed, continue on a new page.

Monograms: Monogrammed notes are used for thank-you notes, short messages and formal invitations sent by women. cardSupply offers these notes in both foldover note and single panel card styles with a variety of monogram options. Monogrammed notes are traditionally used by women, but men may use them as well. Single women or married women who have retained their maiden names use their first, middle and last initials in that order. If the center letter of the monogram is larger, her last initial is in the center, flanked by the first and middle initials. Married women use their first, maiden and last initials; if the center initial is larger than the others, her married name is in the middle with her first and maiden names on either side of it.

Outer Envelopes: An outer and inner envelope are often used with formal invitations, particularly wedding invitations. The address is handwritten or written by a calligrapher. Envelopes used to arrive dirty and marred, damaged from hours spent in the elements, in a pack on a horse or in a cart. The servant who accepted the mail would remove the outer envelope and discard it and present his or her employer with the pristine inner envelope.

Pew Cards: Also called Within the Ribbon Cards, these cards are often used for large, formal weddings. Pew Cards are the same cards as other "accessory cards" -- reception, response and ceremony cards; only the text identifies them as pew cards. They are about 3 ½ by 5 inches, with four to six lines of text. Pew cards state that your honored guests should be seated in one of the first pews or within a corded-off area. Pew Cards also act as guest passes at weddings taking place at a location frequented by tourists-- Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, for example.

Rain Cards: These cards, which are simply accessory cards printed with the appropriate message, inform guests of an alternate location in the case of rain at an outdoor wedding. These are about 3 ½ by 5 inches with four to six lines of text.

Reception Cards: This card is an accessory card printed with your reception date, time and location. These cards are usually about 3 ½ by 5 inches with four to six lines of text. Remember: A wedding reception is only held on the day of the wedding. If you choose to have a celebratory party one day, six days or six months following your wedding, it is not a reception, but an event or party to honor the married couple.

Reply Cards: The same as a response card.

Response Cards: Response cards offer a convenient way for your guests to tell you if they can make it to your event. Response cards are an accessory card with a place for your guest's name and check-boxes to indicate if he or she can come. They may also have dinner options or, usually for weddings, a space to write a brief note. They are about 3 ½ by 5 inches with four to six lines of text. Response cards are often single-panel cards, but may also be a foldover note. Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope to encourage your guests to respond.

Save-the-Date Cards: Sent in advance of an event, usually a large party or wedding, save-the-date cards ask your guests to do just that. These cards are often used when the event is held during a busy social season -- such as the holidays -- or if the event is of great importance -- a wedding or Bar or Bat Mitzvah, for example. Send save-the-date cards two or three months before you send the invitations. Save-the-date cards are not a subsitute for an invitation; anyone who has received a save-the-date card must receive an invitation. Save the date cards may be an accessory card -- 3 ½ by 5 inches -- or larger, depending on the details you wish to include.

Travel Cards: These are used to inform wedding guests of any travel arrangements you have made on their behalf or those they should make themselves. This can include things such as available flights and contact information for hotels, taxi services, rental car agencies, etc. These cards may be a range of sizes; from 3 ½ by 5 inches to the size of the invitation itself, depending on the amount of information you wish to give your guests.

Tri-Fold Cards: These cards are mis-named -- they only fold twice, creating three panels.

Weekend Wedding Program: This informs your guests of the many activities you've planned to make your wedding special -- from the rehearsal dinner to a golf outing to the wedding itself and the morning-after brunch. Hotel, rental car, taxi services and other helpful details are included on the program. A wedding program may be mailed with the invitation.