How To Let Your Holiday Card Tell Your Family Story!
Posted: November 27, 2009 Filed under: Helpful Tips | Tags: holiday card, how to Leave a comment »Sending holiday cards is a tradition most people continue every year, and there are many good reasons why these cards are so deeply engrained into our yearly celebrations. A good holiday card manages to update everyone you know about your life, and how things have progressed over the last year. It allows your family and friends to connect with you no matter how far away you all are. It’s the link that makes sure we don’t lose track of some people forever.
Sometimes we forget to send holiday cards, or wait till it is too late. If you regularly receive holiday cards, you should make the effort to reciprocate the gesture. Start thinking about it early and make a list of who you will be sending them too, and make sure you have their updated addresses so it doesn’t get returned to you after you find out your cousin moved to Vancouver!
Another good tip is to be mindful of the faith of those you are sending to. If you have a friend who you know is Jewish, while your relatives are Christian, it is a really nice gesture to personalize the card in a way that reflects the faith of that particular person or family. And remember that a memorable card is one that tells the recipient all the notable facts of your year, but doesn’t get excessively wordy. Try to keep it to a paragraph or two and leave out any details that are not major so to avoid making the card appear messy. Make sure to state your well wishes for the recipient at the end.
Some people like to enclose a letter updating everyone about what happened during the year, while others find that to be too much work, too stressful or too imposing. An easier way to tell your story for the year is with photos. We live in such a visual society now that we are all constantly armed with thousands of digital photos taken over the year. Why not take the best of the best and work them into your holiday card? A card that features pictures of your year is even more exciting than one that just tells them what you have been up to. Try including pictures of any new changes in your life. People love to see pictures of your new baby or pet, renovations on your house, or a new purchase you’ve made. It is a very simple yet personal way of making a connection with that relative who never gets the chance to visit.
If you are going to go with a photo card, there are a lot of ways to have fun with it. Some creative families like to take their picture when they go on vacation every year, posing the same but in a different exciting location. If you take your photos at home, a fun option is to make it a different theme every year. One year you could all dress up as old Hollywood movie stars, the next year as Christmas personalities like Santa and his Elves. There are no limits on what you can do, so have fun with it and let your creativity drive you.
Of course if you want a fast, easy and efficient way to get your photo cards ready, CQ Cards is a great option. Our cards make a lasting impact on your recipients, and our customers tell us that their friends wait expectantly each for their Christmas card because of the great pictures and graphic design. We have one, two and three panel options depending on how many pictures you want to include, and we can write your update into the card so you can avoid rewriting it on every single card. We can also take care of addressing, enveloping, stamping and sending them for you as well. The holiday season is always stressful; we are here to make it easier for you.
Choosing The Perfect Wedding Photographer
Posted: November 10, 2009 Filed under: Helpful Tips | Tags: how to, photography Leave a comment »This is an area that brides don’t always spend a lot of time thinking about, as they can sometimes get caught up in the other tasks it takes to plan a wedding. This is why some brides end up disappointed with their pictures or unhappy that they didn’t get exactly what they were hoping for. Spending the time to find the perfect photographer that fits your style is just as important as finding the perfect venue or cake. Your photos are going to be the one thing you are left with after the celebration is over, so it is worth putting in the extra effort.
To avoid missing out on the most talented and highly sought after photographer, remember to start looking early, perhaps as soon as you get engaged. The great photographers are booked more than one year in advance, so if you wait too long you could miss out. Remember to visit their studio and request to see their portfolio of wedding photography, as their portraits and baby photos show you nothing about what they can do at such an event. Shop around visiting as many different photographers as you can, as they will all have a unique style. Be sure to ask about their wedding experience, and find out how long they have been shooting weddings for. Weddings are a lot more intense than other types of photography and the pressure is high, as is the action, so experience really does make a difference. Of course, if you are on a very tight budget, those with less experience but equally impressive portfolios are not a bad option.
Don’t forget to ask about the negatives as they are necessary for reprints of photos. A lot of photographers keep the negatives, but modern photographers are starting to include them in the package. This is an important detail to know when comparing prices. Also, it is best to finalize photography arrangements as soon as you know the exact wedding date. Get the contracts signed and put your deposit down so you don’t lose that date. If they are requesting the entire fee instead of just the deposit, go somewhere else. You should not pay in full until after the wedding when you have seen the proofs.
If you have specific ideas for pictures in your head, don’t be afraid to write them down and show the photographer. It is your day and it is their job to please you. This will help guide their direction and ensure you get that perfect shot you’ve been dreaming of. Make sure to request multiple shots of moments that are most important to you – like the first kiss or cutting the cake.
Another thing to remember when planning your wedding is to leave adequate time for the wedding photographer to take pictures between the ceremony and the reception. If they are in two different locations and you only leave an hour in between, the photographer will not have enough time to get a wide variety of shots, and the stress could put the photographer off their game. If travel is involved between locations, try to leave at least three hours in between.
If you keep all these things in mind, you should end up with the perfect wedding pictures. It does take some effort but just take your time and find a photographer you feel relaxed around. This is your day!
Get Thanked For Your Thank You!
Posted: September 1, 2009 Filed under: Helpful Tips | Tags: how to, thank you card 1 Comment »As daunting as a wedding can be, it’s not over until the Thank You cards are in the mail. These seemingly simple cards tend to cause a lot of anxiety for brides who aren’t sure what to say, when to send it, or whom to send it to.
The traditional rule is that they should be sent no longer than three months after the wedding, but sooner is better than later. Despite this, modern couples are stretching this rule to six or sometimes even twelve months. Try to send them out as quickly as possible after the honeymoon, and remember to always refer to the specific gift that you are thanking them for directly.
Always be grateful in your comments, even if the gift was not to your taste. You can be more or less formal in your salutation depending on your relationship with the person. For example, a wedding gift received from your parents friends should be addressed as ‘Mr. and Mrs.’ unless you grew up calling them by their first name.
Keep in mind that wedding Thank You notes differ from Thank You notes in general as they require a more formal look overall. Find cards that fit your wedding style and personality, and shop diligently as deals sometimes do become available.
A great way to really personalize a wedding Thank You card is through photos. The wedding is over and you have plenty of beautiful wedding photos to choose from. Photo personalized Thank You cards are more than just notes, they become a memento of your wedding day that your guests will hold onto forever. It is a great way to say thank you while also giving them something they can keep in return to remember the day with.
A great place to get photo personalized Thank You cards is here at CQ Cards, as we are an online service that allows for multiple pictures and a graphic designer to help you every step of the way. Our website has over twenty-five different verses to choose from based on actual customer experience, so there is no need to worry about what to write. Our customers have had nothing but positive experiences with us. Claudia appreciated our convenience, saying “Thank you very much for your service. I must say that it was conducted in a friendly and professional manner. I really appreciate how easy it was to choose the card.” Taryn loved the unique quality, “Everyone LOVED the cards, and I’ve had several people comment on how unique the thank you cards were. CQ Cards created a completely professional and personal thank you card that was of the highest quality.” Magda was actually thanked for her thank you, “Our wedding guests loved the Thank You cards so much that we received several “thank you” notes for sending such classy cards!” You know you’ve ended your wedding on a great note when people are actually taking the time to thank you for that little extra effort!
When all is said and done, what matters most is that the card is personal and represents you and your new partner. Have fun with it and don’t be a slave to the rules if they don’t compliment who you are.
