Is A.M. or P.M. Capitalized on an Invitation?

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Diecut Dress Party InvitationsWhen it comes to invitations, it seems anything goes, but there are still some rules that should be followed.

To write the time of day, it is recommended to write the time followed by a.m. or p.m. in lower case with a period after each letter, such as 12:30 p.m. There should always be a space between a.m. or p.m. and the time.

The “a.m.” means Ante Meridiem - before noon – and “p.m.” means Post Meridiem - after noon. Although you will find some books that tell you to capitalize the A.M. or P.M., doing so on an invitation is usually too overpowering to the rest of your text. When it comes to writing “noon” – 12:00 p.m., or “midnight” – 12:00 a.m., you can use “twelve noon” or “twelve midnight.”

On formal invitations, dates and times are always spelled out:

Saturday, the first of April

   - using “on” before the date is optional, but do not capitalize the “o”

   - do not capitalize the date, “first”

at six o’clock

   - using “at” before the date is optional, do not capitalize the “a” or any other letters

   - adding phrases for time of day is optional, but no letters are capitalized

      “in the evening” applies to 6:00 p.m. and after

      “in the afternoon” applies to after noon and before 6:00 p.m.

      “in the morning” applies to after midnight and before noon

Two thousand and fourteen

   - the listing of the year is optional

   - only the first letter of the first word is capitalized as in the “Two” of the year

Why You Need Custom Party Invitations

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Star Studded Party InvitationsIf you are planning a party and you want to make it an event that everyone you invite is dying to come to, you are going to need to get some really unique, custom printed party invitations. This means that you can’t just run out and buy any invitations you see in any old store, you are going to need the services of a company that specializes in creating invitations. Contrary to popular belief, custom printed invitations are not much more expensive than other invitations. In fact, party invitations that are custom printed tend to go over really well with your guests and they show that you took the time to personalize the party.

Let’s face it, sometimes people get burnt out going to party after party, so your goal is to make sure that when you send out your invitations, your intended guests see your party is going to be different and special. Basically personalized invitations encourage and entice guests to want to come to your event.  You can’t do that with just generic invitations. But, if you spark their interest with your invitations, you have a guaranteed guest.

Many people think if they just sent out generic invitations and go all out for the party decorations that it’s enough. They are wrong. Every great party and event planner will tell you and swear that one of the most important factors of a successful party is how well received the invitation is. So if you don’t really care who or how many show up, then go ahead and send out generic invitations. But if you want to make this a great party that neither you, your guests or the guest of honor will ever forget, make sure you start the party with perfect custom party invitations.

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Why do you Need to Mail Invitations?

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Party InvitationsIn today’s world of cellphones, email, tweets and facebook posts, you might think mailing party invitations isn’t necessary. Nothing could be further from the truth. Mailing enticing party invitations to your guests shows that you value them as friends and as a guest at your upcoming event.

Printed party invitations get guests excited about your event and set the tone for your party. Invitations let guests know what you’re celebrating, what you’re serving, how to dress as well as the date, time and location. They also look great posted on their refrigerators. Custom printed invitations show your personality and can be casual, formal, modern or traditional.

An emailed invitation or a home-printed flyer might get guests to come to your party, but if you want an awesome turnout, nothing is better than mailing personalized party invitations to your guests. Invitations from Announcingit.com are a perfect way to invite guests to your birthday party, baby shower, bridal shower, business event or even your wedding.

Black Chinese Takeout Box Party Favors Idea

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Turn a party favor or snack into a fabulous treat when you use our Black High Gloss Chinese Takeout Boxes. We created this idea for a Bacheorette Party limo ride. Put your favorite munchies into the takeout box, accent with a ribbon, add a folded cocktail napkin on top and pair with mini bottles of wine, margaritas or martinis.

Black Chinese Takeout Boxes Dress up your Party Favors or Treats

Social Media Invites vs. Printed Party Invitations

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Tiki God Luau Party InvitationParty invitations might be easier to send by email or a by flyer created from your home computer, but if you want people to get excited and actually come to your party, sending custom printed party invitations win hands down. 

Snail mail has its advantages, one being privacy, the other being that a custom printed invitation lets guests know you have taken the time to do it right. Beautiful invitations also build excitement and anticipation from the moment guests open them and social media just can’t duplicate that feeling.

Unless you are promoting a business event, using social media as a means to invite party guests to a personal event is a risky proposition.

If you should get the urge to use Twitter or Facebook as the source of your event invitations, be careful. Are you really inviting every one of your social media followers to your party? You could end up with an out-of-control number of party guests, “followers” that are really “in-the-flesh strangers,”  or a lot of hurt feelings from unread posts or non-follower friends being left out if you rely on social media as your main source of inviting and relaying party details.  

Shh Surprise Party InvitationDon’t forget that Twitter messages are public and they can be seen by anyone at anytime, even total strangers.  To see this yourself, from your Twitter account, run a search on the word “invitations” or “party.” Your screen will be filled with “non-followers” tweets. Even more amazing is the “Tweets Near You” function. With one click, the world’s tweets have just been narrowed down to “near” your location. For your safety and the safety of your guests, resist the urge to tweet or post your personal address, email, phone number, party location, date and time.  

The same safety issue applies to Facebook. While you may have made your Facebook “Wall” private, some of your most “private” information is not blocked from a stranger’s view. With a few clicks through any Facebook page or any “friends” page, a stranger can view all the personal bio details you have posted on your Facebook Info tab. The info fields Facebook has made available include:  your sex, your birthday, your children, siblings, parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles, your relationship status, anniversary, hometown, religious views, contact information – email address and/or website links, likes and interests, education and where you work, plus what you are looking for with your Facebook page such as friendship, networking, etc.  The Facebook Photo and Video tabs are also viewable by anyone and photos can be “tagged” with names of the individuals in each photo.  A completed Facebook Info tab might contain more information than your parents, husband or best friend ever knew about you and the information is available to anyone who logs in to Facebook whether they have “liked” you or not. Be careful if you decide to post your party invitation or any party details on your wall. Continue reading

The Joy of Holiday Invitations or the Bah Humbug of it All

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Red Poinsettias Holiday Invitations

Red Poinsettias Holiday Invitations

We know there is 18 days until Halloween and already you’re being bombarded with Christmas stuff. We also know:

  • There’s 73 days until Christmas, (Yikes!)
  • Less 21 days for the first Saturday in December – the 4th
  • Less 7 days, the minimum amount of time you should give for RSVP before your party date
  • Less 7 days, give or take, to order and get your holiday invitations delivered
  • Less 3 days average time it takes hosts to get invitations in the mail

…you’re running out of time!

And then, there’s your guests to consider. They have holiday invitations for his work, her work, their kids, their “other” friends, professional organizations they belong to, New Year’s Eve, and you probably have those same commitments too. December calendars fill up at warp speed.

How is your party going to grab your guests’ attention? By sending them a custom printed party invitation. If your social circle is a partying group, don’t make the mistake of skimping on an invitation. Your party invitation needs make guests say, “We’re going to this party!” Custom printed invitations can be the difference between a packed party or a dismal, embarrassing “is anyone coming?” turnout.

When guests pull out their calendars, you want your custom printed invitation on the top of the pile. A casual invitation by phone call is too informal and often slips their minds if their calendar is not in front of them at the moment you call. It’s also ineffective for conveying the tone of your party like a custom printed invitation. A letter sheet folded into a “bill-size” envelope that reads like a laundry list of boring details won’t make it to the top of the pile in the bid for a coveted party date. An emailed invitation, provided guests remember to print it, loses it’s appeal quickly when it’s printed on plain white copy paper and lost in the pile of other papers on your desk.

While we can’t clean your house or do your shopping for the party, we can get perfect holiday party invitations in your hands quickly and efficiently.

Impress your guests with the best! Shop our Holiday Party Invitations now. Look for the “Exclusive” label for invitations you won’t see anywhere else.

Party Invitation Dress Codes Explained

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Cocktail Party Attire

Cocktail Party Attire

Whether you’re the invitation sender or the invitation recipient, how to dress for a party is an age old question.

If you are sender, how do you visualize your guests as you circulate through your party? Use your imagination to determine the feel of your party, then inform all your guests on the invitation with the appropriate dress code.

Do you envision strict black-tie, black-tie optional, festive attire, casual holiday attire, dress to impress, or anything but blue jeans?  Sometimes the location of your holiday event will help determine dress code, but be specific so your guests will arrive appropriately attired.

If you are the invitation recipient, when in doubt, dress up.  Who doesn’t want to look better than the rest of the party competition? If you’re overdressed, you can always say you are on your way to another party.

It is also fine to ask the host or other guests what is appropriate and acceptable for the event.  Find something you’re comfortable in – are you going to be eating, drinking, dancing? Women, don’t wear something you can’t sit down in whether it’s a too tight ball gown or a too short mini, be comfortable!  If you’re comfortable, you’re going to feel great!

Read “How to Dress for any Party Invitation Occasion“

5 Holiday Invitation Mistakes and how to to Avoid Them

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Jolly St. Nick's Face Holiday Invitations

Jolly St. Nick's Face Holiday Invitations

December 1st and the start of the holiday season may seem a long time off, but if you’re hosting a holiday party, you’re running out of time….fast!

1. Ordering invitations too late.
December calendars fill up at warp speed and to get guests to attend your party, you need to mail holiday invitations at least 4-6 weeks before your party date. So, if you’ve chosen the first week of December for your date, you need to mail your invitations by the first of November at the latest. Don’t forget to allow time for your supplier, hopefully Announcingit, to process, print and ship your invitations to you.

2. Not ordering enough invitations.
You order the same amount of party invitations as the year before, but forgot about the new employees, the new couple down the block, or the new couples you really clicked with from your child’s soccer team. We suggest ordering at least 10 extra invitations to avoid the costly and time-consuming need to reorder.

3. You made a mistake in the wording!
Proof read, proof read, proof read. Be sure to check your holiday invitations for spelling, grammar and punctuation mistakes as well as information you might have inadvertently omitted. Double check the date, the time and location as well as the spelling of all the names.

4. Your boss will be out of town!
Decide on a guest list for your holiday party, then check the calendar and set a date and time that is convenient for all your guests and/or co-workers. Planning the office Christmas party only to find out the boss will be in Tahiti on that date would be a disaster! Make sure there are no conflicting parties or events planned or any business commitments that conflict. If your party won’t be a success without “The Smiths” in attendance, make sure they have your party date open before you commit to your chosen date.

5. Inadequate Postage
Don’t assume your complete invitation will take standard postage. Is your invitation square? Does it need to be be hand-cancelled? Is it oversized? Overweight? All of these concerns could mean your invitation will require extra postage, but how much? We suggest assembling one invitation and taking it to the post office to have it weighed and the size measured before you buy or affix postage stamps. Also, if for some reason invitations need to be returned to you, make sure you have your return address on all envelopes so if there is a problem, they can be returned to you.

See all our Christmas and Holiday Party Invitations for personal or business events.Shop all our Holiday Party Invitations

Invitation says “Festive Holiday Attire Dress Code”, What is it?

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It is always helpful when a host prints the expected mode of dress on the invitation, but with holiday invitations stating “Festive Holiday Attire” and “Holiday Chic” it’s not always easy to decipher exactly what that means.

Some invitation clues can help you decide what type of dress is expected. What’s the occasion? What time of day is the party? What’s the location? How many guests? Is it an evening cockWomen's Festive Holiday Attire Dress Codetail party at a five-star hotel or drinks and appetizers at your neighbor’s home. Is it formal or informal?

If an invitation states “Festive Holiday Attire”, here are some guidelines:

For Women: Add a bit of holiday color and sparkle or beading to your outfit. Nice black pants or simple black skirt with a red silk blouse or cashmere sweater or sweater set, nice dressy flats or pull out chic pumps. No out-of-season shoes, totally out-of-style, over worn or dated shoes – hear Jimmy Choo calling you and go shopping, it’s a party you’re going to! Use the time of the party to guide you as to how dressed-up or dressed down you should be. No chipped or dirty nails, go bare and buffed nails if time doesn’t permit new polish. No overdone makeup, hair accessories or jewelry (nothing that clinks). (Dress from Boston Proper)

Men's Festive Holiday Attire Dress CodeFor Men: Add some holiday color to your shirt – a deep burgundy or dark forest green, nice dark dress pants (usually stay away from khakis or light colors). It’s a party, wear something besides jeans, but dark well-pressed perfect jeans if you think they are appropriate. Nice leather shoes, no thick rubber soled clunkers – think GQ, and dark socks (cover the calf), Men's Festive Holiday Attire Shirtmaybe red or green holiday pattern depending on the time and location of the party. For evening and for warmth, wear a nice sport coat and leave the large cable knit sweaters in your closet. (Entire look from Men’s Wearhouse – wear burgundy shirt instead of white shown for a holiday touch.)

Fashion Faux Pas: Always make sure your clothes are clean and pressed – no worn, frayed, faded or stains anywhere. No missing buttons, unraveling anywhere or broken zippers. Make sure you are comfortable – ladies, can you sit down, bend over, reach for the appetizers without a wardrobe malfunction? Nothing too slinky or sexy, no straps or underwear showing, you might have to see these people at work on Monday.

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