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Event Planning

Wedding Invitations

What Time Do You Put on a Wedding Invite?

Whose name should be placed first on the wedding invitation? Here is the answer you are looking for!

UPDATED ON December 08, 2023
Wedding Invitations

Can You Send Wedding Invitations Too Early?

It really can't hurt to get things done early when you can, but when it comes to wedding invitations, is there such a thing as too early? That's the question we ask in this blog.

UPDATED ON December 08, 2023
Posted on November 24, 2019

What Should Be Included in a Birth Announcement?

What should be included in a birth announcement?
A new arrival in the family is a joyous time for all and understandably, new parents are as keen to share their happy news as their nearest and dearest are to hear it.
While a phone call or, in modern times a WhatsApp message, are personal and immediate ways to spread the joy - a baby announcement card is becoming increasingly popular too. Especially once you’ve had time to take stock and settle into life with the new addition.
Baby announcement cards are a lovely way to share your news with those outside your immediate family, but who you’d still like to introduce to your little bundle of joy.
But other than the baby’s name, what else can you include on the card?

Photographs

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It’s a good idea to wait at least a few weeks before sending the baby announcement cards to give you time to collect a few nice photos, which can show how much the little one has changed since birth. While some baby announcement cards may include just the one picture, there’s no reason why yours can’t show off the new arrival in a few different outfits and poses. Try and keep it to a maximum of three pictures though, to ensure the receiver can clearly admire the baby’s features, and that there’s comfortable room for other details.

Birth details

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Among the first questions, new parents get asked are about the baby’s birth weight and the time they were born - so be sure to include these details alongside the date of birth. You can also let friends and family know where the baby came into the world if you have space.

Personal messages

While some people may like to keep the baby announcement cards simple and generic for all who receive them, others may like to leave space to include a little personal message from the parents. This can be anything from delight at the new arrival, thanks for any cards or gifts received, or an invitation to a christening or celebration of the baby’s birth.
What Should Be Included in a Birth Announcement? - Baby Announcement Cards - Girls Photo Typography
The beauty of baby announcement cards is that, while there is standard information most will include, they can also be really personal to the people sending and receiving them.
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When Should You Send Baby Announcements?

When Should You Send Baby Announcements?

Baby announcements are a lovely way to let friends and family know of a new arrival. The cards can include photographs of the bouncing bundle of joy, as well as a name, date of birth, time and location of birth, weight, and a personal message too if you wish.
But how soon after the baby’s arrival into the world should you be expected to send them out?

Following tradition?

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Typically, new parents will send their baby announcement cards out within six months of their little one’s birth. This is hopefully enough time to settle into a new routine of nappy changing and sleep deprivation, without it being so long after the arrival that everyone will already know all about your new addition.

Get creative

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Some may like to leave it a little longer, and include a collage of photographs on the card, showing baby’s changes from birth to several months old. If you decide to wait a while, you could even add a lovely personal touch by decorating the cards with baby’s hand or footprint at birth and after 6 or 9 months, to show their growth and development.
Of course, there’s also the option to send an earlier email note or post your news on your social media accounts, to keep your loved ones in the loop until you have time to send more formal cards.

Do it early

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But, if you’d like to get the cards sent out to your friends and family sooner, whether because you’d like to thank them for cards and gifts, invite them to a celebration or christening, or simply just because you’d like to share the happy news as soon as possible, then it could pay to be organised before the baby arrives.
While you obviously won’t know all the details to include or have any photos, you can still give the inevitable ‘baby brain’ a helping hand and be prepared by selecting your template - or designing one if you’re creative - ready to add the all-important information when the time arrives.
Whatever you decide, baby announcement cards are a lovely way to let your nearest and dearest know of the new addition. So, whenever they arrive in the post, you can be sure they’ll be treasured.
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What to Put on a Baby Announcement Card

What to Put on a Baby Announcement Card

Here at Dotty About Paper, we get plenty of questions about one of the most exciting parts of welcoming a new baby into the world - telling everyone else about it! Baby announcement cards might seem a little old-fashioned, but they're a personable and unique way to tell your family and friends about the new arrival. So, we've put together a handy guide to what you should put on a baby announcement card. Our large selection of baby announcement cards has something special for everyone.

Decide on your style

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Are you going to be formal or fun? Will you use photos of your new bundle of joy or cute cartoons and pictures? The type of card you pick will often inform the kind of information you put on there, so pick your card carefully.

Keep it simple

The purpose of the birth announcement card is to let people know that there's a brand new baby in the world - and it's yours! So it's better to keep things simple when you sit down to write it, rather than cluttering the card up with information people don't need to know. Traditionally, the card begins with a phrase or saying like 'Congratulations' or 'Hello, World'. Then, the names and surnames of the parents and of course, the new full name of the baby.
What to Put on a Baby Announcement Card - Baby Announcement Cards - Grey Photo Trio
Some cards also include other information about the baby, including its date of birth, what time it was born, how much it weighed and its height. You can also include the names of any siblings that the new baby has and how proud everybody is about the new birth.

Example Structure

Mrs X and Mr Y are proud to announce the birth of
First - Middle - Last Name
January 1st 2020
6lb 5oz
17 inches
Extra Information
What to Put on a Baby Announcement Card - Baby Announcement Cards - Neutral Photo Typography
If you're looking for your cards to be informal and fun, you can include a little message at the bottom of them. Sometimes these will be pre-printed, so make sure you pick an announcement card that matches how you feel. Lots of parents choose phrases like 'Mum and baby are doing well' or 'Mum and Dad are tired but in love with the new arrival'. If you do want to put an extra message onto the card, pick something that comes from the heart so people can really see your joy through the announcement.
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What to Put on a Christening Invite?

What to Put on a Christening Invite?

A christening is a joyous occasion for parents, as well as close family and friends. However, finding the perfect way to invite your loved ones to join you in celebration can sometimes be a challenge. This article offers some advice to help you choose a style of invitation that suits your family, the right words for your invitation and every piece of information to include. From traditional types to more modern twists, our christening invite ideas are suitable for those who prefer simplicity and minimalism, as well as those who want creativity and originality.

1) Choose the style of invitation you would like

With so many types of invitation available, it is undeniable that there will be one available to suit your faith, family and occasion. For those hosting a more traditional christening, there are many formal and effective traditional style invitations. What to Put on a Christening Invite? - Christening Invitations - Summer Roses Featured Product: Christening Invitations - Summer Roses
Those who lean more towards modern styles can find simplistic templates that allow you to focus on the message and sentiment. Many enjoy artistic and expressive invitation designs for a unique and creative invitation that you won’t see anywhere else.

2) Develop a key sentence or phrase to headline the invitation

A christening invitation should be headlined with simple and effective wording that clearly expresses your sentiments. Finding the perfect words to invite your loved ones to such a special occasion is not always an easy task. What to Put on a Christening Invite? - Christening Invitations - Blue Dots Typography - Use Your Own Photo Featured Product: Christening Invitations - Blue Dots Typography - Use Your Own Photo
Keep it simple with these sample phrases:
“Please join us at the christening of our daughter!”
“Please join Jane and John Smith to celebrate the christening of their son Samuel.”
“You are invited to the christening of Samuel Smith.”
“Please join us in the christening of our daughter Emma.”
There are also a wide range of invites that come ready to send, with many key sentiments pre-written by experts to deliver beautiful and personalised feelings.

3) Incorporate all of the relevant information

Including all the relevant information on your invite is key to ensure there is no confusion amongst guests and the day goes as smoothly as possible. What to Put on a Christening Invite? - Christening Invitations - Twins Dotty Bunting - Postcard Featured Product: Christening Invitations - Twins Dotty Bunting - Postcard
Firstly, include your child’s name so every guest will know who is being christened. The second most important piece of information is the date. Followed by the name and address of the church, and the location of the reception (unless you plan on announcing this information at the service).
You may want to experiment with different ways to word this information and you may choose to include a particularly resonant quote from scripture.

4) Ask for RSVPs

Lastly, don’t forget to end your invitation with an RSVP card, email address or phone number so that they can confirm their attendance.
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How to Invite People to Your Baby's Christening?

How to Invite People to Your Baby's Christening?

Getting your entire family into one place to celebrate your baby’s first year is a fantastic occasion, but it can also be a troublesome event to organise. Narrowing down who you want to be there for your little one’s special day is a feat in itself. Add a Christening to the mix and things get all the more complex! You’ll need to ensure that you’ve provided all of the attendees with the information they need to get there safely and easily - this is key to a smooth-running event. Christening invitations are traditionally sent to guests but, what exactly do I need to include on my invitations and how do I go about inviting them?

Keep it short but sweet

Usually, christenings involve a short service at the church and then ordinarily have light refreshments after the events have ceased. These refreshments could be held at your home, in the church hall itself or even in a local public house.How to Invite People to Your Baby's Christening? - Christening Invitations - Summer Pastel Flowers - Use Your Own Photo Featured Product: Christening Invitations - Summer Pastel Flowers - Use Your Own Photo
You don’t want your guests to be ringing on the morning of the Christening confirming church and party details so make sure this information is readily available on the invitations for them to refer to.

Don’t forget to send an RSVP card

So you’ve sent out your invitations and you’ve booked the date as planned - but how do you keep track of who’s coming along? Slip an RSVP card into the invitation for your guests to send their response on. Keep your response slips in a safe place. This way, you have an easy approach to seeing exactly who is coming. When it comes to confirming numbers and dietary requirements with any caterers you may have sourced, you won’t be running around after people checking to see whether they’re coming along or not.

Fuss-free invitations from Dotty about Paper

Dotty about Paper is all about providing customers with a personalised experience that allows them to sit back and relax, knowing that the service they’re being provided with is of the highest order. We have a fantastic selection of affordable Christening invitations. Whether your taste is more traditional or leaning towards the contemporary, we have covered all angles.How to Invite People to Your Baby's Christening? - Christening Invitations - Suited & Booted Featured Product: Christening Invitations - Suited & Booted
You can rest assured that your guests will have all of the information they need to make it to your baby’s special day - raise a glass to your baby with your family and friends and leave the invites to us.
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How to Remember Your Child's First Day at School

How to Remember Your Child's First Day at School

Your child’s first day at school can be one of mixed feelings: pride, happiness, plus a few nerves and no doubt a tinge of sadness thrown in too. This can make for a very emotional time.
But, from the first uniform photo outside the front door to the delight on their face when you collect them at the end of the day, it will undoubtedly be an occasion you will always want to remember and treasure.

Personalised framed prints

These can be a lovely gift for a treasured friend or family member. They also make a lovely keepsake for yourself.How to Remember Your Child's First Day at School - Personalised My First Day Print - Contemporary Script Featured Product: Personalised My First Day Print - Contemporary Script
With a range of options available through Dotty about Paper, you’re guaranteed to find the perfect style to suit your little one, to mark their first day at school. Simply place a photograph in the frame and hang it in pride of place on the wall or atop the fireplace. Prints can contain your child’s name, their school and the date of their first day, providing a lovely keepsake to treasure forever.

Cheer up your workspace

While your little one is settling into school, it can be hard not to miss and worry about them while also trying to get your work done. So, why not brighten up your workspace by putting their ‘first day at school’ photo on a mug to drink your morning coffee out of? How to Remember Your Child's First Day at School - Personalised Mug - Use Your Own PhotoFeatured Product: Personalised Mug - Use Your Own Photo
Alternatively, you could collect a few pictures and create your own desk calendar. Even a simple photo block to keep on your desk could be a lovely way to keep your child’s new school adventure fresh in your mind.

Help them settle in quicker

Starting a new school can be a daunting event for any child, with lots of new names and faces to remember. But, as well as you remember their first day for sentimental reasons, it might be a good idea to help them remember their own first day, and hopefully, they'll settle in quicker too. How to Remember Your Child's First Day at School - Neat Pencil - Blue - Personalised A6 Note Card Featured Product: Neat Pencil - Blue - Personalised A6 Note Card
A nice thought could be to ask your child to draw a picture of someone’s name they learnt on their first day on a small note card. You can then write their new friend’s name next to the drawing and put it on the fridge door. Eventually, after a few days, there should be a whole collection of names and faces of children from their class.
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Kids Birthday Invitations - Navy Brushstroke Typography 18th

How to Write a Birthday Invitation to a Teenager

Inviting teenagers to a birthday party can be tricky. If you're throwing a birthday party for a teenager, make sure to follow these steps!
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How to Use a Desk Planner

How to Use a Desk Planner

A desk planner is a great way to get organised! This stationery can add style to your workplace and help you keep track of all your important jobs and appointments. But how do you get the most out of your stationery? Check out our helpful tips!

Choose a Desk Planner Style

The first step is our favourite! Finding a beautiful desk planner will make it so much more fun to use. A great design will motivate you to keep your planner in sight, which will make it easier to check up on your notes. Plus, who doesn't love a stylish and coordinated set of desk stationery? How to use a desk planner - Sweet Sherbet Dreams Collection Featured Design: Sweet Sherbet Dreams

Have a Planning Session

Found your perfect planner? The next step is to start adding content. Schedule a regular planning session to map the week ahead onto your planner. Use this time to think about what you'll need to remember and write them onto the relevant day. Depending on the style of stationery you've bought, the planner may show one week or one month per page. So, think about how far ahead you want to plan during your session. We recommend taking each week at a time, however, in order to stop it becoming overwhelming!

Add Specific Reminders

When you're writing notes onto your planner, make sure to be specific. Your planner should remind you what you need to do, not leave you confused! While keeping your notes brief is a good idea, just don't make them too vague. For example, if you have a meeting with your boss at a certain time and place, don't just put 'meeting'. Jot down the essential information you need to remember. How to Use a Desk Planner - Pinking Out Loud Stationery Featured Design: Pinking Out Loud

Keeping Updating

Keep adding to your planner throughout the week as new tasks and appointments come through. Or, if the details of an appointment have changed, update your planner with the new information. While your weekly planning session will help you focus on the week ahead, regular updates are a must-have for a flexible schedule.

Check Daily

Make it a routine to check your desk planner every day. Review the tasks ahead so you're up-to-date on what you need to do. Pick a time that works for you. For example, you might prefer to look at your planner in the morning while enjoying breakfast in a relaxed atmosphere.

Repeat!

If you have followed the steps above, you're on your way to becoming an organisation pro! Try to stick to your routine planning session and remember to keep checking and updating your planner. This will help you get the most out of your desk stationery. How to Use a Desk Planner - Got To Dash Stationery Featured Design: Got To Dash
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What to Get a Teacher for a Gift

What to Get a Teacher for a Gift

Choosing the perfect gift for your teacher can be difficult! Here are some ideas on how to pick a present they will love.

Thoughtful

Give your teacher a meaningful present that they can treasure forever. Keepsake photo albums are a fun project that the whole class can create together. Alternatively, sometimes a heartfelt card is all you need to show how much you care. Write a special message to your teacher to tell them how they have helped you grow! What to get a teacher for a gift - Teacher Thank You Cards Featured Product: Teacher Thank You Cards - Pack of 6

Funny

Put a smile on their face with a quirky gift! You can find lots of useful accessories, such as bags, pencil cases, and stickers, featuring funny school phrases. Think cute designs with phrases like 'Classy Teacher'! If you have your own idea for a funny saying they will like, why not find a personalised product where you can add your own wording? Perfect for reminding them of inside jokes you shared!

Versatile

A gift card is always a good gift option, as your teacher can choose what they spend it on. Gift cards for online marketplaces such as Amazon give them so many options, so you can feel confident you're getting them something they'll like. What to get a teacher for a gift - Helping Me Grow - A5 Personalised Teacher Sign Featured Product: Helping Me Grow - A5 Personalised Teacher Sign

Personalised

Personalised stationery, signs, and mugs have an extra special feel about them. Customise your teacher's name to make a present that will feel personal and unique! We offer a great range of customised items, from handy notebooks and note cards to cute classroom signs and mugs. What to get a teacher for a gift - Smart Stationery Pattern - Blue Featured Product: Smart Stationery Pattern - Blue - Personalised A5 Exercise Books - Pack of 2

Useful

Give them a gift they're guaranteed to use! They can often spend a lot of money on classroom supplies, so why not create a gift basket of essentials? From pens and glue to paper and craft accessories, this is a present they are sure to appreciate.
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Cute Safari Teacher Thank You Assorted

What to Write in a Teacher Thank You Card

Choosing what to write in a teacher thank you card isn't always easy! Our guide helps you decide what to say to your teacher at the end of the school year.
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Fun-Kraft-Scrabble-Teacher-Thank-You

How to Write a Thank You Note to a Teacher

Want to show your gratitude to a superstar teacher? Learn how to write the perfect school teacher thank you note with our useful guide!
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How Do You Invite Someone to a Tea Party?

How Do You Invite Someone to a Tea Party?

Throwing a tea party for your birthday? There are many different ways to invite guests! Read on to find out how to invite someone to your tea party...

Online Invitations

There are so many ways to send an invitation online, whether that's on social media or an e-vite. Think about what way suits you best, and how you want to word your invites.

Invite them on Whatsapp

You could also make your birthday invitations on Whatsapp - find out how to here! This is a modern way to send invitations, and makes the process so quick and easy. How Do You Invite Someone to a Tea Party?

An invitation

We may be biased, but we think that there is no better way to invite someone to your party than with traditional paper invitations! Not only will this make them feel super special and excite them for the party, but they can keep your invitation as a memento of the day. How Do You Invite Someone to a Tea Party? - Tea Party Invitations - Teapots & RosesFeatured Product: Tea Party Invitations - Teapots & Roses At Dotty about Paper, we have ready-to-write invitations, as well as invitations that are personalised with all of your unique wording. Make sure to check out our full range of birthday invitations, to find your ideal style.

Remember the details

When writing out invitations, whether that's online or by hand, its important to remember all of the key details. How Do You Invite Someone to a Tea Party? - Tea Party Invitations - Hydrangea Afternoon Tea Featured Product: Tea Party Invitations - Hydrangea Afternoon Tea Here are the most important things to remember:

Name

Date and time

Location

RSVP details Whether the party is a surprise or not Details about the food You may also want to include whether children are invited or not, as you don't want any unexpected guests at your party! We hope you have enjoyed this blog, and found it useful! Don't forget to check out our other blogs. We have blogs for every event - from weddings to christenings.
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