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11-20-2012 at 2:40 PM
Crispity
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NBSR: How tacky would this be? (CP)

Ok, not baby-shower related, but an etiquette question. For Christmas cards, how important is it to hand address the envelopes and write a personal message in each one?

I used to buy folded cards and handwrite a personal message inside each one. In recent years, however, almost all of my family and friends have been sending the pre-printed photo cards with no personal message, and I have started doing this as well. I do still hand address the envelopes, but I am tempted to get them printed this year to save time. I would never, ever do this for thank you notes (definitely hand wrote and addressed thnak yous to each person who generously gave us baby gifts when DD was born), but this feels like a gray area to me. I probably won't do it, as I lean towards it being tacky, but I am curious as to what others think:

 

For holiday cards...

  • All cards should have a personalized, handwritten message and envelopes should be hand addressed (7.2%)
  • Pre-printed cards with no personalized message are ok, but I would seriously side-eye pre-printed envelopes (14%)
  • Pre-printed cards ok, pre-printed envelopes a bit tacky but I wouldn't really care (13.1%)
  • Whatever - they're just holiday cards, not thank you notes (61.5%)
  • SS (4.1%)
  • Total Votes: 221

"I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready, you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!" - Dr. Seuss

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11-20-2012 at 3:05 PM
Shea202
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Most people i know now a days use snapfish or shutterfly to send a holiday greetings card.  No personalization needed.  However i do still hand write my addresses and hand write happy holidays on each card and sign them.  I think it's a person preference and it may depend on how much time you have.
 
11-20-2012 at 3:11 PM
1026pumpki...
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I get pre-printed photo cards with a generic message "Happy Holidays Love, The Smiths."  I usually write a personalized note to people we're close to on the back with a holiday colored Sharpie.  For co-workers or people we've lost touch with, I just jot a quick sentence.

I do address mine by hand, but more because it iritates me to merge my mail lists and get the address stickers all lined up, etc.  I usually just sit in front of the TV with a glass of wine and a cheesy xmas movie and write the addresses out, but I wouldn't be offended at all if I got one that was pre-printed.


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11-20-2012 at 3:41 PM
Joy2611
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I seriously SERIOUSLY hate those pre-printed holiday cards that are a picture of everyone with a generic "Merry Christmas!  Love the Smiths!" I've actually pulled them out of my mailbox, glanced at them, and thrown them right in the trash.  It's just so meaningless to me.  At least write your name on there for god's sake.

If I choose to send Christmas cards or New Year's cards (which I did one year), I write a note to everyone who gets one otherwise I simply don't understand the point.

11-20-2012 at 4:00 PM
wittyschaf...
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I think it is nice when, even if someone did a pre-printed photo card, that they at least write "Dear Witty and Schaffy" and "Love the Smiths" It at least seems like they gave it a little thought.  

I think that it is a little odd when people do the generic card with no personalization to it AND do labels for the envelope.  Kinda makes me wonder why they bothered?  

 
11-20-2012 at 5:23 PM
I Heart Th...
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I send Shutterfly cards with a preprinted message. I actually get annoyed when people send cards WITHOUT photos. I don't do Facebook, so this is one of the only ways I see people's children, etc.

I send 150 cards, so yes...I do labels. My handwriting is beyond atrocious. 


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11-20-2012 at 6:02 PM
Crispity
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wittyschaffy:

I think it is nice when, even if someone did a pre-printed photo card, that they at least write "Dear Witty and Schaffy" and "Love the Smiths" It at least seems like they gave it a little thought.  

I think that it is a little odd when people do the generic card with no personalization to it AND do labels for the envelope.  Kinda makes me wonder why they bothered?  

Yeah, this was kind of what I was thinking. Thanks for all of the replies, ladies! 


"I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready, you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!" - Dr. Seuss

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11-20-2012 at 6:04 PM
holly1416
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I voted SS because I don't think the handwritten address is important but I HATE those preprinted cards when people do not bother to put a little note in them, as another poster said, what is even the point.

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11-20-2012 at 8:21 PM
MelRC117
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Preprinted is okay, but at least a simple greeting handwritten in each one otherwise it reminds me of those cards companies send out. What's the point of sending a card to people you lost touch with? I'm maybe a Scrooge but I'd just toss it. 

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11-20-2012 at 8:28 PM
whynotwhyn...
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I think a note is needed, but printed address labels are just fine.  
 
11-20-2012 at 9:25 PM
rhubarb123
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I use the folded holiday cards and add pictures of the kids and the "dreaded" Christmas letter.  We have a lot of relatives and friends that we only see a couple of times a year.  They are disappointed when we don't send our "letter"...so I have been doing one every year (just basically a run-down on what the kids are up to (and ourselves of course).  I'm really disappointed when I get a snapfish, etc. card with printed message and name...nothing personal on it at all.  To me it says "lazy".  Obviously it doesn't bother other people.
 
11-21-2012 at 8:14 AM
526SadieSa...
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Sorry rhubarb, but I detest the christmas letter.  My mom's cousin (who we never see in person) sends us one every year and it comes across as so "Look how freakin' awesome our lives are, you should be totally jealous that you're not us!" my eyes ache from the rolling. 

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11-21-2012 at 10:24 AM
rpalen29
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I get photo cards done at walgreens/shutterfly. no personalization on that, but i do handwrite the envelopes. I think its easier than printing it out. 

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11-21-2012 at 11:46 AM
tricia560
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I feel the exact opposite, so I voted SS.  I don't mind printed (or even printed labels stuck on) envelopes because the address isn't important as long as it gets to me, but I think not having some personal message inside is tacky.  If you can't bother to write me a note, why bother sending me a card?

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11-21-2012 at 3:56 PM
LauraT25
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tricia560:
I feel the exact opposite, so I voted SS.  I don't mind printed (or even printed labels stuck on) envelopes because the address isn't important as long as it gets to me, but I think not having some personal message inside is tacky.  If you can't bother to write me a note, why bother sending me a card?

I agree, although I don't think it's tacky not to hand write a message, I just don't get it.


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11-22-2012 at 10:56 AM
SBBBE
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tricia560:
I feel the exact opposite, so I voted SS.nbsp; I don't mind printed or even printed labels stuck on envelopes because the address isn't important as long as it gets to me, but I think not having some personal message inside is tacky.nbsp; If you can't bother to write me a note, why bother sending me a card?
this exactly! I get several cards acyearcwith no message and I find it really impersonal, however, I have no issue with a printed mailing label.

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11-23-2012 at 5:54 PM
SingleMom3...
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tricia560:
I feel the exact opposite, so I voted SS.nbsp; I don't mind printed or even printed labels stuck on envelopes because the address isn't important as long as it gets to me, but I think not having some personal message inside is tacky.nbsp; If you can't bother to write me a note, why bother sending me a card?


This, exactly. I also don't get the cards that just say, "***, Jane, and Sally." I want at least a bit of a message....

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11-26-2012 at 11:45 AM
myprecious...
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i be my pre-printed holiday cards from either babycachet.com or shutterfly.com with my own message that work for both families & friends. then I handwrite the addresses to make it personal, the like the cursive of handwriting. i think if you use labels, that's fine too.

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11-27-2012 at 6:48 AM
martyn17
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I order cards that have a preprinted message and envelopes but I always add a personal message.

K & M married 10.8.2011 *** BFP 7.17.2012, EDD 3.21.2013, Miscarriage at 6 wks 3 days *** BFP #2 11.7.2012, EDD 7.16.2013 xo please stick around baby xo 
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