How many thank you cards will I need?

Pretty soon, you'll be headed into months full of bridal showers, gifts and parties. As you review your to do list before diving in, you see the next box to check off is "buy thank you cards." After searching a bit on Etsy, you find the right ones at the right price that'll get to you in time, but as you're checking out, you see that dreaded "quantity" box. How many should you order? You don't want to order too many and have to throw them all away after you're no longer the "future mrs." but you also don't want to order too few and throw off your schedule of writing thank you cards. You decide that you'll get to it later and push it off, which makes you even more stressed out when you realize after your first shower that you don't have thank you cards, nor the time to buy them. Or you order far more than you need, which pushed your budget a little too far, and you end up throwing away half of them.

Wedding planning can be stressful enough as it is. Knowing how many thank you cards to buy shouldn't be! A lot of brides ask me while checking out if they can re-order later because they just aren't sure or are struggling to even purchase because they don't know. Well, today, hopefully I can help!

Every wedding, of course, is different. Some will be small elopements and others, grand masterpieces. Wherever you fall, this formula should help you in purchasing your thank you cards.

1. Estimate your "pre-wedding numbers." 

First, get a rough estimate of how many showers you'll be attending and how many people will be attending. This will be your "pre-wedding" number when you'll need "future mrs." cards.

2. Find your "post-wedding numbers." 

Next, subtract that number with each family and/or couple you're inviting to the wedding. Assuming everyone will give you a gift, this will be your post-wedding number when you'll need "mr. and mrs." cards.

3. Allow some wiggle room. 

Finally, increase your numbers by around 10% for any out-of-town guests who can't make it to either a shower or the wedding. This is especially helpful for that crazy aunt you forgot about who found out on Facebook that you're engaged and suddenly surprises you with a heavy casserole dish in the mail. There's always that one!

Even if you do get your numbers wrong, however, your guests won't be waiting by the mailbox for their thank you card. If it takes an extra week or two to get your thank you's out, it's OK! They understand you would rather be snuggled on the couch with your new hubby anyway.

I make thank you card shopping super fun and pretty. ;) Come check out the shop!