The Christmas Card Post
How to pick and choose, what to write, how to address them, and when to mail them
Making time for Christmas cards is one of my favorite things to do during the holidays! I put on Metropolitan, pull out my list and my fountain pen, and get writing. We are so fortunate to have a long list of loved ones, and I always refer to these tips when writing our Christmas cards.
Pick a beautiful card (ready-made)
Picking the right card is one of the most fun parts of the entire experience! I usually spend hours searching for the right ones, but we almost always choose our cards from Dempsey & Carroll’s beautiful collections or from Rifle Paper Co.’s stunning Christmas line.
Pick a beautiful card (bespoke)
This year we chose to deviate from our usual card-without-a-photo preference and designed our own custom card instead at our local stationers. I made an appointment to select the font, ink color, edge treatment, card color, message, and engraving style.
This is where having the personal touch is key! I could easily have designed a card online and hoped for the best. But in this age where we’re all perpetually online all the time, I really wanted an in-person experience. Actually touching the paper, seeing the ink and paper colors, and talking to a human is a revelatory experience! I’m so delighted with the process and I’m eager to see our cards in a few weeks.
Use a fountain pen!!! and handwrite the envelopes
Do NOT use a ballpoint pen, a gel pen, or anything else. Just a fountain pen. Handwrite the envelopes even if you are sending a hundred cards. There is nothing more disheartening than receiving a card with your address pre-printed on it and a postmark that has nothing to do with the place you live. Give it the personal touch, even if you’re not adding a personal note to the card itself.
Make it personal, but keep it simple
Write a brief note inside your Christmas card! I love reading what people are up to, but I find the lengthy family newsletter to be best when sent under separate cover. I love writing a little note—different for each card—to the people on our list.
If you are doing a photo card, pick a simple yet thoughtful message to engrave or print. Some suggestions are “Wishing you the best for a Happy Christmas and New Year,” “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,” and “Wishing you joy and peace in the New Year.”
Always send a card to someone who has sent you a card
There is nothing worse (all right, there are many things worse, but still) than sending someone a card and not receiving one in return. Be sure to always send a card to someone who has sent you one! If you can’t return the holiday greetings by Christmas, then send a New Year’s card and make sure you add them to your list next year.
Check the address
I was so embarrassed when two friends received their Christmas cards belatedly one year because I hadn’t updated their addresses when they moved. I generally take this time to send messages to people I know may have relocated to ensure I have the correct address for everyone.
Address the card properly!
I spent years as a copy editor, so incorrect grammar is a particular pet peeve of mine. Please, please, please address the card (and pluralize people’s surnames) properly! Here’s a simple breakdown:
There’s never an apostrophe. Ever. If you think there is, there isn’t. Just trust me.
If in doubt, address the card to “The Windsor Family”
For all names not ending in -s, -x, -z, -ch, or -sh, just add an “-s” to pluralize
For all names ending in -s, -x, -z, -ch, or -sh, add “-es” to pluralize (i.e. Brooks would be “Brookses”)
However, if the surname ends in a silent -x (i.e. Bordeaux), just add an -s to pluralize, or go with “The Bordeaux Family”
If you are addressing a card to a family with a double-barrelled surname, with the final name ending in an -s or -x (i.e. Gordon-Lenox or Parker-Bowles), add an -es to the final surname to pluralize.
Have fun!
Christmas cards should be a joyful thing to receive in the mail! I keep ours each year and love looking through them. We generally keep the year’s current cards in a basket on the hall table, but this year we’re using this lovely house from John Derian’s Target collaboration. I’m so excited to fill it up!
An apostrophe misused is criminal.
Also: “him and I” and “her and I”.
Love this! I was just working on my cards this past weekend as I like them to drop right after Thanksgiving!