SoUtah Of The Border
April 22, 2022
I wanted to confirm I was doing it correctly. 🤪
Do you know the proper way to put a greeting card in an envelope? Some might think that is a silly question to ask. For us detail-oriented folks, however, it is a very valid question. After all, you might have spent a considerable amount of time picking out just the right card for someone for a special occasion. You may have spent even more time composing the perfect message inside the card. After all that effort, shouldn't you see the process through to its conclusion by putting the card in the envelope the right way so that the pretty side with the picture is facing the recipient when they open the envelope?
Many of us put a card in an envelope whichever way it happens to be oriented in our hands, but according to greeting card etiquette, there is a right way and a wrong way to put a card in its envelope. The right and wrong ways to put a card in an envelope are covered in detail below. The Right Way to Put a Card in an Envelope
To put a folded greeting card into an envelope properly, hold the card with its front side facing up and simply slide it in so that the card's fold is at the bottom of the envelope. This will prevent anything inside the card (like business cards, money, or gift cards) from falling out into the envelope while you slide it in. More importantly, this will ensure that the front of the card is aligned with the back of the envelope so that when the recipient opens it, they will immediately be greeted by the beautiful image and cheery text on the card's front exterior face. The recipient should be able to see the good stuff and begin smiling as soon as the envelope is opened.
Why Put a Card in Its Envelope Properly?
Doing so ensures that the images and text on the front of the card are the first things the recipient sees when they open the envelope. After enjoying the card's design, they can then open it to read your personalized message and examine the card's other contents.
Putting a card in an envelope with the folded side down ensures that the card will not be sliced in two if the recipient uses a letter opener to separate the top of the envelope.
The Wrong Way to Put a Card in an Envelope
Now that you know that there's a proper way to put a card in an envelope, you might be wondering what the wrong way is. The not-so-proper way to put a card in its envelope is to align the back of the card with the back of the envelope. Doing this results in the back of the card facing the recipient when they first open the envelope. When this is the case, the first things the recipient sees are the barcode and copyright information on the card's backside. That's not a very festive experience!
Since 80+% of people are right handed, I place the image toward the back as mentioned BUT put the folded side in first so that the opener sees the image right-side-up, as opposed to upside-down as would happen the way the etiquette book says....