Invitations definitely fall into the category of being ruled by etiquette, but there can be some confusion about the proper usage of them. This is a look at the difference between a wedding invitation and a wedding announcement, as well as when each is appropriate.

First the fundamentals. What is the purpose of a wedding invitation? To ask your friends and family to put on their best clothes and jewelry and join you in celebration of your wedding. After all, one of the first lines in every invitation is the phrase requesting the recipient’s presence at the wedding. Traditional phrases are “the pleasure of your company is requested” or “the honor of your presence is requested”. In case you were wondering what the difference is, the former is to be used for a wedding in a secular location, and the latter is the correct form for a church or synagogue ceremony.

The other reason to issue an invitation is to let your guests know when and where the event will take place. You want all the information in one place, which is why the wedding invitation is very specific. While a save the date card might just let people know who is getting married and when, the official invitation should have the date, time, location (with street address, if necessary), and city. The obvious reason for this is so that anyone who plans to attend can find their way with ease.

So who should receive a wedding invitation? Anyone you actually wish to have attend your wedding! Make sure to only send as many invites as the number of guests you can genuinely accommodate. Far too many couples have sent out 110 invitations for a venue that only fits 100 people, counting on a 10% decline rate…only to have everyone accept! Invitations should be sent out about six to eight weeks before the wedding to allow sufficient time for everyone to R.s.v.p., as well as so guests can make their travel plans. If you feel the need to inform your guests about your wedding further out than that (perhaps if your wedding will take place on a holiday weekend), send out a save the date card up to six months in advance, and the formal invitation within the usual time frame.

The wedding announcement serves a different purpose than the invitation, which is to let extended friends, family, and acquaintances know about your marriage after the fact. This is a key distinction: the announcement is not about the wedding, but about the marriage. Announcements are not sent to anyone who was invited to the wedding, but rather those who were not invited, such as in the case of a small wedding or a destination wedding. Traditionally they are issued by the bride’s parents, with the following wording: Mr. and Mrs. John Smith / have the honor of announcing / the marriage of their daughter / Jessica Smith / to / Mr. James Howard / on Saturday, the twenty-ninth of May / two thousand and ten / St. Andrew’s Church / Rochester, Minnesota. Notice that “honor” is spelled in the British fashion, just as it would be for a formal wedding invitation.

Announcements should be mailed out as soon after the wedding as possible, ideally the very next day (although a longer lag time is acceptable, particularly in the case of an elopement). Never, ever send a spare invitation after the wedding to serve as an announcement. The person who receives it is likely to notice that it was mailed after the wedding, and take it as an insult; ie, you wanted to make it look like they were invited, but did not actually want them to attend. This is a serious etiquette error, which far too many well-meaning brides have made. The proper response to a wedding announcement, by the way, is a note of congratulations. Gifts, while welcome, are not expected.

With a clear understanding of the difference between wedding invitations and announcements, you can now be sure that you are sending the right stationery to convey your intended message.

Many of us have had to attend a business lunch or meeting for work which was catered. But how many of us had to hire the catering company? Often times, these meetings are scheduled the day before – or even the morning of. If you are charged with the task of finding food for the next business lunch, don’t panic.

Find out who will be attending the lunch meeting. How many people will be eating? Ask your boss or the meeting executive whether or not the lunch should be casual or more upscale. This is important because you certainly will not want to order a three-course meal for an informal business lunch. Conversely, you will not want to order sub sandwiches for a room full of executives or board of directors, unless specifically asked. Of course, you may have a budget to which you need to adhere. This may also determine the type of food you purchase for your business lunch. In most cases, however, sandwiches and fruit or potato chips are ideal for an impromptu business lunch.

Try to find out what type of food the attendees prefer. If there is time, take a quick poll of the attendees and see if they have a craving for a certain type of food. You can also provide them with a choice – Mexican or Chinese food? Sandwiches or Pasta? Be careful, though. You may have a lot of differing responses, which will leave some of the attendees disappointed in your food selection. When in doubt, it is best to make the decision yourself. If you have had business lunches with these people in the past, think of some of the dishes that you know they enjoy.

Begin calling restaurants and caterers. Trying to find a caterer for business lunch on short notice can be difficult, but many catering companies expect to prepare food for business lunches and meetings with little turnaround time. When you find a caterer that is able to provide you with the food you need, ask about all of your options. Will the food be delivered or will you need to pick it up? Exactly what side dishes or condiments are included in the lunch? Does the caterer provide plates, napkins and utensils? Will they provide any heating trays (if needed)?

Once the food is prepared and in the office, set up the conference room or designated area where you are having your business lunch. Place the food in a central location along with plates, cups and napkins so everyone has easy access to it. Some catering companies will provide you with set up and clean up service, but you probably won’t need that unless the meeting is more formal and upscale.

Allow the attendees to enjoy the food and discuss business. Once the meeting is over, clean up and restore the conference room to its previous condition. Having your business lunch catered on short notice may seem difficult, but by following the tips provided here, your attendees will think you’ve had it planned for weeks.