Guest Favor Question/Etiquette
Scratchy
I'm getting married in July!
I have an Uncle who is an accomplished
artist. (specializes in Chinese water color)
I've had him create four paintings, representing the four seasons.
I'm going to digitize them
and print them on postcards
and give those out as
guest favors.
Now, the question is :
Would it be appropriate
on the back of the postcard
to state something like
"Paintings curtesy
of <uncle's studio>
<location> <phone number>"
Or is that "advertising"?
Thanks.
Scratchy
SARAH
I think it would be nice if you put on the back in small font or print:
"copyright" or the copyright symbol c in a circle
Art work by X.Y.Zabcdef
City, state
phone 555-555-555
etc.
Ericka Kammerer
Sounds a lot like advertising to me. I think he ought
to sign the paintings, but I wouldn't go further than that.
Actually, I would do one other thing--I would put a copyright
notice on the back and maybe something saying "used with
permission." You wouldn't want anyone to think that you
ripped off someone's work without permission. With the name
in the copyright notice, most people could probaby find him,
but that isn't really an issue anyway. Anyone who is interested
in finding out more about him wouldn't have to think very hard
to figure out that they could just call you and get the appropriate
contact information ;-)
Best wishes,
Ericka
John M
I agree with Sarah. There is nothing wrong with putting a copyright on
the back. My wife does custom favors and as long as the customer
agrees, she usually places a small sticker on the bottom of the favor.
Don't sweat it, and I'm sure your Uncle would be very appreciative.
Running your own small business is not easy, and any free advertising
is a great help.
John
Ericka Kammerer
But free advertising does not belong at someone's personal
event, like a wedding. There is no difference in principle between
advertising on the favors and putting banners up all over the
reception hall hawking the assorted vendors. Plus, there is
utterly no need to do so. Any guest who admires the artwork knows
*exactly* where to go for more information--the bride and groom.
So, by putting the advertising out there, you cheapen the favor
to no benefit. Without the advertising, people are just as able
to get in contact with the artist.
Best wishes,
Ericka
John M
First, that's not true. I don't know about you, but I had lots of
people at my wedding that I was meeting for the first time, and that my
wife hadn't seen in years. I don't have their phone numbers and they
don't have mine. How many people will call around to different
relatives to track you down. If it was on the favor, they could
recommend the vendor right away. Second, the vendor isn't a stranger.
It's an uncle. I think it is honorable that Sratchy wants to help out.
Do you own your own business? Do you know how hard it is to
advertise? If putting a small piece of print on the back of a postcard
or a small label on the favor doesn't cheapen it for the bride and
groom, then who cares?
John
Ericka Kammerer
> Erika,
>
> First, that's not true. I don't know about you, but I had lots of
> people at my wedding that I was meeting for the first time, and that my
> wife hadn't seen in years. I don't have their phone numbers and they
> don't have mine. How many people will call around to different
> relatives to track you down.
One might wonder why one would have wedding guests one
doesn't even know... I cannot imagine anyone attending a wedding
who couldn't get in touch with the bride or groom if they wanted
to. What's the point of having them as guests?
> If it was on the favor, they could
> recommend the vendor right away. Second, the vendor isn't a stranger.
> It's an uncle. I think it is honorable that Sratchy wants to help out.
Of course it's nice Scratchy wants to help out. Nevertheless,
it is considered quite crass to advertise at one's wedding. Remember
all the flak Star Jones got for all the advertising at her wedding?
The difference is only one of scale, not one of kind. Would it be
okay for the baker to put a sign in front of the cake advertising
the bakery? Would it be okay for the dress designer to put a nice
little label on the outside of the dress? There's no difference.
> Do you own your own business?
Been there, done that.
> Do you know how hard it is to advertise?
Sure, but it's rude to attempt to mix business and social
lives like that. It would be rude of me to attempt to drum up
business at a relative's wedding. I wouldn't even consider that.
I have provided services to friends' weddings as a gift before,
and I would never have promoted myself. If someone wanted to get
in touch with me, they could find me based on my name (and, as I
said previously, it would not only be permissable, but also
important to include a copyright notice on the back of the card)
or by contacting the bride and groom (or someone else close to
the family).
> If putting a small piece of print on the back of a postcard
> or a small label on the favor doesn't cheapen it for the bride and
> groom, then who cares?
It *does* cheapen it. A wedding is not a fundraiser.
Best wishes,
Ericka