Holiday cards fail at the address list, every year, in the same place: you have the photo, you have the design, and you do not have thirty-eight current addresses.
Work backwards from mailing week.
Early November: the list
Open last year''s list, if it exists, and fix it. Who moved, who got married, who should be added, who quietly dropped off. Ask for missing addresses now, in one message, while people still answer casually.
If there is no list, this is the year to make one — because a list you keep is the only reason next December is easier than this one.
Mid November: the photo
Whatever you have is probably fine. The good picture from the pumpkin patch beats a scheduled session in a parking lot with three unhappy children. If you do want a session, book by early November; photographers fill and turnaround takes two weeks.
Pick the photo with a deadline attached, not "when we find a better one."
Late November: the order
Design, message, quantity — count your list, then add ten. Order by the last week of November for comfortable delivery; the first week of December still works but costs more in shipping.
Order stamps in the same sitting. Stamps are the thing that stops the whole project for five days.
First week of December: address and mail
Two evenings, or one with help. Kids can stuff and stick. Mail domestically by around December 12 and internationally by around December 1.
Where Emmy fits
Emmy keeps the address list as a living family directory you can bulk-upload once and reuse every year, holds the photo and message decisions, and prompts each stage on time — list, photo, order, stamps, mailing week. She plans and reminds; printing, payment and mailing stay with you and your printer.
Try this with Emmy
Emmy reads the school email, catches what needs doing, and plans the week with you.
Try Emmy free
