Is it tacky to send "relation" cards?

They're not tacky at all, I always send them for birthdays and Christmas, and I treasure those which I've received.

Oh, and I also send Christmas letters each year, mainly because we no longer see many of the friends and family on our card list but know that they still like to hear from us. Our lives are fairly boring and mundane now, not really worthy of regular calls or letters, so an annual catch-up is better for us.

My mum used to send me to the shop with a list, when she couldn't do it herself.
'From my house to yours'
'To a special couple'
'To those we think of'
'To my lovely neighbours'
'To people who used to be lovely neighbours but then moved to Cornwall'.

It drove me mad!!!!

MIL always sent me a DIL card, which I disliked as I felt that she was reminding me of my status!

Not tacky but expensive,

Notgran, I love to do the Christmas newsletter too. I try to make it unboastful and newsy and figure that if people want to sneer or discard it, that’s their prerogative.

I think they are tacky. I cringe when I see them.

My cousin just loves her designated card so I make a definite habit of it. Age has no barriers for her obviously.

Lilyflower I agree it is expensive, but I have 1 nephew, 6 nieces, 11 great-nephews and 2 great-nieces all living far away, along with 2 daughters, 2 granddaughters and 2 grandsons and, with the exception of the DGC none of them get presents, so I feel a nice personal card, with a decorated envelope is the least I can do.

As for letters, each one is written individually and tailored to the recipient. But I have a secret. I have an A5 envelope for each family, and on the front I begin family tree. When I am told of additional children / grandchildren, I add them, with dob, and can then ask after them each year. I keep their letters to me inside the envelope, and refer back to them when writing my letters.

Have been congratulated on my memory many times (sshhh! Please don't tell!)

Now that is organised, Unigran4, I'm in awe! We had a dentist who always asked after the family, by name, and remembered what they were all up to. He must have had a similar system to yours, but I appreciated the effort.

Better than no card at all

I dislike the cards that say "To a dear daughter and her husband" Or "dear son and his wife" because the husband or wife seem like an afterthought. My late m-i-l used to send those although it would never have been her intention to offend.

Tackiness is in the eye of the beholder! Whilst I would never buy such cards on the grounds that the recipient already knows they're my son/daughter/sister or whatever so why point it out, but I quite understand why people do choose to send them. It's all down to personal preference. It's a bit like baby cards - I would never buy an "It's a girl/boy!" card - good grief, is it? I hadn't realised...

That's why I don't buy cards at all.
It's obvious I hope that people have happy birthdays, they don't need a card to tell them.

I gave up sending Christmas cards years ago. I think they're all tacky!

So, send what you like, to who you like, with whatever words you like, because what you think is the important thing.

Unigran4

I remember my Mum being quite disgusted with the introduction of birthday/Christmas cards to "son", "daughter", "cousin" "aunt" etc saying they were "common".

I have also seen a comment from another Gransnetter saying such cards are "tacky".

Thoughts please.

Common? What did she mean I wonder? Did she mean lots of people use them, or that they were what 'poor people' bought? I never understood that term! Usually used by aspiring middle-class types.certainly not in the vocab of anyone who had no concept of being 'better' than others! Old-fashioned term for sure, how odd!?

MissAdventure

My mum used to send me to the shop with a list, when she couldn't do it herself.
'From my house to yours'
'To a special couple'
'To those we think of'
'To my lovely neighbours'
'To people who used to be lovely neighbours but then moved to Cornwall'.

It drove me mad!!!!

Don't forget one for the most important family member:

Merry Christmas To The Dog ??

Well I'm somewhat nonplussed at the amount and level of snobs on here! Where DO you think you're coming from? All of a sudden cards are "tacky" why? Because someone told you they are? Weird to say the least!!!

I must buy mine and mustn't forget one for ?

I buy “Relative” cards and I choose them carefully so that the verse fits what I would like to say and also a “Best Friend On your Birthday” card . I love getting them and I think recipients enjoy getting them.
I know I do.

“Best Friend On your Birthday"

You could be treading dangerous ground there, TillyTrotter, if another friends sees that!

DD2 works at a greetings card company and sometimes brings me a bag full of cards from the staff shop. If it includes dear son/husband etc cards I’m more than happy to use them. Though she did bring me a Father’s Day one recently- my dad died in 1990. Any offers?

Have two sons who always send me birthday cards and thoughtful gifts, and I am really vey grateful but the cards are very what I call for want of better phrase general funny but could be for anyone.
I sometimes wish had card to “mum” with all the flowery verse that usually goes with them, . So unigran4 you keep up with your relation cards I don’t think they’re tacky at all
Always try to get relation cards for grandchildren if I can

Found a good one in a sale for only 10p
It was" to my dear brother on his hundredth birthday".... He was in his mid 70s but we all had a good laugh
Tacky? It all depends. Wish I had bought more of them

Excellent!

No ...why should it be ? if you don't like them, don't send them ! simples