Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Saturday, October 26, 2013
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| Blooming Blossoms Pocket Invitation |
Seven essential things you should consider
before shopping for wedding stationery.
1. Determine how you want your invitations to fit into your wedding vision.
Your wedding invitations should complement the wedding day, offering guests a glimpse of the fun to come. Invitations come in all shapes and sizes and are an excellent opportunity to show your personality. Remember the invitation sets the tone of your wedding, telling guests the formality and style of the event.
Your invitation is a great place to introduce a significant symbol (tree, birds, hearts, lace, etc…), two-letter monogram {first letters of your names, save the three letter monogram until after you say “I do”}, quote or verse and repeat it again on your programs, menu cards, and other stationery.
Bring your inspiration, for both the wedding in general and for stationery, to your appointment. Pictures are a wonderful way to get to know you and provide an excellent visual of your style. You can always send me a link to your Wedding Board on Pintrest prior to your meeting!
2. Create your budget for all your stationery needs.
Wedding stationery can range from a few dollars per invitation to more than $20 per invitation. Before your bridal appointment review your wedding budget and determine a comfortable dollar amount you able to spend.
So much of the cost depends on the paper selections and printing methods. During your appointment consultation I will tell you about the different paper options and printing methods and guide you to options in your price point. I can show you creative ways to get the most out of your budget.
3. Build a well-organized guest list.
Understanding your guest list and how many invitations {households, not people} you need is a must before your appointment! You want to make sure you order extra invitations for those last minute guests and for your scrapbook. I recommend using a spreadsheet, to organize your guests.
4. Decide what information you need to pass onto your guests.
The actual invitation is only one part of your wedding stationery. Often you need to include a response card and/or insert card that includes lodging and direction information. A response card is a great way to get an accurate guest count, before the wedding, note this should be pre-stamped and addressed with the address of the host. Insert cards are particularly helpful if you have a guest list with several out of town guests who need lodging information or if the ceremony/reception location is difficult to find.
Before your appointment, make a list of things you might need to tell your guests. At your consultation I will review the list with you and take the information into consideration when showing you stationery styles and etiquette.
Guest registry information, however, should not be included in your wedding invitation-ever. Likewise, you should also leave off the phrase “no gifts please” or anything suggesting guests make a donation in place of a gift. Your wedding invitation should focus on the event and not imply a guest should buy you a gift. However, should you need to spread the word about where your registered or your desires for no gifts it is best to do so by word of mouth or put a tasteful statement on your wedding website
5. Discuss, with your family, how your wedding invitation should be worded.
Most traditionally the Bride’s mother and father issue the wedding invitation or host {i.e. pay for} the wedding. But today you will see everything from both the Bride and Groom’s parents to a generic “together with their families,” to the bride and groom themselves issuing the invitation. You need to consider your family dynamics before finalizing who will issue the invitation.
“Request the honour of your presence” though the most traditional and best suited for a formal church wedding, this phrase is open to a personal touch that is reflective of the couple.
6. Consider the different options for addressing your invitations.
The outside of the envelope is the very first thing your guest is going to see when it arrives in their mailbox, so make the most of the first impression! First, whenever possible avoid using labels, even clear labels. I know it is a “time-saver” but it sends the message of “lazy” to your guests. Presumably the people on your guest list are special to you and taking the time to handwrite their name and address sends a very lovely, thoughtful first impression.
However, with that said there are a couple of alternatives that are acceptable. Calligraphy is a beautiful finishing touch to the envelope of your wedding stationery; however it can become costly if you hire a professional. Another alternative is printing the guest addresses directly onto the envelope. When done well it can offer a lot of personality to the envelope with all the style and thoughtfulness of a hand penned envelope.
7. Make sure you have the right postage
Before purchasing postage take one complete invitation to your local post office and have it weighed. This will tell you exactly how much each invitation will cost to mail. If you use several enclosures or have a unique size (square) it will probably require additional postage.
You should plan to send save the dates 6-12 months in advance and wedding
invitations 6-8 weeks before your wedding date.
Monday, May 6, 2013
How to Recognize Deceased Relatives in a Wedding Program
Your wedding day should be one of happiest days of your life. There's a chance, though, that some of your relatives will pass away sometime before the day arrives. Many couples choose to remember these relatives on their wedding day. One way you can do so is to mention deceased in the wedding program. A small mention in your program is respectful and can mean a lot to both families.
1. Make a list of the deceased relatives you want to list in your wedding program. Most people choose to only list members of the immediate family, such as parents, siblings and (possibly) grandparents. Whom you choose to list can be determined by the relationship you had with those individuals, as well as how long you want the list in your wedding program to be.
2. Decide where in the program you want to place the names of the deceased. Most people choose to place these mentions at the end. This is done to separate the melancholy portion of the program from the celebratory section.
3. Choose a format for your deceased relatives' names: either paragraph form or a list. If you choose to make a list, you may want to divide it into two columns. The first column can list names and the second can explain how the person was related to the bride and groom in such forms as "brother of the groom," "grandmother of the bride," etc.
4. Decide on a heading or introduction for this section of your wedding program. Possible headings include "We Remember" and "In Memory Of." Instead of a header, you can also write a sentence or two, such as "We remember those who are no longer with us." This sentence will then be followed by the names of your deceased relatives.
How to Acknowledge Deceased Parent(s)
in Your Wedding Program
in Your Wedding Program
In this example, the Father of the Bride is deceased and the Mother of the Bride is remarried. If the mother was deceased instead, you would list her first, above the living father (and step-mother if he was remarried). You can list them under the wedding party section in the following way:
Parents of the Bride
Mr. and Mrs. John William Doe
The Late Mr. Roger Smith
OR
You can just list the living parent in the wedding party and put something under the dedication like this:
Dedication
On this special day in our lives, we lovingly remember Mr. Roger Smith, Father of the Bride.
…or something like this..
The flowers on the altar are placed to the glory of God and in loving memory of Mr. Roger Smith, Father of the Bride.
…or this…
The candle in the narthex burns brightly in loving memory of Mr. Roger Smith, Father of the Bride.
Mr. and Mrs. John William Doe
The Late Mr. Roger Smith
OR
You can just list the living parent in the wedding party and put something under the dedication like this:
Dedication
On this special day in our lives, we lovingly remember Mr. Roger Smith, Father of the Bride.
…or something like this..
The flowers on the altar are placed to the glory of God and in loving memory of Mr. Roger Smith, Father of the Bride.
…or this…
The candle in the narthex burns brightly in loving memory of Mr. Roger Smith, Father of the Bride.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
2013 Wedding Trends
Season of 2012 is finishing and I’m already designing
invitations for 2013 weddings! To stay
inspired I read a lot of wedding blogs and magazines and I’m starting to notice
trends for the upcoming year. Now, not
all brides follow all trends at their wedding, they know what they like and
prefer their own style, but it is always good to know what will be in fashion
and get inspired.
So you ask, what are the trends for the upcoming 2013
wedding season? Below are the details
that have stood out to me as 2013 Wedding Trends.
Mint
Mint is a trending color that I think will be huge for 2013
weddings. It can be used in many ways – dresses, flowers, invitations, but also
signature cocktails, cakes and wedding favors.
The cool color is fresh, modern and retro all at once. Tip – combine mint with coral.
See my Pinteest Inspiration Board for ideas and pictures:
Birds
They don’t call them lovebirds for nothing! Expect to see an increase in bird-themed
weddings throughout 2013. You will see
them in wedding decorations, invitations, cake toppers, centerpieces, and on
and on and on… Some examples include
tossing bird seed, bird cages as card holders, bird themed invitations, and
bird’s nest favors (complete with blue Jordan almond ‘eggs’). I’m also seeing an increase in
feather-inspired hair accessories (like veils and fascinators) to subtly tie in
the theme.
See my Pinteest Inspiration Board for ideas and pictures:
Paper Lanterns
Paper Lanterns are an inexpensive wedding decor and easy to
embellish! String them up along a beach,
or hang them from a tree in a garden wedding. Add your own lighting to create a gorgeous
glow. You can even use them in your
backyard for a bridal shower.
DIY Ideas:
·
Hang ornate ribbons or plastic crystals of
different lengths from the lower metal ring
·
Glue on artificial flowers or paper butterflies
·
Embellish with pearl or jewels brads
·
Use shaped paper punches to create a unique
design
·
Cluster the lanterns with hanging paper flowers
and pom poms
See my Pinteest Inspiration Board for ideas and pictures:
The 1920s
Vintage is nothing new for weddings. However, with the popularity of shows such as
Downton Abbey and the remake of The Great Gatsby coming out I see this as a big
trend for wedding themes this next year.
Think Great Gatsby style garden parties and swanky jazz club fêtes. The style of the 20’s can be very romantic…think
of art deco, soft tones of ivory, lace and pearls.
See my Pinteest Inspiration Board for ideas and pictures:
Backdrops
Whether it is for the photo booth, the dessert table or
behind the head table, the possibilities for backdrops are endless! They can be the focal point of your wedding
ceremony decoration and are spectacular settings for snapshots of your fist kiss.
Some DIY ideas:
·
Fabric Backdrops
·
Large floral backdrop
·
Paint on paper or canvas – custom pattern design,
favorite poem, monogram, etc.
·
Ribbons
See my Pinteest Inspiration Board for ideas and pictures:
Bark
Yes, we said bark. Maybe it is inspired by the rustic trend
or the desire for a more natural wedding setting (it would go great with the
bird wedding trend) but bark designs are everywhere.
Bark can be incorporated into anything for your event such
as centerpieces, guestbook, cake stand, table numbers, etc. The ideas are
endless.
See my Pinteest Inspiration Board for ideas and pictures:
Mini Menus
When it comes to appetizers and desserts, mini is mega-cool.
Your guests will love small sandwiches, bitty beverages and dainty desserts.
Make it more memorable with classic (or exotic!) pairings of food and
unconventional or simply knockout presentation. Just make sure there’s enough
to go around!
See my Pinteest Inspiration Board for ideas and pictures:
Lace, lace, lace
Lace has always been a mainstay in bridal fashion, but it
seems to be making a comeback right now.
Lace details also look great on invitations, cake design, and wedding
favor. In my opinion, we're going to
see a lot of lace in 2013! Lace details can be chic and sophisticated, or when
paired with rustic or vintage elements, lace can become a bit more whimsical.
See my Pinteest Inspiration Board for ideas and pictures:
Thursday, October 25, 2012
New Panel Pocket Designs
The panel pocket invitation has been popular with brides who are trying to watch their budget. If you like pocket folds (but not the price) the panel pocket is a nice alternative. You still get the pocket, but a smaller price tag. Here are some new designs from this month.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Need people’s mailing addresses for your invitations?
Need people’s mailing addresses for your invitations? Luckily you now have Postable! I was so excited when I discovered this new
website. With Postable you can create a
complete, secure, up-to-date Address Book in less than a minute.
Even though emailing is our main form of contact these days,
I still recommend sending your wedding invitations the old fashion way –
through the mail. That means you are going to need everyone’s mailing address. It’s
an easy solution to gather all those mailing addresses. Best of all it is
totally private, secure and do not forget FREE. It’s also great for baby showers, birth announcements,
holiday cards & even just knowing where your friends live.
How it works: Postable gives you a personal link (postable.com/YourName).
You send this link to your friends and
family. They fill out a 10 second form and your address book magically
fills with up-to-date info for everybody. No more months of tracking people
down. Export contacts to Apple Address Book, Outlook, Gmail, Excel, and even
print mailing labels. So incredibly easy and such a great solution. Start
gathering addresses now with Postable! ww.Postable .com
ww.InvitingInvites.com
Friday, October 19, 2012
What’s in an invitation suite?
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1.
SAVE THE DATE Sent six to twelve months before the
wedding. Ideal for summer, holiday
weekend or destination weddings.
2.
INVITATION
WITH ENVELOPE The centerpiece of the
entire stationery ensemble. Invitations
are mailed six to eight weeks before the wedding.
3.
RESPONSE
CARDS include a pre-addressed envelope for your guests to send their RSVP
and/or indicate meal choice.
4.
RECEPTION
CARDS Convey the time and location,
and often the style, of your reception.
Cards are mailed with your invitations.
5.
MULTI-PURPOSE
CARDS To provide miscellaneous
details like directions and accommodations, or can be used to share wedding
weekend events with your guests.
6.
WEDDING
PROGRAM An outline of your
ceremony. Includes names and roles of
the wedding party and ceremony participants.
7.
TABLE
NUMBER Helps guests find their seats
and is an aid to servers.
8.
PLACE
CARD/ESCORT CARD: Place Cards are placed
at guests seat at the receptions. An
Escort Card lets guest know what table they are sitting at.
9.
FAVOR TAG
A pretty touch for favors that
completes your overall theme.
10.
THANK-YOU
NOTES Order these now! Etiquette dictates you send thank-you notes
with in six weeks of receiving any gift.
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