Tips on Wedding Invitations

Because the invitations reflect the tone of your wedding
they should be considered early on in your planning
activities. Once you have developed your guest list,
selected your ceremony and reception venues and decided
on the degree of formality you wish to express
throughout your wedding, you can comfortably begin to
search for your invitations and other printed materials.
Do not be overwhelmed by the myriad of choices that
are available for you. At one time, there were few options
in paper and print styles. Today’s bride has a wide range
of both from which to select.
Consider these points as you shop for your paper
trousseau.
Take your business to a store that specializes in wedding
papers. The staff there will have the expertise and
experience to help you with paper selections and correct
wordings. Their advice can end up saving you time and
often money as well.
You will likely be ordering more than just invitations so
consider these other items as well: save the date cards,
insert cards (directions or other information) RSVP
cards, place cards and assignment charts, menus, thank
you cards, programs and of course the invitations. Figure
in all of the options as you look at pricing.
When you place your order, be sure to order extras of
every item. Make sure that you send one of everything
to yourself when the rest go out so you can monitor the
delivery dates.
Be sure that you allow enough time to order, address
and send the invitation packages. Double check with
your print specialist on the time frame required for satisfactory
order completion. Most experts agree that invitations
should go out 6-8 weeks prior to the ceremony.
Consider purchasing special issue postage stamps
rather than just ordinary stamps. Check with your local
postal service for the options that may work for you. Be
sure to check on delivery times if you select a personalized
stamp pattern.
Always, always double check the proofs of the invitation
copy. Have someone else double check you as well.
It is easy to skip over and not notice errors in copy with
are so familiar. A misspelled name can cause
unnecessary delays and expense.
If children are being invited to the wedding and reception,
their names are usually included on the envelope,
clearly letting the parents know that the children are
invited. If children are not to be included, just the invited
are listed.

Onslow Bridal Gala

Whether you are recently engaged or just a few final details away from completing your wedding planning the Onslow Bridal Gala is the event you won’t want to miss!
Come and meet dozens of wedding experts. See the latest trends in the wedding industry. Taste wedding cakes, enjoy food samples, view the latest floral designs. The hottest reception sites will be here! From hotels, country clubs to restaurants and beach destination properties. Check out this year’s trunk show featuring award winning designer Maggie Sottero, known for carrying the best fit in the wedding gown industry.
If you are among the first 100 brides to register you will receive a free gift bag filled with great products and savings. The most sought after and reputable wedding vendors will be here to assist you with any questions and planning. See you March 7 at 100 Recreation Lane, Jacksonville, NC 28546

A Word About Decorating

If money were no object, you could simply tell a
wedding planner/designer the look/effect that you
wanted and trust in a fabulous result. But if you would
like to have a wonderful setting for your wedding and
reception without breaking your budget, we can offer
you some elegant but cost saving ideas.
If your wedding is one of several being held in a
large church on the same day, consider coordinating
the décor and floral elements for the location with the
other brides. Many times shared expenses on rental
greens and plants can create a marvelous setting with
minimal costs. Remember that ceremonies held in
churches already have an impressive setting. Try to
minimize your efforts to add personal touches to the
atmosphere of a church. You are being married there,
be aware of the role the atmosphere plays in the
solemnity of the occasion. Enhance it with your additions,
not detract.
For both ceremony and reception locations budget
for the most bang for your dollar. Tone on tone floral
arrangements have more visual impact than more
costly mixed floral groupings.
Create a statement with one large decorative element
rather than a dozen smaller and less effective
elements scattered throughout. For example, a working
fountain in the center of the dinning room may
create all of the atmosphere you wish.
Concentrate on wow by focusing your decorative
efforts at the entrance to your reception area. It will
be easier to do if you visualize the room full. Don’t
spend excess money on items that only the first few
guests entering the room will notice. Once the room
is full of guests, lots of décor touches won’t even be
noticed. Most experts will advise you to skip decorating
the skirting on any of the tables for that reason.
Their advice – THINK TABLETOP AND UP.
If your guests do not dance, don’t spring for an
orchestra. Think trio to play background music and
atmosphere.
If the facility offers it, lighting that can be changed –
lighter, brighter, softer, dimmer – can transform the
room as the activity level changes. Some couples
choose to have their combined initials cut in either
metal or glass. These silhouettes can be placed in
front of lighting sources and be positioned to shine on
walls, floors or ceilings. The cost is minimal but the
effect can be impressive.

Have a Seat

The best way to describe the changing nature of receptions
is to notice that they have evolved into more than
just a formalized event as the term “reception” implies.
More and more couples are choosing the term “celebration”
to describe the party atmosphere and events they
are planning for themselves and their guests. Instead of
having the day slip away in a blur, brides and grooms want
to have a good time at their party and take away wonderful
memories. This is one of the biggest parties that
most couples will ever give. They want everyone to have
fun – themselves included.
Whether the celebration will be in a church basement
or outdoors, one thing that is changing is the seating of
guests. Reception “rules” have had the bridal party sitting
at formal head tables, lined up according to one’s role in
the wedding. But more and more couples are choosing
not to have a head table and instead seat themselves with
special family members or friends in the center of the eating
area. Sitting in the middle of things – among family and
friends – not apart from them,will help the couple to better
enjoy their first meal together as husband and wife.
The remaining people in their wedding party and families
are scattered at tables with other guests to encourage
the celebration tone. They can talk about the wedding
and events leading up to it that other guests may not
know. It can make good mealtime conversation and is a
way to involve guests more intimately with the event.
You may still choose to have special place cards/table
numbers for guests. For some brides and their mothers,
trying to engineer the “perfect” mix of guests at each
table is the hardest thing they do for the party. Others
give up and let groups find their own places. Whether
you are having a formal sit down dinner or a buffet, the
best bet is to select round tables. These always allow an
easier flow of conversation among guests. Providing a
centerpiece for each table also places each guest at a decorated
space at your party.
If you can’t have round tables and must use rectangular
ones, request that they seat no more than six per table.
At least with this number, everyone can hear everything
that is said and conversation can flow. There is more
space for each person to enjoy his/her food and beverage.
For more celebration ideas, stop in and talk with one
of our experienced consultants. We have party plans we
know you’ll love. Ideas on music, cakes, decorations and
favors can help you plan a party to remember.
Member Weddings Beautiful Worldwide.

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New Wedding Trend

In these difficult times, couples are celebrating their big day by giving. More couples are incorporating a charitable element into their big day. While your wedding day is a true expression of you, couples are showing that expression by instead of thinking of themselves; they are thinking of others. They are doing this by making a donation to a charity of their choice in the name of their guests as wedding favors. For a wedding gift guests are being asked to donate to a charity of the couple’s choice or a cause that is important to them. Here are a few ideas that will help you implement kindness into your wedding day: when registering, look for offers that donate a percentage of all gifts purchased to a charity of your choice, make arrangements to donate left over food to a food bank or homeless shelter, donate leftover flowers to a nursing home, donate your wedding supplies to the Salvation Army or Goodwill.

Corsage or Flower?

It has become common for the mother of the bride/groom and other female honorees to be given a nosegay to hold or a flower instead of a corsage, which can look beautiful and make them feel special. Ask them what the prefer; some may like having something to carry, while others may find they enjoy the convenience of wearing a corsage and being hands-free.