Thursday, July 3, 2014

7 Tips for Wedding Invitation Etiquette


Whenever discussing wedding invitation etiquette, I typically see the same few items in question with many of my couples. Below are a few tips to think about when reviewing your wedding invitations. 


Wedding Invitation Etiquette & Tips
  1. Be sure to use your guests formal names when addressing your invitations.
  2. Do not include your gift registry. Including your registry on your invitations can come across as though you are asking for gifts which is considered impolite. If you have a wedding website, that is the perfect place to include your registry information. If not, inform your bridal party and close family members where you are registered and allow them to spread the information by word of mouth. 
  3. Are your invitations are hand written by calligrapher? Do they include embellishments such as ribbons, gems, or beads? You may want to consider having you invites hand fed at the post office instead of having them fed through their machine. This will help conserve the beautiful calligraphy and lessen the risk of tares & damage.
  4. Do not use abbreviations. Since this is a formal invitation everything should be spelled out (i.e. 5:00 pm should read five o'clock in the afternoon,  Rd. should read Road, CA should read California).
  5. Don't forget to include postage on your response card envelopes.
  6. Include dress code on your reception card, especially if your venue has specific attire requirements. This allows guest to know how formal they need to be.
  7. Many guests forget to write in their names on their response cards. To avoid confusion, include an additional mark or indicator somewhere on the response card. Suggestions include: make a spreadsheet with your guests and a number for each guest then write that number on the back of the response card OR use invisible ink and write their names on their card.

Monday, April 7, 2014

How to Dress up the Lady's & Men's Room at Your Wedding

Sometimes it's the littlest details that can give the biggest impact and truly make a wedding unique. A bathroom amenities basket for your guests is one of those little touches that will surely be noticed! This thoughtful and classy gesture will definitely come in handy for those “I wish I had brought….” moments. By the end of the night you will find that your baskets went to good use and were greatly appreciated by your guests!

   www.planforhomedesign.com
Below is a list of a few items to think about including in your baskets. Although some of the items repeat, there are two separate lists for the Lady’s Room and Men’s Room. 
 
 

Check out this added touch one of our couples included at their wedding last year....Super cute bathroom signs of the bride and groom when they were little!
 

Lady’s Room: 

~ Mints                                ~ Hair Elastics
~ Hairspray                         ~ Bobby Pins
~ Tissue                               ~ Tide-to-Go Stick
~ Spritzer/Perfume              ~ Lint Roller
~ Mouthwash                      ~ Q-tips
~ Dental Floss                     ~ Clear Nail Polish
~ Hand Lotion                     ~ Mini Sewing Kit
~ Feminine Products           ~ Scissors
~ Blotting Sheets                 ~ Tums
~ Band Aides                       ~ Imodium
~ Moleskin                           ~ Eye Drops
~ Safety Pins                        ~ Advil or Ibuprofen
 

Something you may not have thought of: Earring backs & Double Sided Tape

 
Men’s Room:
~ Mints                                  ~ Lint roller
~ Hair Gel                              ~ Safety Pins
~ Tissue                                 ~ Mini Sewing Kit
~ Cologne                              ~ Scissors
~ Mouthwash                       ~ Tums
~ Dental Floss                      ~ Imodium
~ Hand Lotion                      ~ Eye Drops
~ Band Aides                        ~ Advil or Ibuprofen
~ Tide-to-Go stick

Something you may not have thought of: Instant Hem & Cuff Fabric Tape
 
Extra Tip:
 
Included a framed engagement photo, poem or note next to each basket addressed to your guests. Below are a couple of more well know poem examples.  
 
So happy you’re here sharing our special day
But just in case something should go astray:
Please help yourself to the contents within
Mouthwash, hand lotion or ibuprofen
Use what you need, and just leave the rest
For it may be useful to some other guest!
Repair the damage that may have been done,
Then quick!  Hurry back and join in the fun! 
 
~ Compliments of the Bride & Groom ~
 
Dear Guests,
Whether your skin feels dry or your hair out of place
You're not feeling so fresh or whatever the case
We've put together a basket to help you along
Now hurry back out before you miss the next song!
 
~ Compliments of the Bride & Groom ~
 
 

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

3 Tips for Attending Wedding Fairs

We recently hosted a booth at a local Bay Area Wedding Fair and had a blast meeting so many wonderful couples! We wanted to share with you some bridal fair tips we were sharing with the couples we met.


1. Stickers!

Many vendors have drawings or giveaways and ask for 4 pieces of information...name, wedding date, phone, and email. To save your hand from cramping at the end of the day, print these 4 items on mailing address labels so all you have to do is place a sicker on their sign-up sheet and your on your way!

2. Take a Lap.

Sometimes wedding fairs can be a little overwhelming. Try starting your wedding fair experience by walking through the entire fair just browsing the multitude of vendors (kind of like window shopping). Ask your maid of honor, mom or  hubby-to-be to take notes of vendors you may be interested in. Then take a second lap visiting those vendors, taking your time to get to know them a little better.

3. Sign-up for Free Consultations.

Many vendors offer free consultations where they arrange a time to with you one-on-one to learn more about your big day and explain their services in more detail. If you are at all interested in these vendors at the fair, sing-up for a consultation! Most vendors offer huge savings just for simply meeting with them. (We do!) It's free...what is there to loose? If you end up not being interested in their services, then at least you have learned what you are not looking for.

Most of all have fun and be pampered!!

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Wedding Planner, Coordinator, Designer, Venue Coordinator... What's the difference?

With today's information overload, sometimes the lingo of the wedding world can seem a little confusing and overwhelming. Planner, coordinator, designer - it's all the same right? Actually no...there are many differences between the types of wedding assistance you can receive. Below is a basic breakdown of how we classify each of the different types of wedding planning professionals...

www.imdb.com

Wedding Planner: (a.k.a. Event Coordinator, Full Service Planner, Partial Event Panning)
From vendor referrals to timeline management, a wedding planner is the perfect tool in assisting you from "Will You Marry Me?" to "I Do!"  A wedding planner is an experienced event professional who can confidently guide you through the entire wedding planning process. Their expertise is your navigator through the complex world of all things wedding! Although planners have a variety of service offerings, typically their services include: budget management, vendor referrals, venue selection, to-do check lists & confirmations, vendor meeting attendance, design assistance, creation of a detailed day-of timeline as well as wedding day coordination & management. Since a planner is seen as someone who can "do-it-all", a common misconception is that they will "take-over"  your wedding and control your creative freedom....quite the opposite! A planner is there to foster your creativity, inspire you with new idea's, share wisdom's from their experience and most importantly ensure all of your vendors understand and compliment your vision!

 Wedding Coordinator: (a.k.a. Event Coordinator, Day-of Coordinator, Independent Coordinator)
Although many use the words coordinator & planner interchangeably, for most, their roles are quite different. A planner is typically involved in the planning process early on, where as a coordinator comes into the picture further down the road. Often they start assisting a month or two before the big day. Their services typically included: gathering key information about your wedding, finalizing details, contacting and confirming your vendors contract obligations, establishing a wedding day timeline and most importantly facilitating & ensuring a smooth and stress free wedding day! All in all, a coordinators key role is to tie-up loose ends, bring all of your plans/details together and manage the day-of your event. So as you can see, a wedding planner is typically also a wedding coordinator, however, a wedding coordinator is not always a wedding planner.

Venue Coordinator: (a.k.a. On-site Coordinator, Facility Manager, Banquet Manager)
A venue coordinator is typically an appointed contact by the venue to assist and answer any questions you may have about the venue itself or its affiliates. Their services often include: providing a vendor referral list of vendors they have worked with in the past, creating a timeline for the wedding day in regards to the venues roles & responsibilities, assisting with the catering timeline  (if caterer is correlated with the venue) and assisting with the rehearsal & ceremony process (if ceremony is held at the same venue). Although venue coordinators are a great resource to have, there are a few misconceptions when it comes to the actual roles of venue coordinators. Many anticipate that a venue coordinator is more like a wedding planner or independent coordinator, where-in they will assist you in all planning aspects. Although some do assist with all aspects, most venues have a somewhat strict guideline of what they can assist you with. Some of their limitations include: they usually only have a set list of vendors they can recommend, they can only assist with details that pertain the the venue itself, they can not assist you with your ceremony if it is held at a different venue, typically they will have one person assisting you with the planning and another person there the day-of the event and typically they are not present for the duration of the event. However, they are an expert about their venue and are a great resource to have. Having both a independent planner/coordinator with a venue coordinator is great way to ensure nothing is forgotten or left out!

Wedding Designer:
A wedding designer is your creativity muse. Their role is to ultimately design the look and feel of your wedding. From color swatches to theme creation, their job is to draw out your vision and make it a reality. Their responsibility is mainly focused on the design element of your wedding rather than the planning or coordinating aspects. However, many planners and coordination also incorporate design elements in their packages.

At the end of the day a planner or coordinator is there to make your wedding dreams come true!  Why spend 12 months planning and creating your dream wedding only to have the day-of left to chance?

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

10 Questions to Ask Your Photographer

Sharing your wedding day with the people you love is so special! This connection with your guests shouldn't stop with your friends and family, but should cross over to your vendors as well.

www.blovedweddings.com

In addition to spending this momentous day with your loved ones, you will also be sharing intimate moments with your vendors as well (specifically your coordinator and photographer). When hiring these professionals think about not only what your are looking for from a professional service standpoint, but also form a personality standpoint. At the end of the day, your personal connection with your vendors is what will make your wedding day experience that much more enjoyable!

Here a few questions to ask yourself when you are meeting with wedding photographers for the first time...

  1. Are they experienced in the business? 
  2. Do they understand my vision?
  3. Do they offer services I am looking for?
  4. What parts of the day will they be involved in?
  5. Does their style or range of styles compliment my vision? 
  6. Do they listen to my ideas and offer suggestions or are they pushing their own ideas?
  7. Do we "click" personality wise?
  8. Do I feel comfortable around them, especially in intimate situations?
  9. Would I refer them to a friend and family member?
  10. Most importantly, could I see myself being friends with this person?

About Our Wedding Planning Packages


Our Process:

We believe that every couple has a unique love story and what better way to share that story than through the details of your wedding day! Together we will drive deep to find those little nuances that express who you are as a couple. Your style, taste, vision and most of all personalities, will be the key ingredients to creating a one-of-a-kind celebration just for you! Our packages are designed to assist you in finding service that best accent the details of your wedding. We also offer customized packages to best fit your vision. That is why it is important for us to get to know you better and learn all about your story!

Full Service Wedding Planning:

This is our complete wedding planning package and is designed for couples looking for assistance throughout the entire planning process.  From your engagement to your wedding day, we will be there every step of the way!

Partial Wedding Planning:

Designed for couples who have already started their wedding planning process, but need some extra guidance with the remainder of their details. From vendor referrals to timeline creation, we will pull all your wedding plans together!

Day-of Wedding Coordination:

You have spent months planning every detail of your dream wedding, so why leave the day-of to chance? Our day-of coordination services are designed to make sure that all of your hard work and planning does not slip through the cracks and that each detail is executed flawlessly!