Thank You, Gracias, Merci

During wedding planning, most couples are focused on the details of the big day.  When you get back from the honeymoon and start to settle into your new lives, there is still one more wedding related task on your plate: writing the thank you's to your guests and vendors. 

Thank you notes may be less common in our normal lives but etiquette is still a large part of weddings.  Save yourself stress by preparing for thank you's along the way.  There are two main divisions of wedding thank you's; pre-wedding and after-wedding.  Starting with pre-wedding, keep an organized guest list (with full addresses) and keep it updated as gifts come in before the wedding.  Although you are expected to send thank you's for all pre-wedding gifts (engagement party, bridal shower, etc.), the pre-wedding thank you's don't have to match the rest of the stationary and you can find great quality ones at Target, WalMart and A.C. Moore to name a few stores.

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For after-wedding thank you's, start to think about the design.  You will need to decide if you want to stay consistent with the rest of your wedding stationary; the invitations, programs, escort cards, menus, etc.  If you do, order your thank you's with your other stationary to save on shipping two separate orders. Wedding Paper Divas posted recently with new ideas for thank you cards.  If you think you may want to use your engagement or wedding photos, you may want to create a special "thank you" sign specifically for your after wedding thank you's cards.   Let your photographer know ahead of time so you can discuss the expected timeline for getting back the professional photos.  Speaking of vendors, it is always nice to sent a note letting your vendors know that your appreciate their hard work on your big day.  And last but not least, make sure to order new return address labels for your newly married selves!  Hope these tips help, enjoy!

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If SHE Likes It, She Should Put A Ring On It

Did you know that in Chile couples wear their wedding rings on their right ring fingers while engaged and then switch the rings to their left hand after they are married?  I didn't know that either until I started to research cool wedding traditions in preparation for creating a post on a different country's wedding customs for this blog.  I kind of like the idea that the Chilean couples both wear engagement rings.  It brings up an issue which I hear about from my engaged girlfriends a lot: why doesn't my man have to wear an indicator that he is taken?  The classic "look-on-his-ring-finger-to-see-if-he-is-taken" can be misleading since any un-ringed guy may or may not be completely "on the market" single.

So when this Wedding Paper Divas blog entry came up on my google reader (OMG I'm so obsessed with my google reader checking all my favorite blogs all day long), I was definitely intrigued.  The post is about "man-gagement" rings and has a picture of Michael Bublé wearing one.  Which I guess the paparazzi figured out because they asked Michael if he had gotten married and he told them that it was a "man-gagement" ring.  The WPD ask their followers if they agree with this idea, if they would want their man to wear a "man-gagement" ring to show the world he is taken.  At the time when I looked at the comments, there were only two and they were both PRO- man-gagement rings.  I'm sure some brides would be against it because it is pretty non-traditional and I'm not sure what exactly is the difference between a man-gagement ring and a wedding ring.  Would the groom wear the man-gagement ring on another finger after he is married?  Most guys don't like to wear a lot of jewelry, much less rings, so I find it hard to believe a married guy would want to wear two rings.  So, it doesn't make a lot of sense to spend good money on a ring he will only wear for about a year.  But maybe that's just me, I'm way too practical for my own good sometimes.  I think if this idea strikes a chord with the bride to be, the groom should be open to the idea.  My choice would be a casual ring, nothing too flashy.

As I tried to search for more images, I saw that "mangagement ring" is actually in the urban dictionary.  Which means that it is catching on in our society.  I also saw a bunch of articles talking about this as a new trend and that man-gagement rings are also being given by women who are proposing to their men!  So, what are your thoughts?  Are you progressive or traditional?  Would you think its weird if your friend's fiancé was sporting a ring? 
 

M Bublé sporting the new trend. Source

 

Because RR is so dreamy! Source

Wedding Websites- the 411 & a Giveaway!

I don't have concrete numbers, but I would say at least half of engaged couples have their own wedding website.  I believe most are free (here, here, and here) and are pretty easy to set up.  Now, before I go into the basics, I wanted to share this amazing find from WedLoft: FREE wedding website hosting package giveaway.  This package will take away the guess work of couples trying to customize and build a website.  This is a fantastic deal and if you or someone you know is engaged.  First call Felicity C Weddings for a planner... and then check out this giveaway!

Back to the basics.  Just like another other website, there is a home page which typically includes a picture of the couple and a countdown to the big day.  Then there are various other pages; how the couple met, the proposal story, who is in the bridal party, ceremony & reception details/ directions/ maps, accommodations info, guest book, photo albums, registry information, and RSVP section.  The last one is growing in popularity, not only because it is very "green" and eco friendly, but it is a definitely cost saver to only mail out invitations.  It really is such a great idea not only so all your guests are informed, but is a ridiculously easy way for all the guests to really get to know the couple (unless you plan on calling every guest to tell your proposal story).  I even found a wedding website demo from Wedding Paper Divas to give you an idea of a typical site.

Speaking of Wedding Paper Divas, which is an amazing online stationary company, I also came across this offer for free personal wedding websites that match your invitations!  Check out their website and blog to see their whole catalog and be inspired!  Here are just a few of their varied styles.  Enjoy!

Traditional. Source