The Quick List: Creative Save The Date Ideas

I was a bit conflicted writing this post because I am very against the wedding industry forcing couples to be competitive.  I want couples to be inspired by the creativity of the save the dates that I selected and look outside the box to choose a STD that is best for them.  I know, I totally just wrote STD.  It is actually a very acceptable term in the wedding world and it still makes me giggle a bit every time I use it.  Anyway, back to the save the date ideas... enjoy!

#1. You absolutely do not need a blockbuster budget, go simple and memorable! 

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#2. Go old school and create a 3D message. 

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The 411: Chevron Style

Chevron is one of those words that you may only know if you are already knee deep in wedding.  The long story is that the chevron design appeared as early as approximately 1800 BC in archaeological recovery of  designs on pottery and rock carvings in the modern day country of Greece (source).  The short version is that chevron is a popular pattern utilized in stationary and decor for today's weddings.  If you have fallen in love with this design as much as I have, here are a few ideas of how to incorporate this fun print into your big day. Enjoy!

#1. Stationary.  Simple and pretty, using chevron for your invitations sets a great tone for what guests can expect at your chic wedding.  Continue the theme with menu cards and programs with this pretty design.

 

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#2. Decor.  The easiest way to incorporate a print into your wedding is in the decor.  Napkins, utensils and linens are a fun, cheap way to tie in your colors and theme.

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#3. Attire.  The decor isn't the only area that can indulge in this print.  Dress up your wedding party with items that they will definitely use again and again.  And don't get left out, here's a sassy rehearsal dinner dress for the bride!

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The Quick List: FREE Stationary Templates!

Who doesn't love free stuff?  Especially when wedding planning!  Sporadically the wedding blogs I follow will have links to free stationary templates.  Instead of just posting each individual link, I wanted to get a bunch in one place for you.  Enjoy!

#1. Thank You Cards. Love Vs. Design has some great templates for weddings, this template comes up a winner for these sweet thank you cards.

#2. Save The Date Cards.  The Wedding Chicks are my go-to for awesome free templates as well as great items in their retail shop.  I adore the simplicity of these std's, especially the full tutorial for those DIY-hesitant like myself.

#3. Wedding Invitations.  Download & Print has some fab options for free templates, such as this one I love.    

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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Knowing When To DIY

Personalized and cost effective are two words that come to mind when most brides decide to take on DIY projects.  In reality, "Do-ing It Yourself" can be overwhelming and stressful if you take on too much.  So how do you know what will be a great project and when should you leave it to professionals?  The main rule is to consider the actual amount of time/energy/money needed for the project.  Ask yourself if your bridesmaids available to help, can it be finished in a weekend, is this project really going to add to my wedding and are you really saving money by DIYing?  When DIY projects succeed, they are spectacular personal items with real sentiment.  On the down side, I did once see a reality tv bride stressed to the max scrambling to finish individually painting 200 mini pumpkins for her escort table the day before her wedding- who needs that hassle?

DIY items can range from decor to attire to favors to stationary.  The main areas brides should stay away from DIY are the vendors- especially forgoing professional photographers, caterers and rental companies. Any web savvy bride can find multiple DIY posts on wedding blogs each week.  Here are a few of my recent favorites.  The Wedding Chicks have a whole DIY section and frequently post on their blog DIY wedding details.  Like this post detailing how to make your own birdcage veil, this post giving instructions on how to make your own strawberry jam favors, or this post on how to create custom drop earrings.  Another one of my favorite blogs, Hostess With The Mostess, posted this floral DIY, making your own country chic decor.  This post on no sew bow ties is perfect for adding some prep from Style Me Pretty.  Last but not least, Ruffled blog showcased upcycling vases & lanterns.  Enjoy!

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Inspiration Station: Oscar Is On His Way

I.am.obsessed.with.award.shows.  That is a basic fact about me.  My top three favorites are the Emmys, The Golden Globes, and best award show ever is of course, the Oscars.  Luckily there are more than a few likeminded people in the event planning world and I found a complete Oscar party set up already!  As if that was not enough excitement for me, this post also includes FREE printables to create your own party!  Hello, free is always awesome.

This being said, I have not held a full-on Oscar party yet.  I usually get together with a few girlfriends to enjoy some wine and give our opinions/yell at the tv during the red carpet- and this year is no different.  Seeing this set up makes me really excited for possibly planning a party next year.  I would love to incorporate a pool to see who guesses the winners and maybe add in some delicious desserts in a nod to the nominees- this year I'm making Black Swan brownies and I believe there was mention of True Grits being served.  Since variety is the spice of life, I was really excited to see this post  with some great ideas on creating your own affordable (key word!) Oscars party.  Creating a movie snack area with popcorn, sno-cones, and milk duds will definitely be a hit.  And this post offers more great ideas plus an Oscars themed cake!  It really is up to you on how elaborate you want to be- from Oscar invitations to prizes to framing past winners as decor, there are so many options.  Whatever you decide to do, I hope you enjoy Hollywood's biggest night as much as I know I will!

 

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Delicious cocktails are a must! (Source)

Eco Friendly Finds

Back in September I blogged about "green" being the new black and gave a few ideas on how to make your wedding more eco friendly.  Well I keep seeing posts and articles with new tips lately so I wanted to post again.  The idea of being "green" is pretty well known; reduce, recycle, and reuse to make a smaller negative impact on the environment.  But mixing eco friendly with weddings can be daunting.  The more research I do, the more I realize that there really isn't an area of a wedding that can't become "green" in some way.  Make a list of what aspects you want to be green in your wedding and make sure you are clear with your vendors on your expectations.  Most vendors have a few eco friendly options and there are some eco friendly only vendors too.  PapelVivo offers stationary using recycled post consumer fiber and they offer DIY kits!  I also found a post featuring eco friendly wedding rings.  And who can resist this post of an eco friendly wedding inspiration shoot including "green" dresses, decor, invites, and flowers!  Speaking of dresses, Terra Amore is another bridal designer with an eco friendly line.

Looking to spread the green love to your guests but not sure about giving them seeds, a plant or a tree?  Offer eco friendly favors, such as myEARTH360's water bottle, tote bags or bamboo coasters.  Or are you going to be a guest at an eco wedding?  A great gift would be produce bags or salad servers in addition to other home items from the couple's registry.  I even found a post featuring a CA photographer offering a 6 hour wedding package to a green wedding!  So, keep looking out for eco wedding finds and I will do my best to keep you updated.  Enjoy! 

 PapelVivo stationary. Source

Balsa Wood Flowers. Source

If You Love Etsy...

If you have not heard of Etsy yet, you are missing out.  Etsy is a website featuring handmade goods ranging from accessories, clothing, jewelry, stationary, and housewares.  Designers open up Etsy "shops" (registered webpages within Etsy) and sell their creations.  Beyond the "feel good" factor of investing into a small business and local entrepreneurs, the number one advantage is having one on one contact with the sellers.  SO many items are able to be personalized which is the obvious drawback in shopping in a huge national chain.  

As appealing as this website is for regular shopping, many brides seek out new and creative items on Etsy from accessories to stationary to decor.  So when I saw that Etsy has started a wedding specific site, I kind of freaked out.  Because weddings + Etsy= AMAZING. 

I always thought that if Etsy had a specific wedding site, it would be Wetsy but that sounds like an outdated doll that pees itself (good thing I wasn't in charge of the name!).  In reality, Etsy's wedding site is called Wedzu and once it is here, I can't believe we all existed without it. 

Wedzu features categories including apparel, ceremony & reception, jewelry & design, and calligraphy just for starters.  So my advice is to set side a few hours and check out Wedzu for yourself.  I can promise some great finds and probably a lot more than just a couple of hours of viewing awesomeness.  Enjoy!

The Emma Custom Flower by Petal Petal

Pearl and Filigree Glamour Necklace by Shlomit Ofir Jewelry