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Wedding Coordination & Design
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INVITATIONS
Begin creating your guest list as soon as possible. Ask your parents and the groom's parents for a list of the people they would like to invite. You and your fiancé should make your own list. Make certain that all names are spelled correctly and that all addresses are current. Determine if you wish to include children; if so, add their names to your list. All children over the age of 16 should receive their own invitation.
Order your invitations at least 4 months before the wedding. Allow an additional month for engraved invitations. Invitations are traditionally issued by the bride's parents; but if the groom's parents are assuming some of the wedding expenses, the invitations should be in their names also. Mail all invitations at the same time, 6 - 8 weeks before the wedding.
Options: There are three types of invitations: traditional/formal, contemporary, and informal. The traditional/formal wedding invitation is white, soft cream, or ivory with raised black lettering. The printing is done on the top page of a double sheet of thick quality paper; the inside is left blank. The contemporary invitation is typically an individualized presentation that makes a statement about the bride and groom. Informal invitations are often printed on the front of a single, heavyweight card and may be handwritten or preprinted.
There are three types of printing: engraved, thermography, and offset printing. Engraving is the most expensive, traditional and formal type of printing. It also takes the longest to complete. In engraved printing, stationery is pressed onto a copper plate, which makes the letters rise slightly from the page. Thermography is a process that fuses powder and ink to create a raised letter. This takes less time than engraving and is less expensive because copper plates do not have to be engraved. Offset printing, the least expensive, is the quickest to produce and offers a variety of styles and colors. It is also the least formal.
Things To Consider: If all your guests are to be invited to both the ceremony and the reception, a combined invitation may be sent without separate enclosure cards. Order one invitation for each married or cohabiting couple that you plan to invite. The officiant and his/her spouse as well as your attendants should receive an invitation. Order approximately 20% more stationery than your actual count. Allow a minimum of two weeks to address and mail the invitations, longer if using a calligrapher or if your guest list is very large. You may also want to consider ordering invitations to the rehearsal dinner, as these should be in the same style as the wedding invitation.
Tips To Save Money: Thermography looks like engraving and is one-third the cost. Choose paper stock that is reasonable and yet achieves your overall look. Select invitations that can be mailed using just one stamp. Order at least 25 extra invitations, just in case you add people to your list or you mess some up. To reorder this small number of invitations later would cost nearly three times the amount you'll spend up front.
Articles from WeddingSolutions.com
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Eco-Friendly Weddings Take Root as Catering Executives See "Green" |
Green is the buzzword these days in all aspects of life, and weddings are no exception.
In its first quarterly survey of "What's Hot" in the catering industry, the National Association of Catering Executives asked members whether they thought that green weddings are a growing trend, and if so, what aspects of green weddings are the most popular.
According to the survey, 52 percent believe that green weddings are a growing trend. Did you know that the average wedding produces 14.5 TONS of carbon dioxide?
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Green Weddings Not Just a Trend, says Brides.com editor |
In an interview for this issue of the Trends Report, Theresa DiMasi, editor of Brides.com says that green weddings are indeed very popular.
She just cautions not to label them a trend. A trend, she says is something that comes and goes, but green thinking, she believes, is here to stay. "I don't think it's a trend, I actually think it's a shift in people's perception and how they live their lives. It's just a way of living now."
This time is different than about 15 years ago, when the environment was a hot topic. That environmentalism wave had died down until recently when global warming became an issue that is motivating the general public to once again be conscious of ways to protect the planet.
Brides.com has seen its message board buzz with activity whenever the subject comes up, and DiMasi says that the site will soon be launching an "eco-chic" wedding guide. "A wedding is a statement," DiMasi said. "It's the first major party thrown by a couple, and it is an opportunity to say something about the lifestyle that will be adopted by them."
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The Green Wedding Survey Results |
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1. Are you planning a green wedding this year?
Yes: 11 percent, No: 89 percent
2. Did you plan any green weddings last year?
Yes: 6 percent, No: 94.1 percent
3. Do you believe that green weddings are a growing trend?
Yes: 62 percent.No: 38 percent
4. Is this area of environmentally sustainable practices one that you would like to learn more about?
Yes: 87 percent, No: 13 percent
5. What are the most popular features chosen by clients who want a green wedding? Organically grown food: 59 percent, Locally grown food: 58 percent, Recyclable paper goods: 51 percent, Reuse of flowers 49 percent, Practices of the venue where the event is taking place: 40 percent
6. In your view can the fact that a wedding is green be inconspicuous to the guests if desired?
Yes: 95 percent, No: 5 percent | |
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| Expert Tips from Green Wedding Pros |
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There are so many different things that couples (and their parents) can do to make their wedding "green." Here are some tips from our experts:
· Consider a venue listed by the Green Hotels Association (www.greenhotels.com)
· Have the reception and ceremony at the same place to avoid fuel costs
· Calculate the mileage guests will travel and offset their carbon dioxide emissions by donating to programs that plant trees or preserve rain forests
· Rent a shuttle bus for guests that uses biodiesel fuel
· Avoid using hairsprays and use organic hair care and makeup products
· Have invitations embedded with seeds so that guests can plant the invitations after the wedding
· Understand the difference between organic, all natural and locally grown foods
· Tell retailers to send all gifts at once and avoid extra packaging
Source: Cate Buscher, Plan It Perfect NACE Baltimore chapter
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| Organic Mushroom Saute Station Sizzles |
| Mushrooms - natural, exquiste jewels of nature in exotic shapes, shades, and colors. Shiitakes, brown and white Beech, King Trumpet, Porcinis amd Maitakes - a perfect and unique display to include in a green wedding menu. Find out how to design and prepare a mushroom saute station that will have wedding guests saying "wow!"
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Your ideas are welcome for the NACE Trends Report! Please send comments and/or suggestions to Joyce Summers, NACE Associate Director at jsummers@nacenet.org.
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By VINCENT THIAN, Associated Press Writer
Sun Jun 10, 3:22 PM ET
A two-week lavish wedding celebration for the daughter of Brunei's sultan — one of the world's richest men — culminated Sunday in a ceremony steeped in the royal tradition of this tiny, oil-rich nation.
Princess Majeedah Nuurul Bulqiah, 31, and Khairul Khalil, 32, exchanged their vows Thursday and were officially presented to the public on Sunday according to Islamic religious rites.
The groom was greeted by the bride's father, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, in the 1,788-room palace's main hall and led to the royal dais where she was seated. The sultan then took Khairul's hand and placed it on the princess' head briefly before seating him next to her.
Cannon shots were fired, and the ceremony, attended by some 2,000 guests, ended with a thanksgiving prayer.
As they left the hall, the couple — dressed in matching gold and maroon traditional Malay outfits — gave a bow of respect before Hassanal and his two wives. The newlyweds then sat in a motor-driven carriage and led a procession around the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, which was festooned with colorful banners. Thousands of onlookers lined the streets, waving tiny flags.
Brunei has vast oil and gas reserves that have fueled the royal family's fortunes and made the country one of the richest per capita in the world. Its oil reserves are currently estimated at about 1.2 billion barrels.
Hassanal, 61, had an estimated net worth of nearly $40 billion in 1997, the most recent figures available. He has ruled the tropical Islamic country on Borneo island for nearly four decades, and his family has reigned for about 600 years.
Family members hold all key government positions. In addition to being prime minister, Hassanal holds the defense and finance portfolios, and is supreme commander of the armed forces.
Majeedah is the fourth of Hassanal's 11 children, and works as a senior officer in the environment, parks and recreation department. The groom is an assistant officer in the prime minister's office.
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| Courtesy of: Peggy Post, Etiquette Expert of WeddingChannel.com and internationally known spokesperson for the Emily Post Institute.
Courtesy of: http://www.weddingchannel.com
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| http://www.weddingpodcastnetwork.com/ |
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Wendy Dahl of "Dahl Wedding Company" provided an excellent article on "The Bride & Bloom" website
http://66.34.224.169/index.php/
about the importance of having a Destination Wedding Planning Trip or
what some people call a "Scouting Trip". Not everyone planning a
destination wedding has the luxury of arranging such a thing due to
funds or time away from work, but if you are able to work at least one
weekend visit to your destination wedding location, it is money &
time well invested.
Idea Phase-Consider crucial details such as guest list size, season, budget, formality, etc.
Get Organized-Get
yourself some binders, plastic sleeves & dividers, create a wedding
planning folder on your computer to store photos, emails, menus,
contracts, etc.
Research, Research-The
world and the web is a mouse click away to discover where you want to
go. Visit websites on specific locations you like, visit the travel
bureau of countries/states you are interested in to learn more &
how your wedding might be affected by weather, culture, etc.
Get Ready for your Planning Trip-Make
appointments & prepare questions in advance for the venues/vendors
you will be meeting with. Get proper directions to ensure you arrive on
time.
The Planning Trip-Schedule
meetings in clusters of one location to save travel time. If you are
interested in booking, get the paperwork while you are there to save
yourself time and/or costly phone calls later or book on the spot if
you are ready and sure about your decision.
Courtesy of:
http://www.lvweddingconcierge.blogspot.com/
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Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding Invitations
From Nina
Callaway,
Cheap Wedding Invitation Tips
If you're a budget-savvy couple, you're probably looking to save money
wherever you can. One area you might not have thought of is your wedding
invitations. Don't think you need to buy flimsy paper or discounted blurry
printing. You can still have an elegant but cheap wedding invitation.
Here are my top 10 ways of saving money on wedding invitations:
1, Shop Around While party and stationery stores are great places to see a
wide variety of invitations, they're certainly not the only place to buy them.
Places you might not have thought of: Kinkos, Staples and other office supply
stores, Costco and other discount or warehouse stores, mail-order catalogs and
the Internet. Many of these places offer the same exact invitations for much
less. You will want to order samples so that you can see the quality of the
paper and printing before you buy.
2, Different Printing Techniques An engraved wedding invitation is a
beautiful thing – and an expensive one.
But there are alternatives. Thermography will give you the same raised look
and feel for much less money. And for a more casual wedding, laser printing
(the same kind used for magazines, postcards, etc.) is perfectly appropriate.
3, The Little Extras Intricate invitations with jackets, bows, multiple
layers of paper and other embellishments are very popular these days. But those
little extra details can really add up. Not only will you pay for their cost,
but there might be hidden assembly fees (or extra work for you), as well as
additional postage costs. Instead go for the classic look of a simple
invitation printed on a high-quality paper. And avoid lined envelopes. Although
they are a traditional element of wedding invitations, it's a detail that few
will notice.
Save money by skipping this step.
4, A Package Deal Sure it's fun to personalize, but if you're working on a
tight budget, look for company that offers discount packages. Buying your
invitations as a unit may be cheaper than choosing your invitation, response
card, envelopes and other extras separately. Additionally some stationers may
offer discounts for ordering your wedding invitations, thank you cards, and
informal stationery at the same time.
5, One Envelope Traditionally, wedding invitations were sent in two
envelopes so that they would remain pristine in spite of their journey. But
since mail delivery has made much progress since the days of messengers and
horses, you can save money by using only one envelope. Make sure to get your
invites hand cancelled by the post office, which will minimize extra wear and
tear.
6, Standard Size Invitations Some people mistakenly think that as long as
their invites weigh less than one ounce, they can use a regular first class
stamp. Not only is this not true, but most invitations weigh more than an
ounce. According to the US Post
Office website, you'll incur an additional $0.13 surcharge on one oz. or
less envelopes if any one of the following apply:
o It
is a square letter
o It
contains very rigid items such as wood or metal
o It
has clasps, string, buttons, or similar closure devices
o It
has an address parallel to the shorter dimension of the letter
o It
contains items such as pens that cause the surface to be uneven
o The
length divided by height is less than 1.3 or more than 2.5
This length-to-height ratio is what causes problems with most wedding
invitations. Fortunately, the Post Office has a handy calculator on their website. $0.13 may not sound like much, but it adds up.
7, No Reception Card If your reception is at the same location as the
wedding, no need for a separate reception card. Instead write "reception
to follow" or "dinner and dancing to follow." Even if the
locations differ, you can write "Reception to Follow, Jamestown Country
Club" on the invitation, and then include a simple photocopied insert with
a map and reception details.
8, Proofread A no-brainer, perhaps, but you'd be surprised how many people
find errors on their wedding invitations and have to re-order with extra rush
charges. Get a couple of trusted friends or colleagues to look over the
invitation for extra insurance. Make sure you've got all the details of names,
date, time, location, and RSVP correct!
9, Postcard RSVP Rather than a folded card and envelope, use a postcard for
your RSVP. Not only will you save on weight for your invitation postage, but
you'll save $0.15 in postage for each RSVP.
10, Order extra invitations and envelopes This might seem counterintuitive,
but since almost every couple remembers someone that they HAVE to invite at the
last minute, you'll want to have a few extra wedding invitations. And since
it's likely that you'll make a few goofs while addressing them, order extra
envelopes as well. It will cost you a little extra now, but save you lots of
reprinting and rush charges later.
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By Rob Beschizza
on Innovations
 If
you've ever gazed at your living room ceiling and thought, "I need a
flashing LED light to cast an enchantmenting rainbow of color over the
room," your prayers have been answered.
The remote-controlled Home LED Lamp allows unprecented control,
and screws into a plain old light socket; at $48, this would be great
for retro parties at home, or for using to "colorize" white kitchen
surfaces, as is now the popular fad.
Product Page [Brando via ]
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PRODUCT GALLERY: SWEET SMELLS
Dec 27, 2006 6:00 AM
Scentevents suggests enhancing events with
complementary aromas. A small scent player, requiring 1 amp of
electricity and measuring 7 inches wide, will perfume an indoor or
outdoor area as large as 2,000 square feet. The scents are
environmentally safe and range from holiday-themed pumpkin spice to
fresh-cut grass. |
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By Nicole Weston
on WorldRecord
Filed under: Garden  Flowers
seem to be a fairly standard Valentine's Day gift, one that is so
expected that it is actually quite difficult to impress your Valentine
with them without going to extremes. Filling up a room with roses could
be prohibitively expensive, but the World's Tallest Roses,
while still pricey, might make even more of an impression. Just look at
how pleased the woman in the picture is to see the roses!
The roses are over five feet tall and are carried exclusively by
Organic Bouquet. The roses are imported from Equador, where the
combination of sun and volcanic soil allows them to reach such
impressive heights. Price for 1 dozen: $250. |
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