Save the Date "Savvy" with Leslie & Jordan
Why did you decide to send out
Save the Dates?
I decided to send out save the dates because a lot of my family is in Colorado (the wedding is in CA). I do have a wedding website, which I think is a great way to spread the word, but I was concerned that less tech-savvy guests might miss out. Also, I think they are very classy and get people excited about the wedding well in advance.
When will be you sending out your
Save the Dates? What made you choose that date?
I am going to send out my Save the Dates in December, about 7 months before the wedding. I chose that date because I wanted out of town guests to take advantage of cheaper airfare, and because there are so many weddings during the summer, I wanted to get mine on everyone’s calendar as soon as possible!
Will your Save the Dates have to match your invitations? Why?
My Save the Dates will match my invitation, because I think the event comes off as more successful and organized if it has a central theme. I think whether they do it consciously or subconsciously, guests will recognize and appreciate that everything is coordinated in terms of color and style.
What info did you choose to put on your Save the Dates and why?
I put our names, the date, the location, and our wedding website on our Save the Date. I’ve read that it’s improper etiquette to put your registries on your invitation or save the date, but you CAN list your wedding website, which will link guests to your registry. Maybe it is sneaky, but it’s one way to direct guests to those oh-so-important registry gifts!
Will you be
including a
monogram?
If so will you use your monogram on other stationary?
I will be including a monogram, and I’d love to put it on stationary! Great idea.
Will you put “and guest” on the envelope of your save the dates?
Yes; I would like to let guests know as soon as possible that they will be allowed to bring a date, so there isn’t confusion.
What are some tips to "wedding" out your guest list?
My fiancé and I both created out lists, and then we paired it down together. There was definitely some negotiating that went on. I don’t think it’s ever easy, but there are just some people that you have to cut.
It is important to remember that it’s your wedding – choose who you want to spend time with on one of the most special days of your life. Don’t make your wedding into a time to “catch up” with people. You should be able to enjoy the day with people you know and care about.
Was there anything particularly stressful about this process?
I love planning, and since this is my big event, obviously I have a lot personally invested in the process! I don’t think it should be stressful. Wedding planning should always be fun. I just try to stay organized. Planning tips on wedding websites such as theknot.com are great resources. Also, keeping a budget and sticking to it helps you stay on track.
Do you have any tips to share concerning save the dates/wedding stationary?
I would say use wedding websites to look up proper wording for invitations; that really helped. Also, I am getting two sample options made so my family can help choose which one should go out to guests. It is a small gesture, but helps everyone feel involved. Buying samples is a must!
Real Bride Guide
Our first debut of
“Real Bride Guide”
highlights
Kristen and Dusty!
A very classy couple who will be saying their I dos "Old Hollywood" style.
Just when you think pulling off this lavishly unique wedding style may be hard to do…just wait until you hear the very practical advice Kristen has to offer to all you fabulous brides looking for a bit of hope behind your wedding preperations.
Final Count-Making your List work for You.
We have overestimated just to be safe.
We were also sure that our catering choices where hefty potions per person (we are doing action stations monitored by chefs – so we have passed appetizers and a burger station, a mashed potato bar, pasta bar etc).
My future hubby is 6’5 and his family of men like their food! I hate being hungry at a wedding – we wanted to avoid that!
What’s your bridal style and what are some unique ways you plan on adding your unique touches throughout your wedding?My bridal style is old Hollywood, romantic and elegant. We are having our guests wear black, yet there won’t be a cinch of black at the wedding.
We are having whites, creams, ivories and blush pinks with large champagne urns with ostrich feathers and large vases on our tables with hydrangeas, Valencia roses and champagne curly willow. I’m also big on linens! White Chair covers with white sashes and floor length table cloths are a must! We also have special lighting and our reception is in an old big courthouse (the landmark center in st Paul) so it fits the warm romantic feel we are going for. We are incorporating the old Hollywood, gone with the wind feeling, by having a specialty cocktail hour with dean martin, frank Sinatra playing.
Our January wedding is at 6pm so the reception won’t be until 715, and in Minnesota it is dark by then! So we want to make sure our large big space had warm lighting and a billion candles!
Do you prefer custom made or pre-fabricated wedding stationary?I’m not sure, I’m having a really hard time with my invitations, I get ready to order them online, and back out because I’m not sure of quality, final product look etc. I’m worried the layout won’t look right, or the paper will feel cheap or something may be misprinted with them! I want my invitations to set the mood for our formal wedding without breaking the bank.
I’m very visual! I absolutely recommend buying samples and asking sisters/friends etc (my sweet future hubby says he likes everything, so that doesn’t help me much!) I ordered tons of samples – I even paid for some! I’m sure glad I did because they narrowed quite a few vendors out. Ladies you will want to TOUCH your invite – trust me! I never thought I would care so much about what they would look like but it’s a true investment like you said before and invites really set the tone for your wedding, you want to set the stage beautifully!
Be Budget Wise: Have fun and stick within your budget – don’t go one dollar over, it won’t feel good! Seek tips from experts, and really look into hiring a planner – you will be so happy you did!Free Budget Planning guide: If you are interested email me and I will be glad to send you a free budget guide that fits neatly in your purse to help kee you in check.
Tips to an Enjoyable Day:
Hire a wedding consultant.
If it’s not in the budget for the entire wedding, make sure you have one for the day of. Your wedding isn’t a day where you want your mother worrying about the details. Make it special for everyone in your family – don’t forget someone has to clean up and manage your big day – why would you want your mother or sister to have to worry about that.
I wanted to make sure my whole family felt like it was a destination wedding (no worries, or lugging things around – just enjoying the special day). I have gotten a lot of compliments and gratitude from my close family members. Now, they can be with me at the spa, relaxing and getting ready instead of arranging my flowers. For me, we had one from the beginning and she has MORE than paid for herself with all the amazing deals she can find us. We had a less-than-average budget for our wedding, yet she has planned it so it will be like a gala event.
Real Bride Guide- Sneak Peek
Well, I've taken care of all that for you! Step back, take a breath and rest assure that in our new “Real Bride Guide” you can find common and sometimes not so common issues that have come up in “Real” brides wedding day planning; all with the goal to help you have a much deserved, well enjoyed wedding day for you, your future hubby, bridal party as well as your guest.
As this is meant to be interactive, feel free to chime in with your own helpful hints on any given subject to bring peace to a fellow bride.
Real Bride Guide- Ashley & Maureen
From the minute Ashley and I started planning our wedding, we knew that we wanted a personal touch to come through in many of our wedding elements. The problem... neither of us is crafty. Not even a little bit. Enter stage right..... amazing Etsy seller, Sarah. I immediately fell in love with her shop on Etsy and knew our invitations had to come from her. After a few emails back and forth regarding our theme and colors, I received a gorgeous sample invitation and just knew This. Was. It.
Sarah worked diligently to get our invitations turned around in a very short time frame. I dropped the ball on deadlines, but she didn't miss a beat. The compliments on our invitations have been rolling in since we mailed them out. Sarah captured everything we wanted to convey about our Big Day: romance, elegance and love. Our experience was more than we ever expected - thank you, Sarah! We'll be back, that's for sure!
~ Mr. & and (almost) Mrs. Garry
Ashley & Maureen's Final Design
Real Bride Guide--Jessica Stamen
Wedding Invitations don't have to be ordinary! You don't have to pick them out of a book or stationary store filled with mediocre designs. Allow your own personal style to jump out and put a smile on your guest face; guaranteed to leave a lasting impression as well as set the tone for your special day. Brides and grooms alike have come up with all kinds of unique ways to allow their personality to "shine" through. Why not start off on that same creative foot?
Thank You Jessica and William for allowing me to create such a uniquely personal invitation that you not only will enjoy as a special keepsake but that you had fun with as well!
From the Bride: "I searched high and low for invitations that were professional yet playful, and that would really convey our personalities. So I was thrilled to stumble upon Sarah's shop on etsy. I loved the lovebirds image, and Sarah did a great job of adjusting it so it perfectly matched our color scheme. The packaging of the invitations was adorable, and everything was assembled beautifully. We've received loads of compliments on the invites, and they've gotten all the guests super excited for the wedding, which was exactly what we'd hoped for!"
Just Imagine what we can create, togeter.
Jessica and Charles: Final Creation
Gorgeous Gowns
