Moment to Moment Event's Blog

What We Wish Wedding Guests Would Remember!

24 Aug 2011 2 Comments

by Moment to Moment Events in Tips & Tricks - Don't Miss Even ONE!

So, it’s been a LONG while since our last post, some weddings in between and life intervening, but we’re back again tonight. We’re currently working on Michelle and Shane’s wedding for 9/10/11 (never forger that anniversary, right?!), and as we anxiously awaited the return of all of the RSVPs, I got to thinking about how guests could be so much more helpful to a bride and groom. And so, in a diversion from our usual Tips & Tricks for engaged couples, this one is for the wedding guests honored with an invitation to the most special day in a couple’s lives. Here’s our list:

1) When you receive the invitation, you receive an RSVP card with a date it must be returned by. This return date is set to allow the couple to order favors (they have to know how many are coming first), and how many meals they will order from the caterer. Wedding guests can help by returning that postage-paid card the moment they open the invitation (we love that); if timing may be an issue and you can’t be sure of your attendance right away, return it the second you know if you can or cannot attend. Foremost, though, be SURE it’s returned by the due date … and if you get a call from the couple or their planner, please return the phone call at your very earliest convenience. We can’t begin to measure the amount of frustration and angst this saves for the couple.

2) Don’t assume it’s okay to bring a “plus 1″ if the invitation doesn’t precisely say so. Budgets are thin today, and it’s affected the building of guest lists; if it’s not the budget, there may be a space issue. A fabulous wedding guest never RSVPs for a plus 1 if the invite doesn’t provide for it! The same generally applies to children: if the invitation is not addressed in a way that includes children, it’s not proper to RSVP for them or bring them to the wedding. If you are invited to bring a guest, please do your best to write the guest’s name on the RSVP card – and for those of you receiving an invite to a family, please remember to write in how many will be attending.

3) A couple plans their wedding for a long time and no detail is too small. One detail wedding guests often overlook is timing. If the invitation says the ceremony starts at 5pm, be a good wedding guest and arrive at 4:30pm, to give you time to park and find a seat … it’s unseemly to come rushing in as the bride is beginning her walk down the aisle, or as the ceremony begins. Weddings, especially those with planners, really do tend to start on time and a caring wedding guest shows the bride and groom that they care about the details too.  Remember too, all cell phones should be turned off before you enter the ceremony venue; unless you’re a heart surgeon waiting for a donor, your calls can wait for your friends to say their I Dos. Finally, a word about children, babies and ceremonies: if they cry or begin to speak out, it’s always a good guest gesture to quietly take them outside until they settle down.

4) If there’s no receiving line, savvy wedding guests realize that the couple and their families have a finite amount of time to get formal ceremony photos done before they head to their cocktail hour, which they won’t be able to enjoy if they don’t get the photos done quickly! It’s best not to wait for them to come out of the church or ceremony venue to congratulate them … wait for the cocktail hour, or the reception. They will thank you for it!

5) “Don’t wear black” is an old myth, unless you are the mother-in-law to be, from whom it might be seen as a statement! Go ahead, wear that little black dress you love, but leave the white one on the hanger: that’s a myth that still makes sense. Overall, your attire should show your respect for the couple … and for yourself, especially after a few trips to the open bar!

That’s our Wishes for Wonderful Wedding Guests – maybe you have a few you’d like to add? We invite you to comment and share your own!

As Promised – 5 MORE Fabulous Winter Wedding Ideas!

09 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment

by Moment to Moment Events in Tips & Tricks - Don't Miss Even ONE!

So, you read last week’s blog, but you still aren’t sure about setting a winter date? Well, prepare to be wowed by these five stylish winter celebrations:

1. Take advantage of the cool weather to provide a backdrop for an even cooler reception featuring a live jazz band and a MOODY BLUES color scheme. Select a few different shades of smoky blue and accent them with charcoal, brass, and white. Ideal for a cocktail party reception, this uber-cool setting screams for a lounge area, so don’t forget to add a few chic couches and lighted coffee tables to the mix. Skip ANYTHING that feels stuffy to you – this theme is all about easy and cool. That’s right, baby. Just stay cool…
2. If cool isn’t your thing, think warm and romantic with an OPULENT BURGUNDY palette. Set against rich gold and ebony, the key to making this palette work is that white is strictly forbidden! So start by opting for a golden wedding gown, gold-dusted cake, and tall, tall, tall gold tapers set in a low, ornate gold bowl filled with a magnificent dome of burgundy roses. Set your formal, seated dinner (way to opulent for a buffet) with black china and gold chargers and overlay gold linens with burgundy silks and ebony napkins. Think deep, complex flavors like beef bourguignon, and feature a wine bar. And whatever you do, don’t forget the crystal! This party is simply the definition of romance.
3. Foodies, rejoice! Winter is the best season to indulge your gluttonous desires as almost none of your guests are planning to wear a bikini tomorrow. And after months of dieting to look great for your special day, you probably deserve a delicious reward. Enter the gourmet tasting party or, as I like to call it, the FOODIE FETE! Find a great chef in a great restaurant with a well-appointed private room with a view, and ask him to create a multi-course tasting menu to last several hours. Dancing won’t be a focus, so skip the DJ, but consider hiring strolling musicians or a 3-piece combo. If the room is large enough to warrant it, add a microphone as well for toasting. If possible, enlist a personal sommelier to serve you and your guests the finest wine pairings for your elaborate meal. When it comes to the cake, traditional white tiers just won’t do, so work with a pastry chef to create a delicious and gorgeous dessert uniquely for you. It’s sure to be a culinary event that even Julia Child would envy!
4. Skip color and behold the power of sparkle when you transform your reception venue into a pristine ICE PALACE by using only white, silver, crystal, and (of course) ice. Consider several chilled food stations like shrimp cocktail or white-chocolate-dipped fruit, each set upon an elegantly carved ice sculpture. Fill a cocktail fountain with white chocolate martinis for a dip-and-sip experience that won’t soon be forgotten. Serve Stolichnaya in shot glasses made of ice for toasting and ask your florist to incorporate clear Swarovski crystals into your all-white arrangements. Bring in touches of silver in the form of vases, flatware, and ribbons and hang LED-lit crystal chandeliers. Soft, pure white LED light is far superior to candlelight for this theme, so make use of strategically placed flora-lites and ditch the wax. Want a taste of icy royalty at the ceremony? Try a gown dripping with crystals and a tiara and walk down an aisle spread with a white velvet runner trimmed with silver ribbon. You never felt more like a princess!
5. Finally, get a little HOLLYWOOD GLAMOUR! If you and your intended have a standing Friday night dinner-and-a-movie date, then take a cue from the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards and throw a film-focused extravaganza. Tuxes are a must (for the groomsmen, at least, if a black tie affair is not an option), and your first chance to save comes when you purchase an Oscar-worthy ball gown instead of a traditional wedding gown. Quirky accessories, like vintage bags or knit caps, are perfectly acceptable thanks to the eclectic tastes of our favorite movie stars. Updos are don’ts, so take great care of your hair and let it shine and flow! Choose a venue with details akin to the Kodak Theatre, like red carpeting and gleaming gold wall sconces. Name your tables after favorite films, ask your DJ to incorporate famous movie music, and throw red velvet and gold accents on anything that stands still! Need some menu inspiration? Check out the recipes of Wolfgang Puck, caterer to the stars and chef of the finest celebrity after-parties. When YOUR party is over, let your guests know that they are all winners by sending them home with chocolate Oscars.

And …  That’s a wrap! Watch in coming weeks for Fabulous Ideas for Spring, Summer AND Fall Weddings,. A big Thank You to our Partner/Associate Lead Planner & Designer, Dana Marie Hough, for this and last week’s blog contribution!

Five Fabulous Winter Weddings!

28 Jan 2011 1 Comment

by Moment to Moment Events in Tips & Tricks - Don't Miss Even ONE!

Many couples overlook winter as a potential backdrop for their big day. After all, it’s cold. The sky is grey. And what blooms in the winter, anyway? But winter also offers some of the greatest opportunities in the year. Looking to save? Vendors are often more flexible on pricing as the lower demand pushes them to compete more aggressively for your business. Snow-covered landscapes and rosy cheeks make for extraordinarily beautiful outdoor photography, or you could opt for venue-only photography, saving time and money. And there’s no other time of year that decadence and opulence are more in fashion.

Here are five of our favorite ideas for winter weddings that go way beyond a “Noel Nuptial”:

1. WINTER PASTELS are an unexpected and welcome color palette in the midst of a frozen landscape. What sets these shades apart from the nursery variety is a touch of grey and a bit of sparkle. So opt for pale mauve and sage rather than pink and mint and set them against gray and platinum. Overlay gray linens with sheer platinum fabric. Fashion a centerpiece of frosted glass and pillar candles in varying heights and shades of winter pastels. For extra DIY credit, cover the lower 1/3 of each candle in fine-grain white glitter. Simple… elegant… gorgeous!

2. No food is sexier or more decadent than fine CHOCOLATE, and can you think of anything more welcoming on a snowy day than a steaming cup of hot cocoa? But there’s no reason to relegate this divinity to the dessert spread! Why not use your wedding as an opportunity to explore its savory side with your nearest and dearest by incorporating chocolate into every course? Cocoa nibs in your salad, a first course of chicken mole, an entrée of cocoa-chile crusted pork loin – the memory of this uniquely tantalizing meal will be savored for years to come! For favors, consider Vosges, a Chicago-based chocolatier that pairs top-quality chocolates with unexpected international flavors like wasabi, curry, and cardamom. Big bonus – chocolate is a powerful aphrodisiac!

3. Channel the fun and careless freedom of the ROARING TWENTIES! Imagine your groom in fedora and wingtips and you in a cloche hat and opera-length pearls, breaking out of your first dance into an unexpected Charleston! Need to get inspired? Start by watching The Great Gatsby, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Chicago, Annie, or HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. Then, focus the décor on art deco and the signature cocktails on gin and you’re halfway there! Consider renting a vintage Model T Ford in place of a traditional limo, and give each lady a boa and each gent a pack of candy cigarettes as they enter your ‘speakeasy’. Keep the color palette simple – black, white, and silver – to up the chic quotient and balance the flurry of silk, lace, beads, feathers, jazz, ragtime, flappers and gangsters. This is a theme that oozes style, rebellion, and indulgence – now what isn’t fabulous about that?

4. Are you planning to escape the winter chill with an island honeymoon? Many ancient cultures believed that lighting huge balefires midwinter would encourage the return of the sun. Why not focus your day on FIRE & LIGHT to encourage great beach weather? Seek a venue with a grand fireplace and fill it with candles. Hang antique candle chandeliers and build centerpieces of candle clusters and lanterns set on reflective trays. Ask a lighting designer to uplight walls with a warm peach glow and focus on fiery colors like reds and oranges. Present a cheese fondue station during cocktail hour and have your caterer flambé Bananas Foster or Cherries Jubilee live on the dance floor for a fun and fiery dessert hour. Now, that’s HOT!!

5. If your idea of a perfect winter day includes cuddling up to your man and reading together, than a BIBLIOPHILE theme may be the right choice for you. If you’re lucky enough to live near a grand historic library that rents a ballroom space, like the landmark New York Public Library, then your venue is practically chosen for you. Choose love poems for ceremony readings and stacks of vintage books for centerpieces and table numbers. Check out crafters on etsy.com, who can do some surprising things with paper – like these beautiful roses, crafted from the pages of romance novels! For favors, consider personalizing book lights at promotional products websites like ePromos or 4Imprint. You’ll be writing your own love story in no time!

Like what you’ve read? Follow Moment to Moment Event’s blog now to make sure you won’t miss next week’s entry, when we’ll share Five MORE Fabulous Winter Wedding Ideas!

Submitted by by DanaMarie Hough, Partner, Associate Lead Planner & Designer

Moment to Moment Event’s Receives WeddingWire’s Bride’s Choice Award 2011!

27 Jan 2011 Leave a Comment

by Moment to Moment Events in Tips & Tricks - Don't Miss Even ONE!

Palmyra, NJ – January 26, 2011 – WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce Moment to Moment Events has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for Wedding Planning!

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent review
s and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

Moment to Moment Events stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Moment to Moment Events for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that Moment to Moment Events is among the very best wedding planners within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/moment-to-moment-events-palmyra/321e8ce76a134618.html.

For more information on the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire.com, the nation’s leading technology company serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 local wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives local businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. Businesses that join the WeddingWire Network appear on WeddingWire.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), ProjectWedding.com and Weddingbee.com (both part of eHarmony), and Celebrations.com (part of the 1-800-Flowers family of brands, NASDAQ: FLWS).

Winter Internet Special – Rock Bottom Prices, Highest Level of Services!

15 Oct 2010 Leave a Comment

by Moment to Moment Events in Tips & Tricks - Don't Miss Even ONE!

Hello all, We would be remiss if we didn’t add to our Blog our Winter Internet Special – For weddings and events in the months of  January, February and March, our Day of Coordination services will be priced at $250 (that’s half price!) (Note that Day of Coordination includes more than you may expect – services start a month out!), AND the remainder of our packages will be discounted by 30%!! Remember, event planning services make an unexpected and much-appreciated gift … so, if others don’t step up to the plate, give the gift to yourself and be guests at your own wedding! Call or email us today to reserve your date!!

More blogs to come in the very near future – so keep checking in or better yet, subscribe so you don’t miss a thing!!

Cheap Versus Frugal Brides: A Guest Blog from Lyssabeth’s Wedding Officiants

06 Oct 2010 2 Comments

by Moment to Moment Events in Tips & Tricks - Don't Miss Even ONE!

The Simple Dollar offers an excellent distinction between being frugal and being cheap.  I’ll paraphrase it: one who is frugal looks for the best value for their money. One who is cheap will consider paying only the rock-bottom price for anything, regardless of the quality.

Of course, I had to take this comparison and relate it to the wedding planning scenario. Ergo, here is my comparison between the Cheap and the Frugal Bride. Believe me, I see them both on a daily basis!

A cheap bride is everyone’s worst nightmare. She will lower herself to commit unspeakable acts of mayhem all for the glory of bragging about the great deal she obtained. A frugal bride, on the other hand, is genuinely admired for her skill at determining what she wants and thoughtfully pursuing affordable and good-quality resources to bring her desires into reality.

Cheap brides enter the wedding planning process armed with an attitude of lack. “I don’t have the money.” “It’s too expensive.” “Wedding vendors only want to charge top dollar and rip you off.” “I can’t afford that.” “I’m so jealous, So-and-so had so much more money to spend on her wedding.”

Frugal brides take on the task of planning their wedding with an attitude of joy (and perhaps a bit of adventure). “How can I make this work?” “What are my priorities for my wedding day and how do I budget accordingly?” “How creative can I get?” “Can I do this myself or with the help of my friends and family?” “How did other brides do things creatively and frugally?”

Cheap brides begin every vendor contact with “How much is it?” Frugal brides ask more thoughtful questions, learn what the vendor offers and if the services are more than they can afford will say, “Your service sounds perfect for me, but my budget is $X.XX. Is there any way your package can be modified to accommodate me?”

Cheap brides tend to be…well…kinda victimy (there just isn’t a tactful way to say it). “Poor me, I can’t have the wedding day of my dreams because (fill in the blank) I don’t make enough money, my parents can’t afford it, wedding vendors are all in cahoots to scam me, I’m not creative, I’m too busy, yada, yada, yada…”

Cheap brides tend to perceive their wedding vendors (once they finally find the cheapest they can find and actually hire them) as their adversaries. They assume that the vendor is only out to take advantage of them by maximizing their profit. She has already browbeaten them down to their lowest possible fee, but then the cheap bride must also be hyper-vigilant to ensure that her vendors toe the line and do everything that she is paying for them to do (which quite frankly, probably isn’t much).

The frugal bride realizes that reputable vendors truly want her to have the best wedding day experience possible. That is, after all, how they stay in business. She expresses her wishes and trusts their professional judgment and integrity, knowing that her vendors are on her side.

Frugal brides tend to be more realistic. “I may have to cut back my guest list if I want to have a higher-end meal for the reception.” “If we save money by making our own invitations, then I can splurge on the high-end photographer I love.” “I’d like to be married in a romantic ceremony for just the two of us so we can use the money for something else.”

For a cheap bride, getting something for a rock bottom price is the primary objective. She will opt for the vendor whose style doesn’t suit her simply because they have the lowest price. She will ferret out the lowest price possible for every aspect of her wedding.

A frugal bride takes into account price, quality, and perhaps (in cases such as the officiant, the photographer or the wedding planner) the connection she has with the vendor. She is also realistic about her life situation, how much time she has, what her talents and resources are and she chooses vendors or DIY projects accordingly.

Trent of the Simple Dollar summarizes the difference between frugality and cheapness as being one of thought. I couldn’t agree more. It’s been my experience that frugal brides put much more thought into their wedding planning than cheap brides. This makes sense, for a frugal bride is guided by many criteria: budget, time, values, experience, research, resources and priorities. The cheap bride, on the other hand, has only one objective: to get it as cheaply as possible.

If you’re a wedding vendor reading this, then share your stories of cheap verses frugal brides by leaving a comment. And if you are (or were) a frugal bride, please share a tip.

And for the cheap brides?? Well, they were probably only reading this blog for the free information and I’m willing to bet they didn’t get past the second paragraph before moving on anyway, so no worries.

The staff of Lyssabeth’s Wedding Officiants write and perform unique, joyful and memorable wedding ceremonies in Colorado, California and Oregon. Visit our regional websites for more info:

Lyssabeth’s:

Colorado Wedding Officiants
Bay Area, CA Wedding Officiants 
Colorado Springs Wedding Officiants
Western Slope Wedding Officiants 
Monterey CA Wedding Officiants
Fort Collins Wedding Officiants (Northern CO)
Rocky Mountain Wedding Officiants (Colorado Mountains)
Oregon Wedding Officiants
Oregon Coast Wedding Officiants

Welcome Guest Blogger, Celia Milton, Answering Your Officiant Questions!

31 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment

by Moment to Moment Events in Tips & Tricks - Don't Miss Even ONE!

We are so pleased to welcome Celia Milton, an incredible officiant with some great advice. So, read on … 

“Going to the…..chapel? park? backyard?” You’ve said, “I will!” Now, how will you say “I do”?  Great question. Your ceremony  is much more than just your ceremony. It’s a chance to thank your guests for being part of your day and nobody likes a boring  thank you gift! 

 If you have decided to have a ceremony that’s not traditional, you may feel overwhelmed by the choices; not only what you will include in the ceremony but who will  be performing it. Of course, you’ll want an officiant  who will be open to your ideas. Choosing wisely will make it much more likely that your collaboration will create a meaningful expression of your personality. 

But before you can ask that potential officiant questions, you need to ask them to each other! Do you want a civil ceremony, or one that feels inspirational and spiritual without being obviously religious? Do you want to include family, guest readers, or Sparky, your giant poodle? Should you include musical interludes or rituals like unity candles, sand ceremonies, chocolate sharings or handfastings? Would you like to include readings, and if so, will they be biblical (which can be included in many ceremonies that are not strictly religious), poetic or literary? The more you can describe your vision to a prospective officiant, the more likely you are to find someone who shares that vision and can make it a reality for you.   

There are a few ways to find potential officiants; obviously, you can look online.  You can ask your venue or other professionals (your planner, florist, photographer, DJ) about officiants they recommend (or at least remember!).  If you’ve been to a great wedding, find out who did it!  Collect numbers, look at websites, and narrow down your choices to a few people who seem like a good fit.

Then you have to make the dreaded phone call.  If that’s no fun, it is NOT going to get any better. Are they enthusiastic about your plans? Do they encourage you to include the ceremony elements you’d like and suggest others that might be meaningful? Do they insist that you use specific readings, music or vows? If this is important enough for them to mention  in your  initial conversation, it may be very difficult to get them to really create a ceremony that is truly personal.If you’re still excited when you hang up, you should try to meet with the officiant in person, or at least schedule a conference call with them and both of you. You can really talk about the ceremony and walk through the different parts, from the opening reading to the recessional. You can not only get a sense of their approach to writing your ceremony, but how they would perform it! Their physical presence is very important; the way they speak, their confidence, the way they use gestures to punctuate their ideas; all of these come into play when they actually perform your wedding. Then,  they should send you  samples of their past ceremonies. And absolutely, absolutely, check out their reviews on one of the many wedding sites that post vendor reviews, written by brides. This will give you an overview of how pleased (or not) their couples have been. Wedding Wire and Project Wedding are two that are great for this. (But do keep in mind; one  unhappy review may not be an honest reflection of their work.)Ask about pricing and make sure that your budget can accommodate their fees.  Officiants around the country vary widely in cost, but in all but the most rural areas, you should expect to pay $300-$800, for a hand written ceremony, delivered by an experienced officiant. 

When you’ve found your perfect match (well, okay, your SECOND perfect match), get a contract, make sure you all understand the terms and payments, and send off your deposit.  WHEW!!!!And then? Relax. Your walk down the aisle will be a joy, knowing that your ceremony will be a perfect reflection of you!    

Do you feel that your ceremony is the centerpiece of your wedding day?
Do you hope your ceremony will be personal, creative and inspiring?
Do you want a celebrant who will be your partner and friend in the planning? 

Http://www.weddingwire.com/vendor/vendorviewrating 78 reviews ; 5 star rating <-7 New Reviews!  Featured on TLC’s “Four Weddings” and “201 Magazine”www.celiamilton.com    with our great blog of neat ideas 201-563-5544

Our Final Invitations Blog Post … Online Sources for Invites, Etc.!

18 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment

by Moment to Moment Events in Tips & Tricks - Don't Miss Even ONE!

If you are choosing to go the pre-printed route over the DIY route, there are about as many potential places to buy as there are different kinds of invitations. So, here are just a few online sources to get you started where we’ve found some great pricing and products (For the professionals out there, if you are a stationer/invitation shop, please feel free to link back to our page, so our viewers see your company!)

http://www.kingdesignsonline.net (See examples of Kings Designs in our slideshow in our previous Invitations post!)

http://savethedateoriginals.com/ (These unique Save The Dates can be viewed in our slideshow in our Blog post just previous to this one!)

Dolcetto Designs (See the slideshow in the post just previous to this one for examples!)

Perez Sisters (The whimsical Lego Line comes from this company – see our slideshow!)

SAO Dzynz, Inc (Stephonie A. Ogden Design, Photography, and Art – lots of wonderful examples in our slideshow! To view most recent 100% Custom Designs, visit her on Facebook)

www.Einvite.com They offer display proofs, have 1000 design options, you can get a real sample of your invitation, sometimes free ground shipping for orders over a given amount, and their prices are competitive.

Costco.com http://pal.einvite.com/?Cobrand=PAL&Site=PAL&vk=1777211146

Yes, Costco! Not as many design choices as some, but very nice basic and dressed up designs. “Lavish Designs” start as low as $75/100, thermo graphic printing – some nice choices. Check out the Paper Damask – it’s beautiful! http://pal.einvite.com/select/product_selection.asp?EnsembleCode=PAL-OFJ-OENS&Cobrand=PAL&Site=PAL&vk=1777211146

http://pal.einvite.com/product/Wedding/WeddingInvitations/LatestTrends/OSV-VMS-MPALENS/?Cobrand=PAL&Site=PAL&vk=1777211146 (A “green” choice!)

www.FineStationery.com

This online stationer carries Cranes papers (starting at $230/100) and William Arthur ($152/100), thermo graphic printing, hundreds of choices – the Ornate Shimmer by William Arthur is pricey, but it’s gorgeous!

http://www.finestationery.com/product.cfm?prod_id=66647&cm_thiscategory=15&cat_id=15&subcat_id=2&cat=2

Wedding Papers Divas – http://www.facebook.com/weddingpaperdivas – Their offered designs aren’t the typical wedding invite fare, but the prices seem fairly consistent with other houses

http://www.elegantbridalinvitations.com/index.htm (35% discount on NuArt, Checkerboard (they make the Paper Damask invite) & Carlson Craft)

http://www.Yourethebride.com (sells Regency, Birchcraft – the owner is also a wedding planner!)

www.Sandscripts.com (try this direct link to skip the sales hype: http://www.yourinvitationplace.com/Catalog.aspx?Theme=Floral&WebName=sandscripts

www.Invitationsbykarina.com Here’s a fuchsia and black contemporary design with a lot of pop! https://www.yourinvitationplace.com/Detail.aspx?ItemNum=R1328BL&WebName=alltheinvitations

That’s brings us to the end of our Invitations Tips & Tricks … happy shopping! Definitely let us know if we can help you navigate the invitation buying and contact us directly to talk about DIY options. We’re fairly sure we’ve covered everything promised for Shopping for Invites in these 2 admittedly very long posts, but as I said at the beginning of this missive, we wanted to deal quickly with the rest of this topic so we can move on to what’s going on at Moment to Moment Events! So, look soon for our future blogs, which will be full of information, in smaller snippets!

And, again, if you have any questions or if there is something you’d like to see in a blog post, just leave us a comment and let us know and we promise you’ll see it ASAP!

Onward … With More Invitation-Related Tips & Tricks!

17 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment

by Moment to Moment Events in Tips & Tricks - Don't Miss Even ONE!

Well, hello there … it has been awhile, hasn’t it? This hiatus began with a fabulous visit from a young woman of 15 who I hope will not be getting married for a very long time, because I want her to stay this fresh, this innocent, this wonderful, and let’s face it folks, it does seem to make sense to wait until we’re at least in our mid-20’s, no? But I digress. Our unintended hiatus began with this great visit, and then continued because things are hopping at Moment to Moment Events. Five events in the next two months , the creation of a new catalog of items to lend and printing services that will save couples hundreds of dollars – these are keeping us jumping, but that’s certainly okay, because that’s the way we love it!  

So, enough with the hiatus AND the hiatus talk. Let’s get back to business. The business of Purchasing Invitations.  

It had been our intention to make this a series, like our Purchasing Your Wedding Dress series, but there’s just so many great things happening right now that we want to push through the Invites Tips & Tricks a little more quickly than originally planned. So, we’ll be wrapping up the Invitations Tips & Tricks in two long Blog posts, starting with this one and ending sometime tomorrow.  

First, for those of you who don’t know, Moment to Moment Events recently purchased a great laser printer to go along with our workhorse business desk jet printer, which means we can do an even better job at helping you with all of your printing needs. We can print your DIY invites at pennies on the dollar (which means you save big over the costs of the office stores out there), or we can work with you to design and create incredibly beautiful invitations, programs, menu cards, table numbers, escort cards … you name it. We design, we print. Cost… Very Inexpensive. Want to know HOW inexpensive? Request our catalog and find out!  

Contact us at planner@mtmevents.com

Before you even begin, you should know that there are many different types of invitations and related accessories. We thought it would be helpful for you to take a look at some of the choices available, and what better place to get great examples than the extremely professional vendors over at Wedding Wire? So, here’s a gallery of all-things-invitations … you’ll find the companies listed in our next post, Online Sources.  Happy browsing!  

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Now that you’ve seen some excellent examples, here’s the approach to ordering your invitations that we recommend:  

- First, decide on the paper, design and quality and always, always request a sample. Paper grades and weights determine the price. The difference between 24lb paper and 80lb card stock is HUGE! Wood pulp options are good in the right weight, but 100% cotton is more elegant. Decide if you want an embellishment on the paper, a raised border, etc.  

- Decide on the ink color, lettering style, engraved, thermograph or flat printing.  

- As with your wedding dress and all of the other items for your wedding, always choose only those invites that are in your price range (and remember to add the cost of the inclusions., like reception cards, response sets, etc.)  

- Design your message, and proofread and ask a friend to proofread and then proofread again.  

- It’s usually a good idea to order 25 more invites than you think you need for any last-minute changes to the guest list, as well as extra exterior envelopes if you are handling the addressing. Not only is this good for those last—minute changes, it gives you a few extra for your family, the photographer, the planner and your videographer. It’s also great to have extras because sometimes your invitation is so like your vision for your wedding that just giving an invite to a vendor provides them with loads of information unique to your wedding! REMEMBER: The price for re-ordering after your initial order is staggering from almost every company.  

- When you order comes in, proofread again. You’ll have a small window to catch any mistakes for a free re-do, so don’t put this off. And, be sure you’re not the only one who proofreads the final result.  

- When to mail? Give your out-of-town envelopes at least 6 weeks before the wedding, and in town at least 4.  

- How many to buy? Remember – you will need to order the total amount of COUPLES you are mailing to, not the number of GUESTS you are inviting!  

Now, on to some specifics for What to Ask and What to Consider…  

ALWAYS ask for paper samples and get the stationer source to give you an item number for it, so when you order you’ve specified your paper … this is to help prevent your chosen paper being exchanged for a cheaper paper before it is printed.  

Remember that thermo graphic type is still a raised print, and is still a bit pricey, but if you want that embossed feeling, it does cost less than engraving.  

In our opinion, Cranes paper is the best, followed by William Arthur, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that other papers won’t also have a lovely, lush “hand”. (Very important: If you buy an invite that will need to be assembled, make sure you know if you will have to do this or if the company is taking care of it for you.)  

Relative to addressing your invitations, you may want to consider having the company you choose do that for you (if you end up choosing from one that offers this service). If you decide to address yourself, be sure that the paper of your envelope is really compatible with the actual printer you’re using – if the envelopes aren’t laser compatible, the ink will smudge in the mailing process. Ink jet print on ink jet paper insures that the ink will stay on the envelope, laser print on laser compatible, same thing! (If you are going to address yourself, we strongly suggest you buy extra exterior envelopes, if you make mistakes in addressing.)  

Regarding colors, remember that adding a 2nd color can increase your price dramatically. Instead, consider a different shade of color in your ink to add a second color look without the extra price.  

When you’re ready to order, and you are SURE that the wording is EXACTLY what you want it to be, be sure that you tell the company that you do NOT want any “etiquette” changes made to your wording. Additionally, be sure that the size you choose is standard postage weight and size, and that any additional invitation inclusions won’t take the postage up above the standard weight (unless you are prepared to do so!).  

Be sure to consider the post office when deciding on things like wax seals (typically a no-no); additions like bows, ribbons and appliqués on the invites may be crushed by postal machines. When mailing, be sure to ask the post office to hand-cancel your invites, so they don’t end up with the ugly postmark machine cancellation on them, but ultimately, don’t expect them to arrive at their destination as beautiful as they were when they left your hands!  

If you are going to need reception cards, RSVP cards, lined envelopes and thank you notes, definitely consider buying them all at the same house, and definitely when you order your invites. This will insure that all the papers and inks completely match and you’ll likely get a nice discount for quantity.  

Consider buying an embosser from Michaels or another craft store instead of paying for the back flap print on your invites – it costs about the same, takes a very small amount of time to press on the flap and you can reuse it for years.  

Beware of ordering “extra accessories” from invitation sites – there is often a markup of at least 50%. (By this I mean plume pens, guest book, maps, etc.)  

Some questions to ask the invite sources:
- Can I see some samples of actual invitations  

- Who is responsible for any errors (if they say they are, get it in writing)  

- Can I see a proof of the actual invitation? (It will add more time to the process, but you’ll have an actual invite in hand to compare it to the finished product, an important thing if your order comes in on a cheaper paper or the ink color is incorrect. Most places charge a small fee for this, if it’s more than $10, you should negotiate.)  

A Tip for addressing and mailing: Create a spreadsheet with all of your invitees (check with your planner to be sure there isn’t a specific format she/he needs); number each line, starting with 1. Before you assemble your invitations, put these numbers on the back of each of your RSVP Response Cards. For instance, if you are mailing an invitation to Mary Smith, and her number on the spreadsheet is 83, write “83” in an inconspicuous place on the back of her response card. Doing it this way is guaranteed to save you time – when your response cards come back, you can look for the number instead of doing a name search, but more importantly, for those guests who just put the number of people who will be coming and not their name, you’ll still know who that guest is!! This takes a little extra care in assembling your mailing, but the time saved and confusion avoided is amazing.  

Next up, our last Invitation Tips & Tricks … Online Shopping Sources!  

As always, if you have any questions or if there is something you’d like to see in a blog post, just leave us a comment and let us know and we promise you’ll see it ASAP!