Weddingbee Gift Card Giveaway!

Fly on over to Weddingbee and enter to win a $75 giftcard to Invitation Consultants! Simply post a comment about your favorite summer activity (mine is dancing on the beach taunting the seagulls with saltines), and you'll qualify to win a $75 gift card towards anything your little heart desires from IC!  Suggested invites to spend your winnings on:

                 Find these, and more summer invites, here.

Please Don’t Stop the Music!

"Mama say mama sa mama ku sa"
Recently at IC we filled out an anonymous survey and employees had to guess who the survey belonged to based on their answers. One of the questions was: “What song makes you get up and dance every time you hear it?” At IC some of our songs were funky, some were funny, some were old school, and some we had never heard of before. This got me to thinking about how cool it would be to have a party playing everyone’s favorite songs.  A night filled with the songs that just make your closest friends get up and dance!

The Invitation

                  

Choose a music themed invitation and encourage your guests to:

   • Send their RSVP with the song name and artist of their favorite song

   • Bring their iPod, a CD, tape, record or even 8track for everybody’s listening pleasure

   • Put on their boogy shoes

   • Get ready, if nothing else, to cut the biggest rug they have ever seen!

The Dance Floor
The awesome thing about summer is that you don’t really need a roof over your head, so the dance floor can be outdoors under the summer sky.

The Beverages
I have been to enough weddings in my day to know that nothing gets people dancing like a nice cold adult beverage (please drink responsibly!). A nice summer favorite like a margarita or homemade sangria would be fantastic.

For a fun non-alcoholic beverage try the Shirley Temple! This is a mixture of a Lemon-Lime soda and grenadine. This is a fun drink to spice up with a paper umbrella!

It has been said that every great soundtrack has a rise and fall. The cool thing about creating a party with your guests choosing the music is that you never know what the soundtrack of the evening will turn into. You could go from dancing to a hot 80s track, to a old school rap song to an upbeat dance hit. But once you spot the person who is dancing like no one is looking…you will know whose song that belongs to!

Lesson 1: Huh?

So there are a few categories of invitations that have made me think "Who buys these invitations"?..  Or "what is that?!". Well, over time I've come to learn what all of this means but there was a time when I was a little less informed. I'm going to assume that I'm not the only one out there that didn't know EVERYthing about invitations and point out a couple of things I've learned so that maybe the MILLIONS of people that read this blog could benefit from this post.

Claddagh
No, it's not a dance or an ingredient for some exotic Italian dish. It's a ring!
Taken from our website, "The Claddagh Ring is a famous friendship ring originating from the Claddagh village in Western Ireland. The ring's distinctive design features two hands clasping a heart surmounted by a crown. The elements of this symbol are often said to correspond to the qualities of friendship (the hands), loyalty (the crown) and love (the heart) that are said to combine in a good marriage. Send out an invitation with a Claddagh symbol and your union will be sealed forever in friendship, loyalty and love." So if you're thinking about having the Claddagh ring as a theme for your wedding just make sure you remember how to spell it! Click here to be directed to our Claddagh themed wedding page.

Low Country Boil
Let me first defend myself by stating that I was not born in The South. I enlisted the knowledge of some of my fellow colleagues to help me explain this to the best of my ability. A Low country boil is a method of cooking which usually brings about a social gathering. This type of activity is popular in the Southern states (ie, Georgia and South Carolina). It requires a large pot of boiling food most commonly being cooked over an open flame. This pot is usually filled with an entire meal of items like potatoes, seafood, shrimp, corn, chicken and sausage. Once cooked, many low country chefs like to pour the pot of ingredients over a large surface area like a table. The guests would then grab plates and forks(or not) and buffet style their way around the table. Sounds like a good time to me! Invitation Consultants has done a wonderful job of categorizing all low country boil and low country boil related invitations here!

Here is an example of each of these type of invitations:

    

As always, comments are welcome and appreciated!

Community gardens serve more than the community, They provide the ultimate backdrop for gatherings.

There is something about spring this year that has peaked my interest in gardening. I haven’t start digging in my backyard though. Showcasing a few flowers and plants to myself just doesn’t capture the spirit for me (I tend to be extreme about some things if this sounds dramatic). I was scrolling though the channels while thinking about my garden dilemma and came across an interesting show. Martha Stewart was doing a segment on Community Gardening http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_garden. Finally something exciting! about gardening! She opened my mind to something I hadn’t heard of before. You can find the video here.  

When you plan something far in advance such as a wedding, why not kill two birds with one stone? Get the neighbors, kids, and the groom involved. Find other tips at http://www.communitygarden.org/learn/starting-a-community-garden.php. By the time the big day rolls around you will have a beautiful garden backdrop to provide for your celebration. Think about all the conversations that will take place about your venture. Bring two families together in a personal and relaxed atmosphere. Spend your days gardening while your wedding budget goes to a party planner for the arrangements. Cut fresh blooms in the garden right before the big event and celebrate with a personal touch!

For those of you who are a little less extreme than myself, imagine other functions you and neighbors could have in the community garden. Rehearsal dinner soirees, baby showers, children’s Recitals, holiday celebrations, yoga practices, and much more would be great ideas for a garden party. Once the Community Garden is in place, send out some festive invitations to set the tone!

From left to right: Tudor's Birthday, Tea Party Table, and Tea Party

For those of us mourning the loss of your favorite tv shows...

If I had to be completely honest, aside from my family and friends, television is my true joy in life.  And really, who can blame me with the ridiculously talented writing out there, coupled with the reality trainwrecks that put some sort of hypnotic spell on me?  I feel as if we just got our shows back after the tragic writers' strike only to be torn away again for whole summer.  If you can relate, and the season finales of your favorite shows have left you feeling a little helpless and empty, I may have an answer.  Why not throw a television-themed party this summer?  Here are the top three themes I thought of, but please feel free to post your own!

1. And the Dundy goes to...

Perfect for employee appreciation days, teambuilding, and even retirement celebrations, consider throwing an Office office party.  Take the crew down to your neighborhood Chili's, make your own Dundy awards, and have a blast!  Wildly inappropriate commentary is completely optional (but dang funny).  Just remember to honor your guests and make Michael Scott proud by sending a real invitation (after all, Dunder Mifflin is a PAPER company), not just a mass email.  Also, try not to forget to include your office's Dwight (and yes, every office has at least one Dwight).  If you don't, he (or she) might retaliate in a weird and disurbing way...like putting a non-rabid raccoon in your car.

2. It's all in the details...

You could probably spend a whole evening, or the whole summer for that matter, discussing the theories and literary references of Lost (not to mention the collective hotness of the cast), but why not make it a pool party instead?  Just think, you can decorate the backyard like a deserted island, dress as your favorite character (complete with dirt and fake dried blood), and heck, you could even make it a murder mystery night!  J.J. Abrams is one man who is not afraid of surprises, and I promise you, your guests won't mind if you keep them guessing either.

3. You're going to Hollywood!
Forget the battle of the Davids.  America has voted, the next American Idol is YOU.  Or at least, it could be if you throw an American Idol party this summer.  It's perfect for a birthday, no matter how many candles the birthday boy or girl has to blow out this year.  You can either go high-tech and play the video game version (but beware, the judges will actually judge you), or low tech and just sing in the living room (but beware, your friends will actually judge you).  All in good fun, though.  Make the theme of the show the honoree and have all the guests handpick a song just for them.  The best part?  No interruptions from Ryan Seacrest, dawg.

Runner-up: Have a House house party (break out your old Operation board game, extra points for witty insults that cut deeper than a scalpel) or an Amazing Race Scavenger Hunt (while you're at it, why not create a submission video?  Even if you don't send it, I promise you it will be fun to make).

Hard pressed to pick one show?  Thanks to the DVR, we no longer have to choose, we can have it all.  Invite your fellow tv addicts with a fantastically fitting admission ticket invitation, and get ready to throw on DVDs of your favorite shows, new and old for an all-out marathon.  There are trivia board games for just about every show imaginable.  Need a little mood music?  Some shows have great overall soundtracks, while others you may want to just stick to the theme songs.  There are countless ways to get creative, especially with the snackage.  Keep these ideas flowing, and it will be fall before we know it!

Stationery Show Trends for 2008

Every year I  go to the National Stationery show held in NYC. It is a paper lover’s dream. There are rows and rows of invitation and stationery vendors all there to please the paper lover! Last year the trend was anything with mocha and ribbons galore. This year, the trends include:

*Bright colors: yellow, orange, fuchsia, lime

*Patterns: Abstract, elegant, classy, subtle

* Two ink colors: Printing of wording in more than one ink. Emphasizing names (of who the party is for) in an additional ink.   

* Flat printing once thought of as not as elegant as thermography, is now turning heads and appearing on some of the most elegant and intriguing designs

* Matchy, matchy: Coordinate items to create a true ensemble – matching envelope seals, napkins, place cards, postage stamps

*The Green movement: recycled stationery, holiday cards, invitations; any paper that is environmentally friendly

* Personalize it: personalized stampers, envelope seals, stationery with your school logo, photo stamps

*Layers and Layers: Pile on the layers of paper in the same or different colors

We have a year of fantastic trends to offer and are always thinking about next year just like the fashion industry!

Sex and The City fever party planning

Nine days and counting until the girls of Sex and The City are finally back in our lives! As the opening date draws near the anticipation is building and parties are being planned in cities all over the world.  Women, and men alike, are catching SATC fever all over again and planning soirees for this special day. That means martinis, boas, diamonds, the highest heels you can find, and your favorite outfit of course. So in honor of the momentous day I picked a few of our invitations that were inspired by each character on the show.

Samantha’s invitation, Under Wraps, represents all things Samantha –sexy, playful, modern, and feminine. This is a great invitation for any surprise party for one of your girlfriends.

Miranda’s invitation, Mod Octagons, has a bold pattern that reminded me of her tuff side, while the color combination screamed Miranda the fun, fearless, modern lawyer. This invitation is great for any birthday, graduation, party, or even wedding!

Charlotte immediately reminds me of everything classic and elegant. So for Charlotte’s invitation I chose Victorian Square, which is a gorgeous invitation that would fit perfectly in any Victorian or fairy tale themed wedding.

And last but not least, Carrie’s invitation, Sensational Stripes. Carrie is the embodiment of an outgoing, fun loving, modern Manolo wearing woman and in my opinion this invitation fits her perfectly. It could be a beautiful spring or summer wedding invitation, a birth announcement, bridal shower, or even birthday party invitation. The possibilities are endless and many of our invitations cross over ranges of different categories. So, break out your favorite little black dress, Manolo heels, pour yourself a martini and start planning your SATC movie party!

Sweet fun in the summertime

When I think about summer, I think about barbecues with my favorite grilled fare including burgers, dogs, ribs, and veggie kabobs with corn on the cob! Summer is the perfect time for sweet celebrations starting with bright, sunny afternoons and ending with starry nights filled with the mingling scent of citronella candles.

My favorite summer memory involves a trip to my grandparent's home in a very rural town in Quebec, Canada. They live on the Rivier Rouge, where mosquitoes are hungry and the locals are sweet and accommodating. Most of the town is French and speak little English, but they all know who I belong to so the language barrier is not so bad. Summer barbecues in this town often involve many neighbors and each family contributes with their favorite dish. My Grandpa is always in charge of building the bonfire and making sure s'more ingredients are an abundance. There is no greater feeling than swimming all day, dining all evening, and ending the night next to the warm fire beneath the closely lingering stars.

I hope however you choose to celebrate this summer, that the celebration is sweet and you find yourself making memories with friends- both new and old. Check out our BBQ themed invitations to get your party started. From block parties with clowns and DJ's to small family gatherings- there is always a reason to celebrate summertime.

Invitations from left to right: Night Fire, Red Gingham, Blue Oilcloth, and Rotisserie.

IC is Cleaning the Closet-Green Style!

In the last two years I have been in seven weddings. In addition to my bridesmaid dresses I also have a gown for each year of homecoming and prom from high school for a grand total of 13 dresses. Yes, 13 dresses patiently waiting in my closet for a chance to be dined and danced in once again. So what happens when the event is over and you are left with a truly gorgeous (or horribly awful) hot mess of a dress? Of course you can have it shortened and wear it as a cocktail dress right? As much was we would like to…we know no one does that. After doing some research I have found some places that can help your chiffon move on!

Give it up and Turn it Loose

Most men will never understand it, but we often attach ourselves to our clothing through memories we created while wearing them. Unfortunately not all girls get to experience this feeling. Instead of letting your dress sit in your closet let someone else breathe new life into it. There are some amazing organizations out there that help ‘recycle’ your gowns to create a special prom experience for girls who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend because of their financial situations, or organizations that sell your gown for a greater cause.

 www.fairygodmothersinc.com has locations in New York, Virginia and Florida and you can also donate money to their cause.
 www.glassslipperproject.org based in Chicago, IL has helped over 10,000 high school girls go to their prom because of their services.
 www.rubyroomseattle.org is a nonprofit organization located in Seattle whose motto is “You felt great wearing it, now feel great sharing it.”
 www.makingmemories.org raises money by selling recycled dresses to go towards making last wishes of terminal breast cancer patients.

Saying Goodbye

I know it is hard to say goodbye to these treasured pieces of your past, but with the help of friends everything can be made easier. You could host a party to gather your friends and their dresses to donate to one of these charitable organizations. Welcome guests to bring photographs and memorabilia from the special days that their dresses were worn so you can swap stories and reminisce. You could also make print outs of some of the things that each organization has done for guests to read. 

Personally I have clothes in my closet that will never be worn again, but the thought of giving them up used to make me feel like they wouldn’t be there one day when I wanted them. It is shallow I realize, but my style is part of who I am. When it comes down to it though, these are just material things. Material things that could move on to create memories for another young woman or raise money to make a sick man or woman’s last dream a reality, and that is worth letting any garment go.

Invitations from left to right: Lily's Dress, Delightful Dress in Aqua, and We've Got Tonight.   

"Fetch me my quill feather.. It's Party Time!"

You're hanging out with a friend. You come up with this great idea to throw a party!.. So you run over to your computer and pull up your favorite invitation site (Invitationconsultants.com of course!). After looking through all of your many options, you pick the perfect invitation for the occasion. You type in your wording and click your way through the checkout process. Before you know it, your invitations are at your front door! Too easy, right?

Shiny papers, raised inks, ribbons, die cuts: these are all luxuries we have become used to seeing in relation to invitations. Inviting your friends to a party wasn't always this easy though. When it became possible to have leisurely events such as a party, the task of inviting your friends was a bit different than it is today. Think feather quill and ink jar. Most invitations were hand written by a Scribe with the highly skilled art form of calligraphy. Instead of a paper like 110 lb. card stock, they used Parchment which is animal skin that is stretched and dried so it retains ink appropriately. Many important documents like Torahs, and other manuscripts were also created using parchment and calligraphy.

Before printing ever became efficient, the use of parchment and hand written calligraphy was the most popular method of inviting your friends during that time period. Invitations were created one by one. With 100+ guests, that would make for a very sore wrist!

So next time you're ordering invitations with all of the bells and whistles, just think about how it all began!

It was a Pet Showdown!

Congratulations to our Invitation Consultants Cutest Pet Contest winner! His name is Brodi and he is by popular vote the cutest of them all. There was a wide range of personalities from Schmoopies to Dukes. I can’t tell you how many awww’s and oooohhh’s there were going around the office when we saw each other's pet photos. It was similar to my reaction when I first saw these “pet”icular invitations from our birth announcements catagory.

From Top to Bottom Floppy Eared Puppy, Floppy Eared Bunny, and Cute as a Kitten.

_

Innies and Outies

My brother and future sister-in-law just received their adorable JeanM wedding invitations and both instantly asked me, "What's the deal with all the envelopes?" Their invitation set came with both inner and outer envelopes. They also ordered response cards bringing the envelope tally to three and the confusion level to 100%. I broke it down for them and here is how it goes:

First, you should know that some invitations come with inner and outer envelopes. Inner envelopes are typically used for more formal events, and are placed into the outer envelope prior to mailing. Here is our etiquette tip:

• Outer envelopes should be addressed to guests using the proper titles (Mr., Mrs., Miss, Ms.) Don't abbreviate names or addresses. The outer envelope has the guests' names and address.
• When determining whether to use Ms., Mrs., or Miss, always respect the woman's preference. If it is not known, it is appropriate to use the title "Ms."
• Men and women living together who are not married should be addressed with the names on separate lines.
• The inner envelopes should only have the guests' names. It is not gummed so it doesn't seal. You may be formal by writing Mr. and Mrs. William Jones or as informal as Uncle Bill and Aunt Jenny.

On the invitation's web page, the envelope information will be listed at the bottom of the page under the features tab. Here is an example of what it may look like:

For every invitation, you will have the option of having your return address printed on the back flap of the envelope. If your fantastic invite is lost on its way to the lucky guest, the return address will ensure its safe return to you. Many choose to have the return address printed in the same ink color they plan on addressing their invitation in- most commonly black.

Some invitations will have the option of purchasing envelope lining to decorate the inner flap of the envelope. If the invitation comes with inner and outer envelopes, the inner envelopes will be lined. If only outer envelopes are included, the outer envelope will be lined. This option adds some spice to your envelopes and is used to compliment the colors of the invitation.

Finally, response cards are dependent little creatures who come with their own little envelopes to keep them warm on their way to their destination. These envelopes have the hosts' return address printed on the front so that the invited can mail their response back to the invitee.

There you have it- the run down on the envelope situation. If you think you might make some typos addressing your many envelopes, then it's a good idea to purchase additional envelopes for mistakes in step one of the order process. To  purchase envelopes by themselves, click here.

Best Wishes to Jenna Bush!

President Bush will be acquiring a first son-in-law as of tomorrow.  Now all the details for this merry occasion, including the invitations, have of course been kept top secret (darn that security clearance!), but that doesn't stop us from creating our own list of perfectly presidential wedding invitations to mark the event. 

When I imagine the White House, I picture everything being monogrammed from the contents of their sock drawer to the White House pets.  A high-end traditional wedding invitation with a monogram could not be more suitable:

 

When it comes to presentation, these items can't beat.  Having a jacket or pocket embellishment is like having your own personal secret service to cover and protect your invitation:

Then again, coming from someone who cries every time she hears "I'm Proud to be an American," I can't help but feel it would be fun to incoporate the colors and symbols of this great nation with something purely patriotic:

As for the rehearsal dinner invitations, I love the following choices.  Especially since I heard they may be including a barbeque in the festivities:

The last time we had a First Daughter married was the Nixon Administration, so it may be awhile before we have another politcal princess find her Prince Charming.  Who knows?  Maybe Chelsea will be next!

For the princess in you - Inspiration for a Victorian Dinner Party!

Like most, but not every, girl at one point in time I was obsessed with dressing up. To be honest, I still am. Who doesn't love having an excuse to get dolled up and spend a fabulous evening with their friends? Most often I've found that my friends only get really glammed up for special occasions like weddings, birthdays, or graduations. However, I've found a cure for those few and far between events: Dinner Parties! And for the girl in you who wants to get dressed up like I do a Victorian themed dinner party is a great place to start.

The best part is you can throw a modern twist into the party with the latest fashion pieces that are Oxford inspired. Also a unique way to decorate for cheap would be to find different, or matching, small vintage picture frames to hold the name cards or as a party favors. You can keep the colors classic and neutral or you can throw in a punch of color anywhere you like! We have some gorgeous new invitations on our site that would be the perfect accessory to any Victorian themed dinner party.

Images from left to right: Blouse, Brooch, Shoe, Frame (stock image), Color palate

Invitations from top to bottom: Gold Pockets, Floral and Shimmery, Satin Tied

Offbeat Bride- Taffeta free alternatives and so much more

It's my opinion that a wedding is supposed to be a celebration of the love between two people and the celebration of this love should be as traditional or as offbeat as the couple wants it to be. Ariel Meadow Stallings, author of the book Offbeat Bride: Taffeta-Free Alternatives for Independent Brides., expands upon this in her entertaining and endearing blog, Offbeat Bride. Scattered with photos of brides donning colorful wedding dresses and intricate tattoos, Offbeat bride is a great resource for brides (and grooms!) who want to insert their personalities into the pomp and circumstance of their ceremony and reception. I relate to Offbeat bride because I did not want to toss the garter or the bouquet at my wedding. I wasn't sure I understood that tradition, and I really couldn't visualize all of my girlfriends tackling each other to grab a bunch of flowers. Also, I didn't want to interrupt the dancing and eating for everyone to focus on my spin in the bridal bullpen. BUT, tradition won out because it was too difficult to explain to my mom, my friends, the photographer, and the DJ why I personally didn't want to toss my blooms. If I had read Offbeat Bride prior to my wedding, I may have thought of a fun alternative to this tradition and had the guts to forgo it.

 

At Invitation Consultants, we pride ourselves on having a selection of invitations to suit the personality of any event. I visualize nontraditional colors like black or red, and less traditional designs or themes like a casino night or masquerade reception for offbeat wedding stationery. For offbeat brides looking for unique invitations, I would say follow your instincts. If a design pops out at you, and you feel like it is a great representation of the type of event you are trying to create, then there should be no reason to second guess yourself.   

Image from Allebach Photography on offbeatbride.com.