Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Destination Weddings

©Carlson Craft Love on the Beach Wedding Invitation
Destination weddings have become very popular as they provide a beautiful wedding location combined with a vacation for everyone involved. Many couples choose to keep their destination weddings small involving only immediate family and close friends.

Benefits of a destination wedding include:

Easier to budget: The average wedding in America is estimated to cost $30,000 before the honeymoon. That's quite a nice trip for 6 - 8 people.

No-stress guest list: Are you concerned about having to invite that family with the loud children? With a destination wedding, you can enjoy the day with your small group and invite friends over later for a housewarming party.

Fewer invitations: You don't need the wedding invitations, RSVP's, reception and save the date cards. All you need is an announcement after the wedding.

The down side to a destination wedding is that some of your friends and acquaintances may be upset that they were left out of the big day. So you really have to decide what is important to you before you plan a destination wedding.

So how do you go about finding your destination and wedding vendors?

Start with an internet search for wedding planning vendors. There are tons of wedding referral websites out there. Many have ratings from prior brides and grooms to help you pick out the best options.

Browse social networks. MySpace, Facebook, and others have social groups for every subject, including wedding planning. Talk to fellow brides and grooms to see who they are using and how well their vendor is working with them.

To pick your destination, hotel, etc. review feedback on travel websites such as Orbitz and Expedia. If you choose a specific destination, for example Hawaii, you can find that area's official website, like www.hawaii.com, to connect with local businesses.

Many airlines have destination packages to help you plan your wedding. Another great option for destination weddings are cruises. Check out websites for cruise lines like Caribbean and Princess Cruises. Cruises can come with hotel or airfare packages as well.

Once you choose your destination, see if your hotel or venue have preferred vendors for catering, flowers, etc. This can help you since you will unlikely be able to meet with your wedding vendors in person beforehand.

With a little planning, your destination wedding can be perfect.

Labels: , ,

Posted by Invito Cards at 7:36 PM | | Comments | links to this post

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Invito Cards Updates

©Carlson Craft Regal Roses Wedding Invitation
Hi there everyone,

Just wanted to share that I've posted some additional wedding resources on the Invito Cards website. If you are looking for places to shop for your wedding, check them out at http://invitocards.com/sources.php.

Also, Invito Cards is still running a 5% discount on summer orders. Place your wedding invitation, personalized napkin, or accessory/gift order today.

If you would like to see the entire Carlson Craft catalog collection or if you need to ship outside the United States, visit www.invitocards.cceasy.com.

If there is anything else I can help you with, let me know. Wishing everyone a beautiful wedding day!

- Lisa Leverich, owner of Invito Cards

Labels: ,

Posted by Invito Cards at 9:41 PM | | Comments | links to this post

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

How to plan a honeymoon

When choosing a honeymoon destination, we want the perfect experience. After the stress of your wedding, you want to be able to relax and enjoy being newlyweds.

Here are a few tips for brides and grooms to help choose their post wedding travel:

Style ~ what type of climate would you like to travel to? Tropical, city, mountain, safari, desert... This will help narrow down your destination right away. Obviously you want to choose something you would enjoy. For instance a cruise to Alaska would not be my thing. I like the beach better - like Hawaii!

Weather ~ this is the most important factor when picking your location. Be sure to check references for weather patterns in your destination city. For instance, August and September are not great months to travel to Florida since it's hurricane season. The Weather Channel and Acu Weather are both great resources online.

Tourist Season ~ you need to decide if you want to travel during peak tourist season when weather is usually at its best and crowds are plentiful. Benefits to traveling outside of tourist season can include better rates and less crowding. Check to see if there are any special events being held while you are there. For instance, New Orleans has Mardi Gras and the Jazz Festival which both draw in huge crowds, but could also make for a great experience.

Specialty Activities ~ decide on the types of activities you want to do. Don't plan a tropical vacation to Mexico because you want to snorkel and then find out the ocean current is too strong to do so. For activities such as golf, skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking... you need to pick a location that specializes in that activity. This could mean picking the one resort on an island that has a top-notch golf course, but it can also mean switching to a better location.

More than one location is okay ~ once you have narrowed down your selection, keep a few destinations in mind. This will allow for more flexibility when choosing a place to stay. If the hotel or resort is very important to your vacation, you may have to change your destination if you aren't finding the type of hotel you desire. You may also find that fares to one destination are much more affordable than another. Keep your options open.

Check for honeymoon specials ~ Many popular destinations offer honeymoon packages that include travel and hotel combination rates such as Las Vegas, Hawaii and New Orleans. Do your research online, but be sure to book with a credible company such as an airline website or popular booking site like Orbitz or Expedia. You don't want to book a honeymoon and find out later it was a scam.

Read reviews ~ There are so many review websites around, you are sure to find some information on our destination. Find out what others have to say before you book your honeymoon.

With a little time on the internet, you are sure to find all you need to know about your honeymoon destination. Good luck and enjoy your trip!

Labels: ,

Posted by Invito Cards at 10:29 PM | | Comments | links to this post

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The Wedding Day Dress Code

© Carlson Craft Black Tie Wedding InvitationI found this article from the WeddingChannel.com about the proper attire to wear to a wedding. I thought this would be of interest to brides and grooms as it helps to know the proper terms when specifying requested attire.

Tips for cracking the wedding day dress code

BY BRIANNE DISYLVESTER

WeddingChannel.com

From the location to the time of day to the type of wedding, figuring out what to wear can be tricky. To avoid being over- or underdressed, follow our guide to cracking the cryptic wedding day dress code.

Type of wedding

Formal, casual, beach chic... each wedding style comes with its own set of rules. Don't feel overwhelmed; just follow these simple guidelines:

• White Tie: The most formal and rarely seen except for state occasions, guests are required to dress in their most luxe ball gowns and tuxedos with tailcoats. Bare shoulders may not be appropriate, so women should bring a shawl.

• Black Tie: A common wedding style among the rich and affluent, black-tie weddings are extremely formal. Men don tuxedos and women wear cocktail dresses or ball gowns. Generally, the more formal the location, the longer your dress should be.

• Creative Black Tie: Fairly less formal; guests can add creative panache to their attire. While men still wear tuxedos, they can swap a bow tie for a collar stud and also wear a playful vest or cummerbund. Women should still be formal in cocktail dresses or ball gowns, but they can wear bright colors or patterns as well.

• Semiformal: A little bit formal but still slightly casual, this is the trickiest type for which to dress. Look to the venue and time of day for extra hints on what you'll be expected to wear. Usually a cocktail dress and a suit and tie will do the trick.

• Casual: Although the invite reads casual, this doesn't mean anything goes -- proper attire is still required. Men should consider khakis or dress pants with a button-down shirt, no tie necessary. Women should wear a trendy dress or a skirt with a stylish top.

• Beach or Outdoor Chic: Whether set on sand or grass, beach or outdoor weddings allow for very lax attire. Men should sport linen pants, khakis, or a summer suit with a button-down shirt. A tea- or knee-length sundress is ideal for women.

Location, location, location

After figuring out what type of wedding you'll be dressing for, look to the location for further instructions. Is it in a grand ballroom or a country club? Check with the venue to see if there's a dress code (although it should be listed on the invite).

Ladies may need to bring a wrap to cover their shoulders for exceptionally posh places, and men might need a tie and jacket. For formal locations, follow the invite and venue dress code down to the last detail.

Meanwhile, outdoor weddings have their own guidelines. Sand and grass allow you to dress very casually; flats and loafers are acceptable, but remember that you should still look classy and put-together.

Time of day

Even though the location and type of wedding are the most important, you'll want to alter your attire slightly depending on the time of day. Keep it more casual in the morning, slightly more formal midday, and most formal for late-evening nuptials. Most likely, the style of wedding, time and location all go hand in hand; however, some couples are planning less traditional weddings these days, giving guests a little room for slight modifications.

If you're still unsure, ask the maid of honor or mother of the bride for some dress code suggestions. When in doubt, keep it chic and simple and just have fun.

To see the post, visit http://www.kansas.com/living/fashion/story/464241.html

Labels: , ,

Posted by Invito Cards at 9:44 PM | | Comments | links to this post

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Easy RSVP - do it online

Here's a recent article I found with a wonderful suggestion to receive your RSVP's online...

Steuben Courier

Receive RSVPs quicker online
BY TRESA ERICKSON

Picture it. After hours of addressing the envelopes for your wedding invitations, you finally send them out, complete with RSVP cards. Three months later, you have only received responses from three-quarters of your guests, and in order to get an accurate head count for the caterer, you must spend a few hours calling all of those who failed to respond. This is the scenario that many brides face every year. In spite of their best efforts to get an accurate head count through RSVP cards, some guests misplace or lose the cards and forget to respond. All of the time and money the bride put into those cards is simply gone.

To reduce the risk of misplaced or lost RSVP cards, many brides are now giving guests the option to reply to their invitations online. Guests simply go to the Web site listed on the invitation, fill out the required information and submit their RSVP. The advantages of online RSVP are numerous. The bride does not have to provide RSVP card envelopes and stamps, which saves on the budget, nor does she have to worry about guests misplacing or losing RSVP cards. The bride also receives responses faster through the Internet.

Of course, not all people are Internet savvy. For brides that have a mix of Internet savvy and not-so-savvy guests, sending out invitations with the Web site address listed for online RSVP, along with printed RSVP cards, may be the best option. Guests can either RSVP online or by mail. Because there is the option of online RSVP, brides can forgo putting stamps on the RSVP envelopes and let guests who use the printed cards take care of the matter themselves.

While brides may set up online RSVP through email or a free Web site, experts recommend they use an RSVP service provider. Depending upon whom they choose, brides may receive any number of special features, including the ability to set up RSVPs for multiple events surrounding the wedding, 24- 7 access to all reports, e-mail confirmation for guests, meal tracking and more. Of course, RSVP providers will require a fee, but for brides with hundreds of guests, it may be worth it.

Who knew how simple responding to a wedding invitation could be? Online RSVP makes it so easy for guests who use the Internet often and speeds up the process significantly for brides. The bride can confirm the number of guests attending her wedding at any given time in a matter of minutes rather than sitting around waiting for the mail to arrive.

Original article: http://www.steubencourier.com/news/2008/0713/social/020.html


Labels: , , ,

Posted by Invito Cards at 9:37 PM | | Comments | links to this post

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Help the Gr8 Wedding D8 Contest winner choose her gowns


As you may have read in one of my previous posts, the Knot teamed up with Eight O'Clock Coffee for the "Gr8 Wedding D8" contest to give away a dream wedding that will take place on one of this year's most talked-about wedding dates -- 8/8/08.

Last week, The Knot introduced the contest's lucky winners, Vikki Capparelli and Mike Bonick, two kindergarten teachers from Palm Beach, Florida. This week, they need your help! You can cast your vote for your favorite hot-off-the-runway dress that Vikki and her bridesmaids will wear at the lavish outdoor ceremony in Southampton.



Choices for the bride include:

- Melissa Sweet trumpet-style wedding gown - This strapless, taffeta gown with a ruched, asymmetrical waistline evokes old Hollywood glamour, and the floral corsage detail at the waist gives it a trendy edge.

- Priscilla of Boston ball gown - Priscilla of Boston's silk, strapless gown would make any bride feel like a princess. The crystal-encrusted, lace Empire waistline offers a touch of sparkle while the back-button detailing and extra-full, dropped-waist skirt give this fairy-tale design an updated look.

- Platinum for Priscilla of Boston A-line bridal gown - This sophisticated, strapless, silk cotton gown by Platinum for Priscilla of Boston has a simple yet elegant design with its pleated back train -- the regal, silver-beaded waistline also gives this dress an unexpected twist.

Choices for the bridesmaids include:

- Melissa Sweet Bridesmaids knee-length dress - This shorter, satin dress by Melissa Sweet is a great option for an outdoor wedding. The gathered fabric on the waistline and large bow detail in the back add a sophisticated, sassy touch to an otherwise demure design.

- Priscilla of Boston Bridesmaids pleated, full-length dress - This satin gown by Priscilla of Boston features a fashion-forward bubble skirt hemline, a draped, pleated bodice, and a classic, full-length silhouette -- perfect for an elegant wedding in the Hamptons.

- Vineyard Bridesmaids ruched, full-length dress - The boho-inspired design on this full-length dress by Vineyard is so pretty, especially when combined with a strapless neckline and ruched bodice. It's laid-back, elegant, and ideal for a summer wedding.

To view the gown choices and to vote your favorite wedding and bridesmaid dress, visit The Knot's website at http://www.theknot.com/ch_article.html?Object=A80702162242&keywordID=156&keywordType=2&parentID=527

Labels: , , ,

Posted by Invito Cards at 8:34 PM | | Comments | links to this post

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Shower the groom

Men need showers too.. Not the soapy kind, a wedding shower.

Grooms these days are not letting the bride have all the fun. They want in on the action too. They are celebrating their upcoming wedding with a shower just for the guys.

Unlike bridal showers, groom showers are not about cake, gifts and games. An example is a party that included playing football, drinking games and Rock Band, a video game where players perform in virtual bands. At another groom shower, guests ate from old licence plates, participated in a nail pounding contest and were judged on how manly they wrapped their gifts, most of which were tools.

But don't think this is a replacement for the bachelor party. It's just a warm up before that age old tradition.

And what do you bring the groom for gifts? Men are recognizing that showers are a great way to acquire tools and other necessities to maintain a home. Check stores like Lowes and Sears to see if the couple is registered there. Tools, electronics and equipment are all manly gifts.

Another great place to shop for your groom is the themanregistry.com. The website is all ©Carlson Craft The Color Blueabout the guys and not just about weddings.

Don't forget the invitations! Most shower invitations are flowery and girly. Try using a note card or a simple, elegant wedding invitation. You can include any wording you desire. For example, "The Color Blue" wedding invitation or note card from InvitoCards.com.

So grooms, get creative and have a shower just for you!

Labels: , ,

Posted by Invito Cards at 10:32 AM | | Comments | links to this post