I love this new wedding invitation…

I was on our Carlson Craft website, and found this wedding invitation, I love this new design!

Sweet Songs Ecru Invitation in Raisin Pocket

An ecru invitation is layered on top of a gold backer. A sweet bird design is featured below your wording in latte and raisin imprint colors. The raisin pocket is perfect for adding your matching enclosures.
Closed: 5 1/4″ x 7 3/8″, Open: 5 1/4″ x 13″

See below, it is available in a few different color combos!

Order this wedding invitation and find out more here: Sweet Songs Wedding Invitation

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Wedding Industry Acronyms that should not be used…

Does everyone remember the Jennifer Lopez movie, “The Wedding Planner”  at the beginning of the movie she is coordinating a wedding and uses acronyms to access the situation “FOB is MIA” which meant the Father of the Bride is Missing in Action.

Every industry has acronyms, marketers use ROI for return on investment,  medical professionals may use acronyms like AAO – alert, awake, and oriented.  Some also use comical ones like LOLINAD- Little Old Lady in No Acute Distress or FFFF- Female, Fat, Forty and Flatulent.

There are also acronyms and terms in the wedding industry.  Some common ones from the popular Wedding Bee Blog include B2B- Bride to Be (Not to be confused with Business to Business)  FFIL- Future Father in Law, E-ring – engagement ring, FH – future husband, FW – future wife, MOH – maid of honor etc.

However there were a few that I have come across in my days working in the wedding industry that should not be used… Just say the whole word, you do not want to get these terms mistaken!!

BM – bridesmaid, hmmm, if I were a bridesmaid I would not want to be referred to as BM (I mean doctors use this term all the time for Bowl Movement!)
BS – bridal shower,  some people may associate the two, however it puts a very negative connotation on the whole event!
STD – save the date, This one I have come across, when I abbreviate save the date, I usually write SaTD, don’t you think this is a much better way to put it?
and the last acronym that should not be used SOB- Sister of the Bride, I don’t think it is very nice to call your sister names, I mean even if she is jealous of your wedding, hehe!

But if you do have a good sense of humor and want to celebrate it why not buy your wedding party some of these fun wedding shirts!

 

 

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Wedding Invitations, the difference between price and value

When doing some research I came across one of the best blog articles I have ever read on wedding invitations by Hip Ink‘s Sarah Spano.   I will share some of the great points that she makes in her article with you.

Many brides will tell you that wedding invitations are expensive.  However expensive is different for every bride.  One bride’s pocket change is another bride’s expensive.   What brides really mean when they say that invitations and stationery are so expensive is that they were unaware of the cost of wedding invitations and it was a surprise to them.  There is really only one occasion or two in a person’s lifetime where they would need a service like this, so it is okay to not know the price of wedding invitations.

Sarah also gives a side note that Bridal “experts” say the “accepted” amount to budget for wedding invitations is 5-8% of your total wedding budget.  This may not be agreed upon by everyone in the industry.

There is a huge range in the price of wedding invitations, starting at $2 per invitation.  This is where Sarah stops for a little aside, one of my favourite points in her article:

 ”How much do you spend on the average greeting card? $3? $4? $5 or more? Is it totally mass-produced? Yes. Is there anything particularly special about it? Probably not. Is it personalized? No. Do you think its expensive for what you’re getting? You might. Do you buy it anyway? Most of the time. So why is it that there are people out there (probably lots of them) that think $5 for a custom invitation set is “expensive”? Food for thought.”

What goes into the cost of a traditional invitation?

If you are going with a traditional (not custom) invitation- there is the actual paper and envelopes itself which is usually a nice stock, better than a local printer.  The price of the designs, although not custom someone still had to design it, this is spread out over many brides and grooms though.  The set up costs for printing your information on it etc.

What about what goes into the cost of custom invitations?

Custom invitations are not like traditional invitations.  Custom invitations are created for you to be everything you dreamed of.  They are not mass produced and your guests will have not seen them before when invited to someone else’s wedding.  They are created by a designer to be a reflection of you as a couple, your wedding, and yes they can be pricey.

The price of a custom invitation is based on many different factors.  The style of the invitation for example a single panel invitation verses a pocketfold or boxed invitation.  The type of material you choose, patterns and metallics versus matte colors.  The type of printing you choose flat print verses raised print, and how many embellishments such a rhinestones and ribbons that you choose.  Every invitation takes time to design to perfection, print and trim and then assemble them by hand.

Sarah says they use the finest papers and embellishments at hipink, and the same can be said for Milestone Moments.  You ARE getting great value for your dollar.  For every invitation order there is a lot involved including meeting with the customer or discussing over the phone or online, working with vendors, sometimes sourcing the “perfect” materials, designing, editing, printing, cutting, assembling and more.

This is a great tidbit from Sarah’s article:

“Brides will often ask me my option on custom vs traditional vs DIY. I like to use the wedding dress analogy, because most brides can understand and appreciate the differences. Picture it: you fall in love with the perfect wedding dress, Vera Wang. It is $6000 (because it is made out of the finest materials, sewn and embellished by hand, and created especially for you with multiple fitting to make adjustments and ensure it is exactly what you want. You go to Big Chain Bridal and see a similar dress. It is $600 (because it is made out of lesser quality materials and mass-produced in a factory, and you will have to pay for alterations to ensure it fits properly). Then you go to Big Box Fabrics and see that you can buy fabric and embellishments for $60 (because you will have to sew the dress and do all the embellishments and alterations yourself). Each of these dresses has its merits, but most people brides can agree that the Big Chain Bridal dress will never be the same quality as the couture gown and that they probably aren’t Vera Wang” 

That said, lots of people fall in love with beautiful mass-produced gowns or are very successful in sewing their own wedding dress – but, it is important to compare apples to apples. In stationery world, custom is apples, traditional is oranges and DIY is kumquats. The best advice I can give you is to determine your budget for stationery, compare prices within the type of invitation you’ve chosen. Look for value – beware of hidden costs (for example, some companies will quote their price with rsvp cards and envelopes, whereas some will quote pricing for the invitation only) and make sure you compare the quality, not just the price.”

This also rings true….

“As for me, I’m probably not the right person to ask, because I believe that your invitations are the most significant stationery purchase you will ever make and an extremely important part of your event, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make an amazing impression on your guests.

I know and am in contact with many custom stationery designers. We almost all work for ourselves or for very, very small companies. Making invitations isn’t our hobby, it is our livelihood – it may feed our passion for creativity, but it also feeds our families. We do it because we love design, we love paper, but most of all, because we love people. We love seeing the faces of our brides when they see their finished invitations for the first time. We love to hear what their friends and family think. We take pride in our work. And we want you to understand exactly how much of *us* goes into what we do for *you*.”

This article was great!  Thank you Sarah!

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Plan ahead for your wedding

Obviously when planning your wedding there are things that need to be sorted out first, the date, the reception site, the ceremony site and theme and colors.  Once you have these things taken care of start thinking of other aspects of your wedding.  You don’t have to make up your mind on anything, but start reading magazines and exploring websites to see what you like, what is available and what kind of a budget will be required to achieve the wedding of your dreams.

Join wedding blogs and wedding websites and keep up to date with them.  Be sure to check out awesome sites like www.ETSY.com.

It is a good idea when you approach vendors to have a very good idea of what you want.  What kind of photos do you like?  What style of invitations do you like?  What kind of flowers do you like and are they in season for your wedding.

Getting ideas and planning ahead will take out a lot of the stress that can happen closer to your wedding date.

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Give your guests something to do in between the ceremony and reception

Have you ever been to a wedding where there is a large gap in between the wedding ceremony and the reception?  Have you ever been in a different place and did not know what to do with that time?  Did you spend it in the hotel room?

Why not make sure your guests are entertained while you and your wedding party get your photos taken?  I am in a wedding party next year and my friend Sarah (the bride) asked if I could include an entertainment card in the invitation package.  What a great idea I thought, she wanted to include all of the free and inexpensive tourist attractions as well as interesting things to do in the area.

Why not put an extra insert in your invitations?  Here are some things you could include?

- Local Parks (For couples with children)
- Tourist attractions
- Great restaurants or places to go for a snack
- Any local festivals or fairs going on during your wedding
- If your wedding is in the summer, a great spot to swim and cool off
- Cool shops or boutiques in the area

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New Wedding Invitation Designs from Carlson Craft

Every year there are new designs and new ideas in the world of wedding invitations.  Below are some of the beautiful new invitations from our Carlson Craft Online Store.


 

To see more see our online store.

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Wedding Invitation Pricing- Make sure you know the facts

Remember when you are shopping for invitations, the price is a good indication of the quality of the invitations.  Or even sometimes the price is “starting at” and does not include everything that is featured in the photos.  The company may charge separately for each invitation piece  such as the reply card, envelopes, etc. that you need or they may not come assembled.  Some companies also charge for the proofing process and design.  Some companies even charge for a consultation.

The prices on the Milestone Moments website are broken down by each piece and are a full invitation package.  The price is for the actual invitation pictured, not one with cheaper materials.  The prices include the invitation, reply card, an insert card if featured, reply envelope, invitation envelope and any featured embellishments.  The return addresses are $0.15 per envelope.  The prices also include full assembly, and if you want to save money, you can assemble the invitations yourself.  We also include free proofing and custom design is included in the price.  We do however charge a $50 set up fee for custom orders less than 50.  Free consultations are also available.

Milestone Moments is very honest with their pricing, our prices are reasonable and our products are high quality, this is why we are happy to have a online Quote Generator help give our clients an estimate of how much their invitations will cost.

Remember to budget the following for your invitations when shopping around:
- The invitations
- The reply cards
- Envelopes
- Postage
- Return postage
- Shipping (if you are ordering online)
- Any invitation upgrades
- Additional inserts (Map cards etc)
- Import fees (if you order from a different country)
- Taxes, depending on your location

Remember that sometimes what you pay for is what you get.  The cheapest invitations might not be the best and might present the wrong impression for your guests.

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Can quality Invitations be ordered online?

The modern bride now does her research and some of her purchasing online. However, not everything is as it is presented, so know how to protect yourself from disappointment (and panic)! Here are some suggestions when purchasing Wedding Invitations Online:

  • Allow time to order the invitation product samples. You will need enough leadtime to browse the internetand order the various samples. Always order a sample before placing a full order. This may cost something but it is money well spent. If you cannot get exactly what you had want order something similar to see the quality. As well, order swatches of the colours you are interested in or at least a colour chart. If the supplier is nearby make an appointment with the consultant in order to see the actual product.  A wedding show also provides an opportunity to see the coloursand quality of the particular vendor.

 

  • Investigate the Business Model of the company you will deal with. Many companies are in the business of wedding invitations. What is important to know is where their focus is. Are wedding invitations an extra ‘side line’ to their other interests? Large print company like Staples and Vistaprint sell wedding invitations, however they are not involved in every order and able to provide 100% satisfaction to a bride. They also use bulk and less expensive stationary. The companies that feature wedding invitations likely use better quality supplies and offer variety and choice. They also have different product lines to fit different wedding themes and budgets. Because they are experts in the industry they can offer valuable advice on everything pertaining to wedding stationary and because they work closely with the individual, they are available to answer the questions and concerns that arise.
  • Researchthe Reputation of the supplier/designer. Check out the testimonial page on their website but also Google their company to see what other brides have said.  Ask recent brides for recommendations on what they have seen and experienced.

 

Remember the invitation is the first impression that most guests receive concerning your special event. You want that impression to be remembered, and perhaps  become a treasured keepsake of your wedding.

 

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Paris Themed Weddings

What is available to the Paris themed bride?  Plenty.  If you have decided on a Paris themed wedding be sure to start out with Paris themed wedding invitations to make sure that your guests know the theme of your wedding.

The Paris theme is a great theme for a wedding as it is known as a romantic setting and has such an easily recognizable icon, the Eiffel tower.

When if comes to the wedding invitation there are a few different options: Pre-designed wedding invitations, like those featured below.  If you must have everything matching and in the color of your theme you might want to go with custom wedding invitations, like the black and white striped invitations below.  If you decide to have custom invitations, you can have all of the other elements of wedding stationary such as the programs, menus, table numbers, placecards etc. matching.

The Paris theme obviously does not stop at the wedding stationary.  You can get lovely placecards holders and favors in the shape of the Eiffel tower.

Paris is a common theme in home decor right now too.  So when shopping for centerpieces and other wedding decor don’t forget to hit up stores like Home Sense, Home Outfitters and other home decor stores.  Another great resource for ideas are travel magazines, see what they use to feature the city of Paris, and try and mimic it.

If you want a classic Paris theme go with a monochromatic color scheme.  If you are a modern bride and want to add a splash of color why not try a hot pink or deep red?

Remember it is your wedding and the sky is the limit.  Enjoy planning your Paris themed wedding.

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The Royal Wedding Invitations have been sent

As a wedding invitation designer I was curious to know what the Royal wedding invitations for Prince William and Kate Middleton would look like.  While we don’t have to wonder anymore.  The invitations were sent out February 15th and 16th, 2011.  1,900 invitations were sent in total!  And you thought your guest list was long! (http://royalwedding.aol.com)  The invitations were printed in gold writing on very heavy cardstock with gilded edges, the dimensions were 10” x 6”.  The wording for the wedding invitations were as follows:

The Lord Chamberlain is commanded by
The Queen to invite
(the recipient of the invitation)
to the Marriage of
His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales
with
Miss Catherine Middleton
at Westminster Abbey
on Friday, 29th April, 2011 at 11:00 a.m.

Royal Wedding Invitation

The invitations are sent by regular mail via the Post Office at Buckingham Palace.  The invitations have the Royal crest and stamp.  Certain people have to be invited to the event including foreign heads of state, foreign royalty (many who are relatives and friends), charity leaders, prime ministers as well as immediate family of the bride and groom.   It is also said that some university friends were invited (eonline.ca)

There is no “A-list” and “B-list” for the Royal Wedding. (ctv.ca)  Guests were telephoned in advance so they knew if they were going to be invited, if they were unable to attend they did not receive an invitation.  An RSVP card and envelope were not included (not because they want their guests to reply on their wedding website or e-mail them!)  Guests were asked to mail their response in a letter to a specific address in the corner of the invitation (http://royalwedding.aol.com)

 

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