Save the Date!

Your engaged! You set the date, booked your ceremony and reception sites and now you want to tell everyone you know to mark their calendars. Whether you are planning a destination wedding, a formal and elaborate affair, or a small casual gathering, sending a Save the Date is a great way to let your family and friends know about your big day while reflecting your own unique style.

A vintage Save the Date Card from Lasso'd Moon Designs

A unique map Save the Date Card from Lasso'd Moon Designs

A bright and cheery magnet memento Save the Date Card from Fin + Roe

A damask Save the Date Card from Designed By M.E. Stationery

Before you send those Save the Dates out, there are some etiquette guidelines you'll want to consider:

• Send Save the Dates only to guests you are positive you will be inviting to the wedding. You don't need to send a Save the Date to everyone you are inviting, but everyone who receives a Save the Date should also receive a wedding invitation.
• Your Save the Dates should be mailed 6 to 9 months in advance. If you are planning a destination wedding, it is acceptable to send Save the Dates one year in advance. This will give guests plenty of time to plan for and make travel arrangements.
• Keep in simple but be sure to include all the necessary information such as date, location and accommodations, if available.
• Let your guests know they will be receiving a wedding invitation. Many Save the Dates include the phrase "formal invitation to follow".
• Wait until you have your date and location finalized. If your plans do change, you'll want to pick up the phone and let your guests know about the change.

Your wedding day is going to be unforgettable to you. Sending a Save the Date helps provide insurance that your loved ones will be able to attend and help make all of those wonderful memories!

From "Will You?" to "Thank You:" Bridesmaid Cards

Bridesmaid stationery is a popular way to both ask and thank your Bridesmaids for agreeing to be a part of your wedding. We love the below "Will You Be My Bridesmaid?" cards from Designed By M.E. Stationery.


Inside Reads: "I promise the dress will be Fabulous."

When it comes time to thank your girls for all the time and work they've put into your wedding- why not do it with a sense of humor? These cute cards from Shakespeare's Bride acknowledge just how much effort goes into being a bridesmaid.


Inside Reads: "After everything you've done for my wedding, I guess now we know why they're called Bride's Maids."

Finally, if you're planning to throw a Thank You Bridesmaids Luncheon, don't forget that great stationery can also make a great gift. These cute notecard folios from Jilly Jack Designs could be set at each woman's place as a cute favor.



Diane, Shakespeare's Bride

Photo Credits: Designed By M.E. Stationery, Shakespeare's Bride, Jilly Jack Designs

Monograms: Why not brand your personal event?

Everyday corporate branding can be seen everywhere, so it's not a surprise to think about how to brand your own special event? Afterall, it'll tie everything together for a neat, well-thoughtout look and feel.

Wedding monograms have been en vogue for quite some time and it's wonderful to see how much fun can be added to the flavor of the event's stationery. From simple and modern to fun... there's definitely enough style to go around that will fit every nearlywed couple's dream day and it doesn't have to end when the wedding is over. You can even extend it to the morning after brunch as well and use it for the Thank You cards.

{Modern & Simple Monogram from Bride Design}



{Fun and Event-Inspired Monogram from Feterie}



{Ornate and Iconic Monograms from Lucky Designs}

Custom Designed or Personalized Wedding Invitations: What's the Difference?

If you are a bride to be and are looking for a unique wedding invitation, you have surely come across many fabulous stationery designers by now. Some designers offer custom invitations, some offer personalized invitations, some offer both. But what does that mean? Let me help explain!

There are three main aspects in which a custom invitations and a personalized invitation will differ: design, timeline and pricing.

Design:
A custom invitation begins with a blank canvas and is truly a work of art. You and your stationery designer will work together using your visions to create the perfect invitation for you. Your designer may begin by making sketches of your ideas and gathering the pricing for all of the paper and embellishments you envision for your invitation. The end result will be a one of a kind invitation that will be sure to wow your guests. Most stationery designers love their custom orders because it's a great way for them to express themselves as an artist.

A personalized invitation begins with a design that already exists. The design is then fine-tuned with your preferences. Most designers allow you to personalize the wording, paper and ink colors with your preferences. Your guests will be delighted to receive a personalized invitation, as it is also a unique work of art. However, it is a design that has been used previously and will be used again in the future.

Timeline:
Stationery designers will differ with their timelines depending on their printing and assembly methods and production volume. For a custom design, I suggest to my brides that we begin designing at least eight weeks prior to when the need to have their invitations in hand. It may take more or less time, depending on the overall design, quantity and time of year.

A personalized invitation will take less time because the design already exists. However, the design does need to be modified. Again, the timeline will differ from stationer to stationer. I suggest that brides begin the personalized invitation process about five to six weeks prior to their deadline.

Pricing:
Hours upon hours are involved in creating and revising a custom design, therefore, a custom invitation is going to be more expensive than a personalized invitation. If you are a bride on a tight budget, this may not be the path you want to travel. While you can reduce pricing by using a simple invitation style, such as a flat panel invitation instead of a pocket fold with ribbon, embellishments and all of the enclosures, your stationery designer will need to charge for their time.

Personalized invitations are the way to go if you are a bride with a budget, but still want a unique and beautiful invitation. While your stationery designer will still be charging a fee for revising the invitation with your preferences, the time is cut down considerably. I know that many stationers can also adapt their designs according to your budget by adding or eliminating style elements.

Whether you choose a custom or personalized invitation is a matter of preference. By sharing your budget and visions with your stationery designer, she/he should be able to guide you in the right direction!

~Maria Elena Designed By M.E. Stationery

Photo credits: Designed By M.E. Stationery
Note: Top photo is provided courtesy of Steve Burns, Bella Pictures

Formal Wedding Invitation Wording- How to Handle Sticky Situations

If you are having a formal wedding, the wording of your invitation can be tricky. Many modern brides have families that don’t fall under the category of “traditional”. Parents may be divorced, remarried or deceased. Hosting responsibilities may fall on the bride and groom, the groom’s parents, or maybe everyone is chipping in. The last thing you want to do is offend one of your family members or future in-laws. Here are some guidelines to help you handle those delicate situations.

Parents of the Bride are Hosting (Traditional):
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Jones
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Michelle Lynn
to
Robert Mark Smith
Saturday, the twentieth of December
two thousand and eight
at two o’clock in the afternoon

Parents of the Groom are Hosting:
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Smith
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of
Michelle Lynn Jones
to their son
Robert Mark
Saturday, the twentieth of December
two thousand and eight
at two o’clock in the afternoon

Both Sets of Parents are Hosting:
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Jones &
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Smith
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Michelle Lynn
to
Robert Mark
Saturday, the twentieth of December
two thousand and eight
at two o’clock in the afternoon

The Couple is Hosting:
The honour of your presence
is requested at the marriage of
Michelle Lynn Jones
to
Robert Mark Smith
Saturday, the twentieth of December
two thousand and eight
at two o’clock in the afternoon

Everyone is Hosting:
Michelle Lynn Jones
and
Robert Mark Smith
together with their parents
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Jones &
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Smith
request the honour of your presence
at their wedding
Saturday, the twentieth of December
two thousand and eight
at two o’clock in the afternoon

One Divorced Parent is Hosting:
Mr. Stephen Jones
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of his daughter
Michelle Lynn
to
Robert Mark Smith
Saturday, the twentieth of December
two thousand and eight
at two o’clock in the afternoon

One Divorced Parent and New Spouse are Hosting:
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Jones
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of his daughter
Michelle Lynn Jones
daughter of Ms. Karen Doe
to
Robert Mark Smith
Saturday, the twentieth of December
two thousand and eight
at two o’clock in the afternoon

Divorced Parents are Hosting Together:
Mr. Stephen Jones &
Ms. Karen Doe
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Michelle Lynn Jones
to
Robert Mark Smith
Saturday, the twentieth of December
two thousand and eight
at two o’clock in the afternoon

Widowed Remarried Parent is Hosting:
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Miller
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of her daughter
Michelle Lynn Jones
daughter of the late Mr. Stephen Jones
to
Robert Mark Smith
Saturday, the twentieth of December
two thousand and eight
at two o’clock in the afternoon

Widowed Parent is Hosting:
Mrs. Stephen Jones
requests the honour of your presence
at the marriage of her daughter
Michelle Lynn Jones
to
Robert Mark Smith
Saturday, the twentieth of December
two thousand and eight
at two o’clock in the afternoon

If you are in a situation that isn't listed above or you are unsure about, you can always ask your stationer and she (or he) will be happy to guide you in the right direction.

~Maria Elena, Designed By M.E. Stationery

Meet Your Guides: Designed By M.E. Stationery

Hello! My name is Maria Elena and I am the owner and designer at Designed By M.E. Stationery. I design and hand assemble custom wedding and special occasion invitations and stationery (think programs, place cards, table cards...anything paper you see at a reception). I love all things paper and wedding related and I’m excited to be contributing to the wedding invitations and invitation etiquette topics. I look forward to getting to know you!