Giving Tree Save the Date Wedding Announcement for Fall

How sweetly romantic is this save the date wedding announcement for Cristin Witcher and her fiance Adam Siegel’s fall Chicago nuptials?

Adam designed the whimsically simple letterpressed announcement and matching tree branch mailing labels using The Giving Tree as his inspiration, a book that has special meaning to the couple. Their wedding website URL at the bottom of the card provides guests useful information about hotels, logistics and registry.

I love that the concept is so versatile. Use it for summer and spring weddings and showers by coloring the mailing label and invitation leaves in shades of green. Change the text for a children’s birthday party invitation with an eco-friendly theme.

Cristin and Adam have graciously shared their tree template here at Merriment for free with the request that anyone using the template post a comment below or email me to track its usage.

Supplies:

* Cristin and Adam’s free Giving Tree fall save the date announcement template (PDF, edit using Adobe Illustrator)
* Luna font (free!)
* Color printer
* #10 size flat cards (if letterpressing)
* 8.5 x 11 cream luxe 210 weight paper (if printing yourself)
* Paper trimmer
* #10 size envelopes
* Optional: Cristin and Adam’s free envelope label template (Microsoft Word)
* Optional: Avery labels

Author: Merriment Designs

Several Ways to Save at Your Wedding

Use A and B Guest Lists
By keeping your guest list small, it will help you save tons of money. A good rule of thumb is use an A and B list. An A list is a list of guests you want to invite and who are top priority. The B list is are people would like to invite, but do not have the budget to invite them. The B list is good to keep in case a guest cancels from A list.

Reply Cards
Instead of having a reply card, you can simply put on wedding invitations that you have a wedding website, so guests can respond to for RSVP’s. It is an easy way to save money!

Sample Sales and Used and New Wedding Dresses
There are tons of websites that offer sample sales, trunk shows, and used and new wedding dresses. Websites would include eBay, Bravo Bride, or even check out David’s Bridal or Chadwicks. They always have inexpensive, yet elegant wedding dresses.

Change the Day of the Week of the Wedding
Evening weddings or on a Sunday are days that are not in as much demand.

Book Your Wedding Before or During the Holidays
Wherever you choose to hold your wedding ceremony, during the holiday season it is usually decorated, if it is not candles are an inexpensive way to go for just a simple look for your ceremony.

Utilize Your Family
If you have family members that are musicians, bakery, florists, caterers, photographers, or chauffeurs ask for their help. Using reliable family members to help you reduce costs for your weddings is great because not only is it saving you money, but they feel like they are apart of the wedding.

DIY Crafts
DIY Bridal Parties are a great way to have brides and the bridal party pitch in to help make your favors, centerpieces, diy invitations, bridal bouquets and other wedding related items for your wedding day.

Food and Drinks
If you are having a catered wedding reception, ask your caterer about which would be cheaper if it would be buffet style or seated dinner. Usually, buffet style is cheaper though. Offering alcoholic beverages see if you can provide your own liquor like beer and wine. It’s just a way to reduce costs for your wedding and if the cost is too much than consider an alcoholic free event.

Do you need a free wedding planner? Check out this website that offers free wedding planning advice at The Wedding Diary Online. Carla, the certified wedding planner offers free wedding advices for brides and grooms on a budget!

Brides who DIY Design find their Freedom: Pantone Color Studio for the iPhone

Brides to be and members of the marriage celebration, today as I was searching for some letterpress wedding invitation material online I came across an amazing new article. Apparently Pantone, the folks that bring us those amazing color charts and new color schemes every season, have been at the creation wheel again. There is a new iPhone application called myPantone, Portable Color Memory!

As I often remind everyone, I absolutely love colors. New ones, old ones, mixtures, vibrant or otherwise, I simply cannot have enough color in my life. This application allows those do it yourself brides to carry with them their entire Pantone color library, build their own color palettes while focusing on specific color themes and ideas, and most importantly you can share your custom color creations with friends, family or colleagues.

myPantone brings together the formal design styles of Pantone colors with the hands on approach of the 21st century brides that like to play a central role in planning their wedding. If you see a color you like, you can take a picture of it, find the corresponding Pantone color, and take that straight to the florists, dress shop or printers. Just be sure to compare your iPhone image to the Pantone solid formula guide when selecting the ink color for your invitations. This is particularly important since your electronic display may interpret the color differently.
This really takes the guess work out of picking the exact colors you like, and matching them to the designs, shapes and themes that you want for your wedding invitation set.
The applications for this app are endless. So what are you waiting for, go get some colors!

Written by Nick
Invitations by Ajalon

The Meaning of Flowers

Did you know there are meanings for flowers? There are many meanings and messages that flowers convey to someone. Use these floral tips for selecting the perfect floral gift. Each flower has a different color and appearance and this website offers lots of information on flowers, colors, and meanings. This is a great resource for brides when selecting the perfect flower for their wedding!

A Pink Wedding with a Cause

I love it when brides inform me they are having a pink themed wedding because ideas just flow from me. To honor the passing of the husband’s mother from cancer, the bride and groom opted to have different items used in the ceremony with the pink ribbon logo or that had the color pink in the item. For example, the couple had used pink ribbon cancer logo personalized on unity candle, cupcakes, wedding garter, wedding bouquet, pink candles, pink carnations, pink candlesticks, and reception rsvp cards.

However, I suggested that the couple incorporate an idea in the wedding because this client mentioned he wished his mother were there to celebrate the day. I had suggested in honor of his mother he could make this a cause related event and suggested the dollar dance could be used to raise awareness to breast cancer and proceeds could be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The couple absolutely loved the idea and asked me to follow through with planning it.

The DJ was contacted before the wedding on behalf of the bride and groom. I had requested the dollar dance to be added to DJ play list after the bouquet and garter toss. The song selection by the bride and groom was one that best described his mother the most. The song that was selected was “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” This was the last item on the list before the things to do list was complete and then it was time to attend the wedding the following weekend.

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon the following weekend, the wedding site was beautifully lit with pink candles, unity candle with tapers, pink bridesmaid dresses, and groomsmen pink ties. At the reception, ceiling drapes were hung with accents of white lights and colors of pink and white table linen filled the room. Fragrant pink carnations with accents of pink and white roses were elegantly displayed in crystal vases and the pink candlesticks were lit with crystal accent holders on all the tables made the room feel very romantic.

When it came time after the bouquet and garter toss, the DJ announced it was time for the dollar dance and during this announcement, the DJ stated that all the earnings from the dollar dance would benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation in honor of his mother’s memory. After the dollar dance, the money was calculated and the couple earned over $3,000 dollars to donate to the cancer foundation.

This is one of the best weddings I have had the honor of planning because the loving way this couple honored the groom’s mother. It was such a beautiful moment that words cannot exactly describe it! The room was filled with happy memories and even though his mother was not there on his wedding day, the continuous love and affection from family and friends displayed towards the couple made this a wedding a night to remember.

Bridal Accessories without the Expensive Price Tag

Payless Shoe Source Partners with Unforgettable Moments inspired by Lela Rose


Elizabeth Bow Clutch
Achieve classic elegance with this vintage-inspired clutch. It features luxurious ruched satin, a pretty bow detail and dressy metal hardware including a secure kiss lock closure and optional chain shoulder strap. 5"HX10"W.

Product Detail:
# Color: Platinum
# Vintage-inspired clutch
# Bow detail
# Kiss lock closure
No. 068116

Gloria
Open-toe slingback with 3.5" heel. Make a bold statement with the stylish Gloria. This architectural slingback features an asymmetrical upper, a trend-right platform and a 3.5" satin-wrapped heel.

Product Detail:
# Available in 64 custom colors
# Open-toe slingback
# Asymmetrical upper
# 3.5" satin-wrapped heel

No. 066935

Visit Unforgettable Moments - Click Here

A Kiss is Just A Kiss

Today, many brides and grooms are on a budget and couples are baking their way to the hearts of their guests. I found an awesome Hershey’s Kiss favor recipe that I thought I would share with all of my readers. When completed with making this recipe, for some extra-added fun, make a small gift card with a sweet saying like “Hug & a Kiss, A Promise to Treasure, Thank You for Sharing Our First Day Together” and attach it to the favor.

Just be creative when decorating your favor by providing a beautifully decorated ribbon to wrap around the stem of the Hershey Kiss Favor for individual favors or place them in a vase with some added decorations.

Supplies (For Each Rose):

• 2 Hershey Kisses
• Cellophane wrapping paper (any color of choice pre-cut 4 1/2 to 5 inch squares)
• Silk floral stems (with one or two leaves)
• Green floral tape
• Scissors
• 9" or 12" pre-cut floral stems or green lollipop sticks

Directions:

• Place the two Hershey's Kisses together, end to end, and hold in place. Use double stick tape or peel and stick glue dots between the two bottoms to help hold them together. This makes it easier to wrap them.

• Wrap the Kisses with cellophane from top to bottom, creating a rose like shape.

• Gather the cellophane together at the bottom of the rosebud and add a floral stem or lollipop stick with a leaf close to the bud and twist the cellophane so it's tightly closed.

• Wrap the bottom cellophane closed with floral tape, going around the stem while pulling it tight all the way down to the end. If you use green lollipop sticks wrapping with the green floral tape down the stick is optional. You can just wrap the bottom of the rose bud to close the cellophane(UWFI,2009).

Ask The Wedding Expert: Gift Giving for Co-Workers

I was asked this week about proper gift giving when attending a wedding for a coworkers wedding reception. First, I would find out if the bride and groom have a wedding gift registry online or in a store and purchase something from that list. Second, you could purchase anything for the kitchen such as towels, china, or silverware. Third, since you work with this individual, I would keep the gift giving selection strictly professional. I hope you have found this information valuable and think of this advice when you are selecting the gift for the bride and groom.

Would you like wedding advice? Do you have questions regarding wedding tradition or wedding etiquette? Please email weddings@wicksncandlesticks.com.

Inspire Me: A Homey Thanksgiving Wedding

A Homey Thanksgiving Wedding-What better time spent with family and friends by having a wedding at your home or decorate the wedding reception area as if you were experiencing the comfort of home.

How the Bride got Spanxed!

I was with one of my bridal clients for her last dress fitting and she had mentioned she had put on a little weight and stated she needed to go on a diet and start an exercise routine for the next few days until her wedding. I thought that might work, but then excused myself and stepped away from the fitting room and started to search around for different undergarments in the bridal store and I stumbled upon the brand Spanx and that was indeed a blessing!

I walked back to the fitting room where the bride was located and asked her if she was open to the option of wearing Spanx. She was unaware of the brand, so I asked her to try on the new Slim Cognito Shape-Suit under her shoulder-baring bridal dress and handed the item to her. She looked at the package and asked what is Spanx and what does it exactly do? I told her just to try it on and she could see for herself. A few minutes later, she came out of the dressing room with the hugest smile on her face and stated that she appeared as if she lost 10 lbs from wearing the Spanx and I completely had to agree with her that she did indeed appear 10 lbs slimmer. This shape-suit made of nylon and spandex and is known for being very comfortable and it appeared that this shape-suit made a complete body transformation to the bride because it appeared to cinch her waist, thighs, and removed the underwear line that lightly appeared through her wedding dress.

As the bride finished her bridal dress fitting, she loudly said in her fitting room, “This Bride just got Spanxed!” and I replied, “Yes, you sure did.” I found this comment to be a little humorous. Not only did I make my bride very happy by introducing her to Spanx, but I believe that the introduction of Spanx helped save my bride before her wedding day, and I also believe that this bride will be a life long customer of the brand.

To learn more about purchasing Spanx for yourself or any bride, visit www.spanx.com and check out their bridal tips and Haute Contour line for the wedding night!