Angelion Insights

March 2, 2010

Save the Date Cards: Creative Ideas

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , — @ 10:57 pm

Wedding stationary is the first impression your friends and family will have of your wedding.  Before the showers, before the ceremony, and before the reception, save the date cards set the tone and theme for your wedding.  Since the cards are more informal than the invitations they can be selected before you have made your final choice for your wedding stationary. Of course, it is always a good idea to send them out as soon as you have completed the guest list and chosen the date.

Just to be clear: save the date cards are sent to individuals you are inviting to the wedding. That may be obvious, but a save the date card is not an announcement of your engagement or the fact you are getting married.  Those who receive the save the date card will expect to receive an invitation in the coming weeks.  Feel free to send out an engagement announcement that does not include the wedding date to those you will not be inviting or are not sure you will be inviting. You can follow up later with an invitation if a spot on the guest list opens up.

In addition to the save the date card other wedding stationary includes: the invitation, reception card (separate from wedding invitation), place card, announcement, response card, program, menu card, multi purpose cards (directions, accommodations) and thank you card.

Many couples decide on the date but have not booked the location of either the ceremony or reception.  It is a courtesy to your guests to let them know as far in advance when your wedding will be so they can make arrangements for travel, pet sitting, and taking vacation days from work. Save the date cards save the day.

Informal fun

“Save-The-Date Cards Green Card with Pink Accents,” these playful cards announce your wedding day in a sweet but not saccharin way.   Other more informal choices are the “Couple,” with a hand drawn bride and groom popping up to announce the date. The “Flower Bouquet,” says it with flowers in pink, green, and lilac.  “In Love” is bordered with a green band on the bottom of the card and L O V E with each letter in a different color, yellow, bright pink, green, and aqua.

Are you having a beach theme or beach wedding? If so, choose “Seashell Hearts Save-The-Date” cards with a photo of an incoming wave on the sandy shore, complete with the words “Save the Date” written in the sand. Another choice is the “Beach Theme” with hand drawn sea shells in yellow, blue, and pink on the sand.

If you have a photograph of the two of you, that photo can be scanned into a digital file and used as the background of a save the date card printed on your own computer printer.  Print the card on standard size note card stock and buy envelopes separately.  If you are on a tight budget print on card stock and use the back of the card to address as a postcard.  You will wind up saving money on postage and on envelopes.

Formal But Fun

If you haven’t chosen the theme of your wedding yet simple, save the date cards with classic font on grey card stock look perfect. A more contemporary look are the “Double Hearts” Design of pale pink on white and the “Forever and Ever” of bright pink on white and “Twin Hearts” a simplistic design on light grey card stock.

Personalization

Of course the save the date cards are personalized with the names of the bride and groom and the date.  The city and state can be included on the card as well if you know the wedding will be held in that city.

Personalization can go much farther with a selection of 33 colored inks and 36 solid color envelope liners and five prints.

Since the backs of the cards are blank why not take a few extra minutes and write a note on each card with a short message about how much you are looking forward to having them join you on your special day.

If you are one of those couples who have everything organized and chosen right from the get go, make the save the date cards part of your wedding stationary package.

Kick Off the Wedding Festivities

Save the date cards are fun, creative, and start you on your way to a wonderful wedding day.

Dee Power is a freelance writer who writes about weddings and save the date cards.

The Etiquette For Choosing A Made Of Honor

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , — @ 11:55 am

The task of selecting the Maid of Honor is one of the most difficult decisions that has to be made by the bride. The complexity is due to the fact that the duties of the Maid are normally not defined and typically poorly addressed. Every bride actually has her own opinion on what how a Maid of Honor should act. However, communicating these ideas are difficult.

The Main of Honor is commonly perceived as a ceremonial figure that walks behind the bride down the aisle before the bridesmaids. In another light, the Maid of Honor can act, as the one that will help calm a nervous bride, helps in sending out invitations, making sure the registry is properly sent, gives tips on the how the wedding gown should look like and acts as the manager of the bridesmaids.

The Maid of Honor can also host the bridal shower or the bachelorette party. To sum it up, the Maid of Honor is the bride’s closest friend or ally in preparing for the wedding and will always be there during times of need and frustration.

The following are certain etiquette in choosing a Maid of Honor to help minimize stress and maximize pleasure.

The Maid of Honor does not have to be a family member.

It is not a requirement to make a sister or a female cousin the Maid of Honor. A best friend who has been there through thick and thin will likely deserve this distinction.

The bride should instruct the Maid of Honor on her responsibilities.

Brides should communicate what they expect from the Maid of Honor such as making a speech during the reception. Open communication between the two should happen frequently.

Choosing more than one Maid of Honor is not illegal.

The bride should make sure that Maids of Honor have different responsibilities in order to avoid jealousy between them.

The Maid of Honor needs to attend all-wedding activities such as showers and parties for the bride. She will also be tasked to plan and be financially responsible for any bachelorette party and assist in organizing invitations and always be open for favors.

The Maid of Honor’s emotional support is one her integral responsibilities. As the so-called “maid” she is expected to give her full attention to the bride during the wedding day. She should also make sure that the bride is looking almost perfect before they troop down the aisle and constantly check on her condition during the middle and end of the ceremonies up until the start of the reception.

Upon choosing the Maid of Honor, she should be treated out by the bride to a nice dinner or spa to make her feel she is a very important part of the wedding. The Maid of Honor could have a dress designed differently from the other bridesmaids to make her stand out in the entourage.

Etiquette also dictates that the Maid of Honor will wear the groom’s ring on her finger in the absence of a ring bearer. She is also part of the group that will decorate the bridal car and help the bride in wearing the bridal dress.

A wedding ceremony adhered to certain etiquette to make the occasion flow seamlessly and orderly.

- In a semi-private wedding, groomsmen and bridesmaids are given certain responsibilities in helping the bride and groom during the wedding day.

- The bridesmaids should be younger than the bride and their dresses should match. Bridesmaid dresses can include more ornaments and should be composed of light and graceful material. Flowers should functions as the chief decoration.

- The wedding dress should be simple but can be attached with small jewels or ornaments. The garland and veil should be the most eye-catching.

- Bridesmaids should stay at the bride’s left side during the actual wedding ceremony. The first bridesmaid should hold the bouquet and gloves.

- Bridesmaids can be positioned from the shortest to the tallest in order to be symmetrical. A bridesmaid and groomsman with similar height can be paired.

- The groomsmen are assigned to guide the clergyman and then show him to the couple. The groomsmen should stand at the groom’s right side during the wedding ceremony.

Information on american flag etiquette can be found at the Etiquette Lessons site.

Uk Wedding

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: — @ 2:50 am

…Although it may seem trivial to include all these traditions and beliefs considering the high demands of modern living, taking them into account when planning your UK wedding may just add more spice to the ceremony and to the couples married life.

Five Popular Wedding Traditions in the United Kingdom

Below is a compilation of some of the most popular traditions applied when doing a UK wedding.

• The Bridal Attire. For the bride’s attire, she follows an old tradition that came from a popular rhyme dating back during the Victorian times. According to this bridal attire rhyme, she has to wear something old to represent the link of the bride’s family to her life when she was still single. This is usually her mother’s jewelry.

The old line also said that she needs to wear something new which represents the good fortune of the bride’s marriage. A new wedding dress is usually purchased and chosen to be the new item in her attire.

Next she has to wear something borrowed or something that is owed by a happy bride during her wedding. This means bringing good luck to their marriage. This could be stockings, handkerchief, brooch or any jewelry.

Another part of her attire is wearing something blue which according to the bible symbolizes purity and faithfulness. Eventually, this custom has evolved into wearing a blue garter or a band at the bottom or trimming of the bride’s dress.

Lastly, the bride must place a silver sixpence in her shoe symbolizing wealth. Although financial wealth is usually invoked, intangible wealth like happiness and joy are also invited to reside in her married life.

• The Bride’s Veil. The origins of the wedding veil still remain a mystery since its first use centuries ago. One theory dates back when arranged marriages were still so popular. It is thought that a veil was placed over the bride’s face so that the groom would not run off if he didn’t like the face of his would-be wife. But wearing a wedding veil is also believed to protect the bride from evil spirits.

• Carrying the bride into the house. It is believed that there are spirits waiting at the threshold of the newlywed’s home. This is why the groom carries his bride into the doorstep of their home to guard the bride from those lingering evil spirits awaiting their arrival. Another reason why carrying the bride across the front doorsteps has been a popular custom is to avoid bad luck. During the Roman times, it was believed that if the bride tripped when entering their home, her marriage would be full of misfortunes. So to avoid any harm, this tradition has been carried for generations.

• The ring finger of the left hand. If you have noticed, the engagement ring is usually placed on the third finger, between the middle and smallest finger, of the left hand. One explanation for this belief relates to an Egyptian belief that the third finger follows the vein of love flowing directly to the heart.

• The meaning behind bridal flowers. The tradition of carrying bridal flowers goes back in the ancient times when heavily scented herbs were believed to drive away evil spirits, misfortune, and sickness. Meanwhile, during the Victorian period, flowers were used by lovers to communicate the messages of love with each other. Later on, the messages associated to these flowers were adapted and became popularly used by the bride to make a statement at her wedding. Here are some of the most popular flowers and their meanings:

o Carnation means love and fascination.
o Red Chrysanthemum means “I love you.”
o Daisy means innocent.
o Jasmine means amiability.
o Magnolia means perseverance.
o Red rose means love.
o Yellow rose means friendship.
o Pink rose means thankfulness and grace.
o Tulip also means love.
o Violet means faithfulness.

The list of traditions, beliefs or superstitions that people in the United Kingdom fascinatingly follow can go on and on. But these more popular ones will guide you in planning that wonderful and once in a lifetime UK wedding. Whether you believe the traditions or not, one thing is true – it is not the objects that symbolize what you wish for your marriage that command the fate of life-long relationship, but the love and commitment you invest in it.

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