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31 Jul |
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2:44 am Posted by Nicola |
Who first came up with the expression that it’s lucky to rain on your wedding day? Probably some kind bridesmaid of some devastated bride whose special day was ruined by rain clouds. 
It rained on my own wedding day – the only rainy day in an otherwise fabulously sunny August – and I can’t tell you how many people assured me it was a sign of good luck. Well-meaning, but not exactly what I wanted to hear at the time.
So whether you live in Seattle or Hawaii, it’s always a wise to have a backup plan in the event of bad weather on your wedding day. And where else to get some great tips, but from a British bridal magazine [You and Your Wedding, July/Aug 2011].
- Love your backup plan: If you invest equal energy in your plan B, then chances are you won’t be too disappointed if it needs to spring into action.
- Stay optimistic: weather can easily change. If part of your celebration is planned for outside, ask your wedding coordinator or reception site manager to keep an active eye on the weather so clearing skies may allow the event to move back outside.
- Look into creative coverings: Research tents with side flaps that can be dropped in the event of rain. Consider a canopy to shield outdoor spots from extreme sun and heat. Consult your reception site manager for options.
- Bring the outside in: If you’re looking for a natural or rustic setting but don’t trust the weather, add an abundance of blooms, branches and foliage to your interior setting. Search websites for natural place setting ideas and decorative touches.
- Plan for alternative photo options: pre-select some indoor photo backdrops. If your heart is absolutely set on having outdoor wedding photos, consider a post-wedding shoot. Probably can’t ask the whole bridal party to get back into their wedding attire, but booking your photographer for 1-2 hours at a later date could be a way to get those newlywed outdoor pics.
- Don’t forget the umbrellas: invest in several large golf-style umbrellas to protect dresses and hairstyles, especially from limo to wedding site for that first grand entrance. Select decorative or colorful umbrellas that coordinate with the wedding theme - you’re bound to find one you love at http://www.ellaumbrella.com
- From the moment that
- are dropped in the mail, brides universally hope for good weather on their special day. But whether Mother Nature cooperates or not, it is important to let it go, focus on the 101 other things that go according to plan, and most importantly to enjoy your special day.
If you are planning a wedding and have yet to select a wedding invitation design, checkout the growing selection available at LookLoveSend.com. And if your wedding will be in 2012, enter our sweepstakes for a chance to receive a free wedding invitation suite of your choice.
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30 Jul |
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2:19 am Posted by Kristy |
Designer Genevieve Gail
Genevieve Gail is bringing exciting patterns and fresh color schemes to LookLoveSend’s dynamic collection of wedding invitation suites. Her suites, which include save the date cards as well as wedding invitations, feature some of the most exciting and colorful images available in the form of wedding stationery. One such design featured here, Garden Party, demonstrates the energy in her exciting designs.
Genevieve has always had a passion for art as well as for the creative process itself. After earning a Graphic Design degree at the University of Georgia, she began her career as an Art Director and product designer for an international gift manufacturer. Genevieve has traveled the globe researching colors and trends, and she has created numerous successful collections for the gift industry.
A few years ago, Genevieve decided to branch out on her own. She now licenses her designs for jewelry, crafts, giftware, fabrics, and paper goods, and she is excited to now also be part of the the LookLoveSend.com design team. She describes her style as an eclectic mixture of patterns combined with fresh color palates that results in on-trend designs. Her goal is to create beautiful products that put smiles on people’s faces.
Genevieve currently resides in Athens, Georgia, with her husband and three dogs. For more examples of Genevieve’s work, or to find your favorite wedding invitation design, visit LookLoveSend.com. Join our email list and receive 20% off your first order!
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29 Jul |
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11:38 am Posted by Kristy |
Who would you consider to be a “mature mother”? While hipness and age might play a role, I subscribe to the notion that a woman with two or more children fits this definition.
She has sustained two human lives in her womb, brought them forth through birth, and feeds their minds and bodies on a daily basis. So what exactly could you do for her if she begins to travel down that road a third, fourth, or bless her soul, fifth time and beyond?
Etiquette handbooks tell us a second or third baby shower isn’t necessary or appropriate. In my experience, I think this rule gets ignored. Plenty of moms luck out with a friend or family member who chooses to send out baby shower invitations for some of the following reasons:
- A known change in gender for the new baby
- Mom (and parents) are new to town
- An extensive amount of time has passed since the last baby (and she no longer has what she needs)
This is where the idea of a baby shower for the mature mom comes in. She has at least two other children, may have already returned to work (if she ever left), and probably not a lot of extra time to prepare. She could use some updated items, given the rapid pace of change in baby products and safety standards (think cribs and carseats!)
In addition, she may feel past the point of excitement over cute booties or new onesies (if that’s possible), and what she really needs is pampering in place of gifts!
Here are some ideas to pull off a perfect baby shower for the mature mom. Borrow some suggestions from the Mother’s Day-day inspired gifts posted back in May, and combine them with some of the new products and updated equipment suggested in 10 Modern Gifts for the Traditional Baby Shower:
- Gift certificate for a series of manicures and pedicures
- Collect money to fund the temporary hiring of a house cleaner or personal trainer for a few months after the baby arrives
- Written pledge for lunch or dinner out at her favorite restaurant with her choice of friends or husband–babysitting included!
- Spa weekend with friends in place of a shower
- Start a lineup of dinner deliveries through the easy-to-use, widely acclaimed, online scheduling service mealtrain.com
Now you’ve got the perfect blend of baby shower gifts and pampering for a mature mom. She’ll appreciate the acknowledgement of her experience and the help with what she really needs! What pampering would you enjoy?
For a look at refreshing, exciting baby shower invitation designs, visit LookLoveSend.com. Delight in the variety of their growing collection of designs, suited to a wide variety of different tastes. Join the email list and receive 20% off your first order.
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27 Jul |
Wedding Planning Extra: An Easy Family Photo for Christmas Cards |
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10:16 pm Posted by Kristy |
Many people look to summertime for its unique moments to capture that perfect shot for a photo Christmas card or other holiday cards.
When you have a wedding in the family, there’s even more incentive to think ahead. After all, you will have the benefits of a professional photographer at your disposal. Nearly everyone whom you would likely hope to include will be there, and they’ll be dressed in their best.
There are several helpful ways to approach this opportunity. Most important is to let your photographer know that you plan to use one of your pictures for a photo Christmas card:
- Identify who your “family” is. A good photographer will prompt you to think about this ahead of time. In any case, make sure everyone you want in your Christmas card is by your side when it’s time for photos. Mostly this means your immediate, or nuclear family: parents, siblings, children. If your siblings are married, include their spouse.Extended family join only if they would naturally be people you want to include in a Christmas card. You could extend them the same courtesy by encouraging them to gather their nuclear families. What a nice gift to give them a professionally photographed shot of their immediate family!
- Don’t forget the little ones. Arrange ahead of time to have someone be responsible for getting young children ready for the shoot. This is especially important if young ones are not invited to the wedding. If they take part of the ceremony, but your photo location differs from either the ceremony and reception, prepare directions ahead of time with someone you trust.
- Mix up the arrangement for a more intimate shot. Christmas cards tend to allow for smaller sized pictures; these are not the 10 x 8 framed photos that show head-to-toe family lineups very well. A good photographer will know this, but just in case, be ready to arrange people appropriately for closer-in shots. A few arrangements that will satisfy Christmas card photos for both sides include:
- Newly married couple front and center;
- Bride’s parents front and center;
- Groom’s parents front and center;
- Grandparent(s) front and center.
One last consideration would be to look at how your wedding colors look on different Christmas card designs. Browse the growing selections of Christmas cards available on LookLoveSend.com. Many styles will accommodate larger picture sizes, and all cards are printed on the highest quality paper. Join their email list and receive 20% off your first order.
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26 Jul |
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9:48 pm Posted by Kristy |
The growing popularity of man gatherings pre-wedding or pre-baby are a great equalizer for men. They are, after all, half of the equation, whether groom or new father. Women have traditionally received most of the attention at bridal showers and baby showers, but most are giving their full-fledged support to these occasions, which tend to be based more on the male bonding than on gifts.
What’s the difference between the Man Shower and a Bachelor Party? Are gifts involved? Do you send a bachelor party invitation?
That said, however, men are wising up to the great gifts, explained a Today Show segment a few years ago, noting the new trend of pre-wedding gatherings for men. Men are missing out on the opportunity to stock up on tools and gadgets they will surely be glad to have once they are establishing a home of their own. Simple things to a starter toolbox filled with some basics to grander gifts like a shiny gas grill are good ideas. The big name hardware stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot have registries just for this purpose.
These gatherings are not bachelor parties, but rather an excuse for the men involved in the wedding to spend time together and with the groom. Activities range from simply sharing some beers over a sporting event to an organized golf or fishing weekend. It depends on the interests of the groom (maybe a few jam sessions of Guitar Hero are in order.!)
What about the Man Shower for the expecting dad? Is there a different registry?
In the case of the newly dubbed “Dadchelor,” or those events organized for the expecting dad, the idea is similar to the “babymoon.” It’s a time of freedom from the “burdens” that fatherhood may soon impose. Comments to questions about this idea posted on thebump.com gave voice to a majority of expecting moms who fully supported their mate’s opportunity for some guy time before baby arrives.
This sentiment may at first appear to infer that fatherhood is some kind of a jail sentence, rather than the joy and blessing most feel it is. But the spirit is intended to recognize that today’s dads will indeed make sacrifices of personal time similar to what women have been doing for centuries. Not to mention, one of the most popular ideas for admission to one of these events is to bring a pack of diapers. What expectant mom would be opposed to that?
If you or someone you know is organizing one of these events and would like to formalize it with classy, quality invitations, check out the party invitations available through LookLoveSend.com. Many modern designs appealing to masculine tastes are available, including several bachelor party designs that can easily be adapted to a man shower occasion. Join our email list and receive 20% of your first order!
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25 Jul |
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12:52 pm Posted by Kristy |
Have you already suffered through an outdoor wedding this summer, baking in some of this season’s unprecedented temperatures? Do you have a wedding invitation for an outdoor wedding in hand, but are nervous about how to look your best in the heat?
If you are the bride, the effect of summer on your hair, make-up and attitude, requires some extra thought. Here are a few quick tips we found to help you prepare:
HAIR
Check out this range of Easy Summer Hairstyles from InStyle magazine. The safest bet is an up-swept style that does not require a lot of fuss to keep in place. A lot depends on how well you know your own hair and what it does in the heat. Other options include headbands or hairpieces that you can be sure will stay in place.
MAKEUP
A recent issue of Good Housekeeping featured some sweat and streak-proof makeup strategies from make-up artists with tried and true knowledge of what lasts in the heat and humidity. While their advice of brighter summer shades of color may not necessarily suit your wedding day look, try their two strategies for “stayproofing” your makeup in place:
- Apply primer to hold make-up in place Apply after moisturizer but before foundation (Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light, $36, Sephora, and for eye make-up, Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye­Shadow Base, $15, department stores). The security of this additional step is worth a try in days leading up to your wedding day.
- Carry blotting papers These are inexpensive and easy to carry with you, and probably your best defense against shine in a pinch. Good Housekeeping recommends trying Too Faced Re-Fresh Oil Blotting Papers, $12 at Sephora.
SWEAT
- Antiperspirant Your regular deodorant may not cut it. Consider using a stronger over-the-counter antiperspirantsuch as Secret Clinical Strength, Certain-Dri, or B+Drier. Experts in excessive perspiration (called Hyperhidrosis) advise applying it twice daily (morning and bedtime).
- Water, water, water Steer clear of spicy goodies, which can turn up the sweating. Same for caffeinated beverages and alcohol. Keep your system hydrated with plenty of water to minimize sweating. Work in an extra toast to your partner to remind him too!
Test out these ideas beforehand. Use the many pre-wedding occasions to try them out. A bridal shower, bachlorette party, and even an outdoor rehearsal dinner offer a good opportunity to perfect what works best for you.
If you are still in the planning stages deciding whether or not to have a summer wedding outdoors, consider your local climate carefully. For beautiful designed, unique wedding invitations and save-the-date cards printed on the finest quality paper stock, browse the collections at LookLoveSend.com. Join our mailing list to receive 20% off your first order!
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24 Jul |
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12:44 pm Posted by Nicola |
It can be a challenge to keep kids entertained in the extreme summer heat. With much of the country currently experiencing record temps, chances are your kids are wilting around lunchtime, begging for air-conditioning or a pool. Imagine on top of it all – that you’ve already sent out birthday party invitations and are expecting 10 – 20 of your child’s friends during those peak summer hours. And it’s not a pool party….
Fortunately, there are dozens of great water-based kid’s games that can save your birthday party, or be a welcome addition for any summer get-together with kids. Below are some simple favorites:
- Water balloon battles: the upside is that almost all kids over the age of 4 love water balloons, the downside is that these colorful little water bombs take forever to inflate and tie. My recommendation is to steer clear of pre-filling water balloons but allow a hose and balloons for older kids to fill their own.
- Ice ball surprise: This one is great for toddlers. Fill balloons (regular sturdy ones, not the thin water balloon type) with an assortment of small toys, plastic jewelry, etc., fill the balloon with water, knot and freeze overnight. When frozen, cut away the balloon and allow the kids to roll their frozen ice ball in a kiddie pool to melt and reveal their hidden prize. Of course, safety and adult supervision are critical for this as well as all water-based games.
- Duck, Duck, Dunk: Think “Duck, Duck, Goose” with the kids sitting in a circle, but the child who is “It” having a small cup of water that she tips over another child’s head when she is tagged to race around the circle.
- Water gun battle: another popular choice for the 7+ year old set – especially if the kids divide into teams and have fun places to hide. Use two kiddie pools so each team has its own filling station. Each child’s water gun could then double as his party favor.
- Raindrop Relay Race: Divide the kids into 2 lines sitting down. Place a bucket of water behind the last kid in line and an empty bucket in front of the first kid in line. Give each team a plastic baggie that has been poked with pinholes. At the word “Go!” the first kids takes the baggie to the bucket at the end of the line, fills and carries it to the front bucket. But…he must carry it over the heads of his teammates, sprinkling them on the way. First team to fill the front bucket wins.
- Always be sure to have lots of beverages and cool treats on-hand to keep kids hydrated, and consult some other tips for
- . And if your
- didn’t specify to bring a bathing suit, call parents to tell them – everyone will be glad you did!
And if you haven’t yet sent out your summertime birthday party invitations, checkout the growing collection at LookLoveSend.com.
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24 Jul |
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2:11 am Posted by Nicola |
Have you ever been one of the last guests to leave a wedding reception, only to see dozens of faux gold picture frames left sitting on the tables? A new trend in wedding favors is the edible treat offered to guests as they leave the party. Like wedding tastingbars, this is a highly original way to share your personality with party guests. And leaving your guests with a tasty treat is a thoughtful farewell and sure to leave a great lasting impression.
This edible favor could be something highly meaningful to the married couple, such as a treat particularly enjoyed during childhood, something reminiscent of where they grew up, or representative of the wedding location. Consider reception site staff availability to determine whether you choose a favor that can be set out on display ahead of time for guests to take on their way out, or something that is prepared for guests just before departure.
Some ideas by wedding type.
- Late night wedding celebration that goes well into the a.m. hours: a breakfast taco to refuel those late night dancers.
- Winter wedding in cold January temps: hot chocolate and a cookie
- Daytime summer wedding in the heat of July: a bottle of water and chilled fruit kebab
- Fall wedding: a gourmet caramel apple
- Traditional Cape Cod wedding: Selection of salt water taffy flavors
- A classic choice that would suit almost every wedding theme and style is the wedding-themed chocolate-covered strawberry such as those shown by
- . Speaking from personal experience, these berries are beautifully shipped in perfect conditions and could be easily bagged and tied to make a sweet and elegant parting gesture.
Do checkout some of our other blogs for more wedding planning ideas and trends. And if you’re planning your own wedding and still need wedding invitations, visit our growing collection available on LookLoveSend.com. Our current offer is free shipping on all orders of card quantities greater than 50.
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22 Jul |
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1:25 pm Posted by Kristy |
You are more likely than ever to hear it said, “If you receive a wedding invitation and did NOT receive a Save the Date card, you are not required to attend.”
More of today’s brides consider sending save the date cards a central component to their wedding stationery. At The Wedding Salon expo in NYC this week, three out of five brides inquired first about Save the Date cards when looking at wedding invitation collections.
It’s become more than common courtesy for brides to give guests anywhere from at least six to as many as twelve months advance notice of upcoming nuptials. Brides and wedding planners are finding that more time is needed to reserve desirable event locations, especially during popular summer months on the limited number of weekends available.
At the same time, more brides have far flung guests who require the advance notice to make travel arrangements. The thinking is that if you really want someone to be able to attend, give them enough time to prepare. That includes planning for the costs of travel and making their accommodations, not just clearing their calendar for the event. If you don’t send a Save the Date card, the underlying message may be that you really don’t care whether they come or not. Or worse, that they really are on the “B” list and may not even have a spot on the seating chart!
In any case, Save the Dates accomplish two goals:
- Formalize a couple’s plan to marry
- Set a firm date and location for the celebration
The easy thing is save the date cards don’t really require more details than that. Just be sure you send them to guests you intend to invite. For more helpful tips about Save the Date cards, visit the Do’s and Don’ts of Save the Dates in a previous Invite & Delight blog post.
Enjoy the array of Save the Date cards available at LookLoveSend.com. Each one is designed to coordinate with a wedding invitation, as well as other components of stationery in a collection. LookLoveSend.com prints Save the Date cards on the same high quality, heavy weight card stock as our invitations. Most designs may also be customized with a photo, and many are available in a choice of colors. Join our email list and receive 20% of your first order!
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21 Jul |
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4:00 am Posted by Kristy |
Here’s a peak at our top five summer camp checklist items:
- Sunscreen and bug spray
- Toothbrush, tooth paste and soap
- Swimsuit and goggles
- Beach and bath towels
- Stamped stationery notecards and pens
Stationery? This item might not be among the first that comes to mind when thinking about packing for summer camp. But if you are sending away a first-time summer camper to an overnight camp for more than three nights, consider it worthy to top the list.
A friend of mine clued me in to the idea. Packing pre-addressed, pre-stamped envelopes with colorful, fun notecards in my eight-year old daughter’s suitcase may yield some actual letters! Many camps do not allow for any communication between parent and child during the camp session, either by phone, email or text. Old fashioned writing is really the only option. Among all the other independence-building experiences your child will have, why shouldn’t learning to write letters be among them?
So with my daughter’s help, we made a short list of recipients (she’s only there for six days). I helped her address and stamp each envelope. We packed the envelopes back in the box with the blank notecards, tucking them in the pocket of her suitcase along with some reading books, her flashlight, and plenty of pens. I also encouraged her to write down the names and addresses of any new friends she thinks she might like to keep in touch with when camp ends. We’ll see how this experiment in written correspondence goes.
If you are looking for exciting, fresh stationery, check the stationery design collections at LookLoveSend.com. All of our beautiful designs for wedding, baby, party and other special occasion invitations include notecards that may be personalized as stationery. Our growing collection of kids’ birthday party invitations are a great place to start for summer campers. Join our email list and receive 20% off your first order!
