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19 Jul |
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8:10 am Posted by admin |
Celebrity Wedding Announcements
Hollywood has been rife with high profile break-ups lately, and while this is not unusual, our wedding experts recently came up with some better-suited matches. Which of these imaginary couples do you think could last from engagement announcement to wedding invitation?
- Hermione Granger & Ron Weasley With the wave of their wands, these wizards-in-training would have Harry Potter serve as best man. Keep an eye out for lurking, uninvited guests from the Defense Against the Dark Arts.
- Paula Abdul & Simon Cowell Sparks would fly if these two former American Idol judges lit up the altar. Stay tuned to see if something more than words are exchanged.
- Justin Bieber & Selena Gomez How long could these two baby-faced singing, dancing and Tweeting sensations keep news of their engagement off of Facebook? Pass the note to the kid next to you, and then check Twitter.
- The Situation & The Situation Jersey Shore reality TV star is so busy seeking immortality through rock-hard abs his best bet for lasting love is, well, himself. Bring your six-pack to the ceremony.
- Lady Gaga & Johnny Depp The Queen and King of Originality—or is it Oddness?—join forces against the Mainstream and the Conventional. Worth watching for the make-up, costumes, and props.
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18 Jul |
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1:40 am Posted by Nicola |
Jacob, Ethan, Michael, Jacob. Isabella, Sophia, Emma, Olivia. In 4 years these will be the most popular names in Kindergarten classes across the U.S [source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 2010 top baby names.] 
The name adorning their baby’s birth announcement is one of the first big decisions made by parents, and is often one of the earliest discussions among expecting couples.
But the baby naming process is not without potential hiccups and problems- just ask Emma Royd or Harry Pitts! So if you are expecting, or are asked to vote on potential baby names selected by a friend or family member, consider these possible baby name blunders.
- You like the sound of your baby’s planned first name with your last name, but make sure that any potential nicknames sound fine as well. Benjamin Ito is OK, but Ben Ito is not so good.
- Check that initials are not embarrassing or inappropriate – your child may well receive monogrammed backpacks or other items, and Andrea Sarah Smith just does not abbreviate well….
- Consider the likelihood of misspellings and mispronunciations. This one hits close to home for me (“it’s pronounced like “Nicholas without the “s” and not “Nicole-a”" sigh…)
- If you don’t want your child to be one of three Jacobs in his Kindergarten class, consult top baby name lists to ensure you’ll be picking an original [http://www.babycenter.com/baby-names].
- Picking your baby’s name is a responsibility that is meaningful, fun and exciting all at the same time. Even if you wait until the delivery room to make your final determination, do create a list of possibilities and check for potential no-no’s. And when the time comes, select a beautiful birth announcement to share the baby’s name with those you love. LookLoveSend has a growing collection of
- in all styles, colors, and many with the option to include baby’s photo. Our current offer is for free shipping on all card order quantities greater than 50.
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17 Jul |
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2:23 am Posted by Nicola |
The last three weddings that I attended were on a Friday night. Smart couples. Reception sites obviously charge the most for summer-time Saturday night weddings so it is hardly surprising to receive a wedding invitation for a Sunday brunch or weekend luncheon celebration.
Date and time aside, there are many other factors that engaged couples should consider to avoid blowing their wedding venue budget.
- A spring wedding in a blooming public park could be quite beautiful, but weddings in public places do require permits. Contact the local city hall well in advance to request access and pay a nominal fee. And unless your reception site is within close walking distance you will need to consider parking and restroom facilities – so logistics as well as cost become a factor in this scenario.
- Outdoor receptions require tent rentals in the event of rain. Be aware that everything inside that tent from electrical generators, fans and heaters to stereo speakers is the responsibility of the hiring person.
- For out-of-state weddings, be sure to familiarize yourself with the sales tax of that state – the percentage points add up fast if you have a sizeable wedding.
- Question “additional costs may be incurred” on all contracts before signing. Ask your vendor to give you a rough idea of what these costs could be based on prior experience for a wedding of your size.
- Ty to avoid the generic verbiage “plus the cost of setup and delivery” on all contracts – these costs should mostly be known and itemized upfront.
- A highly comprehensive list of hints for selecting your perfect wedding venue is available at
- and includes a detailed list of questions to ask the facility coordinator. And once you have the date, time and place for your special day, you can select beautifully customized
- such as those available at LookLoveSend.com. Order a card quantity greater than 50 and take advantage of our current offer of free shipping for your order.
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15 Jul |
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5:01 am Posted by Nicola |
About the flowers: “I asked for yellow and white tulips, and they gave me funeral flowers.”
About the menu: “I was horrified – all the food was brown.”
Believe it or not, these words were spoken by a 38-year-old groom while relaying his wedding planning experiences for the marie claire article “Rise of the Groomzilla” [May 18, 2011. Sara Clemence]. Sure, there will always be 100 bridezillas for every one groomzilla, but I’m wondering how many brides out there are taking a backseat in the planning of their nuptials. Anyone out there know a groomzilla?
The witty marie claire article shares some very entertaining Can-This-Really-Be-True stories. My favorites below.
- The groom who led his fiance dress shopping all over Chicago. At each fitting, he made their wedding coordinator wear a tuxedo jacket and stand next to his fiance so he could envision the photos. After not finding a gown he liked, he flew everyone toNew York City to search for dresses there.
- The groom who pitched a fit and stormed cursing out of the Four Seasons reception site one hour before his wedding because the flowers weren’t grand enough.
- The groom who attended six wedding expos in search of the perfect arrangements. He freely admits “wedding planning has evoked my inner girl; I used to cut my hair at Walmart, now I have my own stylist. And I may get a manicure with clear polish for the wedding.”
- The conditions for a groomzilla to erupt are ripe; men are getting married at a later age, are likely to be more financially secure and have developed their own tastes and opinions. Moreover, over 50% of married couples are funding their own weddings these days – and when the groom writes the checks it’s quite possible that he has a stronger interest in where the money is going!
So, for all Groomzillas, Bridezillas, and more traditional engaged couples out there, LookLoveSend offers a growing collection of beautifully designed wedding invitations. Customizable designs are available to complement a broad range of wedding styles, color palettes, and themes. Take advantage of our current offer to receive free shipping on all orders of more than 50 cards.
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14 Jul |
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4:33 pm Posted by Kristy |
Summer continues to sizzle with outdoor parties. From pool parties to backyard barbecues, kids can be very prone to injury or illness resulting from carelessness during an outdoor party in the summer months.
Here are some helpful, common sense reminders for the next time you receive a summer party invitation with young children:
- Playground equipment. A favorite destination on the birthday party invitation, pre-schoolers should not climb higher than 4 feet. Many playgrounds have separate equipment designed for shorter climbers.
- Heat. Watch children closely. Dehydration happens fast, so keep water and Popsicles handy to keep fluids in. Never leave a young one in the car; all it takes is 10 minutes to do serious harm.
- Food. Bacteria grow faster in the heat of summer, so don’t let food sit out more than an hour. Keep fruits, salads, and cheeses fresh on ice, and make sure food is thoroughly cooked.
- Bicycles. In a word, helmets! American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends kids avoid riding in the street until age 10. Go over traffic rules such as looking both ways and hand signals.
- Sunscreen. Shade, hats and long-sleeves just aren’t always practical for kids, so look for broad spectrum sunscreens with a minimum of SPF 15 to provide the protection. Parenting.com recently recommended new mineral-based, chemical free sunscreens that are safe for babies.
- Skateboards, roller skates and scooters. Again, helmets. Kids using hands-free equipment like skateboards and roller skates should also wear wrist supports and knee pads.
- Swimming pools. Constant adult supervision is the rule here. Don’t be fooled by plastic kiddie pool or above-ground pools. In-ground pools not properly fenced in or with a diving board also raise a flag.
- Bugs. Mosquitoes, bees and ticks are some of summer’s more notorious party crashers. Keep bug spray handy and always check scalps, socks and skin for ticks in woodsy areas.
You can find more information online from the experts at the American Academy of Pediatrics on other summertime activities, including boating.
If you’re planning to host an outdoor party this summer, it’s always helpful to include some safety reminders right in your party invitations. Parents will find a list of safety items helpful to have, such as sunscreen, bug spray, helmets or life jackets, and that way you won’t be stuck not having enough to go around. If you are looking for fresh, fun party invitations, visit looklovesend.com. Our growing collection of party invitations include birthday, anniversary, graduation and many other special occasions. Join our email list and receive 20% off your first order.
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13 Jul |
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12:43 pm Posted by Kristy |
The rehearsal dinner is an event all by itself. For some couples, it’s a relaxed time with close-knit friends and family, possibly more enjoyable than the wedding event it precedes. But you will need to think about invitations (and directions!) for attendants, family and other friends you will be inviting.
Traditionally, the rehearsal dinner falls to the groom and his family to host. This means that as the bride, you may not have much say in details like invitations. It may be your mother-in-law-to-be’s moment to rule the roost, short-lived as you’d like it to be. But if she’s looking for input, you have three choices:
- Tell her she can do whatever she’d like.
- Discuss color ideas and style preferences.
- Send her the link to your favorite wedding stationery!
But today’s brides and grooms often decide to share costs evenly between their families, or even handle specific line items themselves (such as invitations, for example). Some couples even foot the cost of the entire rehearsal dinner themselves, especially if parents are unable to do so for any reason.
So it may be up to you to decide whether or not to coordinate your rehearsal dinner invitations with your wedding stationery. If the look and feel of your rehearsal is very different from your wedding, as many are, you may not want to choose invitations from the same collection. There are other ways to tie together the wedding, such as through color, a personalized monogram, or other graphic element.
For ideas about invitation styles and colors, browse the wedding invitation collections available on LookLoveSend.com. Our talented designers have created complete design suites that include every piece of wedding stationery you could need, from Save-the-Date cards to thank you notes. Join our email list and receive 20% off your first order with us!
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12 Jul |
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1:03 pm Posted by Kristy |
Recently, my family and I completed the final step of a not-to-miss lifetime experience: moving. Nearly 1500 miles, 8 state borders, two overnight stays, untold amounts of fast food and gas. Though I wasn’t driving the truck, I had two kids whose Nintendo DS players ran out of battery and whose DVDs were packed on the truck. Oops.
But we made it. And we learned.
If you are facing a long-distance move in the cooling economy, here are some suggestions to minimize your outsourcing costs and live to tell the tale:
- Start packing at least a month ahead of time. Get your packing supplies such as boxes, tape and bubble wrap ordered beforehand. Lowe’s and Home Depot have sufficient quantities.
- Find a trucking company with a personal freight service. We used www.upack.com/ and found their service support and drivers to be readily available, flexible, and on time.
- ALWAYS take up offers of help. A friend with an hour to spare can bubble-wrap or prepare boxes. Don’t think you can do it all yourself. You can’t.
- Hire professional movers to help with the loading and unloading of heavy items, such as dressers and appliances. A wide variety of companies contract by the hour.
- Plan to vacate at least two days in advance. You will need the extra time in case you fall behind, or to clean, whether you choose to do it yourself or hire out.
- Arrange for the care of children (and pets too) during the days of loading of trucks and cleaning. Dogs especially become nervous when they spy a suitcase, never mind boxes!
- Think through arrangements for your children. They are resilient, but save that for the moving in part. The distraction of friends and activities will benefit both of you. If you can’t ship them to Grandma’s, make arrangements with friends. Organized activities may be worth the money.
- If your move involves an overnight stay, call ahead to find pet-friendly lodging. We found Days Inn to be accommodating.
- Say yes to candy and ice-cream the whole way there.
- Rest before moving in. Don’t go directly from packing, loading, and driving to unloading and unpacking. You need a few days of downtime to re-energize because, guess what, unpacking is never really finished. I’m still doing it.
Now for the good part: enjoy unwrapping once familiar items as they become new again in a new place. Take time to explore your new town, meet the neighbors and discover your surroundings. Don’t forget to write thank you notes to those who helped in any way. And order and send “We Have Moved” information on new stationery! Websites like www.looklovesend.com/ have original designs for thank you cards and stationery which can easily be adapted to announce your new address and contact information.
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10 Jul |
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5:07 pm Posted by Nicola |
The most fun weddings are those at which the dance floor is hopping from the bride and groom’s first dance until the final song of the event. Whether it is young kids twirling with their parents, older married couples swaying, or friends showing off their latest moves – dancing brightens the mood of every party.
Among the dozens of checklists that a bride and groom may have before their big day, it is likely that a music playlist is one of them. Most DJs and bands offer a list of their most commonly-requested tunes from which the married couple can make their selections. This is particularly helpful if the bride and groom have yet to select music for their special dances (bride and groom, bride and her father, groom and his mother, etc.) The playlist is also helpful to choose songs that may entice the more mature guests onto the dance floor (mixing in some oldies also adds nice variety rather than just picking contemporary songs).
A pre-planned playlist will ensure your favorite and most meaningful songs are played, but adding the option for guests to requests their own favorites is a great way to keep the dance floor lively. Place a stack of request cards and pencils next to the band or DJ table and ask your band singer/DJ to invite guests to fill them in. Templates for the cute cards shown here can be downloaded from The Knot and are available in 10 different colors to match your reception decor [credit: Amy Eisinger].
Keep checking our blogs for more wedding ideas and party planning tips. If you’re getting married and have yet to pick your wedding invitations, checkout our growing selection of beautiful designs at LookLoveSend.com. Join our mailing list to receive 20% off your first order with us.
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10 Jul |
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1:53 am Posted by Nicola |
Is it time to go home yet? We’ve all been to that summer block party or family gathering where the kids are lurking around the dessert table, wandering around bored, or begging their parents to go home. Not fun. It can be a challenge to amuse kids of different ages or simply to break the ice between them. How many times have you been to a party only to have your child finally make a friend in the last 15 minutes before you are about to leave?
One way to amuse younger party guests and encourage their interaction early on is to setup a simple activity for them to do, such as bubbles. Direct younger party guests to a table setup with items to make bubble mixture, blow bubbles, and create bubble art. It might sound a little hokey, but it’s a guarantee that most kids would rather be doing something with other kids instead of standing around listening to adult conversation.
Ask the older kids to measure and mix the bubble mixture. A recommended recipe is below (in researching this, I found that Dawn and Joy dishwashing liquid brands are considered to be the best bubble-makers!)
Bubble recipe: Dawn Ultra or Joy Ultra – 1 part Distilled Water – 15 parts White Karo Syrup – 1/4 part
Offer a variety of objects for kids to make creative bubble-blowing tools. Here are a few suggestions.
- bend chenille stems into fun-shaped looks and attach to a stick
- tie string into a loop
- bend a metal coat hanger into a shape (for older kids)
Provide materials for kids to make bubble art. Add 4 or 5 drops of food coloring to a small cup of bubble solution then blow tinted bubbles onto white paper. When the bubbles pop on the paper they will make cool designs. These make colorful art pieces for kids to take home, or you could setup a contest and judge the coolest / most colorful / most creative designs.
Sure, the bubble table won’t hold kids’ interest for the duration of your party, but it is simple and cheap to setup and will offer your younger guests a fun activity to do. Best of all, it’ll give kids a chance to occupy themselves and mingle…and maybe it’ll give you more time to enjoy the party before they start asking “Is it time to go home yet?”
Bubble table or not, if you are planning a summer bash and are looking for party invitations, checkout the growing selection available at LookLoveSend.com. Join us to receive our newsletter and receive 20% off your first order.
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8 Jul |
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3:47 am Posted by Kristy |
Do you ever find yourself staring at a blank note card, mind wandering, pen tapping? Maybe your palms are even beginning to sweat at the thought that you’re stuck on note number one, with twenty (or two hundred!) left to go.
We’ve covered some thank you note writing strategies for kids before, but here we cover more about the actual words you can use to write in your own adult thank you notes. We hope these five easy steps will help you the next time your pen just isn’t flowing.
- Thank you so much for the… [gift, money, donation, service, etc.] This is the essence of your note. Simply name the specific thing your are thanking them for, so you acknowledge the connection. It’s the ROI in gift giving–receiving recognition for their gesture. If money is the gift, there is no need to name the amount.
- Your gift is [special] because… People simply want to know what you thought of their gift. Replace “special” with any other description you think applies, such as “useful” or “beautiful,” and give a reason for that description. Something as simple as a gracious “it will always remind me of our friendship” or “I will always think of you” works well here.
- I was delighted you could join me for this happy occasion…or…I missed seeing you at the [event] but hope we can get together soon… Acknowledge whether or not the gift giver was present at your event, and that their presence matters. Even if they were unable to make the event, graciously understand by referencing a future opportunity, as described in the next step.
- I look forward to seeing you…or…I wish you well in your future… Make your interest in continuing your relationship known. If this is not the direction of the relationship, reference the future by wishing well for them. You can name the season ahead, or some other future plans you may know they have.
- Regards/Love/Fondly/Best/Sincerely… There are so many ways to close your note it really is a matter of personal preference and style. If you have a consistent closing, use it. Do try to differentiate between family or close friends and acquaintances or colleagues.
With this primer in hand, all you need are the perfect thank you notes! You will find beautifully designed note cards for many kinds of special occasions at LookLoveSend.com. Printed on premium quality, heavily weighted papers, LookLoveSend.com note cards convey the importance of your expression of thanks in a memorable way. Join our email list today and receive 20% off your first order!
