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10 Aug |
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1:49 am Posted by Nicola |
We are pleased to introduce Don Baker, who is bringing his creative vision to the dynamic and talented LookLoveSend.com design team.
Don is a freelance artist and designer who lives in Seattle, Washington. He draws inspiration from nature, whether from his own garden or the surrounding parks and Olympic mountains. Don’s designs show his deep appreciation of nature through his choice and balance of colors and use of organic patterns, elements that breathe life into his deisgns.
In addition to design, Don also enjoys journal-writing. This discipline of constant observation and documentation provides inspiration for his designs, through unique shapes, colors, textures, patterns and often surprising originality.
“I find inspiration along the edges of places, where nature has been overlooked and consequently explodes in riots of growth and beauty,” explains Don. He finds fulfillment in creating designs that have more longevity through the ways people choose use them, whether on a wedding invitation or Christmas cardthat gets sent to a list of special people.
it’s never too early to begin looking through this season’s Christmas and holiday card designs. LookLoveSend.com continues to grow its collection of holiday items, including photo Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s cards, holiday party invitations, and more.
Check back soon to see the designs being added to this season’s holiday collection. Join our mailing list now to receive 20% off your first order.
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9 Aug |
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11:48 am Posted by Kristy |
When you receive a wedding invitation, you have a role to play in an orchestrated event. Maybe you will help gather gifts afterward. Maybe you will usher crying children to a special place. Maybe you will queue through the receiving line to greet the newly married couple and their parents.
If you are planning a wedding, understanding that your guests also have a role to play gives the receiving line a more defined purpose. It’s an important formality to think twice about, although it doesn’t sit high on most couples’ list of priorities.
So we’ve compiled a quick list of common questions about planning the receiving line with help from experts and bloggers alike. Here are some common questions we wanted to address:
What are the guidelines for receiving lines these days?
- Get ‘em in and out! No one wants to stand in line, and everyone wants to get to the party. Think through the best place for people to gather, and the number of greeters to keep things moving.
Can we consider dumping the receiving line tradition altogether?
- You shouldn’t. Unless you have fewer than fifty guests, the receiving line stands as your best chance to greet every guest face to face. And, if you think you’ll have time to visit all tables, it likely means less time on the dance floor.
We don’t have a convenient location/We don’t have enough time for the receiving line. What can we do? Timing is almost more important than location: the receiving line should take place after the ceremony but before the reception begins.
- Space constraints: Utilize the exit from your ceremony or the entrance to your reception, or an adjoining garden or room in either space. Make your location obvious to guests, or have someone stand nearby to direct people.
- Time constraints: Keep receiving line greeters down to just yourselves and your parents, and graciously let chatty guests know the reception awaits them!
Who is supposed to participate?
- Traditionally, the Mother-of-the-Bride stands with the couple, while the Father-of-the-Bride may also do so or greet guests and direct them towards the party.
- Even with modern-day changes such as alternative family dynamics and couples paying their own way, traditional receiving line roles still stand. Add-ons (such as grandparents, grooms’ parent(s) or step-parents) may also join.
What order do reception line greeters stand in? Traditionally, no men nor children stand in the receiving line. But couples have the most flexibility with this. Do what feels right for you:
- Mother of the Bride
- Mother of the Groom
- Bride
- Groom
- Maid of Honor
- All of the bridesmaids
What exactly goes on during the receiving line?
- The new couple receives hugs, kisses, and best wishes, and thanks guests them for coming.
- Guests shake hands, offer introductions to attendants and family members, and move along.
- Make introductions of your spouse and parents to guests who have not met either.
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8 Aug |
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3:30 am Posted by Nicola |
Who says entertaining has to be complicated? Especially in the summer, throwing a party needs to be nothing more than an excuse to gather with family and friends. Toss together some simple salads, slice some fresh bread and fire up the grill. Prepare a fantastic dessert to delight your guests, and have some tasty cool beverages on-hand.
Here’s a sampling of some of our favorite summer drink recipes.
Limeade (Makes about 2 quarts)
10 medium limes, washed well, halved pole to pole, and halves thinly sliced, plus- 1 lime, sliced, for garnish
- 1 1/3 cups sugar
- Salt
- 6 cups cold filtered or spring water
- Ice, for serving, optional
In a medium nonreactive bowl, toss the lime slices, sugar, and a tiny pinch of salt and set aside to soften, about 25 minutes.
With a muddler, masher, or wooden spoon, muddle the limes until sugar dissolves and juice is thickened to a syrup, about 2 minutes.
Set a strainer over a nonreactive bowl, pour in half of the lime slices and syrup, and press to release as much liquid as possible; discard the solids and repeat with the remaining lime slices (you should have about 2 cups of lime syrup).
Add the water and stir to dissolve all the sugar.
Transfer the limeade to a 2-quart or larger serving pitcher and chill well.
Stir before serving, over ice, if desired, garnishing each glass with a lime slice.
Dark and Stormy
- Ice
- 2 ounces dark rum
- 8 ounces ginger beer
Fill a glass with ice; add rum and ginger beer.
Stir to combine and serve immediately.
Citrus Sparkler (serves 
1/2 cup chilled vodka- 1 1/2 cups chilled limoncello liqueur
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- Seltzer
- Lemon zest, cut in thin strips for garnish
In a large pitcher, whisk together vodka, limoncello liqueur, fresh orange juice, and fresh lemon juice.
To serve, divide among 8 ice-filled glasses and top with seltzer. Garnish with lemon zest.
Labor Day will be here before we know it, so make the most of the sunny weekends ahead. With drink recipes in hand, all you need to formalize your party are fun, fresh invitations. Browse the growing collection of party invitations at LookLoveSend.com for original designs printed on premium, high quality papers. Join our email list today and receive 20% off your first order.
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7 Aug |
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4:30 am Posted by Nicola |
Watch any footage of the royal wedding or news reports of the Duchesse of Cambridge’s official visits, and it’s clear to see the importance of hats in the royal wardrobe. Always a staple at British weddings, there has been a growing interest in formal hats in other parts of Europe and the U.S. thanks to Kate.
For formal wedding attire, the wide-brimmed hat has always been a traditional choice, but the fascinator has become immensely popular, especially among younger and more modern hat-wearers. A fascinator, sometimes called a cocktail hat, is a headpiece attached to the hair by a comb, headband or clip. Modern fascinators are usually made with feathers, flowers and/or beads and have made a huge comeback in the past 5-10 years.
Without a doubt, the most famous designer of fascinators is Philip Treacy. Many of his iconic headpieces have made spectacular red carpet appearances or have been the most memorable element of a celebrity’s outfit. 
The foot-high fascinator he designed for Sarah Jessica Parker for the Sex and the City premiere in London is classified as a substantial fascinator due to its significant size.
One of Treacy’s less pretty but highly controversial fascinators was the one worn by Princess Beatrice to the royal wedding. Although its sale raised an admirable (and amazing) $131k towards charity, 
Beatrice would have undergone significantly less ridicule if she had worn this other still-quirky-but-much-more-attractive Philip Treacy headpiece in her closet.
Modern brides may also start selecting fascinators in lieu of a traditional veil. Checkout the Philip Treacy site gallery to see his brilliant designs and draw inspiration for your own special day.If your wedding date is set for 2012, take advantage of the LookLoveSend.com wedding invitation sweepstakes to win your choice of a beautifully designed wedding invitation suite, up to a $1500 value. Or, join the email list and receive 20% off your first order.
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6 Aug |
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2:29 am Posted by Nicola |
What makes a bride? White dress and floral bouquet? Not necessarily. Veil? Absolutely. Whether it’s a homemade veil on a bachelorette out on the town, or a beautiful train adorning a designer gown, the veil is the single-most iconic symbol of the bride. And while wedding dress selection may be the most fun part of the wedding planning process, finding the perfect veil to complement that dress is of equal importance.
Here are a selection of the most common veil types and tips for the selection and wearing of each.
Birdcage: a short veil worn only over the face, often made from a wide-holed net.
Best worn with: 50s style dresses and hair in a tight bun.
How to wear it: secured with a comb at the front of your head, either straight or to the side.
Flyaway: a multi-layered veil that touches the shoulders.
Best worn with: cute short dresses, especially great for daytime weddings.
How to wear it: right on top at the crown of your head, either with hair up or down.
Fingertip: falls to the spot between the hip and mid-thigh.
Best worn with: classic a slim-fitting gown or fishtail gown.
How to wear it: with hair up or half-up so there is a stable spot for comb attachment.
Cathedral-length: also known as train-length, this is the most dramatic veil that trails the bride.
Best worn with: Any long dress.
How to wear it: usually positioned at the back of the crown. Try to get the longest layer placed on a detachable comb so it can be removed after the ceremony leaving the shorter layer for the reception.
Mantilla: a floor-length Spanish-style veil, often made of lace or tulle with a lace edge.
Best worn with: traditional lace dresses with a form-fitting silhouette.
How to wear it: a few inches behind your hairline to frame your face, veil sits flat and is attached with a small flat comb.
Finding the perfect veil truly is the icing on the cake. Allow your veil to complement your wedding style, and if you have yet to select a wedding invitation design, checkout the broad selection at LookLoveSend.com. Join our mailing list to receive 20% off your first order.
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5 Aug |
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1:10 am Posted by Kristy |
Of all the wedding planning details couples must work through to pull off a stylish, gracious wedding day, probably among the least favorite chores is coming up with directions for getting to the venue. I can recall gladly delegating this to my dad, who actually keeps a spiral bound notebook filled with directions from and to just about anywhere, including everything from mileage to construction shortcuts to the nearest Cracker Barrel exits. He was the man for the job!
But in today’s world of GPS and Mapquest, more couples are questioning the need for including written directions. Some choose to skip directions cards in their wedding invitations to cut costs. Counting on people’s own resourcefulness to find their way to your ceremony and reception can be costly in other ways, however, leading to confusion, lateness and a bad impression.
I’ve heard of more than one wedding saved by well-connected Facebookers who thought to broadcast directions or warn of major construction en route to the reception. In once case, the bride and groom knew about the construction but failed to mention it. Ironically, this same couple was organized enough to create a website early in their planning, as well as sending Save the Date cards printed with the website address. But only a partial list of guests received these. Guests who merely received a wedding invitation months later had no idea about the website. Big PR oops!
Whether or not you decide it’s essential to send out Save the Date cards or to create a wedding website, the handiest, most thoughtful way to help your guests make their way to your venue is to include a directions card directly in your wedding invitation.
Directions in wedding invitations work best when:
- Provide clear directions from different points of origin. Think about where the majority of your guests will come from and don’t forget the airport as a point of origin too. Use a mapping website as a starting point, such as mapquest.com or mapblast.com.
- Print on the same quality paper and in the same design as your wedding invitation. This “brands” your directions and makes it less likely to get lost.
- Include a street address so guests can program it into their GPS or go online to a mapping website.
- Include a website address and/or phone number for the reception venue, just in case.
- Get someone else to proofread!
For high quality, well-designed direction cards that are part of a complete wedding invitation suite, visit LookLoveSend.com. Designs range in style from classic to contemporary, and direction cards are available for every design collection. If your wedding date is set for 2012, take advantage of the wedding invitation sweepstakes to win your choice of a beautifully designed wedding invitation suite, up to a $1500 value. Or, join the email list and receive 20% off your first order.
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4 Aug |
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12:51 am Posted by Kristy |
What does back-to-school and holiday shopping have in common? Besides a trip or two to the mall, some significant savings for both may be just around the corner this month, depending on what state you live in.
Late in its legislative session, (as in yesterday), the state of Massachusetts gave the green light to another annual back-to-school sales tax holiday. This puts them in the company with 16 other states giving consumers a break from sales tax for a limited period of time on typical back-to-school items such as clothing, shoes and computers.
Alabama resident? Your holiday is this weekend. Connecticut? The last week of this month.
Most states’ sales tax holidays last for just a weekend. Connecticut and Maryland have the longest sales tax holiday, lasting a week. Louisiana and Massachusetts give the most most generous break, on items up to $2500. Five states don’t have sales tax on such items so they live ths holiday year-round! (Alaska, Delaware, New Hampshire, Montana and Oregon.)
If your are lucky enough to live in one of these “sales tax holiday” states, or near enough to drive to one, think ahead about getting a jump start on your Christmas shopping. Restrictions vary from state to state. In Massachusetts and Louisiana, for example, big ticket items like computers and even furniture are in play. Some savvy retailers are even advertising the holiday, encouraging customers to come in early to preview items, then call in their order during the effective holiday dates.
Even purchasing items for delivery after the holiday ends are included. Unfortunately, online purchases are not included, nor are other taxable services. But the money you save, not to mention shopping time later in the season, can be put towards other holiday uses, such as Christmas cards, your holiday party planning budget, or even a ski weekend! Or maybe just gas money to get to Grandma’s house.
If your are a planner, you may be thinking about your Christmas cards. Take a look at the growing selection of exciting designs available at LookLoveSend.com. All holiday cards, including photo holiday cards, are printed on premium quality papers. Take a minute to join the email list and receive 20% off your first order.
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2 Aug |
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11:54 pm Posted by Kristy |
Booties, bibs and bonnets make regular appearances at baby showers. Who can resist purchasing the diminutive baby apparel in sweet fabrics and prints? But as much fun as it is to dress baby, sometimes a gift to help dress the the growing mom-to-be can make a treasured baby shower gift.
An expecting mom is likely always figuring out what works best for her growing and changing shape. Clothing choices also depend on the season when she is pregnant and the regional climate. But experienced pregnant moms agree on a few universal wardrobe favorites.
- Maternity camisole(s) Today’s low-cut and floaty fabric tops often require some added modesty that a properly cut camisole provides. Having many of these can really help a third trimester mom out after she can no longer pull a regular one down over her bellybutton. Check out the colors available from Motherhood Maternity.
- Maternity yoga pants These can last beyond the pregnancy. A pair of either full-length or Capri styles go with just about anything when purchased in black. Look for the fold-over band to adjust with growth–they are more comfortable than the below-the-belly cut which tends to tighten.
- Maternity jeans
This is a must-have wardrobe item. But it is hard enough buying them for yourself on your skinniest of days, so opt for a gift certificate. Any pregnant mom would be thrilled with the help to purchase an item that rarely goes on sale and only gets worn for a few months. Check out Parents.com’s Best Maternity Jeans buying guide for the most flattering brands.
Splurge accessories are another great option if you aren’t comfortable buying maternity clothes. Some items that every pregnant woman would enjoy having include leather boots, glamorous sunglasses, or colorful scarves.
If you are planning the baby shower and need fresh, fun shower invitations, check out the selections on LookLoveSend.com. Their designs are always printed on high quality paper and also feature coordinating baby shower thank you notes. Join the email list and receive 20% off your first order.
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2 Aug |
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4:35 am Posted by Kristy |
Oh the sweet and salty smells and sounds of the beach! Who doesn’t love to drink in the view, breathe the air and let warm sand ooze between their toes?
Many couples give the beach a role to play in their wedding. Maybe it just makes an appearance on the the honeymoon. Or maybe the beach is center stage as a gorgeous setting for the ceremony or reception. Many destination weddings are big fans of beach setting weddings. If you are planning for any part of your wedding to take place at the beach, some special considerations may be in order.
Footwear
Sand is not your typical walk-down-the-aisle surface. A recreational walk along the shore brings out a new style of gait in all of us. So what does the graceful bride wear on her feet? For many the answer may be… nothing. That probably works great for the groom. But for many brides, what fun is a wedding without the shoes? It’s a good idea to check out some tips for beach bride shoe shopping. We love this barefoot sandal featured on www.beachthemeweddingshop.com is an elegant option to dress up the barefoot.
Sun Protection Unless you are setting up a giant canopy, or taking advantage of the sunset, applying sunscreen beforehand is key. So is making sure your guests think to protect their skin too. We like these sunscreen favors suggested by beachthemeweddingshop.com. Place them strategically at the entrance for the taking as guests walk in to find their seat.
Footwear as Favors Combine these two items on your wedding planning to-do list by picking up some cheap flip flops. We know of one wedding where the bride and groom thought ahead on this one. Their supplier was Old Navy. As guests arrived to the beach, they had bins of flip flops in varying sizes for men and women. They were later donated later to troops overseas and another local charity.
Invitations The more casual atmosphere of a beach wedding is no reason to downgrade your wedding invitation. You will find some gorgeous choices of beach themed wedding invitations on LookLoveSend.com, where premium weight papers and rich inks ensure a high quality printed invitation. We’ve featured one such invitation from the Beach Love collection here.
Join our email list and receive 20% off your first order. If you are planning a beach wedding for 2012, take advantage of LookLoveSend.com wedding invitation sweepstakes and enter to win your choice of a beautiful wedding suite. Suites include save the date cards, invitations, response cards, programs, thank you notes and more, your choice of items up to a $1500 value.
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1 Aug |
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3:10 am Posted by Nicola |
Are you engaged and want to take a break from thinking about reception sites, wedding invitations, and bridal gowns for a short while? As you plan your own special day, it’s fun to pause and learn about some of the traditions adopted by international brides. [Source: You & Your Wedding magazine, July/Aug 2011.]
China: A table or altar is decorated with an abundance of white flowers to remember lost loves ones and allow them to be at the wedding in spirit.
Ireland: Irish brides traditionally add lavender, a known stress-reliever, to their bouquets.
Peru: Charms attached to ribbons are inserted into the wedding cake layers. Single women each pull on a ribbon and the one who pulls out the ring will be the next to marry.
Switzerland: Swiss brides traditionally wear a wreath made of flowers, fruits and leaves to symbolize innocence and purity.
Uganda: The bride isn’t supposed to participate in any wedding preparations during the 10 days before her marriage. During this time the elders bless the bride and give her away to the groom.
Italy: A staple at most Italian weddings is the decadent dessert buffet that features a wide variety of tarts, pastries, fruits and coffee.
Norway: Norwegian brides wear crowns decorated with gems and charms, it is believed that the clinking of the charms will ward off dark spirits.
If your heritage is from one of the countries above, consider incorporating its traditions into your own celebration for a special meaningful touch. Otherwise, it’s time to resume your wedding research and planning – the sites, blogs and stores await. Good luck!
