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30 Nov |
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3:18 pm Posted by Kristy |
One of several long-standing traditions that many couples look forward to most is the so-called “Reveal”–that moment the bride and groom see one another for the first time on their wedding day, dressed to nines, and often not until they are standing together at the altar. This tradition is based on superstition, rooted in the days of arranged marriages. Imagine the time lapse between sending wedding invitations and the wedding day–too much risk that he could bail if he didn’t like what he saw! Many still consider it bad luck for the groom to see his bride anytime on the day of the wedding.
Despite the fact the most modern couples today have plenty of time to check each other out well before they send out wedding invitations, many still prefer the ritual anticipation this tradition builds. As a result, couples may be sacrificing an ideal opportunity to have quiet, quality time together with their photographer before the ceremony. Some, however, are thinking anew about having a pre-wedding Reveal, noting the best reasons to do so.
Why Photograph a Pre-Wedding Reveal
If it feels right to you, here are some reasons to be photographed together before your wedding ceremony:
- Gets photos of the two of you together done with less worry about logistics and timing–events have not yet begun to unfold.
- Your make-up and hair and wrinkle-free gown won’t get better than this
- Daylight may provide you with better light if your ceremony and reception are later
- Free up time after your ceremony to enjoy your receiving line and cocktail hour without added pressure
This is not an engagement photo shoot, a wedding announcement or a bridal portrait. This is the real deal. You’ll want to plan carefully with your photographer exactly what kind of shots to capture of the two of you at this special time. Consider getting your individual portraits done and possibly even your wedding party photos done at the same time.
If you decide to sacrifice the superstition instead of the perfect photo opp, you can still plan a special moment beforehand as a way to preserve the idea of a “reveal.” Such a moment is often an emotional experience, and can be enjoyed even more in private without hundreds of onlookers.
To find gorgeous wedding invitations in a style you love for your special day, shop the collections at www.looklovesend.com. From traditional to contemporary, vintage to modern chic, you can personalize the style that suits your taste on beautiful, premium quality papers.
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27 Nov |
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11:32 pm Posted by Kristy |
If you’re birthday party planning for your December kid, you can try to navigate the fuzzy border that entangles balloons and balsam, or give in and go with holiday birthday party invitations. Here are a few ideas we’ve gathered from blogs and Pins from parents who’ve met the challenge. We’ve taken the liberty to organize them by age:
Cookies & Milk Party (1-3 year olds)
What age doesn’t love cookies and milk? Think gingerbread men, frosted sugar cookies, cookies with red-hot noses and antlers. This sweet and simple party is perfect for the baby turning one during December. It also works as a cookie decorating party for 2 and 3 year olds, with some assistance. The best part is handing out packages of cookies as easy party favors, perfect for the holiday season.
Grinch Party (school ages 6-10)
“Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas means a little bit more.”
While The Grinch himself may be a bit scary for younger kids, the sentiment he expresses is a powerful one for a Christmas-time birthday kid. Center this party around a showing of the classic TV special, have kids make Grinch antlers for their pets or themselves, serve some green Grinch punch and cupcakes. Find more game and activity ideas on www.Suessville.com.
Ornament Party (tweens & teens)
Engage older kids in the thought and meaning of giving at Christmas time. Guests choose an ornament to bring and trade with another guest, chosen either ahead of time or by drawing names during the party. Another way is for guests to place their ornaments in pre-numbered paper bags as they arrive. The host has guests draw a number and they choose that bag (as long as it wasn’t their own ornament).
You can find both birthday party invitation and holiday party invitations to personalize with your party details at www.looklovesend.com. Many designs allow you to upload a photo or other image, and customize with other details including flat or folded cards, backside printing, envelope liners and pre-addressed return addresses. Orders turn around quickly, and your complete satisfaction is guaranteed.
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24 Nov |
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10:37 am Posted by Kristy |
This is it…Thanksgiving has come and gone and now it’s time to buckle down and get your Christmas cards started. Whether you personalize your holiday cards online or insert photos by hand, we’ve got a rundown of the different ways you can make Christmas cards with photos this holiday season.
1 • Single Photo Design
This popular style of personalized holiday cards also brings on the most pressure. Don’t let it! A terrific holiday card design can perk up any shot. As the weeks tick by and time runs short, don’t feel as though you’ve got to have the kids dressed to the nines or the perfect backdrop. Surprise yourself with close-in candids, paying no mind to what they’re wearing or their surroundings.
2 • Custom Collage
A great choice when you lack that one single picture you can be satisfied with, the collage is a way to use multiple photos from your archives. It’s also handy for large families who haven’t had time to gather together. Kids away at college? Baby always sleeping? Grandkids living on different coasts? In addition to solving logistical challenges for a family portrait, the collage is a fun way to portray different events throughout your year.
3 • Backside Printing
Take advantage of LookLoveSend’s extra personalization on the backside of your Christmas cards. This option is great when you can’t decide between photos or have a unique shot you’ve just got to share but doesn’t work well as the main picture. Think sleeping babies, a tender moment between siblings, or maybe a new home and address.
4 • Hand Inserts
You always have the option to send non-photo Christmas cards, or use them for last minute photos to insert by hand. Hand inserting photos is also a way to select different photos (or no photo) to different groups of people. Be ready with a set of beautifully designed non-photo Christmas cards for lesser known acquaintances to whom you’d rather not send a personal photo.
For fresh, fabulous Christmas cards to personalize exactly the way you want, visit www.looklovesend.com. Choose between flat and folded cards in varying sizes, heavy weight matte or gloss paper stock, and personalize your photo with different color treatments. Add backside printing for extra personalization, and rest easy knowing your Christmas cards can ship within 24 hours of approving your order.
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19 Nov |
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9:50 pm Posted by Nicola |
Engaged to be married and shopping on Black Friday? While 99% of shoppers are thinking holiday, the most savvy brides-to-be will be seeking out bargains for their big day. Read on for some of the best wedding day deals to be found this Friday.
Favors and gift bags: Buy in bulk now to assemble your favors and gift bags later. Discount stores can offer great deals on seasonal items such as plant pots (add a ribbon and seeds later for a spring wedding), mugs (add tags and hot gourmet hot chocolate mix for a winter wedding) or mason jars (to feature any homemade specialty – from jam to spice rub to granola!)
Lingerie essentials: Shop your favorite department stores for luxurious lingerie and shapewear so you don’t have to pay top dollar for these must-haves.
Wedding party accessories and gifts: From jewelry, bags and scarves for your bridesmaids, to hipflasks, tie pins and cufflinks for your groomsmen – this is a great time of year to find party-worthy pieces and great savings to boot!
Centerpiece essentials: If you have already decided on your wedding décor, pickup candles, vases, paper lanterns or other craft supplies to coordinate with your theme. Feature different styles of centerpieces for added interest and to eliminate the need to know exact table counts when you shop.
Wedding stationery: After hitting the stores, relax and shop the diverse collection of unique wedding invitations at LookLoveSend.com. Order quantities over 50 ship for free and all orders ship the next business day.
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18 Nov |
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10:33 am Posted by Kristy |
The traditionalists among us would never take tips on how to “personalize” their holiday cards. Things like hand-addressed envelopes, long-form letters, and penned signatures are second nature. But there may come a time when even a purist could run into trouble if there simply aren’t any good photos to insert by hand into their personalized holiday cards.
Photo-less Personalized Holiday Cards?
Maybe this year the group family picture didn’t get taken, or perhaps the family did not have the opportunity to gather together for a photo. Or maybe the photo turned out poorly. Whatever the reason, you could be “forced” to “personalize” this year’s card electronically rather than by hand. And you might even like it!
If you simply do not have a great family photo to use, the next best thing (and many of us would argue better thing) to do would be to create a collage of pictures online in a holiday card design. Instead of ordering photo prints to insert by hand into your holiday cards, order personalized holiday cards online with multiple, individual photos of each family member (or each “member family” for extended families).
Design a Multi-photo Holiday Collage
There are many great online holiday cards designs specifically created with this multiple photo approach in mind. You can showcase each family member individually to create an overall effect that can be more interesting than a single, group portrait photo. This is especially true for large families, where individual faces can get lost or look so small in the group shot.
One thing you will need to decide is whether to include yourself in the collage. If your ultimate goal is to showcase your family, replacing a group shot with multiple pictures of your children or their families without you in it is fine. But if on the other hand this personalized photo collage approach is in lieu of having the usual family portrait, you may want to make sure you include a picture of yourself (or yourselves as a couple) to meet expectations.
You can find many styles of single and multiple photo holiday card designs to choose from online at www.looklovesend.com. It’s easy to quickly upload your photos, preview them online, and approve a digital proof to check your greeting before it prints. Cards print on heavy weight, premium card stock, and order turnaround is fast. Enjoy free ground shipping for orders of 50 or more!
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16 Nov |
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11:05 am Posted by Kristy |
Pumpkin season is in full swing. In fact, you’ve really only got a week left until you’ll have to end your pumpkin affair. If you’re a pumpkin-phile, especially where food is concerned, we’ve got 3 amazing recipes to try out. These work great for teacher gifts, birthday parties, or the Thanksgiving holiday. They’re especially handy for saving time during the Thanksgiving holiday. Freeing yourself up to spend time with family, take a few pictures while everyone is together, and be ready for the upcoming season of sending personalized holiday cards.
Pumpkin Pretzel Chocolates
What You Need
- 1/2 lb twisted pretzels
- 1 bag Hershey’s Kisses
- Pumpkin candy corn
- Parchment paper
Directions
Pumpkin Muffins
What You Need
- 1 can of 100% pumpkin (not pumpkin pie)
- 1 box Spice cake mix (any brand)
Directions
Pumpkin cobbler
What You Need
- 1 can of 100% pumpkin
- 1-1/2 c sugar
- 1 can evaporated milk
- 3 eggs
- 4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 2 stick butter, melted
Directions
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13 Nov |
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9:54 pm Posted by Kristy |
There are 3 elements of a great party:
- Good company
- Plenty of good food and drink
- Flow
The first two are fairly obvious and consume most party planning attention. But the third is often overlooked. This holiday season, if you’re preparing to send out holiday party invitations, remember to throw with flow.
This means throw a party that considers the movement and access your guests have to each other, seating, food and drink. Here are some of our recommendations, compiled from a variety of professional party planning sources:
People Flow
- Examine your party space.
- Identify areas best suited to the following 3 activities: standing, sitting, traffic movement
- Remove clutter and open up your furniture pattern to suit the main activity of that space (see above)
- Remove excess tables and chairs.
- Place extra chairs away from high traffic areas like the food and drink table.
While you’ll want to give guests the option to sit or set their drink down, it’s better to have the space than furniture. One example is to pull your kitchen or dining room chairs out from the table and arrange them in small groupings in another room.
Food & Drink Flow
- Separate drinks from food, furthering their distance for a large crowd, particularly if serving alcohol.
- If you’re going buffet-style, place plates at the beginning and utensils at the end. This makes it easier for guests to fill their plates without also juggling their silverware as they make their way serving themselves.
- Put trash and recycling recepticles in a visible place. Look for the self-standing portable, party-sized trash and recycling containers at your local supermarket.
You can find fresh, exciting holiday party invitations to personalize for your party at www.looklovesend.com. It’s easy to choose a design and customize your information. Choose from a range of styles available in multiple colors and paper options. Enjoy free shipping for orders of 50 or more!
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12 Nov |
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10:28 pm Posted by Nicola |
Planning a wedding and want to know where to allocate your spending to get the most bridal bang for your buck? If you have leftover budget after paying for your bridal gown, wedding invitations, flowers, reception site and food, here are a few of the best value wedding details that will make a big impression on your big day.
A dramatic entryway. Minimal decoration can make a maximum impact as guests enter your ceremony or reception site. Drape greenery over a doorway or set an impressive floral arrangement at your escort card table to make an early impact.
Draping. This may be a pricey embellishment, but draping your reception site will immediately guarantee an intimate and inviting atmosphere.
Welcome bags. Especially for destination weddings or weddings for which the couple has reserved a block of hotel rooms, leave a bag of goodies for guests to pick-up when they check in. Include a water bottle, wine or locally brewed beer, something salty, something sweet, and a piece of fruit. Include a welcome note and itinerary of events.
Surprise entertainment. Hire a mariachi band, barbershop quartet or swing band for unexpected entertainment during your cocktail hour to energize the crowd and set a festive tone.
Late night snacks. Whether it’s comfort food from a food truck, a sweet treat or hot coffee bar, providing a late-night snack will be sure to leave a favorable impression on your guests.
Lounge area. If your budget allows you to rent some couches and small tables, setup a comfortable area with lots of pillows and votive candles as an inviting spot for guests to mingle while they take a dance break.
Any of these planning ‘extras’ can make a strong impression on your wedding day and is worth consideration if budget allows. For a less expensive way to make a big wedding impression, shop LookLoveSend for stunning wedding invitations featuring fresh new designs and superior quality. Order quantities ship for free and all orders ship the next business day.
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9 Nov |
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7:24 am Posted by Kristy |
Nothing warms up the holidays like a new baby in the house. It’s tempting to go for a holiday-themed gift item when shopping for a new baby during this special season. But the holidays are fleeting, and a new baby is for keeps. If you have a new baby yourself, welcome a new niece or nephew in the family, or receive a baby shower invitation, you don’t need a holiday-inspired gift at all.
Instead, choose something of value or usefulness that has some staying power. Steer clear of the holiday eye candy or hokey sentimentality in gifts that will get tossed aside as soon as the holidays are over. To help you, here’s a quick-hit new baby gift guide you can use if you are looking beyond the baby registry listed on the baby shower invitation:
Holiday Baby Gifts to Buy
- Baby’s First Christmas Ornament
- The Night Before Christmas book or other book about the spirit of the season
- Silver bell, engraved with baby’s name or monogram and birthdate
- Music box player
Holiday Baby Gifts to Skip
- Holiday teddy bear with the current year stitched on it
- Holiday outfits baby won’t wear
- Antlers
- Snow globe
Ultimate Gift: Baby Shower Invitation Registry Gift Card
Gift certificates to the baby registry store featured on the baby shower invitation is always a winner. Parents can clean out the rest of their baby’s registry, or buy those supplies and equipment they didn’t know they’d need. Another useful gift is a set of personalized baby thank you notes for parents to have at the ready for all the baby gifts they’ll be receiving. For these and fabulous baby shower invitations, shop the original designs at www.looklovesend.com. The growing collection features fresh colors and graphics you can personalize with a photo and your own text, all done easily and quickly online. Turnaround is fast, with approved orders shipping out the next business day.
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7 Nov |
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3:15 pm Posted by Kristy |
Did you know that in Colonial America, prenups were used primarily to protect widows who remarried? It’s true, prenuptial agreements were designed primarily to protect a woman’s property in a patriarchal economy. Without such an agreement, her assets could automatically be given over to her spouse in the case of her death, and remarriage on the part of her spouse could mean that her children might not get a nickel!
Today’s stereotypical image of the prenup is one of protection from gold diggers of either gender. But there are important practical reasons many couples would consider having this legally binding document. It’s certainly something that should be discussed well before wedding invitations are sent out.
A prenup does the following:
- In a second marriage, a prenup protects assets intended for children from a previous marriage
- Keep specific family assets separate from your marriage assets, such as family real estate or trust funds
- Protect your share in a family business (this can also protect your future spouse from financial obligation or debt)
- Separate other specific family property such as antiques or jewelry from marital property
- Care of elderly parents or other relatives
- Understand that a prenup isn’t necessarily about trust or faith, but protection of familial assets.
- Get separate legal representation for review and sign it 6-8 weeks before the wedding
- Keep your prenup updated for new children or moving to a new state
- Post-nuptials have the same legal authority if there isn’t time for a prenup
