Before we get into this post any further; If you are reading this then that [probably] means you have some exciting news to share!
Oh my goodness, congratulations on your engagement!!
-Yours Truly
Alright; On to planning your dream wedding!
There are a few pieces of advice that I would like to give you.
- Download The Knot
- This is the only way to stay on task, organized, and ahead of the game.
- This site alone will give you access to virtually everything [Planning Tools| Vendors|Timeline| Checklists|Your Very Own Wedding Website]
- There is also an app for your phone, download it immediately; You’re welcome in advance.
- A Wedding Website
- RSVP Capabilities
- Wedding Registry Access
- Up to date information for your guests on -ALL THINGS- having to do with your big day
- Pinterest is Your Best Friend
- I actually have a “Wedding Decor” board, with inspiration from my wedding, if you would like to take a look
We had the most INCREDIBLE photographer; Jack Bates!
He travels; Our wedding was actually in Key West, Fl.
This blog entry is all about…
Something that I will ALWAYS stand by, as someone who loves event planning; Paper-goods are a HUGE part of party [Of any type] decor.
This is for a very simple reason…
…They personalize your event.
For Example:
These two images show a “Thank you” letter.
We had these made by the same company that made our invitations.
Actually, almost all of our paper-goods were from the same company; So as to ensure that everything matched.
One of these was placed at each guests place setting.
Some people like to place a dinner menu here; I thought that this seemed like a more personal approach.
Our wedding was a destination wedding; Therefore, I felt very lucky to have so many friends and family members present. Jay and I, thought this was a great way to show our guests how much we value our relationships with them.
For our Save-The-Dates, I used Minted; My go to party invitation company.
The Save-The-Dates don’t have to be as formal as the “formal invitation.”
Take advantage of this [It is much more cost effective].
All together, for this Save-The-Date look, we paid $238.51.
Everyone needs a Shine wedding!
Shine takes wedding elegance to the next level!
They really strive for perfection; In everything they do. From a flawless customer relationS experience to an ease of selection and design process; I would have been lost without them!
We used their “Romantic Calligraphy Ribbon Wedding Invitations.”
Their style is, what I would call, simplistic or minimalistic elegance; Honestly, it just can’t be matched [And believe me I shopped around].
You absolutely must purchase these add-ons; To make your invitation process easier…
- Recipient Addressing
- Return-To-Sender Addressing
- RSVP Card Printing & Addressing [For a quick and easy response process]
- Pre-Stamped RSVP Envelopes [This is just good wedding etiquette]
If pre-addressing is not something you want to spend extra money on…
This stamp is a great, and a much more price effective option!
Jay and I actually purchased this stamp to help speed up our thank you card addressing process.
The cost is $55 and I have the direct link down below… to Etsy [As always; Hahah]
These are wax melt stickers. I purchased them from an Etsy shop as well.
There are tons of different designs, colors and shops that sell these.
I paid $44.28 for 50 wax seals.
And…
Literally, all you have to do is, peel off the backing and stick it to the envelope seal; Just like a normal sticker. I personally loved adding this extra little touch of personality to my invites.
Our “thank you letters” [Shown above] also came from Shine and matched our other products perfectly. They were actually a design that I customized to be printed on their “menu” paper; In the same “Romantic Calligraphy” collection.
Some down sides to Shine include…
Honestly, the only bad [Really not even bad; Just a down side to this company] thing I have to say, is that they are a more expensive company. However, you get what you pay for sometimes and [to me] they look “higher end”; So I was willing to spend the extra dollar.
However, I know quite a few friends of mine were able to get AMAZING deals from their home town print companies as well! All of their paper-goods looked amazing…
… they were able to meet with the designers in person [If you would like the face-to-face interaction aspect].
These companies all seemed to have great deals for bulk item paper-goods as well; Which, I mean, who doesn’t love a great deal? Especially when you are already paying an arm and a leg [Just a little southern humor..haha] for a wedding anyway…
These vow booklets were only $21 and now; I value them to be priceless.
I actually use these, now, as “sentimental” decor pieces in our home.
These are some images of our love letters.
Price: $3.75 per card
Before Jay and I walked down the isle, we exchanged wedding gifts to one another [Don’t worry!- We didn’t see each other]
These cards were our letters to one another on our wedding day. We also used these with gifts for both of our parents.
These are another great “sentimental” decor item that I utilize in our home.
Let love sparkle.
These are another extra little design element that personalizes your big day!
$14.40 [24 count]
Link:
Last, but definitely not least, are the “activity mats” that we purchased.
We did not have a ton of kids at our wedding. However, they were a BIG HIT with the ones in attendance.
Not to mention….
…They did just the trick; With helping us keep the kids engaged and happy during dinner and speeches [A.K.A- I totally recommend].
Price: $11.37
- Includes:
- 1 Sign
- 8 Mats
- 3 Crayon packs
If you have any questions; Please feel free to reach out in the comments section down below.
& One more time….
Congratulations!
