Stop by and check out The Wedding Studio

Here are a few pictures of our new space. It has been beautifully decorated by The Events Company and has lots of amazing wedding things to look at and even take home. Each of the partners has stocked the studio with brochures and information that is easy for you to stop in and pick up.

Clarence Henry Coach Limo has even brought a limo to the studio for some of our fun cocktail parties.

Here is some of the fun food and beverages we have had at our parties. Looks delicious doesn't it?

Building a Wedding Stationery Wardrobe (Part 2)

Last week we covered a couples' stationery needs before the event through to the end of the ceremony. Next up, the reception!

Menus: A menu is a nice touch, can accent your place setting, and serve double-duty. Here at Bride Design we often creatively include a menu with the table number or escort card. Sharing a printed menu with your guests can be helpful at a buffet or full-service seated dinner event and gets guests excited about what is to come! They're also a great way to showcase all that effort you put in to choosing the perfect dishes for your guests.

Escort Cards and Table Numbers/Names: Most weddings we work with at Bride Design have assigned seating, and escort cards are the perfect way to get your guests from the cocktail hour to their seats in an orderly (and fashionable) manner. Escort cards are usually placed in a central location in alphabetical order and each card contains the guests names and what table name or number they'll be sitting at. Besides having tented escort cards or flat cards in envelopes displayed on a table, we've helped couples work with their florist to create an escort card tree. You can also pin them on boards or display them on moss or beds of wheatgrass...perfect for those summer weddings! Table names and numbers are also another place where you can get creative. For names you can choose places you've lived or have traveled to, your favorite marriage related words (Love, Joy, Friendship, Happiness), or variations on your theme and venue. For example, if your wedding is at a vineyard, name your tables "Shiraz," "Pinot Gris," and "Merlot."

Signage, Favor Tags, and "In Lieu of Favors" Cards: Help guests easily navigate their way through the event you have planned with effective signage. Favor tags (which can also double as escort cards in some cases) assist guests in locating their favor or can contain a simple message of thanks for their part in your wedding. A more recent wedding trend is to eliminate favors and instead give the money that would be spent towards that expense to a charitable cause. "In Lieu of Favors" cards can be placed at guests' seats individually, or a few larger signs can be scattered at strategic places throughout the venue (bar, coat check, escort card table etc.) and let guests know that you've made a donation to a specific charity and why that cause is important to you.

Guest Book or Guest book Alternative: Guest Book" options are endless as we covered in this post on Bride Design's own "Make-a-Wish, Take-a-Wish Kits."
Besides a traditional hand-bound guest books, brides are often choosing personalized trays that can be used for future entertaining, a photo mat guests can sign that will surround a picture of the couple and displayed in their new home, and the list goes on...

Thank You Notes: These are a must-have and are always a huge hit when they include a picture of the couple or further expand upon the couples' theme.

Stationery choices may seem limitless, but shouldn't be overwhelming. Find a stationer you connect with and whose work you love and I think you'll find creating a wedding stationery wardrobe a fun and rewarding process!

Erin Mckenna Nowak
Owner and Principal Designer
Bride Design

Building a Wedding Stationery Wardrobe (Part 1)

So you're engaged and it's time to start thinking about invitations, but there's more to getting your guests to and through your big day than one single piece of paper. Pulling together your wedding stationery wardrobe is a fun process and with the help of planners and a professional designer it can also be a stress-free and exciting one!

What makes a great stationery wardrobe? Here's the basics to consider for before reception. We'll cover what stationery items are needed for the reception and beyond in our next post. Not every bride needs every single piece we'll be listing, but when shopping it does make sense to have a good idea of what elements you'll want to include in your wardrobe. Buying many or all of your pieces from the same stationer will often save you a few dollars and ensures a consistent look throughout.

Save the Date Cards: Save the Dates can be cards, postcards, stickers or magnets that alert your guests to the upcoming nuptials. Brief and to the point, this announcement lets guests know who is getting married, when and where. This allows guests to begin making travel plans and to reserve the date on their calendar, one reason why Save the Date cards are especially useful for destination weddings. Save the Date cards should be sent out 6 months to a year in advance of your wedding date.

Wedding Invitation Suite: Your wedding invitation is the star of your wedding stationery wardrobe. It will also require multiple pieces, including the invitation itself, envelopes, and response card. If reception information is not listed on the invitation, a reception card might also be included. Cards containing information on directions and accommodations are often included as well. These days, many brides also include a schedule of events or itinerary since many weddings often take place over the course of a weekend.

Wedding Programs: Wedding programs list the order of events at your ceremony and can be very helpful for longer or unique ceremonies where not every guest may know the protocol,such as Catholic Masses or Inter-Faith ceremonies. A program can also be useful if you'd like guests to follow along with readings or join in singing. Programs can also make a lovely keepsake and should reflect the style of your ceremony. I love fan programs for hot August days or weddings on a tropical beach!

Tune in next time when we cover the many stationery items that make a wedding reception the event of the season!

Erin Nowak, Owner and Principal Designer
Bride Design