http://www.theinvitationsexpert.com Free Advice on Wedding Invitations, Announcements, and anything in any way related Fri, 02 May 2008 19:46:22 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en How formal to make your wedding is an artistic question.  But all too often young, cool couples sabotage themselves because they're too embarassed to do it right.  Casual can still be 100% artistically correct, so don't let cheap be an excuse to look cheap, or informal be an excuse to ... http://www.theinvitationsexpert.com/2008/03/28/how-formal-or-casual-should-my-wedding-invitations-be/ Every bride that has walked in the door for the past 10 years has made the same jokes.  They thumb through the binders and all stop to giggle at the same invitations.  There are the couples who both look like men, or both look like women; the invitations with motorcycles ... http://www.theinvitationsexpert.com/2008/03/28/the-adult-reception/ When I ran a bridal magazine, we had plenty of photographers who had five phone numbers on their ad—one for Utah, one for New York, one for Paris, etc. Almost invariably these five numbers all went to the same person. The reason they had a bunch of numbers was a) ... http://www.theinvitationsexpert.com/2008/03/28/a-note-on-picking-a-wedding-photographer-videographer-cake-maker-etc/ Brides constantly call to set an appointment, and end up picking a time three weeks from now "because it's the only night [the groom] can be there."  I have to politely explain, and explain again, that the groom doesn't want to be there.  I've seen many a groom storm out ... http://www.theinvitationsexpert.com/2008/03/10/to-bring-the-groomor-not/ Part of my job helping people through the process of designing invitations is to teach them what corners they can cut according to their budget or artistic preferences.  An RSVP card is one of these.  It is simply a logistical and perhaps mathematical decision whether to include an RSVP card.  ... http://www.theinvitationsexpert.com/2008/03/04/the-rsvp-card/ Looking online or at huge binders of sample invitations can get really overwhelming.  Here are some tips to help you focus and enjoy the process: Go somewhere comfortable.  Choose a quiet store where you're welcome to sit on a couch and look at invitations for six hours in a row if ... http://www.theinvitationsexpert.com/2008/02/28/where-do-i-start-how-do-i-choose/ By all means, buy your invitations online if you prefer that method.  However, never make a stationery purchase without touching and seeing an actual sample of the paper it will be printed on.  Photographs of samples may help you narrow your choices, but you won't know the weight, texture, or ... http://www.theinvitationsexpert.com/2008/02/28/should-i-buy-invitations-online/ Most brides walk in the door assuming they'll get black ink.  Most at some point in the process change their mind.  Every bride debates the same questions, and every bride comes to the same conclusions.  So let me save you some time taking you on their journey: First, colored ink isn't ... http://www.theinvitationsexpert.com/2008/02/25/picking-an-ink-color/ Registering is a standard part of today's wedding.  Yet people who memorize rules still insist that doing so is tacky.  Or, often, that you can register, but you can't tell anyone unless they really push you.  I personally am fine with little inserts (most of the time listed as Pew ... http://www.theinvitationsexpert.com/2008/02/23/registry-card-or-not/ There are three parts to addressing your invitations: The inner envelope, with the names of the invited guests (sometimes omitted in informal invitations) The outer envelope return address, with the name and address of the place you want gifts to be sent to The outer envelope guest address, with the name and address of the ... http://www.theinvitationsexpert.com/2008/02/18/addressing-your-invitations-handwritten-or-not/