November 2, 2006 - Keeping Simple Things from Causing Big Hassles
Did you ever go through a drive through fast food restaurant, not check your order, and get home to find something totally different than what you ordered? And it was too late, too far, or you were too mad to go back and get the order straightened out?
With most anything you do at work or professionally, there's a certain way to do things that's better than another. Even relatively simple tasks have to be done just right or big hassles result. Weddings are no different - but there's a problem.
If you're running a drive through fast food restaurant or doing some other task, you can develop good procedures over time. If you mess something up, you can find a way to do things better so that you don't have the problem anymore. Weddings are not necessarily that way.
Since most of us plan our own weddings, we're usually learning as we go. But when the big day comes, it's a one time deal. All your coordination of people, places, things, and times has to come together with essentially no rehearsal. Couple that with the fact that most brides and grooms have never planned and held such a big affair and you have a recipe for stress to say the least.
Starting early doesn't necessarily solve the problem. Certain things and people are only going to be available on that day. Add in a few unexpected twists and….Wait. There is a way to do this that isn't that difficult. It just takes a little imagination.
All you have to do is envision your day as if you're the wedding planner instead of the bride. Even if you have relatives or friends helping on that day, you'll need to be able to give them clear direction. This will save both of you from a lot of frustration. Simply walk through the day in your mind (and on paper if that helps) to see how the coordination works.
For example, if you have a limo shuttling some of your wedding party around, how will that work? You may have bridesmaids at a hair salon, a hotel, or at someone's house. Will they meet somewhere to ride in the limo? Will they have a ride back to wherever their car is at the end of the night? Do they have other responsibilities to their own family members that would make riding in the limo a bad idea for them?
What time does the church or reception hall allow your helpers to begin working? How does that fit in with the schedule they need to keep for their other responsibilities? Walk each helper through their day in your mind so you can talk to them about their needs and make adjustments.
By walking through the day in advance, you'll find the best way to do things and will eliminate some surprises that would otherwise have caused you trouble. Your helpers, bridesmaids, and groomsmen will benefit, too. By thinking about the nuts and bolts of how everyone will get around before the big day arrives, you'll be able to show consideration for them as well on what is a fun but busy day for everyone.
November 8, 2006 - Holiday Bridal Showers
It's hard to believe that the holidays are just around the corner, but they are. It's also a time when lots of bridal showers and wedding events take place. Because Thanksgiving and Christmas are times of the year when families come together from all over, it's not uncommon to mix some of those events in with the holiday gatherings.
This is a great idea, but it also means you're running out of time if you're the planner of one of these parties. If you need anything personalized or special ordered, the time to find it is now. Most personalized items take time. Simple things, like engravings or initials, can usually be added within a matter of days. But many things take much longer.
For example, we sell self inking stamps with holiday designs. It usually takes 10 business days to process them after a proof is approved. Shipping time takes longer. Usually it takes a day or two to get the proof complete. Then, processing and shipping are added from there. If you really look at how many business days are left in the month, you'll find that a stamp ordered now wouldn't arrive until the end of the month. That's just in time to get out any last minute invitations for a shower or holiday party.
Now there are usually ways to get items rushed to you but why pay lots of extra money for something that could have simply been done a little earlier for less? If you're having your event at a place that requires reservations, remember that lots of other people are having parties of all sorts, too - so space is probably filling up fast.
Now we're not writing this to get you to panic - quite the opposite. If you jump on the task right now, you won't have to panic later. It's a busy time for everyone - especially retailers and event facilities. That means it's going to be a lot tougher to pull off that last minute miracle. Just take advantage of the lull in the action here before the holidays really kick in, and you'll be able to relax a little more. That will make the season more enjoyable for you and everyone you're helping.
November 23, 2006 - Wedding Decoration and Favor Trends in 2006
The year is wrapping up quickly and that means it's time to look at what's going on in weddings. Our little corner of the wedding world really concerns things like decorations, favors, and the little details that make a big difference. We're only talking about what we see going on at our site and store so take this with a grain of salt. But here goes…
Monogram Cake Toppers
Monogram toppers are still going strong. There's no reason to think that won't continue. If anything has changed - it's the variety of options. We're seeing more creativity being used - fonts, crystals, and logos. Logos? Yes - people have been using symbols or having monograms made with a little more flair than just the average font so that the letters take on a connected look as you'd see in a logo.
Hybrid Do it Yourself Projects
On our site, this is really popular. Brides order customized labels, digital monograms, and self inking stamps to use on containers, decorations, or favors that they've made or gotten from somewhere else. It's truly a way to get the exact look you want for a whole lot less. Labels, digital monograms, and self inking stamps play a big role in this easy and inexpensive way of making do it yourself projects look professional.
Personalized Labels
These are hot and getting hotter and it's easy to see why. With so many options for a customized look for so little, personalized wedding labels are an easy way to make a big difference with the details.
Self Inking Stamps
This trend is turning into the next big thing and why not? It's a single, inexpensive, impressive, and useful way to make a big difference. They last for a long time and can be used before, during, and after your wedding. Most of all, it's an understated way to personalize. In other words, there's nothing showy about it, unlike some trends in customization.
What's new for 2007? Look for even more options in the do it yourself department. We have so many options for labels, stationery, and monogram designs that we can't keep up. We'll be working hard to make them available by the new year. We always get lots of new wedding favor designs around then, too - so watch for those. In the meantime, relax with some family and friends, have a great Thanksgiving, and we'll talk again soon.
