P's and Q's: Wedding Etiquette

It's a real pleasure to introduce a new blog series titled P's and Q's. We ask that you - or anyone you know - write us with any questions or thoughts that relate to weddings, be it making a guest list, how to say no, and much more. Be sure to follow us on Facebook/Twitter for real Q&A from our brides and grooms and we'll have our expert team tackle the responses.

We know one of the hot topics when it comes to wedding etiquette is wedding invitation wording. There are endless variables involved with wording your invites just right. Whether you're addressing both families in the invitation or hosting a casual event yourselves, the wording can always get tricky. Our consultant team at Hello!Lucky has seen just about everything, and is offering their top notch advice for all those sticky situations. Today we're focusing on simple wording techniques for save the dates. As the first piece of information your guests receive, the save the date sets the tone for the rest of your wedding. Before you send your save the dates, be sure you have the following checked off your list:

Guest List / Venue or Location / Date / Style or Formality / Color Palette

It's true planning a wedding can get exhausting. Gather your friends and family to help get organized from start to end, and follow our Wedding Planning Timeline for support. This timeline recommends sending your save the dates 6-8 months in advance, depending on the location and if you have guests that will need to make travel arrangements. When it comes to wording your save the dates, you want to be certain you list basic important information including the date (of course!), location, and your names. The rest is up to you! Be sure to check out our save the date wording samples for tips when hosting a formal, informal, or casual wedding.

Formal:

We asked our wedding wording expert and design consultant Lia what she thought about wording your save the dates:

Since save the dates set the tone for the wedding, a formal affair requires a traditional approach.  The design would coordinate with the wedding invitation so that the entire suite has a cohesive feel.  Full names should be included and dates should be spelled out.  Information regarding children or attire is best included with the invitation on a separate details card.

Casual

Lia's tips for wording a casual save the date card:

Have fun with it!  Wording can be playful and should match the personality of the couple getting married.  Save the dates that include photos are a great way to let that personality shine while showing off gorgeous engagement shots!

Destination:

 

For destination weddings, Lia suggests:

Chances are most weddings will be a destination for at least some of the guests, so save the dates should be mailed six months in advance to assist with planning.  Listing a wedding website gives guests access to travel and accommodation information, but for very formal weddings a separate card should be included.  If the wedding is being held in a popular travel destination or at peak season, its a good idea to reserve a block of hotel rooms as early and for as long as possible.

Do you have any questions about wedding wording? Have a sticky situation and need help from the experts? Let us know in the comments below!

 

Photo booth Save the Dates

You may have seen these photo save the dates before but wonder where they've gone. Well, don't fret! These playful designs are still available for your wedding stationery needs. We're currently working on getting them on our website, so please hang tight. If you are interested in any of them, just give us a call and our friendly design consultants will help place your order!

The photos, taken by San Francisco based Magnolia Photo Booth, add a whimsical touch to your photo save the dates, and the postcard backing is available in three different designs.

Feel free to call us with questions! (415) 355-0008

Top to bottom: Notebook Doodle, Vintage Photo Booth, and Special Delivery.

Top photo by Edyta Szyszlo Photography

Inspired by: Wedding Invitation Suites

With wedding season about to kick off, we're gearing up for some amazing additions to our collection. Wedding invitations serve as the first source of inspiration for the big day, and with all the pieces in check, you can really start to see all the details come to life. Frequently we find ourselves browsing through the photo database for inspiration drawn from particular invitations, and we wanted to share a place where you can do the same. Whether your wedding has a rustic farm theme, a sleek and modern theme, or a whimsical and playful theme, these photos will have you planning in no time! Click on the photos for a larger view!

Southern Belle (above) and its darling motifs will make that sweet southern wedding that much more charming. The delicate watercolors by Anne Smith are calling for lots of floral garland and white daisies!

 Rolling Acres is just right for a summer celebration. And the pennant liners (available soon!) will add a festive flare to your party invitation.

Figs has more rustic and natural qualities. Perfect for an outdoor wedding where locally sourced food and flowers are the focus.

We love the crisp and clean details of the Desert Skyline invitation suite. Bouquets of succulents and dried flowers arranged among rough wooded tables would complement this style beautifully.

Heartland is another favorite and best for the down-home country weddings we all dream about. We've seen lots of brides customize the colors and layout of this design, but it always stands out with some amazing farm-chic accessories.

 Big Day is one of our most popular suites, with its playful wording and simplistic hand-drawn icons, it's definitely a party starter. We've replaced the Golden Gate Bridge icon with other simple motifs, and it's still just as sweet!

We can't imagine a Cape Cod wedding without lots of nautical accompaniments. This maritime suite designed by Anne Smith was made just for our brides ready to wed by the ocean air.

A custom design gallery with all of our invitation suites is in the making, along with lots of brand new designs. Do you have a favorite style or wish we would create a wedding suite around a certain theme? Let us know in the comments!

All photos by Edyta Szyszlo