Eight invitation Mishaps You Can Avoid

Hey all,

Just wanted to share this article that has some great information about the do's and don'ts of wedding invitation etiquette for all my DIY wedding invite makers out there. So, save a penny and your sanity by implementing these great tips! ------> Click here for article's website!

*Taken from Aisle Dash.com*

Eight invitation mishaps you can avoid

by Caroline Humphreys on Jun 2nd 2008 11:00AM

Filed under: Invitations, Etiquette

You can be perfectly within the boundaries of style and etiquette when you avoid these common mistakes with your invitations.

1. Do not include gift ideas or registry information. In terms of proper etiquette, it's just tacky. Instead, arm your family and attendants with helpful information. Everyone knows they need to get a gift, and word will get around.

2. Do not print "No children" or "Adults only." The way you address the envelope should make clear who is invited. Afraid your invitees won't pick up on it? Again, arm your family and attendants with this information. If you send a package of local tourist information to attending guests, including childcare options in this information should reinforce the point.

3. Do not dictate dress. Guests can decipher the appropriate dress code from the time and place.

4. Do not post your invitation on a bulletin board at work or school (or anywhere else). This one is for your own mental health. When an invitation is posted, anyone reading it may assume they can come, along with their spouse, kids, cousin, sister-in-law and adorable new puppy. Don't do it.

5. Do not use address labels. An occasion such as your wedding calls for handwritten envelopes. If ink pens give you a cramp, enlist family and attendants to help or hire someone.

6. Do not include choice of entrée on the invitation unless the reception venue requires this information prior to the event. If the venue can handle allowing guests to choose as they are served, this is the better option.

7. Do not indicate whether or not alcohol will be served; this is your wedding and guests will come to see you, not the bar.

8. Most of all, don't send last minute invitations. It is offensive to guests to be an after-thought and you don't want to spread that kind of ill will.

Wedding Stationery Trends for 2009

Well its 2009 and the trends reports are out.

--Question: Did I forget the next session of the Microsoft Word monograms? Nope.. it's done, just have to do some tweaking before the next blog post. So, if you are a DIY bride or groom(yes I know some grooms are out there too) it will be posted soon, so keep reading...

So back to the trend reports. Check out the following link for new wedding stationery trends.. tell me what you think.

http://www.mygatsby.com/invitations/invitation_trends/top_10_2009.jsp

http://www.celebration.co.za/wedding-articles/articles/87/1/Wedding-Invitation-Trends-for-2009/Page1.html

http://www.mypersonalartist.com/weddingcolors2.html


*PSA Please!: Yes, I know most of these sites have mentioned brocade or damask-styled invitations as the hot trend in invitations, but must we always follow fashion? Why can't we create new trends for 2009? You know it is, once one does it, everyone and their grandmother does it. Then the trend gets boring and outdated. Please don't let this happen to damask or brocade, its too pretty to do that. --Thank you for reading my public service announcement.

Monograms from Microsoft Word Part 1

Hi all,

Remember the last time I said we were going to make a simple monogram using Microsoft Word? Well here is part One.

If you have Microsoft 2007, the Microsoft Corp. has made is quite easy to create shapes, symbols, etc in word with just a click of a button. In the case on my left, I simply created two squares. One is an outlined square with a white space. The outline is dashes, while the smaller "Tiffany blue" square is a simple solid box. In this case I decide to go along the same color palate in different tints because for the DIY'er, its just easier that way. When getting into matching various colors, it gets a bit more challenging. So that's it so far, all we need now it the typography or font scheme. Keep in mind, the font scheme can be pretty, but if no one understands it, then what sense did it make in creating the monogram in the first place? So, the answer to that is keep the typography simple and legible.

Next time: Microsoft Word Monogram Part 2: Creating the font scheme or typography.

Oh yeah... P.S. If anyone needs help with the step-by-step of doing this portion on Microsoft Word for 2007 or 2003 versions, let me know by sending a comment my way or emailing me at soulmate_designs@ymail.com Toodles 'till next time!