Your Must Know Guide To Wedding Invitations

All elements of your wedding planning are important and
critical, especially choosing and creating the right wedding
invitations. Invitations not only reflect the couple's personal
style but also inform your guests of the upcoming event setting
the tone and theme of your wedding. For example, if your
destination wedding is on a beautiful tropical island you want
to set your sights on a beach theme invitation. Your wedding
invitations, save the date cards and thank you notes can be as
elaborate as you want to the most simple of invitations.
Your invitation specialist can help you decide on the right
invitation, keeping with your style and theme, as well as what
wording on your invitations is appropriate and looks the best.
The invitations should contain the basics such as who is hosting
the wedding, date, time, place and the names of the bride and
groom.

Begin your quest for the right invitation as soon as you secure
a wedding site. Invitations take up to three months to design
and print so give yourself six months to order them. You want
your invitations as soon as possible so that you can send them
out ten to twelve weeks prior to the wedding instead of the
usual six to eight weeks, giving your guest enough time to make
plans. Ask for RSVP's no later than six weeks before the wedding
date. Based on the save the date cards you should have a good
idea how many people will be attending. The save the date cards
can go out as soon as you decide on a date and destination.
These cards are exactly what they say they are, cards to simply
give your must be there guest, family and close friends, time to
work on making arrangements. Save the date cards should go out
about eight months prior, if not sooner, to the date. Do not
send cards out any time before a year. You want to include the
date and place as well as hotel and flight information, specific
information about the destination such as weather, currency
used, etc. and dress code.

A lot have couples have opted for emailing save the date
announcements. The advantage to this is that it can save you
time and money while putting a new and different twist on your
announcements. However this form of communication also has its
disadvantages. You will have to take into consideration that
there are those guest who do not have computers, are elderly or
not computer savvy. Therefore a limited number of cards may need
to be sent to these individuals. Make sure you look of over your
list and assess whether or not emailing your announcements would
work for you.

An invitation can be as simple or as elaborate as you would
like them to be. Talk with your wedding invitation specialist
and let them know the theme of your wedding and let them help
you find the perfect announcement.

About The Author: Yasmin Shikina created weddingsafar to help
brides plan their destination weddings easily. Having
experienced the stress of planning her own destination wedding,
Yasmin wants to share everything she learned, including all her
mistakes, with you. http://www.weddingsafar.com

Designing A Wedding Invitation With Your Photo

One of the best ways to make a personalized wedding invitation
is to put your photo into the wedding invitation. With the photo
in the invitation, your guest will certainly know who are going
to marry without reading the contents of the wedding invitation.
Some experts believe that your photo can also set the tone of
your wedding. It seems that a photo wedding invitation can be a
perfect choice if you are tired of the traditional and formal
invitations.

If you opt to make a photo wedding invitation, the first issue
you need to consider is the photo itself. You cannot have the
invitation done without the photo. In fact you have two choices
about the photo - you can either choose existing photos or take
new photos for your wedding invitation.

If you are planning to choose existing photos, you should
select it with your partner. It makes no sense to make the
decision based on your own preference only. At the end of the
day it is the wedding of both of you and you should respect the
thought and ideas of your partner. Selecting the photo without
communicating with your partner will just end up with arguing
with your partner.

On the other hand, you can also decide to take new photos for
your invitation. As mentioned before, the photo can help to set
the tone of the wedding. A funny photo will imply a more
informal wedding. On the contrary, a formal photo taking in
studio will by no means imply a formal wedding. As a result, you
should plan your photos well so that it will match the tone of
your wedding.

No matter you are choosing existing photo or taking new photos,
the key is that you are not trying to get the most beautiful
photos, instead you should try to get the most appropriate
photos which should be good to both your invitation and your
wedding.

Concerning the number of photos to be put into the invitation,
there is no definite answer for that. In fact it will be good
enough if you can find a photo with great visual impact.
However, if you would like to show different sweet moments of
you and your partner, you can put a series photos into the
wedding invitation. Of course you have to bear in mind that you
only have a limited space on your card and it will not be a good
idea to put hundreds of photos into the wedding invitation card.

After you select the photos, you need to compose them into the
wedding invitation. You can certainly do it yourself if you have
knowledge on graphic software such as Adobe Illustrator and
Photoshop. You can also hire a graphic designer to do it for
you. If you are going to do it yourself, you should ask the
printing company you are going to hire for the format and
requirements for printing.

A wedding invitation with your photos on it is certainly a
unique invitation. If you select the photos with care and design
it well. It is sure that your guests will be amazed when they
receive your wedding invitation.

About The Author: TM Lung is a wedding invitation designer. He
has a great interest in Chinese Style Wedding Invitations. His
works can be found from http://www.983wedding.com. His personal
blog is http://www.weddingabc.net and some other wedding vendors
can be found from http://www.imarry.org

How Do I Word My Wedding Invitations to Avoid Uninvited Guests?

Weddings require complicated planning on the level that makes D-Day look like a weekend camping trip. It all works as long as everyone follows the plan. Sadly, some people don't. One common situation is the problem of uninvited guests.

The Traditional Solution

The customary way of handling the situation is through careful addressing of wedding invitations. If a person receives a wedding invitation addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. John Doe III" it is understood that little John Doe IV is not invited.

Guests sometimes miss this subtlety and will RSVP for all three. This means the guest is either clueless or thoughtless.

Clueless is okay. Sometimes we all miss the point and a simple telephone call can correct the situation amicably.

Thoughtless is a little harder. Some people feel entitled and just assume that they can bring a child, friend, or random vagrant to the reception. Be firm and explain that there are only so many seats available and that extra guests cannot be accommodated.

Other Ways of Dealing With The Problem

There is some debate about the etiquette of other solutions. Weddings are extremely formal and emotionally-charged events and seemingly trivial missteps can seem tasteless or even lead to long-term resentment.

Rather than depending on wedding invitations, some reinforce the message by explicitly listing the guests' names on the RSVP card. The downside is that this is more work on the bride's side and some people will still blithely add names to what's on the card.

Some invitations have the line, "We have reserved ___ seats in your honor" to hammer the point home. There are wedding planners who feel such a bold statement is tacky, while others consider it completely reasonable.

The correct etiquette changes from region to region, so talk to your friends about what they have done at their weddings. You could also ask the wedding planner or the printer what the latest fashion in wedding invitations is.

Handle It But Don't Obsess About It

If someone RSVPs with extra guests, call and explain. Most people will realize their error and correct the situation. Sometime people have genuine conflicts, such as being unable to get a babysitter on the day. Don't make it your problem. Your wedding is the one day that you can confidently say, "It's all about me!" Make it clear that there is only room for the reserved number of guests and let them figure out the details.

You want your wedding day to be the perfect fantasy. You can get very close to that ideal, but problems will always crop up. It's up to you to treat trivial problems as trivial. If someone shows up with an extra guest, that's not exactly on the same level as the reception hall burning down. Shrug it off, move on, and enjoy your special day.

Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on Wedding Invitations, visit http://www.beeyondpaper.com

Your Wedding Invitations Made Easy

One of the most important steps in planning a wedding is
picking out the right invitation. The invitation is the
first thing your guests will be seeing so it should reflect
both the bride and the grooms interests and tastes. There
are many different options when it comes to picking out
your invitations. You can choose what kind of paper you
would like it printed on, what design and colors you would
like, what shape you would like and if you would like to
add an accent.

You can choose from various papers such as metallic, card
stock, handmade, fine, Japanese or translucent paper. All
of these types of paper come in a variety of color and
shapes. You will want to pick out a color that will match
your wedding colors. If you don't want a plain wedding
invitation, you can pick out a theme to have printed on.
There are various themes that you can pick out that include
couples pictures, wedding cakes, flute glasses and hearts
to name a few. You can also have a picture of the actual
couple or church printed right onto the invitation. If you
chose to have a picture printed on the invitation you might
want to choose the translucent paper. When you use
translucent paper you can have the words printed on the
sheer sheet with the picture underneath for a very elegant
look.

Once you have picked out the paper and theme, you can then
decide what size and shape you would like the invitation to
be. You can pick out a long and thin invitation, a short
and wide one or one that is in the shape of an object such
as a cake or glass. The next step is to choose if you
would like to add an accent to the invitation. You can
choose from ribbons and bows or metal objects such as
hearts or doves. There are a variety of accents to choose
from to match your interests or style of your wedding. If
you do not want to go to a specialty card shop or design
your invitations online, you can order a wedding invitation
kit. These kits include pre-designed cards, return cards
and envelopes. Once you receive the kit, all you have to
do is add the text that you choose and any other additional
pictures or flares you may want to add and press print.
These kits often come with test paper so you can make sure
your invitation is exactly the way you want it before you
print them all out.

As you can see, invitations are probably the most essential
part of your wedding preparations. It is a very important
decision and by choosing a specialty shop, you'll be able
to announce your wedding in your very own unique way.

About the Author:

Purchase your wedding invitations at
http://www.myexpression.com . Article written and
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How Do You Seek for the Best Wedding Invitations?

There are a lot of elements involved in your wedding planning. From the choice of reception venue to the order of wedding favors, you need to take care every detail involved. One of these elements is of course invitation.

Some couples may find that it is not easy to find the best wedding cards. This is because besides the design of it, there are also a lot of etiquette to be considered. Whether you will choose to have the wording formally written is already an issue that is difficult to make the decision. In fact, it may not be as difficult as it seems to be. If you allow yourself a lot of time to make the decisions, you should be able find your invitation without any problem.

When you are searching for your wedding invitation, you can firstly visit your local stores to see what are the available choices. Even if you cannot find something your really love, you will have an idea of the norm for both the styles and prices. You can also surf on online stores to see some more options. If you are worried about ordering from online stores, you can try to discuss your local stores if they can create similar designs. Of course as a designer myself, I will not urge you to ask others to copy the design you love.

After you have chosen the design you like, you will most probably want to add some personal touch to the cards. This is very important since you can make the card more personalized. Again, you will need to allow yourself a lot of time to have the invitations personalized.

When it comes to the idea of personalization, there are quite a number of options. One of the most obvious ways is to create a wedding logo and apply it onto the wedding cards. Besides, you may also try to write the wordings with your hand and have it scanned. Then you can print it and the invitation will look like a hand written one. You may even consider to put your photos into the card. It will be a bit more expensive if you are going print the photos on the card. An cheaper alternative will be put a real photo onto the card instead of have the image printed on the card.

If you would like to save some money on the wedding cards, you can consider printing the cards yourself. You have to allow even more time if you are going for this option. You need to test different materials until you get what you really like.

Because you would like to save money, the costs will be very essential when you are printing your own wedding invitation. You need to consider the costs of material, ink / toner, envelopes and so on. The weight of the material is also very important. This is even more important if you are planning to mount the printed images on materials such as glass. This is because it will affect the postal heavily.

Jerry Leung is a wedding invitation designer. He has a great interest in Chinese Style Wedding Invitations. His works can be found from http://www.983wedding.com. His personal blog is http://www.weddingabc.net and some other wedding vendors can be found from http://in.imarry.org

For Inexpensive Wedding Invitations - Do Them Yourself

Looking for a way to keep your wedding invitations inexpensive? One of the easiest solutions, that's both enjoyable and personal, is to make them yourself.

There's never been a better time to make your own inexpensive wedding invitations. A little creativity, some extra time, and you can create a wedding invitation your friends and family will cherish for years to come. Depending on what you include and how much you do yourself, it's even possible to create your invitations for as little as fifteen to thirty cents a piece.

So how do we get started?

First, keep in mind that you'll want your invitations to reflect the theme of your wedding. For example, a very formal wedding should include formal invitations. This generally translates to engraved black, silver, or gold text against a cream or white paper. No graphics. The text is confined to the right, inside fold of the invitation. A touch of elegance can be added with a simple sheet of blotter tissue.

For a more casual wedding, your invitations should be casual, a little more creative and personal. Graphics are fine, for example. Calligraphy can be used in place of formal typesetting. Personal touches, such as paper flowers or poems or photographs can be included. If your wedding is a theme wedding, say perhaps a Victorian theme, then your invitations might include a sheet of lace or a photograph from the era.

This is your chance to be really creative. Inexpensive wedding invitations do not need to appear cheap, nor do they need to restrict the vision you have for your wedding.

Okay, let's begin by creating a traditional wedding invitation on your own and saving on the cost of sending the job out to a professional. First, you have to decide what you want to include. There's the invitation, of course. It's sent in an envelope. There's the RSVP card, which generally includes its own return envelope. There's a reception card if the reception will be at a different location than the wedding ceremony. And finally, there's a card with directions detailing how to get to the wedding.

Of course, not all of these are necessary for each and every traditional wedding. You'll have to decide which ones are right for your situation and which ones you can live without.

Now, for a traditional wedding, you don't want to get too craftsy with the invitations. They should be clean, subtly elegant, and pleasant to read. In the past, your only option would have been to send them out. Today, fortunately, you have another option ... wedding invitation kits.

These come in many choices, from computer-printable invitation sheets ($3.95 for 50) to blank, rich and luxurious card stock ($8.00 for 50), from complete seal and send invitations to cotton handmade papers. Complete the design on your computer, run the invitations through your printer (or take them to Kinkos), and viola! you've got your traditional wedding invitations for a fraction of the normal price.

These kits can be found online using a simple search. You can also find them locally, often at office supply stores or general retail stores (think Target). To spruce them up, add tissue paper sheets from your local arts and crafts store as blotter paper.

The good news is ... for the less formal wedding invitation ... just about anything goes. For instance, a handcrafted card on heavy, cream-colored paper with a sheet of tissue paper is more than sufficient. If you'd like to make it even more personal and unique, you might add a photograph, or have a friend with calligraphy talent write each card by hand. Paper flowers can also be a nice touch. Poems, too.

Try your local craft store for other ideas. They should have a variety of wax seals, embossed seals, fine vellum papers, and multi-colored ribbons you can use to make each invitation even more unique and personal. The key is that you're trading your time for the cost of printed wedding invitations. It's not only a great way to stay within your budget, but it's also a great way to create truly unique invitations that friends and family members will cherish for years to come.

An inexpensive wedding invitation doesn't mean an ugly or embarrassing invitation. In fact, with a little creativity and some smart shopping, you can save hundreds of dollars and still create a wedding invitation to die for.

Pick up your copy of Anna Sher's new ebook, Money Saving Weddings (http://moneysavingweddings.com), and learn more invaluable tips and tricks to saving money on your wedding. And don't forget to visit Anna's blog: Wedding Event Planning (http://weddingeventplanning.blogspot.com/).

How To Word Your Wedding Invitation

Wedding invitation wording is something that many people
struggle with when they get married. They don't know whose names
should be included in the invitation, if the date should be
written or used numerically, or if they should put reception
information on the envelope. It can seem like there are a
thousand things to consider. Though wedding invitation might not
seem that important, it's very important. It lets your guests
know who is hosting the wedding, if children are invited and
where they need to go. So, before you sit down and pound out
your invitations, take a closer look at wedding invitation
wording suggestions.

Laying a Foundation

The first thing you need to consider is the wedding host. The
person hosting the wedding is the one who is paying for it.
Frequently this is the bride's parents. However, some couples
pay for their own wedding. In some situations, both sides of the
family each pay for half of the wedding. It's important to note
who is paying for the wedding because technically, they are
inviting the guests. Some people can be very sensitive about
this, so make sure you ask.

If the bride's parents are paying for the wedding, you need to
say something like, "Mr. John Doe and his wife Mrs. Ella Doe
request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their
daughter, Emma Doe to John Parks." If the couple is paying for
the wedding themselves, they can directly invite their guests.

The next thing you need include is the date and the time.
Traditionally, the date and time are spelled out. So, instead of
saying the wedding is at 5:30 p.m., you would say, "at five
thirty in the evening." Spelling out the time and date makes the
invitation look more formal.

Usually the location is listed after the date and time. If the
reception is being held at a different location than the
ceremony, you can either include that after the date and time or
you can include a smaller card that has reception details. If
you don't want children at the reception, you should make that
known by writing "adults only reception to follow."

Don't Forget Your Manners

These days it seems that there's wedding etiquette for every
aspect of the wedding, including the delivery of invitations.
Even if you don't want to abide by old fashioned etiquette,
these etiquette techniques might help you get your invitations
out on time.

For starters, you need to put your invitations in the mail at
least six to eight weeks before the wedding. This will give your
guests plenty of time to respond. It will also give you time to
re-send an invitation that got lost in the mail or sent to the
wrong address.

Also, if most of your guests are going to have to travel to
attend your wedding, send them a save the date six months before
the wedding. This will give them plenty of time to make their
reservations. Your wedding invitation wording won't matter if
the invitation arrives too late for them to attend.

About The Author: http://WhiteWeddingTips.com is one of the
premier wedding information sources online. We have articles on
everything from wedding reception decorations to Hawaii
weddings.

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Wedding Invitations - How Do You Want Yours?

Wedding Invitations are personal and set the tone of ones
wedding. Invitations can be simple on inexpensive store brought
paper or very elaborate etched pieces of gold. It all depends
for the most part on your budget and your personal style and
taste.

Wedding Invitations are very personal and intimate. No one
publishes a public invitation card for a wedding. One creates a
guest list and personally invites the guests to the wedding by
means of a wedding invitation. A lot of thought and care is
given to carve that list so as not to miss anybody important in
our lives to attend our memorable event.

The wedding invitations reflect the tone of the wedding event.
The invitation cards can be very expensive or very simple. It
all depends on what kind of budget one has and how creative one
is. A Wedding invitation unlike other invitations may have
several pieces inside one main container for instance it could
contain an invitation for a wedding, an invitation for a
reception, a response card, details of the ceremony, venues,
location maps and sometimes even a dress code.

The most modern form of Wedding Invitation is an Email
invitation which is gaining popularity every day, but the basic
concept of the invitation, content and design element remain the
same. Similar effort is put into email invitations as is put
into printed invitations, the electronic version of invitations
can be more entertaining, attractive and interactive at the same
time. Some innovative minds invite their guests by launching
private websites which are only for their guests to see by
invitation through email with a password for the private
website. The reasoning behind this electronic medium usage is
that it has a distinct advantage of a wider reach, in time
response online, multiple invites and reminders to the guests
which is all very attractive as the guests are not likely to
forget even if they want to.

Traditional Wedding Invitations are generally in cotton or
linen paper in white engraved in black or pastel ink colors.
Many people prefer to have their invitations customized in non
standard sizes and variety of materials with elaborate or simple
classic tasteful designs. The response cards or RSVP cards are
usually enclosed inside the wedding invitations to let the host
know if the person will be attending the event or not which
makes it easier for the host to manage the ceremony seating and
reception menu etc and how best to take care of all attendees at
the wedding.

As indicated the Wedding invitations are very personal and the
wording plays a major role in the invitation. While the supplier
or the publisher of the wedding invitation cards offer literally
thousands of designs and a variety of standard content, it is
always better to have a customized content that reflects your
own personal style although the information presented in all the
wedding invitations is pretty standard, it is the manner and the
style of the presentation that reflects your personality and
style.

Even though the Wedding invitations are printed separately by
the bride and the groom in different styles and designs, the
content and meaning reflected must be the same. The bride and
the groom may choose a theme for their wedding which is
indicated in the invitation cards to the guests so that they can
participate in accordance with the theme.

Both Bride and the grooms full names are printed on the wedding
invitations. Certain rules are followed for instance if you want
to send some wedding gifts or wedding favors with the
invitations to the prospective guests, it is perfectly
acceptable but it is not acceptable but it is not acceptable to
indicate your gifts or wedding registry details on the
invitations.

Some interesting celebrity wedding invitations included Britney
Spears wedding invitations which was reported to be delivered in
a bag with a special note to the guests and one of the wedding
invitation later appeared on Ebay Auction and reportedly sold
for $2150.

Another interesting Wedding invitation was that of an Indian
Businessman's daughter in U.K attended by many celebrities from
various fields with a 20 page gold edged wedding invitations
with hand printed images and details of various functions and
venues and the invitation itself was accompanied by an
intricately carved silver container weighing almost 5KG.

Wedding invitation is after all a matter of personal taste.

About The Author: Gigi Mill is an online retailer of wedding
gifts and gives practical advice on
http://www.weddingfavorsandgiftideas.com to brides and couples.

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Some Important Considerations You Need To Think About When Ordering Wedding Invitations

A wedding is a celebration combining two lives into one. A wedding invitation signifies the start of the celebration. They are sent to families and friends of both bride and groom inviting them to attend the celebration. It is important to take care in preparing the wedding invitation since this will send first impressions of the wedding.

A wedding invitation contains a lot of information. It will give guests a glimpse at your style and taste. It will also introduce the important people involved in the wedding. Therefore is important to keep some things in mind when choosing and sending your wedding invitation.

The first things guests will see when they open the envelope will give them an idea of the bride and grooms taste and style, and formality. The colors of the wedding are generally intertwined in the invitation. Regardless of whether your wedding will be formal or informal the invitations should give a great first impression. If you are choosing theme for your wedding carry it into the invitations. For example a traditional white wedding will be traditional and elegant in white. For a theme bases wedding such as an old movie could have antique look to it or special clips from the move in it. A Vegas wedding may have more flair with glitter or gold confetti in the envelope.

Spelling and grammar are also very important parts of your wedding invitation. The names need to be presented in proper order and spelled correctly. Some people choose to write their own wording for the invitation while others go with prewritten ones.

Whichever you choose always proofread a few times for any errors. It may be helpful to have a few of those people close to you read it; occasionally they may catch an error you miss. Make sure the address; dates, and times are all correct. You don't want everyone showing up at 2pm when your wedding was at 12. You may also include a short map or additional instructions on another paper in your invitation, such as whether children are allowed and themes. Letting your guests know ahead of time may ease frustration later on.

A wedding is a day the bride and groom will always treasure, therefore the invitations should reflect a bit of them. Whether you decide to have a formal traditional wedding or a themed beach party your invitations should reflect that also. Keep in mind to use proper grammar, spelling and always proofread. A special poem, writing or traditional greeting about your day welcomes others to join the celebration. Any special instructions or maps should be on an additional sheet of paper enclosed with the invitation. A wedding is a celebration and the invitation should reflect your desire for the guest to attend.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Personalized Stationery at http://www.alloccasionstationery.com

How To Choose Wedding Invitations That Match The Style Of Your Wedding

The very first impression that people will get of your upcoming wedding will be when they receive your invitation. They will often make a decision on attending at that moment. The invitation needs to be a complete visualization on paper that shares what your plans are plainly to the receiver so it is crucial to the wedding planning process.

Contrary to popular opinion, especially the opinions of most men, there is much more to the process than simply pulling out a nice one and making you're your names are spelled properly. The wording is very important and you want it to be original, get some ideas from other invitations but end the end make yours unique.

Your invitation should also go along with the style of wedding you are having. If you are having a fancy, traditional wedding then you should have an equally elegant invitation to match. On the other hand if you are getting married on the beach a fancy invitation just would not look right and would also convey the wrong message. For a beach wedding you want everyone to feel comfortable and know that it is not in the least formal. Here are some more helpful hints to assist you in choosing the right wedding invitation.

When you are choosing your invitations remember you also need to pick out the right font for the wording. You want a font that leaps off the paper demanding attention. Choose a style that matches your ceremony and that you both love. Also be sure that the font you choose matches your personalities as should your wedding ceremony.

Another important factor is choosing the paper you will use. There are many different types and thicknesses of paper when it comes to invitations and overall probably hundreds of different styles available. If the invitations are to be folded don't get a paper that is too thick, but if they are to be standalone then a good thick paper is recommended.

You want the style of the invitation to match your wedding so if you are having a simple wedding go with a very simple style of invitation. You have choices like tri-fold, bi-fold, single page, and others so make sure that the one you choose is appropriate.

You should also include RSVP cards with a stamped return envelope so that you will be able to plan for the number of people who will be coming. Ideally these should match your invitation as well. Always pre-stamp the RSVP card out of courtesy.

Make sure that you proofread everything more than once, then have at least one other person look over all of the items to be printed for errors. You will be unable to fix the errors after they are printed and if you sign off that they are okay, it's on you! Double check your guest list before ordering so you don't get stuck with too many or too little invitation.

Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find more about wedding and bridal shower invitations at http://www.monkeybusinessinvitations.com

How To Choose A Wedding Invitation That Really Stands Out

One of the first things to consider after you set the date for your wedding is picking out invitations. Think about it, without the invitations it doesn't matter how fancy your wedding is no one will be coming. I just got married and since we had a simple wedding that was beach oriented we went for a watercolor invitation that featured a beach with a sunset and two beach chairs, with our names embossed on them. Here are some other unique wedding invitation ideas.

It can be very difficult to choose the perfect invitation, there are so many different choices available online and with tons of stationary stores all around how do you find the best bargains and the best designs. Look for a place that has many different designs to choose from with unique ideas and perspectives. You don't want to end up with the same invitation your best friend used two weeks ago and you definitely don't want one that looks like it came out of a time machine! The main thing you are looking for in the perfect wedding invitation is one that gets attention. The best way of getting people's attention is by presenting them with an invitation that is different from all the others they see.

If you want to go for a personalized look you could opt for having photos inlayed in the invitation. A sepia or black and white photo can look really classy and make for a very unique invitation. How about having a photo from the night of your engagement?

Another novel idea that would really get attention is to use a scrolled cloth. If you are having a really traditional wedding this could tie in very well. Have the invitation printed on a delicate piece of cloth and roll it up like a scroll tied with a satin ribbon. How many people do you think would do this?

You could have your invitation done as an engraving into a sheet of glass or perhaps, acrylic. This would certainly classify as unique and could hardly be lost or put aside. This was you are offering something that is permanent that can be thought of as a keepsake. I know I can't recall ever seeing anything like this.

If you are artistically inclined you could possible design your own wedding invitations, if not you could commission an artist to design one that is a totally unique and original piece of art. You could even have the artist sign and number them so that they would have even more value. I don't think anyone would toss out an invitation like that.

Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find more about wedding and bridal shower invitations at http://www.monkeybusinessinvitations.com

Concepts For Photo Wedding Invitation - A Case Study

With the advance in printing techniques, it is very common nowadays for couples to make a wedding invitation card with their photos on it. There is no doubt that putting photos on the card can make it more personalized and unique. In China, couples may take some photos with the wedding dresses on before their wedding. In this case they can put these "wedding photos" into the card and this will make the wedding card more interesting. In fact, it is very common for Chinese couples to put such photos into the wedding invitation.

No matter you will have a set of pre-wedding photos or not, it is always true that an invitation card with your photos will be a unique one. It will certainly reflect you since it is your photo. When choosing the photos to put on the card, most couples will choose a photo which can express the love of the couple. In fact a touching photo can be totally excellent. You can just put it on the cover of the card and the card will be perfect. As a wedding invitation designer, I sometimes do not just satisfy with just putting a photo on the card. This is especially true when the couple is catering for something more interesting. In this case I will retouch the photos and create images to make the invitation to tell a story. The following is an example of such designs.

In Chinese tradition, there is a legend about a god called YueLao. Literally Yue means moon and Lao means old person. And YueLao means an old man under the moon. As a matter of fact, full moon represents a good and perfect marriage. YueLao is indeed a god about marriage. He uses a red string to connect a couple. There is a saying that "You will get married if you are tied by the red string, even if you are two enemies". Some people will even go to the temple of YueLao, hoping that YueLao will use his red string to tie him / her to his or her spouse.

A design can be generated from this romantic story of YueLao. For example, a photo is taken for each of the bride and groom. The two photos will then be combined to become one image. By adopting the idea of red string and YueLao, a red string forming the words "Love me" are used to tie the bride and groom. In another image, the same idea of red string is used. This time the words "We are getting married" are formed. With these images, a meaningful wedding invitation with the couple's photos can be designed.

It seems that it is very easy to create such a photo wedding invitation from the above case study. In fact, it is not as easy as it seems. The most difficult part is to generate the initial concept. The idea of red string may not fit your case. However, if you are going to express yourself, it will not be too difficult for you to generate the basic concept.

Jerry Leung is a wedding invitation designer. He has a great interest in Chinese Style Wedding Invitations. His works can be found from http://www.983wedding.com. His personal blog is http://www.weddingabc.net and some other wedding vendors can be found from http://in.imarry.org

Wedding reception photos - a modern approach

Frequently over the last many years I have attended
weddings and their receptions. The use of photography in
an effort to preserve this day is common to all weddings
and receptions, and the obligatory photographer is always
present.

Sometimes the couple will hire two photographers in an
effort to get more candid shots of family and friends
throughout the reception. Sometimes they will hire or
designate a family member who's a photography hobbyist to
capture those numerous shots. And increasingly common is
the placement of disposable cameras on each reception table
to encourage family and friends to take photos throughout
the event

There are numerous technical and practical problems with
this approach. First off, the disposable cameras don't
generally take the best photos. Second, the cost of
developing these numerous cameras is a significant
consideration. And, third, there's a strong possibility
that the camera will prove to be a great toy for some young
person – resulting in photos of the floor and ceiling (for
which you'll pay to have developed) – or even numerous
photos where the user failed to activate the flash (usually
a hold-down button on disposable cameras).

However, in today's day and age, it is very likely that
many or most of the guests brought their own digital
camera. I know that I usually do, and that I'll shoot
around 50 to 100 pictures during any such event.

Digital cameras are usually of a much better quality than
disposables - resulting in much better pictures. Also,
digital photos are cheap and numerous – because the memory
chips will usually hold several hundred photos (unlike the
27 or so available from the disposable camera), and the
cost of each image is virtually nothing. It is also very
unlikely that anyone is going to allow their child the use
it as a plaything, and there won't be too many pictures of
the floor and ceiling - though you wouldn't likely care as
there is no cost involved.

The question becomes how do you collect all of these photos
without clogging your email with numbers of large
collections of image files. What you need is a single "big
pot" where you can encourage all of your guests to dump
their photos for sharing with the couple and the
family-at-large.

Today there are online solutions called "photo exchange
depots" (depositories). Just do an internet search and
you'll likely find one. Sometimes single-day events are
free to setup. Generally, here is how they work;

The couple establishes their event on one of the photo
exchange depots, and receives a designated private
"EventCode." This code uniquely identifies their event on
the system, and will allow online users (anyone knowing the
EventCode) to add their photos into a big pool of event
photos.

The couple informs their guests of this website and
EventCode in their program, or as part of the place
settings and/or table-tents at the reception. The guests
all access the site (no user login usually required) and
uploads all of their event photos.

Then, after the honeymoon is over, the couple and/or their
family can view all of the uploaded images, and select,
download, and save the pictures they wish to keep. At some
point the depot expires and fades away.

This is a simple, low-cost, low-risk, and very effective
way to capture possibly hundreds of additional photos from
your special event.

More pictures, more memories!! Enjoy!

About the Author:

Dean Brust has been involved in the business of Internet
technologies and services for 20+ years. He has
participated in the introduction of numerous online
services and databases. With a personal interest in
photography and family, he writes for the technology
industry. Dean is currently involved with
http://www.eventphotoexchange.com

Wedding Favors And Showers, Past And Present

The ancient customs of Rome and Italy had their own way of
showing gratitude to their guests. Initially, fruits, nuts and
biscuits were given to guests before the ceremony. The Romans
blessed their couples with fertility. Fruits and nuts represent
this in their custom. The Italians were big on status. Therefore
giving luxurious items like silk scarves and incense was a
common practice amongst the wealthy. This showed that the
tradition of giving out favors had dated all the way back to the
16th century. And sure enough they had come a long way.

In today's world and time, favors are given as an appreciation
and token of gratitude for guests that has attended and shared a
special event. Be it for bridal shower, baby showers,
anniversary, birthday or even corporate celebrations favors have
evolved and expanded from mere weddings to all types of
functions, as a symbol of gratitude for participants.

Depending on where you are from, wedding favors diverse from
each part of the world in accordance with the culture and
tradition that is practiced. Different culture has different
impact and influence on the type of gifts newlywed present to
their guests. However, no matter how different the gifts are,
the rule of thumb in giving out favors is of course to represent
and symbolize health, wealth, happiness, fertility and
longevity.

Wedding favors play a big part in the wedding itself. A wedding
without favors is nowadays considered incomplete. Brides and
groom would more often than not give out gifts that are useful
like card holder, pen or letter opener. Though practical, the
gifts are made personal with the new technology, where brides
and grooms can leave their signatures on the gifts. Made in bulk
and surprising not at all costly, these favors are more likely
to make lasting impressions on the guests. With the growing
online companies specializing in personalized favors, getting
them done would be just the click of the mouse away.

Favors have been with us for a very long time. Nonetheless,
showers were also part of human culture a long way back as well.
It was said to originally start in the Netherlands. A young girl
from Amsterdam fell in love with a poor mill boy. Although the
boy was broke, he spent his life aiding the other poor and
needy.

The father objected to the marriage and they were later refused
of the custom dowry. With little to get by, they would not be
able to survive. In spite of this, the villagers came to offer
them things that they would need. The kindness of the boy was
repaid by the village people and soon enough they were able to
start a new life together. This was said to be the birth of the
tradition of wedding showers we know today.

Bridal showers are meant for the close friends and relatives of
the bride. Brides to be would sometimes assign a theme to their
showers like Hawaiian or Christmas theme but this would all be
affected by the budget. Indeed, favors given would need to
reflect the themes of the bridal showers. Whatever it is, brides
need to make sure that that the gifts given are sincere because
this would make it more meaningful. No matter how much you need
to spend on these shower favors, if they can appreciate your
little offerings, it would be always be priceless.

About The Author: Elizabeth Ellis is a leading expert in all
personalized gifts and has written a number of articles related
to baptism gifts, personalized photo mugs,
http://www.peculiarstuff.com/Baby.htm and so on.

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Choosing The Perfect Wedding Dress

The wedding dress is usually the centerpiece of the wedding
celebration. The wedding dress is not just another dress. It has
become the symbol of love and hope for the future. Wedding
dresses are literally the icing on the cake on every bride's big
wedding day. Your wedding dress should be unique to your style
and tell the world exactly who you are. After all it is your
special day. Your wedding dress is the key way that you share
yourself with your wedding guests, and of course, your groom.

The first thing you want to do before looking for the perfect
wedding dress is to have an idea of the way you want your dress
to look. Choosing a wedding dress will requires your valuable
time as well as your attention. Know what design and style you
like, and you should take images of the design you like with you
when shopping for your wedding dress. Just remember that the
perfect gown is the one that makes you look and feel your best.

Take a friend, or someone you trust, with you to get their
opinion as you try on dresses. You need to choose a wedding
dress design that will be appropriate and compliment your
wedding level of formality, décor, and venue.

Wedding dresses are available from a wide variety of sources.
There are specific bridal shops, both chain stores and
independent retailers. These shops specialize in wedding gowns
and bridesmaid dresses. These places can be a good start to
search for that perfect wedding dress you dreamed of.

If you are having a formal wedding, the bride generally wears a
long white or cream colored wedding dress with a veil and
gloves. In an informal wedding, brides have more flexibility.
They can wear wedding dresses of any color and they can be short
or long. Have a style in mind but don't get stuck on one
particular dress.

If you have a lot of time before the wedding, then look for
sales at wedding shops. Many wedding dresses go on sale after
the month of June. Wedding veils are cheaper than the wedding
dress, so go ahead and spend more on a great veil when you can
save money on the wedding dress.

Choosing a wedding dress is one of the bride's biggest
decisions, next to choosing her groom. Many brides start
searching for the perfect wedding dress as early as a year
before the wedding day. The perfect dress makes for the perfect
day.

About The Author: Denise Duncan has been involved in the
wedding planning business for a number of years, and is an
author and editor for http://www.mywedding-information.com/ .

Please use the HTML version of this article at:
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Choosing The Right Wedding Gift

You just received an invitation for a wedding in the mail
today. This means that you will need to get a wedding gift for
your family member or friend who is getting married. Usually
there are traditional registry lists that can help you find the
perfect wedding gift. Sometimes, registry lists can be confusing
or the items on these lists are just too much for your budget.
You might also find out that everything on the list has already
been purchased. Now what do you do? Here are some useful tips to
help you get the perfect wedding gift even on your budget.

You can go to the local stores to check the wedding gifts that
the couple registered to help you in your search for the perfect
wedding gift. Years ago, couples could only register in some of
the expensive department stores. The list of items included
expensive crystal, silver, and china. Today, it is entirely
different. Couples can now register at many their local stores.
These stores have gifts for those who are budget-conscious. It
is very likely that you will find a nice gift in your price
range. Most of these stores even have their own website to help
couples register online and for others to purchase inexpensive
gifts without leaving the comfort of their home.

Group wedding gifts are another way to get wedding gifts for
the newly weds and still be on budget. If you have mutual
friends of the wedding couple who are going to attend the
wedding, you can ask them if they would be interested in
chipping in a few dollars and buying something that is large on
the registry list of the newly weds. The bride and groom will be
very delighted to see the more expensive gifts they have
registered and it is cost-effective on your end.

You can also give a non-traditional wedding gift. What if it
took you until the last minute to decide on a wedding gift or
maybe you still haven't found the gift you really want to give,
you might think about giving a non-traditional gift instead.
This can be a creative experience. You could create a basketful
of goodies that the couples can use while on their honeymoon. A
scrapbook is another innovative gift. You can surf the Internet
and browse through the various websites to find a creative
non-traditional gift for the wedding couple. For example you can
help the newly weds get an exhilarating experience such as a
trip on a hot air balloon or maybe a relaxing experience like
spa treatments.

These are just a few ideas to help you choose the perfect
wedding gift. Whatever your gift may be, the bride and groom are
sure to thank you for the wedding gifts given on their special
day.

About The Author: Denise Duncan has been involved in the
wedding planning business for a number of years, and is an
author and editor for http://www.mywedding-information.com/ .

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Cedar Chest - One Would Be A Fantastic Wedding Gift

Your best friend's wedding is coming up and for a few months
now you have been searching for that perfect gift for the new
couple. Everything you can come across so far just does not seem
to fit the bill and now you are running out of time. Well, there
is no need to panic because a fantastic wedding gift that you
can give is a lovely cedar chest, it is a great way to show them
how much you care.

A cedar chest, also known as a hope chest, was once just used
by unmarried women to stores things that they would bring into
their marriage. Once married, she would then pass it down to her
daughter so she could use it for the same exact purpose.
However, now this lovely furnishing can be used by anyone to
store anything that they want, which is why it is such a
wonderful gift option for newly married couples and anyone for
that matter who needs an extra place to store their things.

You can put this furnishing almost anywhere throughout a home
including in a bedroom for stowing away extra clothes or
bedding, in a larger bathroom for placing towels, and even in a
recreational room where you can hide board games or your child's
toys. Basically, this furnishing would be a nice addition to any
room and some other options include a guest bedroom, or a den.

What is great about a cedar chest, is that along with being
practical, it is also very pleasing to the eye thanks to the
lovely cedar material that it is crafted from. Cedar has a
beautiful appearance that would really enhance the look of any
room that the chest is put into. Along with those crafted out of
cedar, there are also other options that are available and you
can even get ones crafted from oak and pine. Plus, a number of
lovely finishes are available as well and there are even
selections that have padded liners in them to keep things safe,
snug, and secure.

For a stress free way to find just the right cedar chest for
that new couple, or for yourself even, forget about jumping in
your car and heading to your local furniture or department
store. Instead, make a b-line for your computer and hit the
Internet for some online shopping. You can compare prices just
by the click of the mouse and once you do find what you, it is
shipped right to you. No muss, no fuss. You can even get it
shipped to the new couple's house if you want, that way to do
not have to worry about transporting it from here to there.

So, if you are in search of that perfect wedding gift, turn to
a wonderful cedar chest. It gives the new couple a nice place to
store their things, plus, it would be a nice decorative touch to
any room throughout their new home.

About The Author: Jesse Akre, owner of numerous online
specialty shops, shares his insight on bombe chest, ottoman
storage, and cedar chests. Find information and how to's to
update your home decor - Click http://chestsandcabinets.com/.

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Wedding Planning Ideas

When you are planning your wedding, you want to take your time
and not rush things. You would want to get everything right.
After all, it is hardly everyday that you get to have a wedding.

There are several wedding ideas that you could check out and
see if it fits you're idea of the perfect wedding for you.
Themed weddings is one of the most common wedding ideas. This
wedding idea used to be a financial challenge way back when, but
nowadays it is not. Cheap air travel and the easy availability
of exotic products have made theme weddings a good wedding idea.
It's something to think about when thinking of planning a
wedding.

A lot of people have done theme weddings. Rockstars, movie
idols, and maybe even someone you know have done a theme
wedding. Now don't go thinking that this is one of these
overdone wedding ideas. There are many options for wedding
themes. Some ideas include a 1920s revival wedding theme, a
Victorian wedding theme, or even a Cinderella wedding theme!
Wouldn't that be a delight for the child within! Every girl
wants to be a princess!

Another good wedding idea to look into is a destination
wedding. For this wedding idea you're going to need to be a bit
more financially flexible. Destination weddings are a great
wedding idea. To celebrate it in an exotic place is one of the
best ways to make a wedding memorable. Think about it, there is
no way you are going to soon forget a Mediterranean wedding.

This kind of wedding idea is more difficult to set up, however.
You will have to coordinate with the wedding participants as
well. After all, the wedding location isn't just a couple of
blocks away. Depending upon the location there could also be a
problem with the local custom of your wedding location. Some
places will require a lot of work before a wedding can be held.
Other locations may not allow a wedding there unless one or both
of the parties (the bride and/or the groom) are residents of the
area. Location weddings can be a bit harder to plan and execute.

Whatever wedding ideas you are considering, try to remember
that your wedding day is not all about the pomp, but it is about
the meaning of a wedding. Form your wedding ideas around the
idea that a wedding is about you and your beloved joining your
lives together as one. Don't go too traditional, either. Let
your wedding be as naturally as the bond between you and your
companion.

About The Author: Denise Duncan has been involved in the
wedding planning business for a number of years, and is an
author and editor for http://www.mywedding-information.com/ .

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Filipino Wedding Traditions

The Engagement

After the couple has decided to marry, the first order of
business is the pamanhikan, where the groom and his parents
visit the bride's family to ask for her hand in marriage.
Wedding plans are often made at this time, including a
discussion of the budget and guest list. Don't be surprised if
the groom-to-be is expected to run some errands or help out
around the bride's house. This tradition is called paninilbihan,
where the suitor renders service to his future wife's family to
gain their approval.

The Wedding Outfits

The white wedding dress has become popular in the last hundred
years or so with America's influence in the Philippines. Before
that, brides wore their best dress, in a festive color or even
stylish black, to celebrate a wedding. Orange blossom bouquets
and adornments were a must during the turn of the last century.
For men, the barong tagalog is the traditional Filipino formal
wear.

It is a cool, almost transparent, embroidered shirt, made from
silky pina or jusi, two native ecru fabrics. It is worn
untucked, over black pants, with a white t-shirt underneath.
These days, a Filipino groom might wear the conventional black
tux, but Filipino male wedding guests will usually show up in
their finest barongs.

The Ceremony

In pre-colonial days, a wedding ceremony lasted three days. On
the first day, the bride and groom were brought to the house of
a priest or babaylan, who joined their hands over a plate of raw
rice and blessed the couple. On the third day, the priest
pricked the chests of both bride and groom and drew a little
blood. Joining their hands, they declared their love for each
other three times. The priest then fed them cooked rice from the
same plate and gave them a drink of some of their blood mixed
with water. Binding their hands and necks with a cord, he
declared them married. The majority of Filipino weddings are now
Catholic weddings, but some native traditions remain. Most have
special "sponsors" who act as witnesses to the marriage. The
principal sponsors could be godparents, counselors, a favorite
uncle and aunt, even a parent. Secondary sponsors handle special
parts of the ceremony, such as the candle, cord and veil
ceremonies. Candle sponsors light two candles, which the bride
and groom use to light a single candle to symbolize the joining
of the two families and to invoke the light of Christ in their
married life. Veil sponsors place a white veil over the bride's
head and the groom's shoulders, a symbol of two people clothed
as one. Cord sponsors drape the yugal (a decorative silk cord)
in a figure-eight shape--to symbolize everlasting fidelity--over
the shoulders of the bride and groom. The groom gives the bride
13 coins, or arrhae, blessed by the priest, as a sign of his
dedication to his wife's well-being and the welfare of their
future children.

The Food

The Filipino wedding feast is elaborate. One feast celebrated
at the turn of the last century involved these foods: First was
served cold vermicelli soup. The soup was followed by meats of
unlimited quantity--stewed goat, chicken minced with garlic,
boiled ham, stuffed capon, roast pork and several kinds of fish.
There were no salads, but plenty of relishes, including red
peppers, olives, green mango pickles and crystallized fruits.
For dessert, there were meringues, baked custard flan, coconut
macaroons and sweetened seeds of the nipa plant.

About The Author: Rafi Michael Babylon Productions Wedding
Center Wedding Photography & Video Productions Toronto we
specialize in individually tailored Wedding Photography, Videos
and DVD's, offering an experienced, highly professional and
affordable service. Vist: (
http://www.videobabylon.ca/services.html )

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Saving Money on Your Wedding

Perhaps you've been dreaming of your wedding day since you
were a little girl, the princess gown, your handsome groom,
a beautiful spread and the entire town there. Or perhaps
it's something you never even contemplated…who me?
Getting married? Oh my gosh, this is really happening!
Where do we begin?

Although it's very easy to wish for the perfect dream
wedding, sometimes, if your salary is somewhere in the
thousands of dollars, not the millions of dollars, you have
to prepare a budget. But I'm here to tell you, having that
dream like wedding isn't as unrealistic as you think, as
long as you're informed and smart about it.

The first step in planning a wedding is to determine your
wedding budget. It is important for you to know what you
can realistically spend. Wedding costs can easily add up.
If not monitored properly, you may find that you are
spending much more than you had anticipated. By tracking
your expenditures, you can cut back on things less
important to you and allocate money to the more important
areas. I recommend a good wedding planner/organizer such
as Beverly Clark's, "Planning a Wedding to Remember". This
is an amazing tool for planning your wedding budget and
even provides an interactive budget planning tool available
online.

One way of trimming off the expenses is to consider
printing your own invitations. Often people don't
anticipate how expensive wedding invitations can be. A
homemade option is cheaper and can still look wonderful.
Purchasing fine paper and envelopes can save you, and
they're just waiting to be customized with some
professional techniques available with quality software
programs. If computers give you jitters, you're sure to
find someone artsy willing to help out for such a special
occasion.

Oftentimes, designer gowns, wedding favors, gifts and
accessories can be found on line at a fraction of the
prices in boutiques. Just be wary when shopping. Ask
questions, make sure the gown is in new shape and that the
size is correct. Correspond with the seller and make sure
the dress hasn't been damaged. As a form of etiquette,
reputation on these sites means everything, so if you are
not completely satisfied with your purchase or the seller
was misleading, you can reiterate this by providing
feedback. Check your newspapers, local re-sale stores, ask
at bridal boutiques for dresses that are no longer being
made, discontinued, or clearance dresses. You may find a
gem!

Although you may have envisioned thousands of guests
attending your special day, you may have to consider
trimming down your guest list. As a result, you will be
spending much less on food, drinks and the venue. Start by
making a list of family members from both sides of the
family, including children, then friends and acquaintances.
If the bride and groom are paying the full expense of the
wedding, they should have control over the invites, however
if they are accepting money from the parents they may have
to give them some say in the matter.

A suggestion could be to invite certain people to the
ceremony and dinner only (especially older relatives as
they may not want to attend the reception for various
reasons) and then invite more casual friends to the
reception portion of the day. Provide a cash bar, snacks
in the mid-evening, and all the festivities one can handle.
Keep in mind too that this can be catered by family
members consisting of cheese, veggies, cold meats, salads,
pickles, buns and dessert trays.

Remember too, that this day is for you and you want to
share it with all of the special people in your life. Time
passes quickly and you want to be able to enjoy all of your
guest's company, so keeping the numbers realistic and
within your budget will make your special day more
memorable for everyone.


About the Author:

Essential Wedding Favors is a company founded by Paul Darch
and Tracey Spencer in 2006. Wanting to provide a bride and
groom a source to find as much information about planning
their wedding, inspired them to create a website dedicated
to just that.
http://www.essentialweddingfavors.com