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Formal Wedding Invitation Wording

Typically, the bride’s parents host the wedding, and in turn, their names appear on the invitations to reflect that.  However, there are now many different people that can host the wedding, so the invitations should follow proper etiquette and guidelines on how they should be displayed.  Here are a few tips to think about in order…

~ Whoever is hosting the wedding, uh-um, paying for it, should have their names(s) on the invitation.  The hosts’ full name(s) should be spelled out and any titles included as well.  It is fine to keep Mr. and Mrs. the way they are, but Doctor should be spelled out as long as it will all fit on one line.

~ For high ranking political figures, use Honorable John Doe and Mrs. Jane Doe or Honorable and Mrs. John Doe

~ If your ceremony is taking place in a house of worship, use the phrase “the honour of your presence”, if it’s in any other venue, “the pleasure of your company” is a better suggestion.

~ The bride’s first and middle name are used if she shares her parents’ last name.  The groom’s name is spelled out and is preceded by a title.  For example, Mr. Joseph David Smith.

~ The time, date, city and state are usually included next. If all of your guests are local, then you do not have to include the state.  It is not necessary to include “in the evening” or any other phrase indicating the time of day.  You can also use the phrase “half after” rather than “half past.” The date is spelled out, along with the year, but there is no “and.”  It should read two thousand twelve for 2012 and it does not need to be capitalized.  However the day of the week and the month are capitalized.

~ The final part of the invitation is RSVP which is the abbreviation for “please respond,” and should only be used on reception invitation or combination wedding/reception invitations.  RSVP, R.S.V.P., r.s.v.p, R.s.v.p. and “The favour of a reply is requested.” are correct, and it goes on the lower left of the invitation.  If RSVP is alone on the invitation, then replies will go to the address on the outside of the envelope.  RSVP with an address, email or phone number below it indicates that replies should go to the address provided.  The good news is that if you include stamped reply cards, RSVP is not necessary.  And finally, if you have a menu option on your reply cards, make sure you allow extra time to get an accurate head count for your caterer!

Making sure your invitations have proper etiquette may take some additional time in the planning and/or proofreading process, but it will produce not only beautiful but precise invites to your guests.

-Jamie
Pink Poppy Ink

How to Address Your Wedding Invitations

In the past, wedding invitations have had 2 envelopes: the outer for the address and the inner for each individual’s name who is invited to the wedding.  Today, the majority of invitations do not have an inner envelope.  For example, if you want to invite the entire Johnson family to the wedding, you would put, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson and family on the outer envelope with their address underneath.  No inner envelope is needed! Here are a few other things to consider when addressing your invitations based on the changing times.

Not inviting children – This one can be a tricky one because you are counting on the way you address your wedding invitation envelope to let your guests know.  It is not acceptable to put “No Children Allowed or “Adult Only Reception”.  Instead, if you only want kids 13+ to attend, you should address it like this:

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson
Tim, Megan and Eddie Johnson
123 Main Street
Indianapolis, IN 46280

By omitting the children on the envelope in the Johnson family that are not older than 13, you are making it clear that children are not invited.  If you are still concerned about children coming, then have a neutral family member follow up with families of small children to make sure they informed.

Outer envelope – Not much has really changed as far as tradition goes with addressing the envelope.  You want to use titles, first, and last names of the guests.  The words “Street” and “Boulevard” are written out and states may be written in full or the abbreviation is fine as well.

Married couple – The envelope should be addressed to both members of a married couple.

Unmarried couple living together – When inviting an unmarried couple at the same address, put both of their names together on the first line. It does not matter who is listed first.

High ranking political figures – It should read, Honorable David Smith and Mrs. David Smith or Honorable and Mrs. David Smith.

Married woman doctor or two doctors – If she uses her husband’s name outside of her profession, the address is Dr. Elizabeth and Mr. John Hammond.  If she uses her maiden name in her profession and socially, it is Dr. Elizabeth Bryant and Mr. John Hammond.  If both of them are doctors, the address is either The Drs. Hammond or Drs. Elizabeth and John Hammond.

In modern times, an outer envelope is typically used alone.  But in a situation where you are inviting a known person and their “guest” to your wedding, both the inner and outer envelope may be helpful.  Since you don’t want to just leave it as “guest”, use the outer envelope to “Mr. Spencer Gibson”, and then on the inner envelope it can read, “Mr. Spencer Gibson and Guest.”  If you have time to collect the name of the guests your invited guests plan on bringing, then you can include them on the envelope.  If you are only doing an outer envelope, it is fine to include a short note indicating they are able to bring the guest of their choice.

Whether you choose to go the more modern route, or stick with the traditional look of invitations, it is imperative to know how to they should be addressed.  Your guests will feel important when they receive that invitation addressed specifically for them!

-Jamie
Pink Poppy Ink

Fun Baby Shower Games

Invitations are received, the guests are coming, the menu is set, and the mother-to-be is getting closer to welcoming the little bundle of joy.  So, what other details should you think through as you prepare to host a baby shower?  The games, of course!  Now you may be thinking back to some of your own personal experiences with cheesy baby shower games, or heard about someone else’s embarrassing incident.  Well here is the good news!  The key to planning games or activities is to think about the guest of honor and what type of setting she would enjoy celebrating this occasion with her closest friends.

The small, intimate, but artistic setting: 
Put on some good music and get inspired! Get a variety of fun paper, scissors, glue, and alphabet stickers to decorate some blank baby blocks for when the baby gets older. As a group you can design a custom set full of memories. Another idea is for each person to write a piece of advice for the parents-to-be on index size card stock, and decorate it with cut-outs, fun markers or stickers.  Put the collection in a box for those late night readings.  If you must have a little bit of a competition, then have everyone read aloud their advice or show off their block, and then vote on the best ones!

The calm, up for a mental challenge setting:
Let’s get that pregnancy brain working! Put together 15 baby related items (that you will eventually give to the mother-to-be) and arrange them on a tray in no particular order. Give everyone a piece of paper with 15 lines on it.  Walk the tray slowly around the room and allow everyone to look at the items, and then put it out of sight. Guests will have 10 minutes to write down as many items as they saw.  The guest with the most correct, wins!

The bubbly, up for a physical challenge setting:
Get ready to form teams, and compete! If you decide to play this type of game, be prepared that not everyone will be able and/or willing to participate.  But for those that do, it can be lots of fun.  The stroller Olympics should be done in an outdoor venue.  The group can be divided into the number of strollers you have.  Set up an obstacle course with many twists, turns and surprises and watch them go! Another fast-paced but indoor game is undressing/dressing a doll from top to bottom, including the diaper. Split the group into four teams, have them stand single file. They each take their turn, and the team that finishes first, with precision, wins! Be aware that these are group winners, so make sure to plan for enough prizes when they win.

Enjoy yourself and have fun planning your baby shower games.  The mother-to-be will extremely grateful that you took the time to plan these activities around her!

-Jamie
Pink Poppy Ink

Wedding Invitation Etiquette: Do’s and Don’ts

Your invitation is the first part of your wedding that your guests will see.  It sets the tone for the day, provides necessary information on when and where things are taking place, and is also a valuable memento that will always remind your family and friends of that special day.  So understanding the process and considering these do’s and don’ts will help to start this fun adventure off on the right foot!

THE DO’S

Do allow plenty of time ~ Give yourself a minimum of 4 months before your wedding to schedule a consultation with Pink Poppy Ink (PPI).  Plan enough time in your wedding schedule to carefully address, assemble and mail your invitations.  Invitations should be mailed out 6-8 weeks before the wedding. Since each invitation at PPI is custom designed, extra time will be needed to approve proofs, select colors, print the invitations, assemble, etc. Whew! As you can see, allowing plenty of time will take some of the pressure off this fun step in the process.

Do prepare an alphabetical typed list of guests ~ This may take some extra time on the front end, but it will help you stay organized.  Keep the list on your computer so you can refer back to it throughout the process.  You can use the same list to mark who has responded, their table number at the reception, and even the gift you may have received from them.  It really has a multitude of uses!

Do get organized ~ Develop a system for addressing and mailing your invitations.  Arrange the pieces in the order they will be assembled and inserted into the envelope. Here are a few helpful hints: The largest piece goes in the back, with the smallest piece (usually the response card) in the front. You can also write a small number on the back of the response card that corresponds with the number on your alphabetical guest list.  It can help you with responses without names or illegible names, along with organizing the seating chart.

Do ask for help ~ Invite your bridal attendants to help assemble invitations.  This can be a great bonding experience for everyone and it will help you tremendously.  However, if you would prefer to have them assembled, PPI can do that for you too! View our instructional video on how to assemble pocket fold invitations

Do use names of guests and correct titles ~ Because this is the main source of communication to your guests, why not make a good first impression? It is more personal to include the names of those who will accompany your guests, use their correct title, and first and foremost, make sure their name is spelled correctly!

Do check postage ~ Take an assembled invitation to post office to have it weighed. Chances are you will need to add some postage to cover the additional inserts.

THE DON’TS

Don’t forget any inserts ~ Such as maps, directions or hotel information for out-of-town guests.  PPI can custom design just the right map or text directions to help get your guests from the wedding ceremony to the reception location!

Don’t include registry or gift information ~ If you would like your guests to know where you are registered, then include it on your wedding website or ask family and friends to spread the news.  It is in poor taste to insert a list of places where the bride and groom are registered in your wedding invitation.

Don’t use a “plan B” guest list ~ When you are planning your guest list, make sure that you are always keeping your budget in mind.  If the guest list has been carefully planned, you can usually count on that 10-20 percent of invited guests to send regrets.  Sending out one round of invitations is more clear-cut than waiting to see how many accept before sending out a second round of invites.

Don’t address invitation with typical mailing labels ~ Just don’t! Use your guest list to have PPI print on your envelopes with a typestyle that matches your wedding invitation suite.  You can also hire a professional calligrapher (such as TLC By Hand).

Remember to enjoy this part of the process as it is your first communication with your guests.  Happy stuffing, stamping and addressing!

-Jamie
Pink Poppy Ink

Bridal Shower Ideas That Won’t Make You Cringe

Bridal showers have always been an integral part of the pre-wedding festivities, but the type of shower has evolved throughout the years. Sure, many brides still prefer a more traditional shower with the “girly flair”.  But some brides are now turning to getaway showers to their favorite spas, or include the groom in what is called a couples shower.  Regardless of the type of shower you are planning, you still want to include some type of activity and/or game that is focused on the bride or the soon-to-be married couple. This will help to insure that you stay away from the cheesy shower games that will send your guests running!

 

VIDEO TAPE THE GROOM
For the more traditional bride with a room full of her closest family and friends, choose games that allow guests to interact, but also learn more about the bride.  See how well she knows her husband-to-be.  Prior to the shower, ask him 15-20 questions about himself and write down the answers.  Then each guest will write down on a piece of paper how many they think she will get right. The person with the correct number wins.  It is also fun to videotape the groom when he answers the questions and you may be surprised with some of his answers!  Another fun one to do is to see how observant people are. Have the guest of honor leave the room, completely out of sight.  Come up with 10 questions about what she was wearing, color of shoes, etc.  See who noticed her sense of style and can get the most right for a prize!

HAVE GUESTS SHOW THEIR ARTISTIC SIDE
Getaway showers can potentially be an expensive choice, but you can opt for non-traditional shower activities and save money by bringing them to you!  If you have a bride that likes to get in touch with her artistic side, then bring in someone with scrapbooking skills that can teach the group new things. Have everyone come up with a piece of advice for the newlyweds that they would like to incorporate.  Each person can have their own page in the book, and with the help of a professional, it will be a valuable keepsake in no time!

THE EVER POPULAR COUPLES SHOWER
For those that can’t spend a moment apart and choose to have a couples shower, there are activities to do for the couple.  It’s always fun to take a trip down memory lane, and it gives them an opportunity to relive their love story.  Each guest can share their favorite memory of them together whether it is sentimental or humorous! Someone writes all these down, and puts it in a memory book for them to view at a later date.  If you want to have more fun, pair guests up and act out their favorite memory instead.  It will provide some laughs and keep the guests guessing!

-Jamie
Pink Poppy Ink

 

The Art of Themed Weddings

Remember when you were seven and your mom threw you a She-Ra birthday party, complete with a Princess of Power cake, decorations, costumes and party favors for all of your best buds — pretty awesome, right?

Now that you’re a big, responsible adult who’s planning a real, grown-up wedding, you might think that those fun-filled days are over… but you’d be wrong! You’re not a conventional, married-in-the-country-club type of gal, so why not bring a splash of awesomeness to your upcoming nuptials?

Perfect for unique and fun-loving couples, themed weddings let your personality shine through – and create a legendary event that your guests will never forget. After all, you and your guy aren’t boring, so your wedding shouldn’t be either.

Whether you and your hubby-to-be love a certain movie, television show, band, style of a certain era, or some quirky aspect of pop culture, you can design a memorable wedding that you – and your equally adventurous guests – will talk about for years.

Carry It Through

Weave your theme through your wedding, from invitations to engagement pictures, guest’s attire to the reception. You can choose a single image, item or song to style your event around — such as a tree, a favorite tune or a hobby you and your finance enjoy – and incorporate elements into each component of the event.

For example, if you adore 1950s style, display the era’s candy colors and retro typefaces on your invitations. Visit vintage shops to get inspiration – and maybe some cool period clothing and jewelry – for your bridesmaids’ dresses and outfits for your engagement photos.

Of course, you’ll want to feature the hottest ’50s music at the reception, from Elvis to Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis to Otis Redding. Name each table at the reception after a famous ’50s TV show – I Love Lucy, Leave it to Beaver, Twilight Zone – and decorate the venue with bits of vintage memorabilia.

After the reception, rent a lovely old Caddy to whisk you away to your honeymoon suite.

Keep it Light

While themed weddings can certainly be enjoyable for the bride and groom, consider your attendants, as well.

While you and your hubby-to-be may think it’s smashing to dress up like Jedi knights, members of The Cure or characters from Legend of Zelda, your attendants might not be quite as enthusiastic. Unless they’re really into it, don’t require them to wear over-the-top costumes, carry light sabers or wear full-face white pancake makeup.

Show your guests the same consideration. Not everyone may be as adventurous as you, so don’t expect attendees to all want to dress in themed attire or endure weird venues: That means no hay bales, floor pillows or other cutesy – but uncomfortable – seating arrangements.

Traditional Touches

You don’t have to go completely over the top with your theme. Incorporate traditional touches, such as diamond rings, a church setting or a fancy limo all decked out with “just married” paraphernalia, and add conventional flair to your unconventional wedding.

And, if you’re not feeling ready to take a complete plunge into a themed wedding, you can always have a themed reception or just use a few theme elements to make your event extra special.

Help With Planning

Hiring a professional wedding planner to handle a themed wedding will definitely help your stress level and your wedding look fabulous. Think you can handle the details yourself? Go the  DIY wedding planning route. Just be sure you have the time to get everything done.

Have fun with the experience and give yourself plenty of time to pull off the perfect themed wedding. Remember that hiccups along the way are normal! Just stick with it, follow through and you’ll end up with a wedding for the ages.

-Blake
Pink Poppy Ink

How to Choose Your Bridesmaids for Your Wedding Day

Ah, the sisterhood of all sisterhoods…your bridesmaids! Wedding planning life would be so much easier if a lottery system were in place for these types of decisions. Just put in the potential names, and out comes the “perfect” combination of people.

Originally, bridesmaids were chosen to keep the bride from being stolen along with tending to her every need on her wedding day.  But these days, they are helping with more of the wedding planning tasks, the shower and bachelorette party, and being permanently glued to the bride’s side the day of the event! Some even feel like they have picked up a seasonal part-time gig (without the pay of course!). All joking aside, choosing who stands beside you on one of the most important days of your life is a big deal, but it does not have to be a big stressor in your life.  Here are a few things to think about:

~Symmetrical or Asymmetrical bridal party?

You do not have to have the same number of bridesmaids and groomsmen. This may be tough if you are really picky about numbers and how this will look when everyone is lined up for the ceremony and pictures. But rest assured! A possible solution is to let your ceremony organizer and photographer know your concerns. They can plan for some spacing and timing adjustments, and it will have a unique and polished look in no time.

~Asking your fourth cousin?

You may think that because you have an extra space in your bridal party, you need to fill it.  Ignore the urge, and let me tell you why, plain and simple.  It will backfire. Stick to peeps that can name your favorite movie, family pet or soon-to-be married name!

~Will they need a babysitter?

Hearing the word babysitter at your wedding is probably not what you had in mind, correct? To help you avoid this type of embarrassing situation, be selective about who you want to represent you on your special day.  Really focus on choosing people that want to see you successful in your marriage and are determined to keep this day about you and your spouse. These hand-picked ladies will be easily spotted wherever they go with their matching dresses, so pick wisely.  More than likely, if you babysat them at some point in your life, you will be doing it again on a day that has your name written all over it.

~What budget?

So the “B” word is going to come up when you are asking people to be in your wedding, or maybe we should say that it should come up.  This can be a tricky one because there will be those that want to be in your wedding, but simply can’t afford it.  Be prepared for this, and have an understanding heart.  Sometimes the people you want to be in your bridal shower will not line up with the budget you have set for them.  If they have to decline, consider finding another way they can contribute. For those that are committed to being in your party, let them know they should not feel obligated to purchase a gift on top of that.

~Two maids of honor may be better than one?

Yes, if these are the two people you are closest to and you want them both by your side on that day.  For example if you have two sisters and you can’t remember which one borrowed the least amount of your clothes in high school, then go for it! There is no rule on this, but be aware that it may be difficult to divvy up the tasks evenly.

Here’s to enjoying yourself and bonding with your bridesmaids during the planning of your wedding!

-Jamie
Pink Poppy Ink

Snappening’s 2012 Snappy Bridal Package of the Year Contest

We want to share the news about an ongoing contest for central Indiana brides and grooms. Our friends at Snappening.com have an amazing contest for central Indiana brides and grooms.

There are more than $6,000 in prizes from some of the best vendors and venues in Indianapolis.

We are excited to join our colleagues and contribute to this fabulous contest. Our letterpress thank you notes are a great way to tell your guests how much you appreciate their presence, love and support on your big day.

Here are some of the participating vendors and prizes for the 2012 Snappy Bridal Package of the Year:

• Circle City 2012 Bridal Show Tour Pass + Magazine Cover Opportunity from Indy Wedding Ideas Magazine ($820 value)
• “Meet the Parents” Chef’s Table Experience from Seasons 52 ($750 value)
• Mancave “Leather & Dice” Setup from Party Time Rental ($500 value)
• Wedding Planning Prize Pack from Ooh La La Events ($500 value)
• Day-After Wedding Family Brunch from Piper’s Catering ($500 value)
• Custom Wedding Cake from Cake Zen – A Couture Confection Studio ($500 value)
• Engagement Announcement Cards Package from Top Hat Photo Booths ($150 value)
• Professional Engagement Photography Session from sara & mallary photography ($400 value)
• Bridal Shower Valet Services from Elite Management Services Valet ($750 value)
• Bridal Shower Rental Offer from The Hawthorns Golf & Country Club ($150 value)
• Bachelorette Party Room Rental Offer from EventzPlus of Carmel ($150 value)
• Bachelorette After-Party Experience from Talbott Street Nightclub ($225 value)
• Engagement Party / Rehearsal Dinner Experience from Park View Banquet Room ($250 value)
• Private Tasting, Cocktails and Jazz from Sullivan’s Steakhouse ($100 value)
• Private Wine Tasting Experience from Mass Ave Wine Shoppe Cafe & Spirits ($150 value)
• Custom Letterpress Thank You Notes from Pink Poppy Ink ($100 value)
• Custom Beverages for the Bridal Party from uFlavor ($50 value)

Pink Poppy Ink is on Pinterest

We finally got our act together and joined the Pinterest community this week. If there’s a slim chance you haven’t heard of it, Pinterest is a virtual pinboard. According to their site, “Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.”

Pink Poppy Ink is using it to showcase our favorite custom wedding invitations, as well as to gather all wedding ideas, from flowers, decorations to honeymoons. We’re also suckers for home decor and handbags, so our interests outside the wedding world will also be ‘pinned’.

If you aren’t already a member, request an invite at pintrest.com and follow us!

Taking the Holiday Plunge

The holiday season is also one of the most popular times for men to give their girlfriends another kind of gift: an engagement ring. But there is (or, at least, there should be) a lot of work that goes into planning a marriage proposal. In fact, some men wait a year or more before popping the question, to make sure they and their girlfriends are ready for marriage.

But not all guys are perceptive enough to pick up on signs that a woman’s ready to tie the knot—and not every woman will send clear signals about her desire to spend the rest of her life with you. For men who might need a little extra help, below are a few tips and tricks on how to lay the foundation for your big day.

Is She Ready?

At this point, you should be positive that you’re ready for marriage, but you might not be clear on your girlfriend’s feelings. If you’ve never talked about marriage before, now is a good time to start—ask her about her plans for the future, if she’s comfortable and happy in her relationship, and if she sees herself with you in the future. Of course, if you’re in a long-term relationship, you’ll already know most of these things—although if you’re in a long-term relationship and you and your girlfriend haven’t discussed marriage at least once or twice, you might want to postpone your proposal. A stable relationship requires constant communication to survive—and if you and your girlfriend aren’t on the same page, getting married won’t make things better.

Buying Jewelry on the Sly

Shopping for engagement rings is easy—but hiding your efforts can be hard. If your girlfriend is the curious type, you might have to cover your tracks while you shop for her ring. Browsing jewelry sites online is one of the easiest ways to get ideas on what she might like—but if you and she share a computer, you might consider using your browser’s private mode in order to keep cookies and URL addresses from being recorded in your history. Enlisting your friends and family to help you can also be a quick and easy way to find the right ring—just make sure they don’t drop hints to your girlfriend. Finally, you could use your lunch break and shop the old fashioned way by going to a jewelry store and asking a sales rep to help you.

Prepping Your Proposal

Many women dream of the perfect proposal, but since you can’t ask your girlfriend what she wants, you’re on your own. But you can take your girlfriend’s lead: make a list of her favorite places, her favorite foods, her favorite sports and other activities. And ask yourself a few questions: Does she spend a lot of time with her family and friends, or is she more solitary? Does she have a flair for the theatrical, or is she more of a bookworm? From there, you should be able to build a proposal plan. It can be big and spectacular or small and intimate—but make sure you’re sincere, and she’ll think it’s perfect.

Planning to ask your girlfriend to marry you can be one of the most stressful moments of your life—but with a little planning and a lot of foresight it can be the first of many happy days to come.

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