When Do I Mail My Wedding Invitation

Sara Theisen Design

We have talked about when to mail out invitations on here before, but as often as I get the question I don't think it hurts to repeat it. There is a pretty easy formula that I like to follow.

Start with the date that your head count is due back to your reception site. From that date, count back two weeks. This is the date when your RSVP will be due back to you. (A two week span will allow you plenty of time to call all those guests, which for some reason, have no idea how to mail an RSVP back.) Count backwards another six weeks and this is when you mail out your invitations. If you are mailing some of your invitations out of the country count back another two weeks and mail them on that date. Remember, if you are sending out save the dates, they need to be in the mail a year to six months before your wedding date.

Stacie and Mike Get Married at the Cliffs

Stacie and Mike purchased Willrich Bridal’s “Month of Package” which means we started working with them a month before the actual ceremony. We helped them pull all the final details of their wedding together. We put together the timelines for the day, directed the ceremony, set up everything at the ceremony and reception site and packed up everything for them at the end of the night. For the brides, like Stacie, who know exactly what they want, but just need help making it all come together on the wedding day, this is the perfect package.

The couple chose the Cliffs Chapel for their ceremony and the Cliffs Valley Clubhouse for their reception. They got ready and did all their before pictures at the beautiful La Bastide Inn.

The colors for the wedding were white, gold and green. Touches of black (lantern centerpieces, chairs) throughout the room set off the colors. The flowers were comprised almost entirely of Stacie’s favorite hydrangeas. They had many personal and handmade touches, such as the table numbers attached to the lantern centerpieces. The seating chart was really cute and hand done by Stacie and Mike. Pictures of the couple were placed throughout the reception. After the ceremony the guys all chanaged from the formal bow ties and dress shoes to green ties and Chucks.  Even Stacie’s family tradition of the “ haunted naked Barbie” that shows up at all family functions was observed.

Here are a few pictures we took of the day for you to enjoy.

Vendors

Wedding Planner :  Willrich Bridal and Special Events

Wedding and Ceremony Site :  Cliffs Chapel at Glassy Mountain, Cliffs Valley Clubhouse

Flowers :  Dahlia's

DJ:  Ric Larson - Life of the Party

Cake:  Kathy and Company

Ceremony Music:  Erin Knight

Photographer:  Jarrad Lister

Makeup:  Lauren Harris

Wedding at the Cliff's Chapel at Glassy Mountian This Weekend with Reception at Cliff's Valley

Here's just a quick look at the wedding we were part of at the Cliffs this weekend.  Even with the heat it turned out beautifully. Check back tomorrow for more pictures and information.

How to Tie a Perfect Bow

Guys there is no reason to go with the clip on bow tie when it is so easy to tie the real thing.  Not sure just how to tie a bow tie, well watch this video we made to learn just how easy it is.  I promise you can do it.  If you can't, I'm sure your wedding planner can.

Memorials For Passed Loved Ones at Your Wedding

While weddings are for the most part happy fun filled events, there are those bitter sweet moments such as remembering loved ones that have passed. This is always hard for brides and grooms, trying to find a way to remember someone who has died but yet not bring down the happiness of the event.

In my own wedding, I took a necklace made from my passed Grandmother’s engagement ring and had it wrapped around the stem of my bouquet. That way I felt that she was there with me as I went down the aisle. We have had brides do this with lockets filled with pictures of their passed loved ones.

Another popular choice is the memorial candle. This is a single candle that can be as simple as a glass container with a ribbon around it or as elaborate as a candle surrounded by a beautiful flower arrangement. These are normally placed near the front of the church on a table (we’ve had several placed on the table with the sand ceremony). In the wedding program there is a mention of the candle. Usually it says something along the lines of “the memorial candle is in loving memory of those that have passed on” or “the memorial candle is in memory of the groom’s Grandmother”.

For those that don’t want to use a candle, we have had flowers placed on the chair or pew where the loved one would have sat. We’ve had a groom and his brother each take a flower down the aisle and place them on the seat their mother would have occupied. It was so touching. We have also had pictures set up at the reception with names and a candle in front of each picture to remember pasted loved ones.

The important thing is that no matter what you do, you remember that your loved one is here with you in spirit on your special day.

What Does The Mother of the Groom Wear?

Just a few of the beautiful choices of the MOG, MOB and GMOB we seen over the years.

Ok, let’s talk about what the mother of the groom should wear. It is so hard for most mothers, groom’s or bride’s, to find something to wear. It seems that most everything is either too dowdy or too young. There also is not really a lot of choice out there. Traditional mother of the bride dresses seem to all look the same. It takes a little thinking outside the box to find something really great. Funny side note, one year we had 5 grandmothers at 5 different weddings who all were wearing the same dress. We started calling it the “official grandma dress”.

The question I always hear from the mother of the groom, “Do I have to match the color scheme of the wedding?” No, you do not. It is nice to blend with the scheme, but if the bridesmaids are wearing pink, you do not have too. You also do not have to match the mother of the bride. In my opinion only the formality of the two moms’ should match.

You should not wear white; some people feel that you would be competing with the bride. Also black, while growing more and more popular, still makes some people feel as if you might not approve of the marriage. So tread carefully when choosing black.

Etiquette declares that the mother of the bride is to pick her dress first and then the mother of the groom finds something that compliments her dress. Whatever you chose just make sure it is comfortable, cool and easy to dance in. Speaking of comfort, please make sure your shoes don’t hurt your feet or be sure to bring a second pair to change into once the party gets going. Now let’s go shopping!

Wording Your Wedding Invitation

One of the questions I get asked the most often is "how do I word my wedding invitation"? It can be “my parents are divorced, so how do I word it” or “my groom wants his parent's name on the invitation. How should that be worded?” I just happen to run across this article on Brides magazine website and it answers all those sticky wording problems. If you are having these questions, stress no more. Check it out!

What You Need To Know About Writing Your Thank You Notes For Wedding Gifts

Let’s talk about writing thank you cards. You’ll have thank you’s to send out for shower gifts and wedding gifts. So what are the rules for thank you notes and when should they be written.

The rule you will hear quoted most often is for gifts given before the wedding you have two weeks to get the thank you out and no, you can not wait till after the wedding to open the gift or write the thank you. People want to know that their gift was received. For gifts received after the wedding you have up till two months to send the thank you.

My suggestion, don’t put them off. Write them as soon as you open the gift and before you use it or put it away. It doesn’t get used until the thank you note is written.

Now what are the other rules for thank you notes? 1) They must be handwritten. No you can not type an email, no you can not just use a fill in the blanks form. These people took time and money to choose you a gift, the least you can do is write a note. 2) You should always include a reference to the gift in your note and an expression of your appreciation for the gift. 3) You can choose from dozens of different kinds of thank you notes. They can match your wedding stationary, they can be completely different. It doesn’t really matter. The only rule is you can't use your married initials or monogram until after the wedding.

We actually used our engagement picture on the front of the notes, that we ordered through Shutterfly. It was quite the crowd pleaser. People that had never met my husband enjoyed seeing a picture of us. Thank you notes are not the most fun part of getting married, but they are an important part. It's not such an awful job if you don't put it off.

What You Need to Know About Engagement Parties

Outdoor Casual Engagement Party

Once you say “Yes”, you will suddenly be the guest of honor at more parties than probably any other time of your life. There will be engagement parties, showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties and rehearsal dinners. It’s one party after another, each with their own set of etiquette rules to help you navigate the wild party ride you will suddenly find yourself on.

First up is the engagement party. Normally this party is given by the bride’s parents within a few months of the engagement, but there are no strict timetable guidelines. Now days, it is perfectly fine for his parents or close friends of the couple to give the engagement party. Just check with the parents first to make sure no toes are being stepped on.

The party usually consists of either dinner or just cocktails. It can be a surprise announcement of the engagement or the guests can know ahead of time. Important to note – gifts are not required at an engagement party. If a guest wants to bring something, it should be something small, but gifts are not encouraged.

The only “official” item that must happen at an engagement party is the toast to the couple, normally done by the dad or the host of the party. While not required engagement parties can be a lot of fun.