Black and White Wedding Invitation

Black and White Wedding Invitation Ideas

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When choosing a wedding invitation, you might not think of having a black and white wedding invitation at first. But the combination of black and white can actually say a lot. It’s elegant, sophisticated, and dramatic. This classic color combination might seem simple but it can definitely make a bold statement. Depending on the design, it can be traditional, and it can be modern. It’s a timeless way to announce your wedding and you won’t regret it even after a few years.

Here are some black and white wedding invitation ideas for you:

Wedding Invites

Photo wedding invitations

Designing your wedding invitation with your couple photo and a black and white color combination is a powerful way of announcing your wedding. It gives a dramatic style that highlights the emotions of the couple in the photo while not overpowering the text of the wedding invitation with too much color. Creating a black and white photo invitation creates balance and unites all the elements on the invitation.

Wedding Invitations Online

Floral Wedding Invitations

Adding a floral design to your black and white wedding invitation can give more character and attitude to the design, if it’s what you are looking for. A floral wedding invitation still has that classic black and white vibe – but touches of florals gives it more flair without overpowering the design.

Announcements

Minimalist Wedding Invitation

What’s a more perfect minimalist wedding invitation than a black and white invitation? In this invitation, you can see how simple the text and design is. This minimalist wedding invitation maximizes the use of white spaces and lines. However, the elements all blend together creating a simple yet elegant and classy wedding invitation.

Wedding Cards

Classic calligraphy

The calligraphy in this classic wedding invitation is beautiful enough to be the center of this wedding invitation design. It might seem like a simple, text-only design, but it’s distinguished and stylish enough to stand on its own. Any more color or additional design could ruin its style.

Black And White Wedding Invitation | 100% Custom Wedding Invitations

Sparkle Wedding Invitation

Black with a touch of sparkle? This sparkle wedding invitation definitely gives off a luxurious and elegant vibe. The black and sparkle background is bold enough to make a statement by itself – highlighting the wedding details at the center.

Black And White Wedding Invitation | 100% Custom Wedding Invitations

Geometric wedding invitation

Aside from your calligraphy and black and white wedding invitation, adding a geometric arch design surrounding the text can improve your wedding invitation as well. This geometric design element gives a more modern and contemporary look.

If you are still on the stage of designing your wedding invitations, black and white wedding invitation designs are definitely a great choice that you won’t regret. You can create so many different designs and styles with this flexible color combination. Have a classic and timeless wedding invitation with these black and white designs.

Questions to ask before you hire a wedding planner - The Invitation Maker

10 Questions to Ask before you Hire a Wedding Planner

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Hiring a professional wedding planner definitely has its advantages. A wedding planner can help you in getting your wedding on the right track smoothly and without any stress. But not all wedding planners might be able to fit your needs. You still need to carefully choose the wedding planner that has the right skills and experience for the type of wedding that you want to have.

So how can you choose the wedding planner that’s right for you? Make sure to ask these questions before you hire a wedding planner.

Are you available on my wedding day?

This is one of the most basic questions to ask any potential wedding planner. If they are not available on your wedding day, there’s no point in considering them. Make sure to find out how many weddings they are handling while planning yours and that they can still focus on giving you high quality service.

What services do you offer?

Ask the different services and packages that the wedding planner offers to determine if it fits your needs. Do they offer full-service planning, month-of coordination, event designing, or à la carte planning? Discuss the types of services that you need and determine if it fits the experience and niche of the wedding planner.

Can you work within my budget?

Another important question is working within the budget. One of the wedding planners main tasks is to help fulfill your wedding vision while staying on track budget-wise. It’s best to know from the get go if they think they can work within your budget or not.

Do you work alone or with a team?

Ask whether the wedding planner has a team so that you can gauge how they can effectively handle your wedding. It’s also important to ask how many of their staff will be there to coordinate, style, and assist on the day of your wedding so you can plan your logistics ahead of time.

How many weddings have you planned?

Experience is important when hiring a wedding planner. Establish your wedding planner’s credibility by asking for a portfolio and references. Make sure that your wedding planner has had enough experience in handling weddings so that you can be assured that they can properly handle yours.

Have you planned a wedding similar to ours?

It’s also important that they have experience in handling a wedding that’s similar to your wedding. Ask whether they have handled a wedding with the same theme, similar budget, or at the same location.

Who are your preferred vendors?

Wedding planners who are connected with good quality and affordable vendors can save you a lot of time. Ask them for a list of vendors that they are connected with and do your research on them. It also helps to know whether your wedding planner can give your discounts and freebies from these vendors.

How often will you keep in touch with me?

It’s important to set a schedule on when your wedding planner will update you regarding all the wedding planning matters. This will help keep your wedding on track and you’ll be able to review the things that have been accomplished. Regular updates and discussions can also prevent any mistake or confusion from happening.

How do you handle pressure and emergencies?

It might seem like a hard question to ask but it’s important to know how your wedding planner can handle difficult situations and emergencies especially if anything happens on the day of your wedding. You need to be able to put your full trust that they’ll be able to resolve it and that at the end of the day, you’ll be able to have a worry-free wedding no matter what.

Can we discuss the contract first?

Once you are at the contract signing stage, study it thoroughly and openly discuss it with your wedding planner. Read the fine line and clear up any questions on services included, total fee, payment plans, cancellation policies, etc.

Hiring a wedding planner can be difficult if you don’t know what you are looking for. Make sure to ask the right questions before hiring a wedding planner so you can assess them properly. Listen carefully to the wedding planner’s answers and aside from their experience and skills, make sure that they have a personality that you can get along with. 

Choose the right wedding planner so that you can transform your vision into the magical wedding of your dreams.

Advantages of Hiring a Wedding Planner | The Invitation Maker

The Advantages of Hiring a Wedding Planner

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Before you start planning for your wedding, you might think twice about whether you should hire a professional wedding planner. While planning your wedding all by yourself is possible and is being done by many couples, many people don’t realize the value and expertise that professional wedding planners bring to the table. 

From helping you to have a stress-free wedding planning journey to bringing your vision to life, there are many advantages of hiring a wedding planner. So before you jump in on planning your wedding alone, here are some of the key advantages to hiring a wedding planner for your wedding:

You’ll have a smooth and stress-free wedding planning.

As a bride- and groom-to-be, you already have enough on your plate. Balancing your full-time job with social commitments and wedding planning can be stressful. Handing over the planning responsibilities to your wedding planner can help streamline and smoothen the process. Not only can you free your time to focus on more important things, you’ll also have peace of mind that they can take care of all your wedding planning concerns efficiently.

A wedding planner will help you with budgeting and scheduling.

Two of the most difficult things when it comes to wedding planning is keeping your budget in check and coordinating all the schedules. As a bride and groom, you can have a tendency to be attached to ideas that are well over your budget. Meanwhile, a wedding planner has a more objective approach and can easily keep your expenses within your wedding budget. They can also efficiently coordinate your wedding appointment schedules and keep your timeline organized, making sure that you are always on the right track.

A wedding planner can give you vendor discounts.

Having a lot of experience in the wedding industry, wedding planners have a vast network of connections that includes connections with potential vendors. They can recommend the best vendors in town, saving you time from searching for different vendors on the Internet and on the street. They can also negotiate the best deals that you otherwise won’t get because of their years of experience and relationships built in the industry.

They can cover the legal aspects.

Wedding planners can help you cover legal permits, check contracts with vendors and your venue, and overall make sure that your wedding is safe from any possible legal action from third parties. 

This is especially helpful if you are planning on holding a destination wedding abroad or across the country as there might be special laws that you need to take note of. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and it’s always safer with a wedding planner.

You’ll get a lot of help on your big day.

You’ll be at peace knowing that your wedding planner is taking care of all logistical aspects with your venue and coordinating with vendors on your wedding day. Your wedding planner will also be on top of solving any issue or problems that might arise during your wedding. With your wedding planner’s team on site, you’ll surely have nothing to worry about except savoring that magical moment with your loved ones.

The services that a wedding planner can offer is definitely worth the money. Aside from take care of all your wedding concerns from start to finish, they can also help you brainstorm wedding ideas, take your vision, and transform it into a magical wedding. So before you go on and handle your wedding planning yourself, think about all the advantages of hiring a wedding planner.

Wedding Stationery | The Ultimate Wedding Stationery Checklist | TIM

The Ultimate Wedding Stationery Checklist

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One of the many things that you need to plan and sort out for your big day is wedding stationery. You might not realize it yet, but there’s actually a ton of wedding stationery that you need to organize before, during, and after the wedding.

Before you go ahead and print out your wedding stationery, make sure to check out our ultimate wedding stationery checklist so you don’t miss out on anything important.

Before the Wedding

During the wedding planning stage, most of the stationery you would need is invitations to different pre-wedding events that you’ll be hosting. Of course, not all of these might be applicable to you as you might choose not to host some of these events. So take note of the stationery that you need to prepare for the pre-wedding events that you’ll be hosting.

  1. Engagement Party Invitations
  2. Save-the-Date Cards
  3. Bridesmaid Proposal Cards
  4. Bridal Shower Invitations
  5. Bachelor/Bachelorette Party Invitations
  6. Rehearsal Dinner Invitation

The Wedding Invitation

The wedding invitation is the main wedding stationery that you need to put much of your design efforts on. The wedding invitation often includes the main invitation card and RSVPs to the wedding sealed in an envelope. Depending on how formal or detailed you want your invitation to be, you can also include a directions card, reception card, and insert cards when you send out your wedding invitations.

After you’ve written your wedding invitation wording and settled the style and design, make sure to order and send out your wedding invitations on time.

  1. Outer and Inner Envelope
  2. Wedding Invitation Card
  3. RSVPs
  4. Response Card
  5. Insert Cards
  6. Reception Card
  7. Directions Card

During the Wedding

Once you have settled all the invitations that you need to send out for pre-wedding events and for the wedding itself, it’s now time to move on to the wedding stationery that you will need during the wedding. This mostly consists of wedding decor and information that will help guide your guests during your wedding such as the ceremony program, menu cards, table numbers, etc.

  1. Welcome Sign
  2. Ceremony Program
  3. Menu
  4. Escort Cards
  5. Table Numbers
  6. Wedding favor tags

After the Wedding

The wedding is now complete, but the wedding stationery that you need to prepare is not yet over. Don’t worry because this last one is only a Thank You Card for all the guests that attended your wedding. Make sure to prepare this when you are designing and printing your wedding invitations to be more efficient in sending them out.

Thank You Cards are recommended and considered a polite gesture of appreciation because your guests went out of their way to attend your wedding.

  1. Thank You Cards

Don’t Miss Out on Important Wedding Stationery

Now that you know which wedding stationery is applicable to your wedding, make sure to streamline them into your overall wedding planning strategy so you can prepare them in advance. Plan early to avoid being stressed out in creating all these wedding stationery and also to give your guests enough time to prepare for your wedding.

Advantages of Having a Micro Wedding | Benefits of Micro Weddings | TIM

The Advantages of Having a Micro Wedding

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Micro weddings have definitely become more and more popular over the years because of many reasons. Some prefer to share their moments with only their closest friends, some choose to save money so they can spend it on their honeymoon or first home. And with the pandemic further restricting large gatherings, micro weddings have become many couple’s primary choice of wedding.

What exactly are micro weddings?

A micro wedding is a small-scale wedding, with typically  20-30 guests, that are mostly close family and friends. Micro weddings often feature wedding traditions and ceremonies, only in a much more relaxed and intimate way.

The Advantages of a Micro Wedding

1. It’s more intimate

You’ll get to share this special day with only the people that truly matter to you. When you are surrounded by people you love and care about, there tends to be less stress and tension to please your guests. You will also be able to spend more quality time with each of your guests and share meaningful conversations with them.

2. More creative freedom

Micro weddings often have a more relaxed and casual vibe. With such a small group of people, you’ll have more creative freedom to do what you’ve always wanted. You can host your wedding somewhere unconventional such as a cafe, a library, a secluded mountaintop venue, a yacht, anywhere your imagination takes you! 

With a small crowd of people who know your true personalities, you’ll be able to make this special day more magical by doing something that you’ve always wanted to do together.

3. You’ll be able to save money

With a micro wedding, the budget that you need will also be smaller as you will need less. For one, your venue and catering needs will surely be cheaper. There are also a lot of unnecessary expenses that you can eliminate such as decor, tables, chairs, and transportation expenses.

Because you can save money on these things, you can choose to splurge more on things that matter to you. Have you always wanted to hire a band? Give a special personalized token to each guest? With all of the savings from having a micro wedding, now you can.

4. Less planning and stress

It’s not a secret how stressful planning for a big wedding can be. Months of preparation can take out the joy and fun of a wedding for some couples. By having a micro wedding, you’ll be able to skip the hassle of intensive wedding planning, without losing all the fun. Of course, there are still things that need to be planned for, but everything is much more controlled and manageable because it is on a much smaller scale.

 

Having micro weddings is like having the best of both worlds. You can have a magical day with your close friends and family without budget constraints and the stress of wedding planning.

Of course, not everyone is cut out for a micro wedding. Some couples envision a grand celebration for their wedding day, while for some, not inviting other friends and relatives just isn’t possible. There are also other types of small weddings such as an elopement wedding, which might be more suited for other couples.

In the end, you should choose the wedding that’s right for you whether it’s a traditional ceremony, destination wedding, micro wedding, or a different type of wedding altogether.

 

Wedding Destination | Budget-Friendly Wedding Destinations in the US

5 Budget-Friendly Wedding Destinations in the US

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We all want to have that perfect scenery in the atmosphere during our wedding. Sometimes, however, no local venue can bring the type of wedding that we are dreaming of to life and we start considering having a destination wedding instead.

Having a destination wedding is a grand and magical way to hold our wedding ceremony. It is often an exciting or adventurous way to escape life from a couple’s hometown or from the hustle and bustle of the city. It can also be more expensive to hold a destination wedding because of transportation, accommodation, and other costs depending on how big of an event you are thinking of having.

Not all destination weddings are expensive. There are plenty of destinations that offer an affordable yet magical experience to wedding hopefuls. Here are five budget-friendly wedding destinations in the US:

1. Sedona, Arizona

A seemingly unlikely destination wedding venue like Sedona, Arizona is actually amazing for outdoor and rustic-themed weddings. Sedona is a desert town that’s surrounded by red rock formations and pine tree forests that gives outdoor wedding venues breathtaking scenery that’s sure to wow every guest.

Sedona is perfect for couples that love the outdoors and are looking for a more rugged yet picturesque backdrop for their wedding.

2. Colorado Springs, Colorado

Another picturesque setting with a rustic vibe to it is Colorado Springs. Located at the foot of the Rocky mountains, imagine a ballroom or garden venue overlooking this majestic scenery along with views of Pikes Peak and the famous Garden of the Gods. Have an elegant garden wedding in Colorado Springs and you’ll surely be mesmerized.

3. Key Largo, Florida

Key Largo is definitely the ultimate beach wedding destination. It boasts of white sandy beaches, palm trees, and clear blue waters but without breaking the bank. Evening weddings are the most popular at Key Largo, as it is also for breathtaking sunsets.

Most weddings in this area are held near public beaches and they are as beautiful as you can imagine, but if you want to opt for a more private venue, there are also venues that offer more seclusion and privacy.

4. Oahu, Hawaii

Beaches in Hawaii might seem like they all come with a price tag, but there are actually amazing beaches in Oahu where you can enjoy the amazing scenery for free or at a minimal charge. Yes, you can have a beach wedding in Oahu without going over budget and without sacrificing the beauty of it all.

Aside from picture-perfect beaches, Oahu also has beautiful gardens that can offer a magical fairy tale atmosphere such as Haiku Gardens and Olomana gardens.

5. Lake Tahoe, California

Have the best of both worlds when you choose Lake Tahoe as your wedding venue. Lake Tahoe is an outdoor wedding wonderland, and you are missing out if don’t even put this up on your wedding destination choices.

Lake Tahoe can offer lakeside venues, mountain top venues, or gorgeous venues overlooking the lake. Resorts and hotels offer jaw-dropping mountain views and forest nooks that will leave you in awe. You’ll never get enough of the scenery at Lake Tahoe.

Choosing the perfect wedding destination for you can be hard with all the beautiful locations out there. Just remember to choose the one that most speaks to you and your partner and one that most reflects the dream wedding that you had imagined.

 

wedding invitation dos and don’ts

Wedding Invitation Do’s and Don’ts

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From all the chaos of wedding preparation, most of us can overlook important details of our wedding invitation that we should include and also things that we should avoid. Mistakes happen during wedding planning and that’s okay. However, if you want to make sure that you don’t miss anything before you send out your wedding invitations, make sure to read our list of wedding invitation do’s and don’ts. 

Have a smoother wedding when you follow these wedding invitation do’s and don’ts:

Do’s

1. Be consistent with the wording.

Wedding invitation wording can be formal, casual, or in between. There’s no right or wrong way to write the wording of your wedding invitation although you can base it on what works for your wedding theme. Whichever style you choose, make sure to be consistent and to stick to it from beginning to end. 

2. Match invitation colors with your overall theme

When you design your wedding invitation, you should have already finalized the details including the theme and color scheme that you want. Make sure to apply this theme to your wedding invitation because it also serves as your guests’ first peek of what your wedding will be like.

3. Include your wedding website

Don’t forget to include your wedding website where guests can send their RSVP and find out more details to the wedding. Although it’s not required, creating a website or social media event page for your wedding is a great way to quickly have an estimate of the actual number of guests coming to your wedding.

4. Offer meal choices

Be sensitive to your guests’ allergies, religion, and diet. Provide meal choices to those who are vegetarian and vegan as well as to those who are not allowed to eat pork and other types of food because of different reasons. Make them feel included and comfortable during your wedding when you offer meal choices.

5. Include directions

If your wedding venue isn’t popular or easily searchable on Google Maps, make sure to provide directions and nearby landmarks so people can know the exact location of the venue.

Don’ts 

1. Don’t include wedding registry information

While there are no solid rules as to what you shouldn’t include on your invitation, putting registry information is considered rude by many people. It gives a vibe off a vibe that the couple isn’t inviting guests just for their presence, but to give them gifts too. Just stick to putting your registry information on your wedding website or event page and spread the word by mouth instead.

2. Don’t use more than two fonts

Having more than two fonts on your wedding invitation will make it look chaotic and less classy. Choose one font for your headings and one font for your subheadings and your wedding invitations will look more elegant and stylish.

3. Don’t forget to send out a Save the Date card ahead

Don’t forget to send a Save the Date card to your guests especially if you are planning your wedding on a weekday, holiday, or other peak wedding dates. Save the Date cards will give your guests enough time to plan their vacation leaves, expenses, and travel costs especially if you are planning a destination wedding. 

4. Avoid changing details at the last minute

Before you print out your invitation, make sure that all the essential details that are included in the invitation are finalized and that no changes will arise at the last minute. We can’t control sudden changes or emergencies, such as any calamities or unforeseen events, that may occur, and that’s okay. But as much as possible, we should have made sure that every detail is confirmed on our end.

5. Do not send out the invitations too late

Knowing the timeline of when to order and mail out your wedding invitations is crucial. Make sure to have your wedding invitations ready to be sent out at least six to eight weeks before your wedding and even earlier on when and how you plan to get married. When you send out your invitations too late, not only is it possible for your guests to have other plans but it can also be interpreted as a sign of lack of respect for their time.

Follow these tips to remember the details that you might overlook and to avoid mistakes that might come off as rude to your guests. Wedding planning is a difficult task, but everything will soon come to place if you do things right.

When to Send Wedding Invitations | When to Order & Mail Out your Wedding Invitations

When to Order and Mail Out your Wedding Invitations

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Once you start planning your wedding, one of the first questions you’ll probably ask is when you should order and mail out your wedding invitations. Well, knowing the perfect time to order your wedding invitations is crucial as you don’t want it to be too early that there can still be changes to your wedding, nor too late that your supplier might charge you more expensively. 

Finalize All the Important Details

First of all, before ordering wedding invitations, you need to make sure that all the important details are finalized. Finalize the date, venue, and overall theme of your wedding. Make sure that all your important family members, loved ones, and wedding vendors are available on this date and that you have already reserved the venue.

Don’t forget to have a rough estimate of the number of guests that you are expecting. You don’t need to list down all the names yet, but make sure that the number of invitations you order is close to the number of guests that you expect.

Timeline of Ordering the Wedding Invitations

Your wedding invitation is the first peek of what your wedding will be like to family and friends. It will set the style, tone, and give them an idea of your overall theme.

To have plenty of time in designing, writing the wording, and deciding on the perfect wedding invitation for your wedding, make sure to order at least four to six months before your wedding date and to mail it out at least two months before your wedding.

Make sure to adjust this timeline to one to two months earlier if you do not plan to send out a Save the Date Card. You should also consider sending it out earlier if you are planning on having a destination wedding, or a wedding on a holiday or wedding peak season.

Three months after your wedding, don’t forget to send out Thank You Cards for all the guests who attended your wedding.

When to Send Wedding Invitations | Mail Out your Wedding Invitations

Avoid Invitation Errors

If there’s one mistake you want to avoid, it’s a mistake on your invitation! Once your wedding invitations are printed, it can be costly to undo errors. Make sure to be extra careful in finalizing wedding details to avoid stationery mistakes, spelling errors, and other etiquette issues.

 

Have your invitations checked and double-checked by a trusted friend or family member or by your wedding planner. Order at least 20 extra wedding invitations in case of errors, a last-minute guest, or simply to for safekeeping.

 

 

Spring Color Palette Wedding Ideas for 2021

Spring Color Palette Wedding Ideas for 2021

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Getting married during the Spring season is always a lovely time because the greenery and foliage are once again in full bloom after a long winter hibernation and are bursting with fresh and vibrant colors. Finding the right color palette for your wedding is even more important to get the most out of this season.

If you are planning to get married this Spring 2021, any of these color palette themes and ideas are perfect for you.

1. Peaches and pinks

Wedding Invitations 2021

There’s nothing else that screams Spring more than using peaches and a light pastel pink combination for your wedding. Use it as the color of your bridesmaids’ dresses, floral bouquets, for the wedding arch and other decor.

2. Minimalistic greenery

Wedding Invitations

Green and white might seem too simple but usually gives weddings a more refined and elegant vibe. This color theme can be used excessively without looking tacky or too much. Use it in your wedding invitations, center table decorations, and more.

3. Touches of golden yellow

Spring Color Wedding

You can’t go wrong with the pantone color of the year. This bright golden yellow will surely brighten up the wedding and make it one to remember. Use yellow roses, tulips, or daffodils to make up your bouquet and floral decorations. Use the color sparingly as bow ties and accessories instead of bridesmaids’ dresses as it may look too overpowering. 

4. Terracotta

Spring Color Wedding

If you are looking for a more chic and modern color theme, a terracotta color palette might be for you. Terracotta has a natural warm  and earthy tone that is easy to incorporate into wedding decors, dresses, and centerpieces. Using this color palette might give your wedding a more rustic and laid back vibe. Pair it with sage green and you’ll definitely have a beautiful wedding.

5. Mixed in-season flowers

Wedding Ideas for 2021

Paired with a neutral tone, using different colors of in-season flowers can give your wedding a bold but balanced look. Neutral grays or blues of the bridesmaids’ dresses for example, won’t drown out the colors of the bouquet but will highlight how beautiful these flowers are.

Choosing the right color palette for your wedding depends on your personality and taste. It can also matter depending on a specific theme in mind, such as a rustic or a beach wedding. Or if you have a specific Spring flower that you want to use. 

Weddings only come once in a lifetime. So whichever color palette you use, make sure that it is something that you can look back to without any regrets. Pick a color theme that speaks to your heart and don’t look back.

 

Wedding Photographer | How to Find the Perfect Wedding Photographer

How to Choose a Wedding Photographer

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Choosing the right wedding photographer can make your wedding more memorable. But the problem usually lies in how to choose the right photographer for you. Unlike your other vendors where you can see the final product beforehand like the cakes and flower arrangements, you won’t get a chance to see your wedding photos until after the wedding and the post-processing stage.

But before you panic about your wedding photos, consider these tips on how to choose the right wedding photographer:

1. Choose a Style

Before choosing a wedding photographer, choose a photography style that you like. You might have a love for nostalgic or vintage-styled portraits or prefer a more bright and upbeat style of photography. After looking for inspiration, narrow it down to photographers who specialize in the style of photography that fits your aesthetic and contact them to see if they are available for your wedding.

2. Interview Wedding Photographer

Interview wedding photographers that made it to your shortlist. Assess their skills, knowledge, and experience when it comes to wedding photography. Ask the right questions: What is their primary style? How long have they been a photographer at weddings? Have they done a wedding similar to yours? Will there be a contract? Is he/she a solo photographer or are they a team?

Aside from their skills, make sure that they have a personality and attitude that you can easily connect to and communicate with. Being on an agreeable term with your photographer can help you avoid stress later on.

3. Look at Full Wedding Albums

It’s not enough to just look at their portfolio as this will only naturally highlight their best shots. Ask a sample of a few full wedding albums that they have done before to see from start to finish how they narrate the story of a wedding from their lens. Observe the photos with a critical eye, but don’t expect all shots to be perfect. Looking at these photo albums should give you an idea of how they think, what their style is, the shots that they usually like to take, and how they frame photos.

4. Compare Different Packages

Compare fees and different packages of the wedding photographers of your choice. Most photographers have a standard wedding package that generally mentions how long you want them to cover your wedding and how many shots they will include in the final album. You would ideally want them to be there from preparation to the reception which would last around six to ten hours.

You would also want to know how much it costs for extra services that they offer such as an engagement shoot, extra effects, and extended hours to cover your wedding. You must also determine how long the post-processing will take and how you will receive the photos.

5. Know your Rights

Most wedding photographer contracts state that all the rights to the photos belong to them. This means that they have the right to use your photos in materials to promote their photography services. What you need to know is what your limits are in using the photos. Can you upload the raw files online without the photographer’s watermark and proper credits? Can you have them printed with a different printing company?

Knowing your rights to the photos will help you avoid legal consequences and will help you know how to freely use your photos.

When selecting a wedding photographer, it just comes down to the style and aesthetic that you prefer, the attitude and work ethic of the photographer, and the terms and package that are both agreeable to you. Follow your gut and choose a photographer that you know can help you immortalize your special wedding into beautiful memories.

Wedding Costs

7 Ways to Cut Wedding Costs

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A wedding is supposed to be a grand and magical event for any bride and groom, however, all the glamor that we dream of comes with a price tag. In fact, the average spending of a couple for their wedding was around $30,000 in 2020. From wedding venues to food and decor, every detail that you would want to add to your wedding has a price. And combined together, it can lead to a very expensive wedding.

It’s only practical to want to cut your expenses and save money. Thankfully, there are many ways to cut wedding costs without sacrificing the dream wedding that you have envisioned. So before you give up your hopes of having a perfect wedding, here are eight ways to cut wedding costs.

1. Trim the Guest List

Limiting your guest list is one of the easiest ways to cut wedding costs. When your trim down your guest list, you are lessening the people you are going to feed. This also means that you can get a smaller and more affordable venue. It is important to set a venue and food budget before deciding on how many people to include in your guest list.

2. Be Smart About Food

Depending on the size of your wedding, there are plenty of ways to save money on food. For one, you can strategically schedule your wedding in the afternoon and serve snacks and hors d’oeuvres instead of a full meal.

If you do decide to prepare a meal for your guests, caterers often offer different packages for weddings. You can save money by having a buffet-style wedding than having a sit-down dinner with waiters serving your guests by plate.

You can also opt for cheaper meal choices in the menu and avoid dishes that are known to be pricey such as lobsters, caviar, and oysters. Consider choosing dishes with ingredients that are in season and can be locally sourced from the farmer’s market.

3. Think Twice About the Venue

Venues take up a big chunk of the wedding budget. To save up on venue expenses, try to look for open spaces such as a garden or a farm, or public venues such as museums and parks. You can even have your wedding at home. Unlike having your wedding in a mansion or fancy hotel, these venues offer more flexibility aside from being affordable.

You can transform any venue into a beautiful wedding with great decor and proper planning.

4. Rent your Wedding Decor

Wedding decor is essential and can definitely add personality to your wedding. Instead of buying or even doing DIY decor, renting wedding decor is more cost-effective and efficient. There are many decor rentals that also offer to set up and pack up wedding decor. Renting decor will definitely save you a lot of time, money, and stress from buying and curating each design one by one.

5. Do Your Research About Hidden Fees

Make sure to consider hidden wedding costs when planning your wedding. These costs can range from your marriage license and marriage commissioner fees to venue taxes and corkage fees.

To be sure that you won’t go over budget, allot at least $500 on your wedding budget for unavoidable fees and possible emergency expenses.

6. Serve a Sheet Cake to your Guests

A huge 5-tier wedding cake with an elaborate design will surely impress your guests, however, these prices are often pricey and can take a big chunk off your wedding budget. Couples usually spend around $350 to $700 on cake alone, and the price can go up to $1000 if you want it to be a grand wedding cake.

A cost-saving idea is to have a small but elegant cake for the cake slicing ceremony and to serve sheet cake to your guests instead. A sheet cake is definitely cheaper than a ganache-filled cake with an elaborate design and your guests will probably be too busy to notice the difference.

7. Save up on Floral Arrangements

There are many ways to save up money on floral arrangements for your wedding. Choose flowers that are in-season or that are known to be a more affordable variety. You can also save up by using fewer flowers but styling them in a way that can highlight each individual flower.

You can also arrange to reuse the flowers used in the wedding ceremony as decor or table centerpieces for your reception. 

Less Can Be More For Weddings

You don’t need to blow off your savings to have a beautiful wedding. Be smart and creative about using your resources and you’re sure to pull off a great wedding without sacrificing quality – even if you save a few hundred bucks! 

Things to Avoid When Planning A Wedding

5 Things to Avoid When Planning A Wedding

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While most couples have a checklist or a list of wedding must-haves, you must remember that you should also take note of things that you should avoid when planning a wedding. You will probably only plan a wedding once in your lives which means that all couples are new to this concept and that there are no do-overs if you make mistakes.

If you ask wedding experts, they will probably tell you a long list of things that you should avoid when planning a wedding. 

1. Going over budget

The first mistake to avoid is not setting a wedding budget. The second one is going over the budget that you set.

It’s easy to get caught up in making sure that you have a perfect and magical wedding. Many brides easily become impulsive and find it hard to sacrifice things in order to stay under budget. Blowing your budget on a wedding dress, florals and bouquets, and other decors can be very tempting. However, these decisions can have consequences. You might be forced to sacrifice other things in the future.

Before you set a budget, make sure that you have an idea of what type of wedding you want to have. Look around shops to know how much the average prices are in your area and set your budget on what you can afford from there.

2. Announcing a Date without a Venue

You might have a chosen wedding date that you are not willing to move no matter what happens. However, don’t announce this date to your family and friends without securing a venue first. You might be surprised at how fully booked the venues are and might compromise choosing a beautiful venue that’s within your budget because you announced the date in advance. Even worse, you might not find a suitable venue for your chosen wedding date at all.

Don’t be overexcited and wait until all the wedding essentials are planned before announcing a date to your family and friends. If they need to schedule a flight or ask for a work leave in advance, give them at least two to three dates that you are tentatively choosing from just so that they can have an idea of what to expect.

3. Adding things at the last minute

Make sure that you have settled everything that has to do with planning your wedding at least a week before the ceremony. Although changes are sometimes unavoidable, adding and changing things out of impulse are two things that you should avoid. For one, it might cause an avalanche of changes on your wedding day. It might disrupt the flow, cause disorganization, or even chaos if you are not careful. 

If you must change something, make sure to inform every person involved in planning your wedding. If the thing that you want to add is not feasible, don’t force it especially at the last minute. It will only cause you, your wedding planners, and vendors unnecessary stress.

4. Trying to do everything alone

As a bride, the idea of planning a wedding can be stressful enough let alone operating on a budget. Some of you might think that you can DIY most of the things that require professionals. However, don’t make the mistake of trying to do everything alone.

There are many ways to save money that doesn’t require you to spend hours on hand-lettering that invitation or baking all those cupcakes. Do a cost-benefit analysis. What do you want on your wedding that you can achieve yourself easily? What can you hire a professional for and how much will it cost? 

Choose to DIY only one or two things that you need for your wedding, and for the rest, you can either ask your friends to help or look for a reasonable supplier. When asking for a friend to do it, make sure that you have an understanding that they can deliver and that the quality will not be compromised. Beware of people that could possibly cancel their commitment at the last minute, leaving you to change your plans or spend to spend even more.

5. Trying to please everyone

In the end, your wedding is for you and your partner. People will always have something to say no matter what you do. So you might as well do what will please you instead of them. 

When you feel pressured by your family, just step back and take a deep breath. Remind them that while you respect their opinion, this is your wedding and that you are in control. You only have one wedding, make sure to make it a wedding that you will remember forever.

How To Plan Your Adventure Elopement | The Invitation Maker

How To Plan Your Adventure Elopement

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Are you an adventurous couple? Do you love spending your time outdoors? Hiking date? Romantic adventure? If the answer is yes, you might also be considering an elopement for your wedding.

An elopement is a marriage that is usually conducted without the knowledge of the couple’s family and friends. In an elopement, couples only have a ceremony. They do not host a big reception or celebration. However, in some cases, couples who elope also invite some guests to serve as witnesses of the sealing of their love.

Aside from a way to seal their love, it also serves as an adventure for the couple as they get to travel. But since this is not your usual wedding ceremony, there are also differences when it comes to planning. Here are the things that you should keep in mind:

1. Think about what is meaningful for both of you.

The first thing that couples decide on when eloping is the location. It is the highlight of elopements. For you to choose the perfect location, you need to identify what you love to do together. Where do you usually go for your adventures? What outdoor activity excites you the most? What is on your bucket list as a couple? Think about something that is significant to both of you. 

Your day should be meaningful to both of you. And the location will play a big role on how your elopement will be memorable for you as a couple.

2. Check the legalities.

Once you’ve chosen a location, check the laws. Different locations have different laws when it comes to eloping. You wouldn’t want your day to be ruined just because you failed to secure the necessary documents. Or come back home and be disappointed that your marriage was invalid. Check to see if you need a witness, what appointments you need to make in preparation for your wedding, and how long it will take to get your marriage license.

Although an elopement might be easier to organize since you do not have a big reception, you still need to process the necessary documents.

3. Coordinate with local suppliers.

One of the challenges in having an elopement is logistics and resources. Since you will be having your wedding in a different location, it is best to look for suppliers as early as possible. Look for local suppliers for easier coordination during your wedding day. 

Unlike traditional ceremonies, you cannot just easily ask for recommendations from your friends regarding the best suppliers when doing an elopement. Do your research early to save you from stress as your special day gets nearer.

4. Make sure to announce the news to your loved ones.

You’ve already tied the knot – in the most memorable way ever. What’s next? Even though your family and friends weren’t actually there during your sealing, you would still want to share the big news with them. You still want them to be part of this milestone in your life as a couple, albeit in a different way. You can throw a post-elopement party. Another option would be bringing home souvenirs and giving it to them as your way of making them a part of your special day. 

If you want to keep it simple, you can stick with giving away wedding cards to announce your big news. You can collaborate with The Invitation Maker for designs that are customized according to your liking.

Weddings, whether it be a fancy ceremony or a simple elopement, should always be memorable. It is when you will be united with your greatest love. Doing an elopement will surely give you a day that you will remember forever as you get to say your vow to the one you love in a place that is meaningful to both of you. A beautiful memory will be brought home which will mark the beginning of new adventures together.

 

How to Plan a Sustainable Wedding | The Invitation Maker

How to Plan a Sustainable Wedding

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Weddings might be full of elegance and glamour, but they’re also known to leave heaps of waste and environmental damage behind if not planned sustainably. From tailoring clothes that most bridesmaids will wear only once to food waste from the buffet, there are definitely many wedding practices that can be changed.

Planning a sustainable wedding isn’t that hard. There are plenty of sustainable alternatives to choose from. Here are a few ideas to make your wedding more sustainable:

Shop for Local and Ethical Products

When shopping for decor items and wedding favors, choose shopping from small and ethical businesses. You may not realize it, but there are many small businesses that offer great quality products that you can support.

Make sure to buy local for these items that might be on your wedding checklist:

  • Florals and bouquets
  • Cakes and pastries
  • Table centerpieces
  • Wedding favors
  • All decor items
  • Makeup
  • Clothing and accessories

 

And don’t forget to bring your grocery bag when shopping too!

Don’t Use Plastic and Single-Use Items

Avoid using plastic and other single-use items in your wedding. Ditch the straws, plastic cups, and plastic bags – they will all lessen the elegance of your wedding anyway. Opt for reusable cutlery, reusable glasses, and hemp bags. Provide a water dispenser instead of giving away plastic bottles.

You can even tell your guests to bring their own takeout containers – that’ll help you save up on plastic and on food waste too!

Choose to Borrow than to Buy

When possible, choose to borrow items from close friends and family rather than to buy new items that you’ll probably only use once. You can also look for a place where you can rent items that you need for your wedding.

Many brides would probably want to buy new gowns, shoes, and accessories, but these things can also be rented if you choose to. Think about things that you are willing to compromise. It will not only lessen your waste but will also help you save money.

Choose a Sustainable Venue

Your wedding can cause carbon emissions especially your guests need to get on a plane ride or drive for a few hours. Of course, you should get married wherever your heart desires. But if you are concerned about how sustainable your venue is, consider holding it somewhere close to where the majority of your guests live.

You can also choose an alfresco venue or a venue that supports sustainability in your area. Check out garden farms or hotels that support sustainability through their practices and services.

Limit Material Gifts

While gifts are always fun, receiving gifts that you don’t really need is wasteful. Why not create a list of material gifts that you and your partner need, instead? Your guests can choose and cross out which gifts they will give so that no one buys the same gifts. You can also ask for cash gifts instead.

If you want to skip materials gifts overall, why not choose a charitable cause that your guests can send their gifts to? Look for non-profit environmental organizations that you can trust. Not only will you help advance their causes, you and your guests will also feel great about being able to help.

Donate What You Can

After your wedding, choose to donate what you can. You can partner with local charities to give out food that wasn’t consumed. You can donate the florals and bouquets you used to hospitals or retirement homes. You can even donate all the excess giveaways and decors you used to thrift stores or charities you think could use them.

Giving your wedding decoration a second life will give your wedding a deeper meaning as well.

Planning a sustainable wedding isn’t as hard as you think. You can start small and start slowly. Remember that it doesn’t need to be perfect. Don’t beat yourself up if you fail to do one of these steps. What’s more important is that we are trying to do our best to lessen our waste and environmental impact, one step at a time.

The Best 2021 Wedding Trends to Watch Out For | The Invitations Maker

The Best 2021 Wedding Trends to Watch Out For

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Many wedding plans were canceled or pushed back because of last year’s pandemic. These sudden turn of events have affected the wedding industry in more ways than we can imagine.

While some of us might still be pushing for traditional wedding practices, there are a few great wedding trends that have been born out of adjusting to the ‘new normal’ lifestyle. 

Here are some of the best 2021 wedding trends to watch out for:

Intimate Weddings

As large gatherings become a thing of the past, micro weddings or intimate weddings will become more common this 2021. Less is more this year as we prioritize safety and follow health protocols. Weddings are expected to have fewer guests (around 10-50) and be more private and intimate. Some of us might even consider holding multiple celebrations to accommodate our different set of social groups. 

Aside from micro weddings, similar concepts are minimally and elopement weddings for more adventurous souls.

Alfresco Venues

Outdoor or alfresco venues will be more common as covid-19 is known to spread faster in closed and air conditioned venues. Add in the fact that people are eager to go out and travel, expect more private beach weddings, garden weddings, and mountain weddings this year.

Eco-Friendly Weddings

Sustainability is everything this 2021. As we become more and more aware of climate change, many people are choosing to reduce their wedding’s environmental impact.

There are many ways to lessen your wedding’s waste. From brides who are opting for sustainable dresses and makeup to choosing local and organic for your wedding’s food and picking eco-friendly wedding decors and favours. Many couples are committing to a zero-waste wedding.

Live Streaming your Wedding

Due to lockdown restrictions and safety protocols, we know that not all our guests will be able to attend our weddings as much as they want to. Live streaming is a great way to share this moment in our lives with them without compromising their safety. 

Live streaming is easy and hassle-free. Read here to know more about how to live stream your wedding this 2021.

Technicolor Design

White is out and color is in. Expect fresh and modern color palettes to take over weddings this year. Think of bright, bold, and darlings pops of colors and hues that will make our wedding decors look more exciting. Make a statement with brilliant and unconventional color themes. 

This is a much-needed change especially since we’ve been stuck in our homes for months, aren’t we tired of seeing neutrals and plain colors all the time?

Luscious Greenery

We know you all love greenery, and we are expecting to see more of it this 2021. Adorn your tables with foliage and fill your wedding arches with massive leaves and luscious greenery to add a level of elegance and sophistication. Choose a type of greenery that you think will suit your personality such as ferns, eucalyptus, or even succulents.

Whether you decide to hold an indoor or outdoor wedding, greenery will surely help you have a more beautiful and stylish wedding.

These wedding trends are different from the usual, but that’s what makes them more exciting. It’s been a tough year, and we are being forced to think out of the box and go for wedding ideas that we usually would not have thought of before. 

In the end, it is still up to you to decide what kind of wedding you would like to happen. Don’t be afraid to do it your way and plan the wedding of your dreams. 

How to Live Stream your Wedding in 2021 | The Invitations Maker

How to Live Stream your Wedding in 2021

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As much as we want all our friends and families to be able to attend our wedding, there are unavoidable circumstances that might hinder some of them to attend our wedding in person. We might have that grandmother who is not allowed to go out because of the pandemic or that close friend who lives in another state or country. Instead of being disappointed, why not plan how to live stream your wedding instead?

Live streaming is a great way to make your families and friends feel included and welcome. Here is a checklist of what you need to prepare for live streaming on your wedding day.

1. Create an Event Page or Group

Create an event page or a group where you can invite the guests who are unable to attend. Give them all the details and brief them that you will be sharing the link of the live stream on that particular group. You can even assist and give instructions to relatives who are not that techie. Assign someone to share the link with them on your wedding day.

Creating this group at least a week before the wedding is a great way to ensure that they’ll all be informed of what will happen and what they need to do on your wedding day.

2. Assign a Trustworthy Friend to Live Stream

Assign someone to live stream your wedding. It could be a friend or a relative, or you can ask your photographers to do the live streaming for you. 

A live streaming setup can be really simple. You can simply use a smartphone, tripod, and all the person needs to do is to click start, make sure that the audio is working, monitor it throughout the wedding, and click to end the live stream.

3. Make Sure you Have the Equipment

Depending on the setup you prefer, as I said, live streaming can be simple. You can use a smartphone and a tripod for stability. You can add in a microphone if you want to make sure that the audio is clear. Don’t forget to download a live streaming application. You can use applications such as EventLive,  LoveStream, or any other live streaming application you prefer.

 If you want to be fancier, you can have a two or three camera setup, but setting this might need some professional help.

4. Test the Venue’s Internet in Advance

Inform your venue that you need a strong Internet connection for your wedding as you will be live streaming. Check the Internet connection 30 minutes prior to your wedding and bring a backup Wi-Fi device in case something goes wrong.

Live streaming is a simple way to bring the people who love you together for your wedding. They might not be able to attend your wedding personally, but their hearts will surely be with you as they watch your wedding from afar.

 

The Best Wedding Favors in 2021 | The Invitation Maker

The Best Wedding Favors in 2021

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Changes happen every year. As we welcome 2021, there will surely be new trends that will set the standard in people’s lifestyles. The wedding scene is not an exception. This is especially true when it comes to the wedding theme, wedding dresses, or even colors. But one thing that most couples overlook when planning their wedding is the wedding favors. Since we’ve all gone through a tough time for the past year, people’s priorities also changed. For a wedding during this time of recovery, what could possibly be the best giveaway to your guests? 

In most weddings, big gatherings are not yet allowed. Hence, guests usually attend the ceremony virtually. Wedding favors play a big role in this set-up. This is how you can convey your gratitude to your (virtual) guests and also let them feel that they are part of your big day. With everything that has happened, here are some ideas on the best wedding giveaways for 2021.

1. Scented Candles

Bring warmth to your guests’ homes with a scented candle. This is a useful giveaway that can also serve as a nice decoration at home. If you are having a destination wedding, you can customize the scent or packaging of the candles based on your wedding location. This is like giving them a feel of the ambiance of your actual wedding.

2. Food or Drink Inspired Wedding Favors

You can never go wrong with food or drink-inspired wedding favors. Spread sweetness with a pack of candies or chocolates. This is perfect for DIY weddings. Just be creative on how you will pack those treats. If you want to be more playful, you can give away fortune cookies instead. You can put custom messages inside – it can be fortunes about love or a simple thank you message for your guests.

3. Coffee/Tea

Admit it, coffee or tea is what kept us going throughout the past year. This is a perfect giveaway to your adult guests. For rustic-themed weddings, you can put the coffee beans in a burlap wrap. You can also opt for loose leaf tea and put it in a nice jar and customize the decor based on your theme.

4. Customized Coaster

If you want to avoid the hassle of packing and the trouble of getting a supplier for great coffee and loose leaf tea, you can give out coasters instead. Personalize it with your names and the date of your wedding. Or you can opt for resin coasters that can be custom-made based on your wedding theme. If you are having a beach wedding, you can have resin coasters with a design that mimics the ocean and the sand.

5. Succulents

Succulents are an adorable giveaway for greenery-inspired weddings. We’ve all spent most of our time this year at home and we do not know how long this situation will last. So having a little succulent on your desk will surely brighten up your mood.

6. Tote bags

Tote bags can really come in handy during these times. Because it’s washable and can easily be sanitized, this will surely be useful for your guests as this can be their go-to bag for grocery runs or for going out to do errands during this pandemic. Add a personalized hand sanitizer keychain for a plus!

7. Disposable camera 

If you want to be a little extra, go with a very unique and creative wedding giveaway – a disposable camera. This is a great way of telling your guests how grateful you are to them. You can include a simple yet heartwarming note:  “Thanks for being part of one of the biggest moments in our lives. Use this camera to create and capture your own beautiful moments.” 

Or they can also use this to capture moments during your special day. Say goodbye to traditional photo booths. It can be a good time for the kids (or even the grown-ups) to play with disposable cameras.

Aside from the memory from your wedding, you should also give your guests something that can be beneficial to them.

Everyone’s becoming more practical after everything that has happened this year. Even with the wedding giveaways, it would be better to give out something useful or something that can lift your guests’ mood from all the happenings this 2020. Let’s be real. No one will care about that little decoration which will be left on your guests’ cupboards and will just eventually be covered by dust in the coming years. 

 

Engagement Photos Guide: Everything You Need to Know

How to Get the Best Engagement Photos

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Congratulations on your engagement! So, what’s next? Of course, we want to immortalize this moment of your life as a couple. The best way to do this is by capturing engagement photos. This is a really exciting part of your pre-wedding preparation as you get to feel like celebrities for a day – elegant make-up, classy outfit, cameras on you.

But all these might be overwhelming especially if you haven’t spent a lot of time in front of cameras before (unless you’re a model who’s used to getting his/her photos taken). You might feel nervous and it might show in the photos. So the best thing to do is to relax and be comfortable in front of the camera. We know this is not easy so here are some tips that we wish could help you get the best engagement photos:

1. Plan your outfits ahead of time.

One of the key factors in getting a good photo is having a great outfit. This applies not only to engagement photos but to ordinary photos as well. We usually ensure that our outfits are Instagram-worthy, don’t we? So for your engagement photos, why not make it extra? 

Pick an outfit that will make you look stunning. It would be better to fit it before the actual shoot day so you can check if it fits well, if it looks good on you, and if you feel comfortable wearing it. The last one is very important! No matter how beautiful your outfit is, it should still be comfortable. If you are not confident enough to wear it, you will feel uneasy and it might show in the photos.

2.Choose the perfect location.

Aside from your outfits, the location also greatly affects the outcome of your engagement photos. Who would want to shoot in a bad location? Even on regular days, you wouldn’t get excited to take photos in unappealing places. 

Think about a place that is relevant to both of you. This can be a good starting point. Where did you two meet? What are your common interests? Are you both adventurous? You can have your photos taken near the mountains or by the beach. Do you love hanging out at home, having coffee, or chilling over your favorite movie? Then an at-home session would be perfect for you. You can utilize the location as part of your story as a couple.

3. Personalize your engagement shoot.

Your engagement photos should somehow tell your story as a couple. Think about personal elements that you can incorporate into your shoot. You can create scenes or poses based on your personality. Are you a playful couple? Try to reflect that on your photos. 

This is the perfect time to just be yourselves. We want to have good photos but it is also important that these reflect your story and personality as a couple. After all, you’re doing this to capture your moments as a couple.

4. Start the shoot session by writing letters to each other.

This doesn’t need to be another set of vows to each other. Just write anything you want to say to your partner. Tell them how much you love them and how excited you are to marry them. You can write the letter on the night before your engagement shoot and let them read it on the day of the shoot.

This helps both of you be “at the moment” and will make the session less awkward. Pour your heart out by telling how you feel about your partner. It will make the shoot more natural and emotional. It will remind you why you are doing this in the first place and will surely result in heartwarming photos afterward.

Just be in the moment.

As mentioned in our last point, be in the moment. Don’t feel too much pressure. Remember that you’re doing this for yourselves. You don’t have to be concerned about what other people will say about your engagement photos. You and your partner should be the one to feel satisfied and happy about the photos.

Most importantly, the main thing that we need to capture in these photos is not about how beautiful and scenic these are, but how madly in love you are with each other.

How to Choose a Wedding Theme That Fits Your Personality | TIM

Wedding Themes That Fit Your Personality

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The wedding should be a reflection of a couple’s personality. After all, it is your big day. Ideally, every element that we find in the wedding should be about you. It is an opportunity for both of you to share your story with the people close to you. 

Thinking about this will surely be a trip down memory lane as you will look back to how your story started. Where did you two meet? What did you do on your first date? Who said “I love you” first? But before diving into the details, you need to decide on the overall wedding theme first.

Classic/Traditional

If you both value family traditions very much, you can opt for a classic wedding. This is a traditional wedding theme, often incorporating the family wedding tradition, but with a personal touch from the couple. 

For the ceremony, you can do the usual red carpet with scattered rose petals where the bride will walk on. For the reception, it can be done in a ballroom or function hall, styled based on the bride and groom’s preference, and aligned with any family tradition that you plan to incorporate in the program.

A classic wedding is the easiest theme for weddings and it is also the most versatile when it comes to adding elements based on the couple’s personality. It is like painting on an empty canvas. The traditional elements will never go out of style even if you look back to this very special day during your silver anniversary.

Rustic

This is perfect for couples who are laid-back and love DIY activities. If you both find building things from scratch a bonding activity, then this might just be the perfect theme for you. Couples with this personality often find fulfillment in creating something beautiful from random things. 

To provide a laid-back atmosphere, the best location for this is an outdoor garden or a backyard. Decorate the venue with vintage and boho design elements. Another good thing about rustic weddings is that since the elements can be mostly DIY, couples have the option to be eco-friendly by recycling different items to create rustic decorations.

Although you both love DIY, this doesn’t mean that you have to build everything on your own for your wedding. Remember that this is just a reflection of what you are as a couple. You can always get help from your organizers but make sure that your personal preferences as a couple will always be there.

Beach

How about a beach wedding? This will always be a part of our list of wedding themes as this doesn’t need too much set-up to provide a beautiful wedding scene. The view of the ocean and skies will surely be enough to paint a beautiful backdrop for the wedding ceremony.

This theme isn’t just for couples who love the beach but also for those who would like to have a destination wedding. You can choose a beach location with a nice view. Or somewhere memorable to the both of you. What more can you ask for if you have a beautiful view (aside from the bride, of course) and the sound of the crashing waves in the background while you are saying your wedding vows?

Modern Minimalist

If you both prefer clean and sleek aesthetics more than flashy elements, this theme is for you. This is for couples who find beauty and contentment in simple things. They believe that less is more.

When you choose a modern minimalist wedding, you will be able to cut down costs on decorations while retaining the elegance of the whole venue. However, since you won’t be putting in too many decorations, the venue plays an important role in achieving that minimalist aesthetic we are aiming for. Possible venues can be simple architecture with strong lines, glasshouses, or lofts. It should have a wide and open space with carefully curated furniture pieces to achieve an upscale and minimalist look.

Doing a modern minimalist theme is also like painting on a blank canvas. However, its difference with traditional weddings is that you need to be more careful in adding the elements. While we want to incorporate the couple’s personal touch, we must ensure that we avoid overdoing it.

Enjoy your trip down the memory lane

Always remember that your wedding theme should be a result of your journey as a couple. So it is important to make it as personal as possible. You want to own this day. Besides, your wedding is the day that both of you would like to remember forever and a memory that you both would love to share with your kids in the future.

Wedding Planning During COVID-19

Tying the Knot in the New Normal

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The bride, looking stunning in her white dress, is walking slowly towards the aisle. The groom is waiting patiently on the altar, with joyful tears in his eyes. Friends and family are there to witness this once in a lifetime event. All eyes on the beautiful bride. Is this how you imagined your wedding? 

But the pandemic happened. Who would have thought that you’ll be needing to wear a mask as part of your wedding outfit? And with virtual guests?

Newly-engaged couples are currently faced with a big decision – should they postpone or push through with their wedding? There are so many things that need to be considered. Whatever the decision may be, below are some advice that you might want to check out:

1. Go back to your vision as a couple.

Discuss with your partner. What is your vision for your wedding? Some couples have dreamt about this day for so long. So if they are not in a rush, they can choose to postpone it for now and achieve the wedding that they have in mind. For other couples, they don’t want to be hindered by anything and just want to start their life together. The decision still depends on the couple; besides, their love should conquer anything.

2. Conduct plannings through virtual meetings.

If pushing through with the wedding, it would be best to practice safety measures and, as much as possible, avoid physical contact with other people. This is where technology can be of big help. Conduct your meetings with suppliers through video calls.

3. Keep the ceremony small and intimate.

This is for the interest of everyone’s safety – not just the couple but also friends, family, and suppliers. It would be more feasible to practice social distancing with a limited number of guests. Also, given all the restrictions due to the pandemic, a small ceremony would be easier to plan and manage. Don’t fret as you can still do a bigger celebration when the situation gets better.

4. Livestream the ceremony.

Thanks again to technology, we are able to do things we didn’t even imagine to be part of our normal life. During weddings, some relatives from out of town travel far just to attend. Given the pandemic, we do not want to risk their health in traveling. There are a lot of live streaming technologies that you can use so all the important people can still witness your big day even if they are away.

5. Explore having drive-by greetings.

We’ve seen this in some weddings during the pandemic. Friends, while inside a car, pass by the church to say their best wishes to the newly-wed couple. Some even wear their wedding outfits and bring a glass of champagne. Nothing can stop them from celebrating love! This might be an unusual practice but it is really heartwarming to see these people become part of your special day – even while practicing social distancing.

6. Celebrate (virtually) with friends and family.

From the drive-by greetings, continue the celebration through a video conference call with your friends and family. To make the guests feel like they are really in the wedding reception, you can send packages to their homes. How about a bottle of wine and a charcuterie board?

No one can tell when this pandemic will be over. And in this time of uncertainty, what’s important is that you are both certain about your feelings and your intention of marrying each other. As the saying goes, love conquers all.

Wedding Planning

How to Make your Wedding Planning Stress-Free

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Getting engaged is a significant event in a couple’s relationship. But after all the exciting celebrations and engagement parties comes the stressful phase of wedding planning. 

Don’t get this wrong. Wedding planning is an exciting part of your journey before you finally become husband and wife but the hassle is inevitable when doing preparations for an event like this. You wouldn’t want to look stressed and haggard during your big day, would you? So here are some tips on how to make your wedding planning stress free:

1. Hire a wedding planner.

Hiring a wedding planner is the first thing you should do before you dive into the details of your wedding. When you have a wedding planner, a big chunk of tasks will be taken off of your shoulders. Since the wedding planner is an expert in everything in managing weddings, they can help turn your dream wedding into a reality. They will guide you through all the preparations needed for your wedding and help you become organized.

2. Set your budget.

This tip might be basic but most couples get too excited for their big day and tend to set unrealistic expectations. By setting your budget, you will get a clear direction on what you want to have and are capable of for your wedding. This will help you set your overall plan — will it be a big wedding or an intimate ceremony? Are you going for a luxurious or a simple celebration? How many guests do you plan to have and where is your dream venue?

3. Create a timeline.

You’ve already set your wedding date. But you know that there are still a lot of things that need to be done. To keep you on track, create a timeline so you can schedule all necessary preparations. This will also help ensure that you don’t miss an item on your checklist and all deliverables are on time. 

4. Use reliable and recommended suppliers.

In choosing your suppliers, aside from the cost, quality is also an important factor that you need to consider. You wouldn’t want to be stressed out during your wedding just because the sound system isn’t working, or the caterer forgot the utensils, or the coordinators mixed up the guest list. Spend time to research experienced and reliable suppliers in your area. It is important that you feel confident with your suppliers so you wouldn’t have to worry about anything during the big day.

5. Remember that the big day is for both you and your partner.

Don’t forget that your partner should also be involved in wedding planning. Discuss with each other all the decisions that need to be done during the process. Ensure that both of you are on the same page. If you disagree on something, discuss and compromise. You should learn to do this as compromising will surely be a big part of your life as husband and wife.

Enjoy the day!

There are still a lot of tips that we can talk about but each wedding is different. It still depends on the couple on which process works for them. If all else fails, the most important thing is that you are getting married to the love of your life. Your significant other is still what makes this day special.

So don’t be too stressed out. When the big day finally comes, just enjoy it and treasure the days leading to forever.

Wedding Invitation Timeline

Wedding Invitation Timeline Tips

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From the moment you get engaged the clock starts ticking down to your big day. Wedding planning becomes all about juggling all the to-dos and making sure everything is getting done in the right order at the right time.

One of the big to-dos is getting your wedding announcement designed, ordered, addressed, and sent out. Two of our most asked questions is: “when should I order my announcements?” and “when should I send out my announcements?”

When should I order my announcements?

First things first; you are going to need a few things before you start your order.

Some crucial things are:

  • The wedding date
  • Your wording (use our portfolio for suggestions)
  • The Reception/ Open House location

Possibly your wedding colors- if you want them incorporated into your design.

Photos- One very important aspect of many announcements are the pictures. If you are planning on having a design centered around your engagement photos you will definitely want to get those done first, and then start your announcement process. Our designers can do very little without pictures so it is always a good idea to get those done as soon as possible and then start your design process.

Once you have all the important aspects of your announcement pulled together you should start your design process at least 10 weeks prior to the wedding. Saving announcements for the last minute is easy to do, especially when trying to put all the other pieces of the wedding together. Don’t wait! Things can happen, mistakes can be made, packages could get lost, the mail could go up in flames…anything! Keep this in mind. When you order to close to your wedding you don’t leave any room for error and that can be a risky move, one in which you will regret. Give yourself time just in case something happens. You want your announcement to be something you love and will look back at for years to come…after all you are announcing one of the most important days of your life…and paying for it.

Here is our suggestion: Counting only business days, give yourself 2 weeks for the design process (even though it may not take anywhere near that), 2 weeks for printing and shipping, 2 weeks JUST IN CASE something happens, and then at least 4 weeks to get them sent out.

There are always ways to speed things up if you have to…unless there is no more time. If your wedding is 2 weeks away and you don’t have invites sent out, you are going to be sweating bullets and risk guests not receiving their invite in time. Give yourself time!

The next question is “When should I send out my announcements?”

This is a tricky one because it really depends on where your guests are located. You don’t want to send out your announcements so late that your guests either don’t receive it in time, or they receive it but already, made plans for their Saturday night. On the other end, you don’t want to send it out too early because then guests start to forget or their fridge becomes cluttered with other things that eventually cover your announcement. Take a few things into consideration:

1)    Location of your guests: If you live near most of your family and friends and you are having a close intimate wedding, you may feel confident sending announcements out 2-3 weeks before the wedding. If your guests located all over the United States or internationally you should be planning to mail out announcements between 4-6 weeks. This allows for plenty of mail time and it gives your guests time to plan and prepare for the big day.

2)    Do you need guests to RSVP for one of your events? Give your guests plenty of time to receive the announcement and reply whether it is by mail or electronically. If you need guests to RSVP so you can give your wedding venue a headcount, definitely send your invites out closer to 6 weeks before your wedding day.

3)    Is your wedding small and intimate or a huge celebration that everyone is invited to? With social media these days, chances are your guest know about your big day. If most of the people coming to your wedding already know the information they need, you are probably safe sending announcements out closer to your big day.

There is always an exception to every rule. When asked, we will give you our best suggestion based on your personal information. One thing is for sure: give yourself enough time so you don’t have to settle for something less than you deserve.

Wedding RSVP Websites

Wedding RSVP Websites

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Planning your wedding is exciting and fun, but it can also be stressful. Planning for your big day is full of so many decisions it can make your head spin. One way you can lift a little of that stress is to make the process easier by keeping all of your important information in one safe place, so nothing gets lost in the shuffle of wedding planning.

A big part of your wedding day will be the guests that you will invite to share in your special day. Keeping track of who will be there and who won’t can get stressful and overwhelming. Sending out an RSVP has been a great way to cut down on the frustration but can also add to the cost of planning a wedding when it comes to paying for one more thing to send out, not to mention the rising cost of stamps. The new and improved solution that has become popular in the last decade is going through an RSVP website. Many of these websites can be used for anything from a wedding planning aid to a site to organize and manage your guests’ RSVPs. Here are a few of the websites out there that can help you stay organized on your special day.

https://www.myinvitelist.com

My Invite List is our very own Free online app that you can use to collect guest addresses and set up an RSVP accessible by your guests. Share with your friends and family your personalized form link on social media sites, email, and text. Make it easy for your guests to give you all their information. What is unique about our system is that once you are ready to address your envelopes you can simply download your list in a .TXT, .CSV, or .XLS format and print on your labels or envelopes. Check it out!

The Knot

https://www.theknot.com

When you sign up for The Knot, you will several personalized planning tools available to you. You can create your own custom website to share with family and friends. You will have access to a personal planning expert 24/7. It will keep you organized so you always know what to do, when. Your wedding registries will be all in one place and you will be able to personalize a wedding spending plan based on your budget. We of course can not forget the main reason for this post; you can also keep track of guests, RSVPs, and thank you notes.

Appy Couple

http://www.appycouple.com/

This is another great website that will make RSVP’s ten times easier. One unique quality of the site Appy Couple is that it’s an app that is built for your mobile device in addition to the desktop website. Sometimes a great website comes with a price though. To build your own personal app and website it costs $35 but for guests, downloading and using this app costs nothing. If you are willing to pay the $35 it may be worth the stress you will save yourself by having to keep track of everything yourself.

AnRSVP

http://anrsvp.com/

This is another service that costs nothing and helps with the management of your wedding. This site is interactive for you and your guests. Once you sign up, you can either import a guest list from another file or you can choose the “open” option, meaning that your guests can add themselves to the list.

RSVP Me Now

https://www.rsvpmenow.com/

This is another free site and it is simple to use. If all you want is a straightforward RSVP website without all the bells and whistles, this is the website for you. You will have the ability to customize your RSVP form. You will also be able to send out reminder e-mails to your guests, so they won’t forget your big day.

WeddingWire

https://www.weddingwire.com/

Wedding Wire is great because it doesn’t charge a fee and its website offers all your wedding planning tools is one place. This is perfect for the bride-to-be who is on the go and needs to have a digital book of her wedding details. When you use their RSVP feature, you can import your contacts from your Gmail account making it easier to build your guest list. You can create a custom website for guests to see when they choose to RSVP. You will be able to keep track of who has declined and who hasn’t respond yet.

FreeRSVP

http://free-rsvp.com/

This is a simple website and the best part about this website is that no personal information is needed when registering and you can create an unlimited guest list. You can send an invitation by e-mail and track the responses through regular updates this site provides for you.

InviteSpring

https://www.invitespring.com/

Invite Spring is a site that is free to get started and then once you decide to activate your event, it will cost only $10 per event. This includes an unlimited number of guests, support, and a lot of management tools. You will also be able to share your event’s RSVP website through a url or a QR code.

These are all great websites that will definitely keep you organized as you plan your big day. Any of these websites are a great option if you would like to steer away from the traditional RSVP card you send out to your guest. Just include the RSVP site link on your wedding invite and let your guests do the work from there. As an added bonus they may even be able to find out all about the happy couple through your own personalized wedding story you can include on many of these websites. Whatever you choose, your wedding day will be amazing! Happy planning!