COVID-19 Wedding Checklist

What to Know If You’re Planning a Wedding During COVID-19

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While it might be new to all of us, we have to accept that weddings have changed a lot during the pandemic whether we like it or not. And although the COVID-19 situation seems to be getting better with the vaccine rollout and with the economy reopening, we still need to observe COVID-19 safety guidelines for weddings. So, the question now is, what are the things we should know when we are planning a wedding during COVID-19?

We all want a magical wedding, but everyone’s safety should be the top priority. Here are some of the COVID-19 safety measures you need to observe for your wedding this 2021:

Follow the COVID-19 guidelines in your locality

Each city and locality has a different set of rules when it comes to gatherings held during the pandemic. Before you plan your wedding, make sure to take these rules into consideration and to follow the guidelines. Some areas might not allow any social gathering at all, while some limit the number of people that are allowed.

Covid-19 guidelines also often change depending on the number of cases in a particular area, so prepare yourself for any sudden changes.

Read your venue and vendor’s cancellation policies

If you have not yet signed your venue and vendors, talk to them about how they handle cancellations or reschedules that are related to the pandemic. Many venues simply do not refund weddings that are cancelled, while others allow couples to reschedule.  During the last few months, many couples have shelled out money beyond their budget because of pandemic-related cancellations.

Remember that these businesses have also suffered financially during the pandemic, so it’s best to have an agreement that is fair to both parties.

Limit your guests

While some couples dream of having a grand ball at their wedding, it might not be a good idea right now unless you are in an area where COVID-19 has been fully controlled. Otherwise, consider limiting your guests to only a few close family and friends. Many couples have also included sharing a Livestream during their wedding to guests that aren’t able to come personally to their wedding.

This is a good practice that considers the safety of senior citizens, people with comorbidities, and those who live far away from your venue. While you know they would love to attend your wedding, it might be best for them to send their love and support while watching your wedding at home.

Make sure that your guests are socially distanced

During the wedding, make sure that chairs are spaced far away from each other to minimize any physical contact during the ceremony. Meanwhile, during the reception, try to separate each group from each other to minimize spreading of viruses from group to group. Make sure that there is enough space for everyone to eat and that there is open-air ventilation.

Provide contact tracing forms and sanitation kits

Do your part in making sure that your wedding is safe by providing contact tracing forms and sanitation kits. Make sure that temperatures are checked before everyone enters, tables have disinfectants, and that everyone is wearing a mask at all times. Make sure that everyone follows these rules.

You can inform them prior by including COVID 19 guidelines in the invitation and by reminding them to observe these safety guidelines during the program.

It’s not that hard to have an awesome wedding while prioritizing everyone’s safety. Make sure to follow these safety guidelines to avoid any breakouts and to keep your loved ones safe. Don’t let COVID-19 get in the way of your love. Go ahead and have that magical wedding safely!

Courthouse Wedding

6 Ways to Make your Courthouse Wedding More Special

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Although having a traditional wedding ceremony can be full of magic and glamour, months of intense wedding planning can be full of stress while wedding expenses can drain your bank account.

Skipping the traditional wedding ceremony and opting for a courthouse wedding can definitely save you from both the wedding planning stress and the huge amount of spending that goes with it.

Having a courthouse wedding doesn’t have to be plain and boring either. In fact, you can make your courthouse wedding more special and memorable with these tips.

Wear Something Special

Don’t be hesitant in choosing something extra special for your wedding day! Since you won’t be able to choose your backdrop at the courthouse, the bride’s dress and groom’s outfit should stand out. 

Is there a dress that you’ve been dreaming of wearing that’s a little above your budget? Don’t settle for an ordinary outfit and go for the one that excited you and will make your wedding more memorable.

Splurge A Little More on the Ring

One of the advantages of having a courthouse wedding is that you can spend a little more on things that actually matter – like the wedding ring!

The wedding ring is yours to keep for a lifetime. Take time in choosing a good quality wedding ring that you and your husband- or wife-to-be can treasure forever.

Hire a Good Photographer

A good photographer is all you need to capture all the good angles and memorable moments of your wedding day. Despite the possibility of a plain backdrop, a good photographer should be able to make your courthouse wedding look magical.

You can go ahead and skip other expenses, but hiring a good photographer is essential no matter what type of wedding you want to have.

Get a Fresh Bouquet 

Don’t skip the wedding bouquet on your special day. Choose fresh and vibrant flowers for your wedding bouquet and boutonniere. If you brought a few family and friends to your wedding, consider giving them fresh corsages to add a little elegance to your wedding as well.

Ride in Style

Ride to the courthouse and around town in style! Rent a luxury car, carriage, or any fancy ride that you dream of for your wedding day. Getting a stylish ride during your will definitely add a luxurious touch to your courthouse wedding.

Have a Fancy Post-Wedding Party

You might not have spent a lot of time planning your courthouse wedding, but make sure to take time in making plans for your post-wedding celebration! Whether you want to have a party with friends and family or spend some time celebrating alone, go the next mile to make it extra special. 

Decorate your home, splurge on good food, have a great time, and take memorable photos with loved ones. You can also book a hotel or a fancy Airbnb to make your celebration even more special.

With a courthouse wedding, you get the best of both worlds. You can avoid wedding planning stress and save up on money while focusing more on the details that matter to you! A courthouse wedding can definitely be as special and memorable as a traditional wedding ceremony when you follow these tips.

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.

Wedding Invitations Wording

3 Essential Wedding Invitation Wording Tips

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After getting excited about wedding invitation designs, the elegant calligraphy, and that perfect paper for your invitation, make sure to put the writing in place as well. It might not be as fun as choosing these things, but it’s a task that we need to accomplish all the same.

If you are having a hard time looking for inspiration for writing your invitation, here are some tips that will help you get started.

1. Make sure that the information is complete

No matter how creative you want your wedding invitation to be, you must remember to include all the basic information. Write the date and time, venue, hosts, theme, and more on your invitation. All these information are essential for guests to know what they need to know about your wedding.

Aside from basic information, include an additional sheet for any other information or rules that guests need to know such as the sponsors, program, gift registry details, a map to get to the venue and reception, etc. You can also include a separate RSVP card.

2. The order is important

While more couples are opting for modern or unconventional weddings, the proper order of things is important to avoid confusion. Here is an example of the traditional order of a proper wedding invitation:

Wedding Invitations Wedding Invitations

 

  • The host line – This is traditionally the name of the bride’s parents. However, it is up to the couple if they also want to include the groom’s parents’ names or completely remove this part. In most cases, it depends on who is sponsoring or shouldering the wedding.
  • The request line – Simply put, this is the request for the guests to attend the wedding. 
  • The names of the bride and groom – The first names of the bride and groom typically have the biggest typeface on an invitation to put an emphasis on their wedding announcement.
  • The date and time – Include the date and exact time that the venue is ready to welcome guests. Put at least a 30-minute allowance on the time before the ceremony starts. Make sure that it is enough time for the guests to arrive and settle down so the ceremony does not get disrupted.
  • The venue or location – Put the name of the venue on the invitation. If it is a known venue, you opt to stick to just the name. But you can also include the complete address of the venue in case some of your guests aren’t familiar with it.
  • The reception line (if it applies) 
  • The dress code (if any)

 

This is the general structure of most wedding invitations but of course, it can be tweaked to the couple’s preference. It still depends on the details they want to include and how they want to announce their wedding.

3. Choose the Level of Formality

The way you want to write your wedding invitation depends on the tone and style that you want to achieve. There are different levels of formality when writing an invitation. Some opt to follow a more traditional wedding invitation tone, while others choose to have a more casual and laid back tone. Both are completely acceptable and you can also choose a level of formality that is in between a traditional and casual tone.

 

Here are some examples:

Traditional Wedding Invitation Example

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Wright

request the honor of your presence

at the marriage of their daughter

Baylee and Justin Andrews

Son of Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Andrews

Saturday, the sixth of March, two thousand twenty-one, at four o’clock in the afternoon

At St. George Event Center

St. George, Utah

Reception to follow

 

Casual Wedding Invitation Example

Kaitlyn and Michael Wright

would love your presence

at the marriage of their daughter

Baylee and Justin

March 6, 2021

4:00 p.m. in the afternoon

At St. George Event Center

Dining, dancing, and happily ever after to follow

 

In the end, how you want to pen your wedding invitation is up to you. Don’t be afraid to break the norm and let your personalities shine through your invitation. No matter how you want to announce your wedding to beloved guests, what’s important is that you have a wedding that reflects your values and personalities that your friends and family love about you.

Invitation Wording

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! 

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.

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. 

 

What To Wear For Engagement Photos | The Invitations Maker

What To Wear On Your Engagement Photos

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Of course, you want to look stunning in your engagement photos. Those photos will be used on your wedding invitations, save the date, wedding day, or even be displayed on your first home. So how can you get the best look in your engagement photos?

Aside from a great photographer, good location, and perfect lighting, one of the things that make a great photo is your outfit. You are the subject of the photo – the highlight of the scene. When they look at your engagement photos, all eyes will be on you. Any other element in your photo will just complement the whole picture. 

Your outfit is a crucial part of your engagement photos. By this time, you might already be stressing over what to wear on your engagement shoot. Here are some tips that can help you out:

1. Complement each other but don’t match.

Coordinate with your partner. Make sure that your outfits will complement each other. It doesn’t need to be color-coded or matching as it will not look natural in photos. Although we are aiming for a perfect look, we still want to keep a genuine mood. Pick outfits that will go well with each other, just like how each of you complements each other.

2. Follow a color scheme.

Although we mentioned not to be color-coded, it is still ideal to follow a color scheme. This doesn’t mean that you have to use a single color for both of your outfits. You can wear outfits under the same color family, or set a color palette that you will follow for the aesthetics of your photos. This will keep all elements on your photos look unified. When you view all your photos after your engagement shoot, it will all look complementing. You wouldn’t want the final look of your whole album to be like a collection of random photos.

3. Wear outfits that reflect your personality.

More than anything else, your outfits should be a reflection of your personality. Engagement photos are an essential part of your wedding journey. Keep it personalized. How can it be YOUR engagement photos if it doesn’t show your personalities? Also, if you choose outfits that are not your style, you might not feel comfortable wearing them.

4. Prioritize comfort.

Aside from the style and the overall look of your outfit, comfort should also be a priority. You’ll have trouble slaying an outfit that you’re not comfortable in. No matter how stunning it looks, if you feel uneasy wearing it, it will not look good in the photos. Also, comfort is important especially if you will be shooting in multiple locations or if you will be having a whole-day shoot session.

Don’t forget the best accessory – your smile.

Once you’ve already chosen your best outfit for your engagement shoot, don’t forget your most important accessory – your smile. Preparing for a wedding is stressful enough. Loosen up and remember that the most important part of your look that you need to have on your engagement photos is your beautiful smile – one that shows how happy you are to be with the love of your life.

 

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!