Create a canvas

I found a really great and fun site. It allows you to create a collage of your favorite wedding elements. BridalCanvas.com. It will be nice to see all the ideas that are floating around in your head all together before your event. Go ahead and give it a try and be INSPIRED.

This is how my canvas looks

Wedding Invitiations

Your wedding invitation is the first impression guests have of your wedding. As with other aspect of your wedding it should be an extension of the bride and groom’s personality. Your wedding invitation will also express the style of event you are planning.


STYLE
Traditionally, formal wedding invitations were printed on ivory or white paper depending on the color of your dress. They were engraved with black or dark-gray ink. While this is still a popular choice for invitations, wedding invitations now come in a variety of styles, colors, shapes and sizes. You will find one just right for your event and budget.




There are a variety of papers that invitations could be printed on, this includes recycled paper, paper with embedded flowers, paper that is made to look old, colored paper. For a more personal touch you can add a photograph to your invitations. Regardless of the level of formality, style or budget your options are endless.
When choosing an invitation your location becomes a big influence in your the style of invitation you will have.




There are many professional suppliers available to help you make your choice. You can obtain many free brochures from these suppliers. Many suppliers will also allow you to order samples for free or for a nominal fee. You can also decide whether you will do the invitations yourself. You will also need to do your research for this option to find the right paper, invitation software, and other supplies that you will need.

ORDERING
The number of invitations that you order does not directly correlate with the number of guests. If you will have 100 guests at your wedding, you need to consider how many of your guests are couples in the same household, in which case you will only need one invitation. Children under 16 can be included on the invitation with their parents. Anyone over the age of 16 should receive an individual invitation. For 100 guests you will probably only need 60 – 75 invitations. Once determining the exact number of invitations needed add on about ten to fifteen extras to cover any extra people you may have forgotten or mistakes made on the envelopes. You should also keep at least one invitation as a memento. Do not forget to send invitations to your parents and wedding party.

There are a number of enclosures to consider when ordering your invitations.

RESPONSE CARD:

This card allows your guests to inform you if they will be attending your event and how many people they will be bringing with them. Response cards should be sent out accompanied by an addressed, pre-stamped envelope to encourage your guests to send it back. Please do not forget the stamps, during the course of our hectic days we may not have the time to run out and get to the post office. You do not want this to be the reason that a card is not returned or returned late. These cards are also directed by the formality of your invitations, so they can be blank cards with your own handwritten message on them or they can be printed with your wording. R.S.V.P. deadlines, which should be no later than two weeks before the special day, or whenever your caterer needs a final count. Some options allow the guests to select the meal they will be having at your affair. Calls to your invitees who have not responded should be made two weeks prior to your event. This gives you time to figure out exactly how many people will be in attendance. It will also be very helpful for your seating plan.





RECEPTION CARDS:

When the ceremony and the reception will be held at different locations you will need a receptions card. This card has the name of the reception location and address. Driving directions are provided on a separated Map/Direction. If your ceremony and reception will be held at the same location, this information can be provided on the invitation. Your wording can be as such, This is one of the money saving tips you need to avoid unnecessary spending. Wording could be as follows, “Reception immediately following”, or “Dinner and Dancing immediately following” to inform your guests that the reception will be held in the same location as the ceremony. However, when the ceremony and reception are held in different locations are invited to both the ceremony and reception and it is at the same location. Reception cards should be on the same paper and type style as the invitation.


MAP/DIRECTION CARD:

To ensure that no one gets lost or arrives late to your event enclose Map/Direction Cards. Your reception site will usually have these available for you as part of your package with them. You can choose to send the Map/Direction Card provided by the hall to your printer and have the card printed on the same type of paper. Printing maps on the same paper is not necessary, it is only necessary that a map card is provided. If you choose to draw your map by hand, make sure that street names are clearly written and clear map drawings. An alternative to sending the directions cards with the invitations, is to send it upon receiving their response card indicating that they are planning on attending your event.



ACCOMODATION CARDS:

Accommodation cards can be sent to your out of town guests listing hotels or places to rent in the area you are having your wedding. Include phone numbers and any information they will need to know to schedule a place to stay. Let them know if you have blocked out rooms at this locations and what the deadline will be for booking at the reserved rate.


LETTERING
There are a couple of lettering options. For more formal invitations you may want to have the Engraving option. This is the most expensive option, this would be an ideal option for weddings with large budgets. The engraving option produces textured raised letters in black or gray ink. Thermography is a less expensive and a popular alternative to engraving that provides almost the same look. Calligraphy is also and option that can be used for a smaller wedding. Keep in mind that if you will be hiring someone for this service they are charging per invitation. Calligraphy can be computerized or done by hand. If you want to use colored ink and/or highly textured paper then you will need to use offset printing.
Traditionally, wedding etiquette dictates that you must write out the addresses for all your invitations by hand so be sure to order extra envelopes for the inevitable mistakes. If you wish you can hire a calligrapher to do this. I have also seen a less time consuming option done on clear labels, printed with a fancy font.
The professional stationery supplier that you choose should provide you with a wide selection of styles, colors, and lettering options to fit in with your budget.

WORDING

Wording can become complicated; however a good supplier will have advice on wording and offer various wording options on their site to direct you. Personalization continues to be a growing theme in weddings today, brides and grooms can choose more creative and personal wording that the traditional formal wordings.
Most wedding invitations include the names of the hosts, which may be your parents, yourselves or both, your own names, and the date, time and location, and reception. You should also add RSVP cards and details.
Bride's Parents Inviting Verse 1

With joyful hearts
we ask you to be present
at the ceremony uniting
BRIDE
and
GROOM
on DAY
YEAR
at TIME
LOCATION
ADDRESS
CITY, STATE

BRIDE'S PARENTS


THANK YOU CARDS
As soon as you start receiving gifts you need to start writing your thank you notes. You may want to order thank you cards along with your wedding stationery so that they match your wedding invitation. Thank you notes should specifically mention the gift, and how the bride and groom intend to use it. Thank you notes can be brief, but should be very personal. You should try to finish them no later than three weeks after the wedding. Everyone who gives you a gift should receive a thank you note. If you are working with a photographer who will provide your thank you cards, try to arrange receiving the thank you cards before anything else so that you can get them out in the mail.




THE MAILING
Before mailing invitations you must proofread very carefully. Check and double-check the wording of all your wedding stationery. Have a friend check them over for you also. To ensure your guests receive their invitations, take your invitation to the post office to be weighed so that you can ensure you have the proper postage.
Invitations should be mailed four to six weeks before the event. Invitations being mailed overseas should be mailed eight weeks in advance.
Remember your invitations do not have to cost a fortune to look gorgeous and delight your guests.

SAVE THE DATE CARDS
All you need is a professional supplier and printer who has the knowledge and experience to help you choose stationery that fits in with the level of formality, style and theme of the wedding of your dreams. If you are having a destination wedding, have several out of town guests or planning your wedding during a holiday weekend, you should consider a Save the Date card. It will give your guests advance notice of your upcoming nuptials and allow for time to request vacation from their jobs and plan financially to travel. A Save the Date card should not to be confused with the actual wedding invitation, they are not to be sent in lieu of an invitation.

There are a host of different options for you save the dates.



 Save The Date Cards
 Save The Dates at The Invitation Depot
 Wedding-Needs.com
 WeddingInvitationsSite.com

Save the date cards are usually mailed out three to five months before the actual wedding date. But, some couples have been known to send them out as soon as they have confirmed their wedding date.


Wedding save the date cards can be anything from formal to casual and could even be whimsical.



Whatever direction you choose , be inspired.

Kathy
aleximani events

Wedding Gowns

After accepting the marriage proposal, selecting your “perfect gown" is one of the most important decisions you will make when planning your wedding. Secretly everyone anticipates the first look at your gown, it will be one of the remembered highlights of your wedding. Thirteen years have past since I wore a satin gown with an illusion high neck line that had hand sewn pearls at the top. In traditional ball gown style, it had a fitted bodice with elaborate beading. It had renaissance sleeves and a ball gown skirt. It was the first dress that I tried on, and after trying on many more, it was the one I went back to. The eleven hundred dollars that I spent was well worth it, I knew that I would feel like a princess on my wedding day.

You might know exactly what you want or have a general idea. No matter the place where you find yourself in the process, there are several things you should consider before purchasing your gown. You should know that you should be ordering your dress 8 to 10 months in advance. Depending on the manufacturer in might take 6 to 10 weeks for your dress to arrive. You want to give yourself cushion for alterations, time to return the dress if it is damaged, shipping and processing delays.

Your gown should reflect your personality, taste and style. Every part of your wedding works in harmony, and your wedding gown is no exception. Whether planning an elaborate church wedding or a simple intimate affair stay in harmony with the rest of the elements of your wedding. Here are the different styles of wedding dresses:

A-line/Princess
Badgley Mischka

The A-line dress features a shape that is fitted around the bodice and flows out to the ground, resembling the outline of an uppercase A. The dress flows from the bust to the hem with an unbroken line. There are some classic, traditional styles that never loose there appeal, the A-Line dress is one of these styles. This style would be appropriate for any style wedding.

The versatile shape can accommodate many different elements. Modifications to necklines, waistlines, or fabrics can accentuate your best features and hide those you don't care too much about.

So you can choose a more elaborate design with a fuller skirt for a formal wedding and a simple elegant design for a garden wedding.
408 by Piccione Bridal

The A-line is also the most flattering for most body types. For the full-figured woman, the A-line style lengthens the whole body without drawing attention to your waistline. Choosing a V-necks or scoop necks flatter look best on full-figured women. If you are a pear shape (bottom heavy) an A-line would also be very flattering and helpful in bringing balance.

For its elongating effects it would also be appropriated for petite brides. However, the petite bride should avoid fuller skirts which will make you look ‘bottom heavy’. You want to keep your wedding dress proportionate to your body.

Added embellishments can also affect the look of the A-line dress. Lace overlays or bead work can make a simple A-line dress appear more formal, while a ribbon or bow can make a stylish statement.

Empire

The empire style gown is a high waistline (right under the bust) from which the rest of the dress flows down to the hem. This style also suits various degrees of formality.




Various options in necklines and sleeve styles can change the style of the dress to reflect the style of your wedding. The skirt style is also an important style element on the empire cut. Depending on the silhouette you want, you can allow it to flow freely or contour to your body.

I love the flow of lighter fabrics like chiffon or organza on the empire design. It brings movement and flow from the waistline. I love the romantic movement that lighter fabrics bring. These lighter fabrics are usually layered over a base fabric like satin.



The empire dress fits most body types. Brides with a smaller bust will benefit from this style since it draws attention to the neckline and creates definition. Inversely, because of its traditionally square neckline it can conceal a large bust by minimizing the size of your breasts. Brides with a long torsos, short legs or pear-shapes can benefit from this style.

Sheath/Column

The column or sheath dress has a narrow shape that flows straight down from the neckline to the hem. This style to hug the body and show any and all of your curves. The column/sheath style lends itself to all types of weddings, especially causal occasions on the beach, or intimate evening events at home or at a banquet hall.




The sheath/column style is fairly simple. You can change the appearance with different elements, various necklines, sleeves, and lengths. For a beach or garden wedding you might opt for a strapless sheath dress.

Usually the column barely grazes the floor. However, for an intimate afternoon garden or home wedding you can try a knee length skirt. For a more traditional church wedding add a bustle and train. The length of your dress can add character and formality to your gown.

Different fabrics can change the statement the column dress makes. Soft flowing fabrics can be appropriate for a slip dress. Heavier fabrics like brocade or damask, which maintain their shape are appropriate for more formal gowns.

This style is best worn by lean figures, both short and tall. This is not a very forgiving style and does little to hide problem areas, like bottom heavy shapes. Petite brides will benefit from the elongating effects of this style

Comfort can also play apart in your dress selection, this style might minimize your ability to move, sitting and dancing comfortably might be an issue. Pleats or gathering on the back will alleviate these issues.

Ball Gowns

The ball gown style is perfect for brides dreaming of a Cinderella moment in time for their wedding. This style pairs a fitted bodice with a full skirt that can either be one piece or separates. This is most appropriate for traditional weddings where you want to maintain a certain level of formality.

Lara Helene Bridal Atelier
Style: Mariah

You can select various necklines and sleeves for this dress. Once again creating various combinations will result in various looks.

Reem Acra
Style: Wealth

As mentioned before fabrics make a difference in the overall effects, you could have satin or a chiffon overlay for a romantic and traditional look. A bodice with elaborate beading or lace work paired with a simple satin skirt will draw attention to the upper body. Light layers on the skirt will help to create a floating effect. The ball gown may require a petticoat or crinoline to support its structure. Layering fabric, such as organza, taffeta, or tulle, can also create this same effect.

This style can suit most body types, however the ball gown is ideal for slender or pear-shaped figures since the full skirt helps to accentuate the waist and hide the lower body. This may not work well for petite brides, the fullness of the skirt can overwhelm the bride who may not have the height needed to balance the size of the skirt. If your heart is set on the ball gown look, you can try an A-line dress with a slightly fuller skirt and you can get the desired look.


Mermaid

This style is fitted through the bodice, hips, and thighs, swelling out into a skirt-shaped "bell" around the knees.

Rhyme Couture
Style: Lydia

Val Stefani Haute Couture Style: D7864

You can have a variety of necklines and sleeve lengths with this style. You can go strapless or carry long sleeves, it is all up to you. The design of this dress stands on its own, so the variations are endless.

The skirt part of this dress is its primary influence. The skirt can flare out above the knee, at the knee, or below the knee for slightly different silhouettes. You can also modify the shape and hem of the skirt to change the look of the dress.

Fabric plays a part on how formal this dress will look. Light-weight silks and satin are perfect for a slip style dress. Heavier fabrics will be great for more formal styles. The mermaid style fits can be worn casual beach wedding, or a formal evening affair.

The mermaid cut is not for everyone. It is one of the designs that takes a lot of confidence to pull off. This design is best for slender figures, both short and tall. This is definitely an unforgiving style as it accentuates every curve. This style does not work well for brides with full figures. However, confidence is the key to this dress and if you feel that your curves are all in the right place and you want to flaunt them, it is your day, wear it with confidence. If you lack confidence your perfect figure will not carry this dress and evoke the elegant, sexy look this style calls for.

Choose your undergarments well when selecting this style, embarrassing underwear lines are the last thing that you want on your big day. Not to mention it might take away from the elegance of your overall look.

There you have it five basic styles, thousands of combinations, millions of dresses to choose from. The right dress is waiting for you, the right style, the right fabric, and the right price. You will know it when you try it on, at the risk of sounding dramatic, it will speak to you.


Kattia
aleximani events

Wedding Favors

I like wedding favors, I always enjoy the surprise inside the beautifully wrapped boxes. But where did the idea of wedding favors come from? I always like the historical views behind the things we do , so here goes.

The wedding favor dates backs centuries to Europe. This tradition was mostly in the aristocratic families, especially in Italy and France. As we all do, Europeans considered marriage a happy and lucky affair; the married couple wanted to share this luck with their guests. Originally favors were called ‘bonbonnieres in France or Bomboniere" as it's called in Italy.
They were very fancy boxes filled with confections, that at that time only the rich could afford. These small boxes were made from metal, porcelain, precious stones, or even crystal. Most of the time the small boxes actually would contain five candies or almonds, the number of candies symbolically represented fertility, health, happiness, longevity and wealth.

We have come a long way from the original bonbonnieres. Today favors take on all shapes, styles, designs, colors and themes. Today, brides want to give favors as a token of appreciation, for the love and support they have received from family and friends. Favors can also be a way to express their individuality.

Favors can be chosen based on themes, seasons, reflection of lifestyles or hobbies. The options are limitless and span a wide range of prices.

Themed Favors
Beach/Island themes





This wine stopper is a great way to combine your theme while adding an individual connection to your love for wine.



This pineapple placecard holder is a great way to combine function with your favor. You will have a great way to display placecards and your guests will have a beautiful reminder of your wedding.



These palm tree favor boxes transform the original square favor box into a unique display adding to your wedding decor. Remember the tradition of five candies symbolizing wealth, health, longevity, happiness and fertility.

Hobby themed wedding favors

Favors are a great way to share your passions and knowledge on different topics.

Are you or your husband-to-be avid golfers or want to be.

.

This golf keychain is a practical gift to show off your passion.

Go for par with these tin mints



Wine Connoisseurs



These coasters would be great for a wine themed wedding.




The next time your guests are looking for a corkscrew to open up their favorite bottle of wine they will remember you fondly.

Edible Favors
There are a variety of edible favors that are beautiful and tasty.

These biscotti favors are edible and elegant.



Wedding Cake or cookie anyone?



Chocolate favors are always a big and tasty hit



"Non-favor" favors
Today in lieu of favors couples can make donations to special causes, like cancer research, diabetes, heart disease, etc. You can also make a donation in memory of a loved one. To let your guests know that you have done this you can leave special notes indicating, "in liue of a favor we have made a donation to .....". You can present the notes in variety of ways and your guests will still leave with a token from your wedding.

You could write your note in a plantable seed wedding favor



Wedding cake seed cards




As with any part of your wedding let your favors be a reflection of you.

Be inspired

Kathy
www.aleximanievents.com


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