Tips & Tricks: Wedding Stationery Timeline

Just a quick blog about one of the issues that seems to come up the most with stationery:

When should I purchase? 

Often times, you can put a rush on stationery if possible - but at Relish, we never recommend pushing it if you don't have time. This often leaves to overlooked typos, or upgraded express processing and /or shipping. Plan wisely and you won't have to pay those unnecessary fees or add extra worry to yourself!

1. Save the Dates:
   You can purchase these as soon as you get engaged and use them as an engagement announcement. The only 2 items you need to know is the Date and the Location. It's great if you can set up a wedding website to direct them to as well, but not necessary. The only thing you don't want to do is wait too late to send these. Their primary purpose is to help people plan their trip to your wedding (for out-of-towners, this is very important) We recommend sending them out at least 4 months before the wedding.
   TIMELINE: Immediately following "I Do" - 4 months prior to wedding
   
2. Shower / Party Invitations:These are usually left up to the hosts of the parties, but they should order them in time for people to RSVP. And these usually take 7-10 days to receive once you've ordered them.
   TIMELINE: 4-5 Weeks prior to the Shower / Party
   
   
   
3. Invitations:
   The main course of your stationery! Let's work our way backwards...RSVP: Depending on what type of reception you are having (full catering, buffet or finger foods), you will need the deadline for the RSVP to give enough time for these items to be prepared. Some catering companies / restaurants will require a longer amount of time. But the general rule is 2-4 weeks prior to the wedding for the RSVP date.
   Time allowed for people to receive the invitations until the RSVP deadline: 2-3 weeks. If you allow too much time, people will often forget to reply (no sense of urgency). If you do not allow enough time, you risk a crisis with the RSVPs not getting back in time. The best average we have found is 2-3 weeks from the time you are mailing out the invites.
   Addressing / Stamping: Allow yourself a week to get these in the mail from the time you receive them from the stationer.
   Order Time: Once you've placed your order, it will take 2-3 weeks to receive your stationery.
   Add it all up, and your safe bet for ordering invitations is:
   TIMELINE: 8-12 weeks prior to the wedding. 
   
   
4. Programs & Reception Essentials:
   These will take 2-3 weeks to receive from the stationer as well.
   TIMELINE: 2-3 Weeks prior to wedding
   
5. Thank You Notes:
   We recommend ordering these prior to the wedding for a couple reasons. This way, you won't have to think of doing more wedding ordering AFTER the big day. Plus you will have these ready to go so you can send them out ASAP (good wedding etiquette!) Many brides order them early in their engagement, even before their invitations - to have them for all their showers.
   TIMELINE: Before the big day!

Hope this timeline is helpful! Come on over to Relish for all these stationery must-haves! 

It's Friday We're in Love with... FLIPBOOKs!!!

As a wedding vendor, we get to partake in some awesome networking parties. We get to meet great people, see new inspiring trends and sometimes experience some of the coolest new "fun"! That was the case back in December when we came across the hottest new craze: Flipbooks!

Remember when you were young and experiencing the small cartoon books that when you flip the pages quickly - the cartoon moves? Someone was creative enough to invent this for a photo booth setting! Photo booths are amazing fun and have been the trend the past few years, but this one-ups the booths in that you leave with your own animated flip book!

First, you get to pick out your groovy costume...

Then, they record video of you and your friends for 6 seconds ("do large movements" they kept saying). Then they convert the video instantly into still frames which are printed on the spot by a specialty printer which cuts and binds the little book so that you can leave with your creation within minutes!

Check out the finished product featuring Stephanie & Rebecca of Relish! (Shaky video because I recorded it as I flipped it - not easy to do! But you will get the general idea)

If you live in the Nashville area (and surrounding regions), contact Main Event Productions at 615-321-2394 or visit the Fantastic Flipbooks website today!

It's Friday We're in Love With... Laidlaw Photography

At Relish, we TRY to keep things professional, but we cannot help but gush over the following vendor! Laidlaw Photography is located in our hometown of Nashville, TN (but will travel wherever!). The owner (Miriam-Danielle Laidlaw / "MD" for short) is a long time friend of ours and we have seen her start this business and excel at it quicker than we've seen any other creative professional do! She has that unique formidable combination of passion, talent, professionalism and personality that has quickly made her a highly sought-after commodity! She specializes in wedding & artist photography. We have had the privilege of not only being her friend but working with her on several shoots and can tell you both as a person and as a business - she has what it takes to make you a happy client! Without further ado, here our is our interview / business summary with the lovely MD.

BUSINESS NAME:
Laidlaw Photography

FOUNDED IN:
2009 (She was a novice for many years before that, but only a pro for a little over a year. But we swear you will think she has been doing this for at least 10 years!)

WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED? ARE YOU WILLING TO TRAVEL?

I mostly center around the greater Nashville area as well as surrounding areas: Franklin, Brentwood, Clarksville, Smyrna, etc…I also travel for weddings and love it. I’ve photographed weddings this past year as far away as Texas, South Carolina, Louisiana and Michigan.

WHY DID YOU GO INTO THIS BUSINESS?

I’ve always had a love for photography.  The more I dabbled in it as a hobby, the more I learned.  After a friend asked me to photograph her wedding (p.s. those pictures are honestly never allowed to make it into the light of day…in the beginning, a true wedding photographer I was NOT), I was bitten by the bug.  There was just something about being a part of such a special day in a couple’s life. 

WHAT TYPE OF PACKAGES DO YOU OFFER?

Laidlaw Photography offers several packages based on your wedding day needs and budget. We also offer a la carte options, which is a great option for small weddings or when you want to add special shoots, such as bridal sessions, "Trash the Dress" sessions, etc (FYI: "Post Wedding Day" shoot is something we at Relish find so beautiful and sweet! It's the morning / day after the big day and you are man and wife. So sweet!). For package details and pricing, contact MD. 

WHAT IS YOUR UNIQUE STYLE / SERVICE THAT SETS YOU APART FROM OTHER VENDORS IN YOUR INDUSTRY?

I like to offer original and creative photography at reasonable prices (She does offer some of THE BEST prices for what you get with her level of photography!). 

So what are you waiting for? Go check out Laidlaw Photography now! Already married?! The great news is this vendor does more than weddings, so book her for your next special memory! Tell MD (beautiful lady in the photo below) that we sent you! :)

Paula & Dean's wedding: A recap has been LONG overdue!

Hey everyone! So I've been married for 24 days now, and back from my Honeymoon for 16 days. I figured since you've followed me through the planning process, I would share with you how everything went!

The wedding was everything I could have possible imagined. We did have a small mishap with Centennial Park the day of, where we were supposed to do our group shots. It was the Celebrations of Culture festival there and it was so packed that we couldn't even find a place to park or take pictures! Needless to say I was disappointed, but we got a group shot in the church beforehand. Gina Bilyeu was also VERY generous to do a day after shoot the day after we got back from our Honeymoon. The funny thing is that I cut about 7 inches or so off of my hair while on the Honeymoon, so my hair looks completely different! I don't have any of my pictures from Gina yet, but here are some that were sent to me.

Words cannot explain how amazing the honeymoon was! St. Lucia was absolutely magical! I would recommend Sandals to anyone wanting a stress-free honeymoon or vacation! We did so many once in a lifetime things, such as horseback riding in the ocean, having a mud mask and swimming in a natural hot tub streaming from the world only drive-thru volcano, zip lining through the rainforest, and lots others. We also saw Mick Jagger's place in Marigot Bay in St. Lucia, where they filmed the Bachelor with Jake, and a spot where they filmed Pirates of the Carribbean. We had a butler, Donovan, who waited on us whenever we wanted...it was hard to come back to the "real world." Here are some pictures.

Although it was a blast to be on vacation, it's always nice to come home! We Relish it!

What's Happenin' Wednesday: The Little Black Dress Revue

If you are engaged and live in the Nashville area, you have the opportunity to be part of a very classy (and fun) event on Tuesday, November 9th! Welcome to the Little Black Dress Revue!

When I was engaged, I only got to go to the big wedding shows, but now there are new opportunities for brides to attend small events that are catered to them for a night of fun and enjoyment. Events where they can meet just a few of the best wedding vendors in a more relaxed atmosphere. Relish has been a part of some of these events, but this new event is like nothing I've seen before.

Hosted by Sarah Willard of Music City Events, it's guaranteed to be fabulous (because she is as is all of the events we've seen her do). Also sponsored by our favorite Ashley's Bride Guide, lending additional credibility that it's going to be a truly fabulous bride-centered event! Not only that, but you get to bring your groom!!! It's a true date night at the Noah Liff Opera Center (can you say elegant?!) with cocktails, live music and mingling with some of the best wedding professionals in the Nashville area. Not only is it going to be fabulous, but all guests will be entered for a chance to win a $5,000 wedding package!!! Now, THAT is fabulous!

So come on out on November 9th. Relish will be there and we would love to meet you in person! So get out your little black dress and join this one-of-kind party! See all the exciting details HERE!

It's Friday We're in Love With... FRIENDS! (Special Gifts for your Bridal Party)

We at Relish know how special our friends are in our normal everyday lives. I have personally been blessed with amazing friends that I consider an extension of my family. Friends end up playing a special role in your wedding day. I think it's such a beautiful moment to see these special people standing beside you during this monumental moment in your life. And even more special is the blending of friends - the bride's and the groom's.

For the wedding, they also usually throw you a shower...

Help you plan the details and help you get ready (and stay calm) the day of  ...

And then at the wedding, they provide comic relief and support during this long, emotional day.

So what do you get these special people to show them how much you love them and to say Thank You? Remember - you're not just thanking them for being in the wedding. You are thanking them for being your support group until your husband came along - that's a pretty big deal. So a special gift to them on your special day is very significant. So, what are some ideas? Relish has created the Top 10 Bridal Party Gift List! (just our own personal faves)

For the girls...
I found several great ideas at Beau-Coup.

Relish loves anything that can make stationery unique. That's why we adore these custom stamps! They come in many varieties and are very budget-friendly. What a great way to create something personal for each bridesmaid that they can use in everyday life!

Another great gift idea is something that they can all wear AT the wedding! I made each of my bridesmaid charm bracelets. They had their monogram on them, their birthstone and unique charm I hand-picked for each different bridesmaid. You may not have time to do that (I don't know how I did!) But here is a beautiful monogrammed heart charm bracelet.

These monogrammed travel cosmetic bags are super cute and very useful! The girls can use them the wedding day and for many future adventures. A very sweet AND practical gift!

If you have a little larger budget, these personalized, engraved jewelry boxes are beautiful and elegant. Bonus touch would be if you could put jewelry for the wedding day inside them. I love that they are well-constructed but small enough for traveling. They will hold your best jewelry safe.

And lastly - NOTES! Design them some custom stationery from Relish! Choose from notepads, note cards or our new, super-cute MINI-note cards! These are gifts you can be creative in designing personally for each girl. OR if you get your wedding stationery through Relish, get matching stationery as gifts. These are gifts they will USE!

Now, for the boys...

I gotta say it's a little frustrating that the main gifts for groomsmen are drinking related items. I think that is a negative perception of men. Drinking is not the only thing men do, nor is it the only thing male friends have as a bond. It's like either a drinking item or a nice ink pen. Really? I mean - REALLY?? But, I digress... :) Because of this, we had to dig a little deeper to find some great, unique ideas! [If you want a personalized flask, feel free - you can find them everywhere online!]

I did find a couple things from Beau-Coup, like this Grill & Golf BBQ Tool Set. BBQ tools are always great ideas for guys. Just make sure they don't already have like 20 sets of them. Remember - you want this to be something they will use!

A monogrammed toiletry bag is actually a really good gift idea. My husband has a cheap bag that he throws everything into and everything is pushed in together and stuff spills, etc. This bag from Beau-Coup is really nicely made and this is something they can use for years to come. Now, if your guys never leave their little spot on the map, maybe you should consider something else. :)

If you have businessmen in your group, these monogrammed cuff links are gorgeous.

And now, my personal favorite, a leather personalized organizer from mygroomsmengifts.com. The reason I love this gift is that I have seen my father, brother and husband all come in and just lay the stuff from their pockets in a pile... somewhere in the house. I have a jewelry box and a purse so I don't have an issue, but my husband lacks a really good "his area". This gift is something all men could use daily!

I also love these personalized duffel bags! They are very manly and rugged, with LOTS of room! Also, they are very inexpensive for such quality bags - just $29.95!

As you can see, the running theme was PERSONALIZED gifts! You know how Relish LOVES customized stuff because every person is unique! Your friends are precious gifts to you. Show them you care by getting them something special. It doesn't have to be expensive - just something you know they will love, because it shows you know and care about them!