Think Outside the Box When Sending Shower Invitations

July 15th, 2009 by admin

My best friend and her husband are expecting their first child this winter. I offered to throw them a baby shower. They were a little wary at first. They are pretty non traditional and did not want to obligate people to buy them a lot of stuff. “I do not want our friends to think we are opportunists, just because we give them all baby shower invitations,” they said. I understood their sentiment, as I too do not like the concept of the 5 bridal showers some brides throw that always seem to make guests fork out more than they are comfortable with. I also know that baby showers represent something altogether more fulfilling emotionally than the average greedy bridal shower. A lot of brides and grooms are waiting until later in life to get married. Most of them are well established in their careers and already have everything they need for their homes. Unlike when the bridal shower was first created, many couples do not need assistance with the basic things needed for a house. Guests receiving bridal shower invitations should be asked to help celebrate, not reach into their pocketbooks. Friends and family will always want to give gifts anyway, but you want them to feel unencumbered and inspired when doing so.

My friends who were against the idea of a baby shower were afraid of those same bridal shower expectations. I assured them that guests receiving baby shower invitations would be the same people who were overcome with a desire to help as soon as they heard the news of the pregnancy. Expectant first time parents do not have diapers, cribs and baby clothes hanging around the house, regardless of how much money they make. Being pregnant with your first baby, can make you run and hide with confusion over how to prepare. By getting your friends and family together for a baby shower, you allow them to offer advice and give you items that will make your life so much easier. I had no idea what a Boppy pillow was before our baby shower, and it turned out to be the thing I relied on most (next to my husband) for the year after we had our first child. Shower invitations will also be received by people who have no idea what having a baby is like. Those guests have been looking for a good reason to go into that baby boutique and buy you the softest baby blanket known to man.

I came up with an idea that was well received by my friends. Their guests received shower invitations that asked them to attend a “Knowledge and Myths” party. Guests were asked to contribute some kind of baby safety item (outlet protectors, baby gate, baby monitor, etc) and some kind of nursery supply item. I also asked the people who were given shower invitations for the best piece of knowledge they received before they had a baby, and the most ridiculous thing masquerading as advice they had received. I took all the tidbits, had them professionally printed and bound, and gave them to the expectant couple. They loved the books and the fact that their friends and family offered such great advice and funny stories. They were, of course, now stocked with diapers, cream, magazines for labor and delivery, swaddling blankets, lullaby CDs, etc. The baby shower invitations did not set forth any expectation of gifts beyond the scope of the theme. I am almost certain everyone gave something in addition to the supplies and safety items specified in the invitation. But everyone seemed to enjoy offering support, advice and humor to the expectant couple. And that is what it is all about.

Bridal Shower Invitations as mementos of the bridal shower

June 19th, 2009 by admin

Bridal Shower invitations are sent for inviting and informing guests of the bridal shower party. Bridal shower invitations are invitation cards that contain information about the bridal shower party the time the location and the theme of the party. Quality counts when it comes to bridal shower invitations because for many guests these invitations are not merely welcome notes but keepsakes. For more click here..

RSVP cards should match the bridal shower invitations and contain a self addressed envelope for the convenience of the guest. The wording in Bridal shower invitations can merely contain information about the party with a welcome note or contain a fun or elegant verse as long as all the necessary information is included. Guests should preserve fond memories of the bridal shower through bridal shower invitations. Wedding readings

The 5 Elements of Bridal Shower Invitations

June 17th, 2009 by admin

There’s not supposed to be any moment in a woman’s life as exciting and meaningful as her wedding day. And while the idea of a perfectly happy bride is wonderful, the person hosting the bridal shower may feel more than a little pressure to make her so. You aim to make the bridal shower an absolutely perfect event that the bride will never forget. And part of hosting a perfect bridal shower is, of course, buying the perfect bridal shower invitations.

1. Invitees. The length of the guest list will have a significant impact on the kind of bridal shower invitations you choose. Especially if you are on a budget, purchasing intricate invitations for a large number of people can get more than a little expensive. Before you can be sure about the kind of invitation you want for a bridal shower, it’s important to think through your guestlist. When you consider the number of attendees, it’s much easier to judge what kind of invitations your can get without breaking the budget.

2. Theme. When choosing bridal shower invitations, you’ll also need to consider the theme of the shower. Oftentimes, this theme matches the one chosen for the wedding, such as a Halloween themed shower for a Halloween wedding. Other times, the shower theme can be totally unrelated (and just be a lot of fun!) like a sexy underwear bridal shower. If you’ve chosen a theme for the shower, the bridal shower invitations should reflect that.

3. Design. How your bridal shower invitations are designed will generally be decided by your theme. But the tone of the shower should also be considered. Are you hosting a more formal shower? Then your invitations should have a more formal design. Having a casual bridal shower? Then go with fun, colorful bridal shower invitations. The design of your invitations will be the first thing to tell your guests what to expect from the bridal shower.

4. Printing. When purchasing bridal shower invitations, you have plenty of printing choices. For bridal shower planners on a budget, it’s often best to print your invitations on a home printer or in a printing shop. Easier (but generally more expensive) is purchasing invitations. When you purchase invitations, you can either buy them preprinted (cheaper), or you can have them specially designed and printed by a bridal shower invitations professional (more expensive). Many maids of honor simply order their bridal shower invitations online.

5. Wording. Wording for bridal shower invitations can be complicated; there’s a lot to take into consideration. The wording you choose should always reflect the bridal shower’s theme and its level of formality. Your bridal shower invitations’ wording also needs to go over any information you guests must know, such as gift or wardrobe requirements.

Grand Bridal Shower Invitations For The Special Bride To Be

May 22nd, 2009 by admin

They say the wedding is any woman’s hallmark event in life. And the bridal shower naturally falls next in line. The bridal shower needs as much planning as does the wedding itself, and making your bridal shower truly unforgettable begins with the invitations sent out for the party. The range that the market offers is truly as diverse and distinct as any bride would like to be, from the traditional to the fashionable. The Internet has made planning for bridal shower simpler, but with it comes the dilemma of excess. The Internet allows access to such a wide variety that a new bride may be being overwhelmed by the range.

The wide range may well leave you at a loss to settling on the right invitation for your bridal shower. So what kind of invitation is right for you? Well that really depends on your personal preferences, the theme of your bridal shower if any, and of course the guest list. It is important that the theme as well as the invitation itself reflects not just your personality but also takes into account the invitees tastes.
If the guest list is a young and happening crowd, a lingerie bridal shower may be just the thing to set the tone, while a more conventional guest list may be uncomfortable participating in such a racy event! So choose the theme with care and then the right kind of invitation will be easier to settle on.

The wide assortment of invitation styles and the range of paper, print and text options will ensure that you find the perfect fit for your bridal shower. A neat and graceful bridal shower invitation will reflect an urbane upbringing, while a modish hand made design will work wonders for the modern crowd. Yes, you get to design your own bridal shower invitations too! With do it yourself packages that allow personalization, you can pick your own envelopes, jackets, pocket folds, as well as printed invitations individually. Or better still, get your thinking caps on and write your own invitation text on plain invitation cards. Generate curiosity within your guests with stunning personalized invitations, while still maintaining the theme of the bridal shower. Whichever your choice, you are sure to find an invitation that is perfect to set the tone for your bridal shower, and with that the impending wedding too. Shopping online also allows you to view previews or order sample packages, so there are no surprises later. Many online stores handle express shipping orders, but then resort to this as the last option to avoid unexpected delays. So make a mark with a dazzling bridal shower invitation for the special occasion and garnish the event with loads of happiness.

A detailed couples shower invitation

May 8th, 2009 by admin

A Couples shower invitation is sent in lieu of a party held in honor of the couple who are engaged to be married before the wedding so that guests can give them gifts. The names of the couples in whose name the bridal shower is held is the most important part of a couples shower invitation. The couples shower invitation should contain the first names of the bride and groom if all the guests are familiar with their first names. A Couples shower invitation must mention the brides first name and her last name before marriage and the grooms name and describing them as the future Mr. and Mrs X is also acceptable. search.rssworld1.com

The date of the couples shower on the couples shower invitation should be a date which is convenient to the bride and the groom. The time of the party must be mentioned in the couples shower invitation and some hosts also mention the time at which the party will come to an end. The address of the location of the party should be clearly mentioned in couples shower invitations. When a host is considerate and includes all details to make it easy for a guest to attend in the couples shower invitation the party is certain to be a big success. Wedding bands

Tips for Buying Bridal Shower Invites

May 5th, 2009 by admin

Let’s be honest, bridal shower invites are not the most fun part of planning a bridal shower. Making out the guest list, politicking over the guest list, picking out an invitation design, arguing over the wording, ordering the invitations in time, stuffing envelopes, printing address labels, sticking stamps and labels on, getting everything in the mail in time… It is exhausting. Here are a few tips to make the process less annoying and let you move on to the fun parts of planning the bridal shower.

Getting the bridal shower invites online is far faster and simpler than buying them in a store. You are not limited to what a brick and mortar store has in stock, you can visit twenty web stores in the time it would take you to visit two in real life, and you can search the invitation designs quickly and easily. Some online stores will let you search by color and style as well as by designer and collection. You can use the web store’s templates to lay out the card and see its finished look. You can even choose matching envelopes and seals, or mix and match for a unique style. When you are done, you can pay for them online and have them delivered to your door within days.

Order the bridal shower invites as far in advance as you possibly can, to avoid “lost in the mail” crises. If plans keep shifting and you are worried that the invitations will be inaccurate by the time they reach the guests, pick out a social networking site that the bride does not go to, throw together a party page, and put the web address on the invitations. (In fact, that’s a good idea no matter what state the plans are in.)

When you get the bridal shower invites in the mail, turn the invitation prep into a party with a few of your friends. Fill the CD player with your favorite music or rent a light comedy, get some snacks (but nothing that will get grease or dubious orange smears on the invitations), and toss the invitations together assembly line style. Even if the bride has more friends than Auntie Mame and it feels like you’re inviting half of Manhattan, you will have the invitations done in record time.

And remember: Do not stress. The bridal shower will be fantastic. Look after the important things, and the details, like whether the bridal shower invite envelopes match the seals absolutely perfectly, will take care of themselves. The most important thing is to celebrate the bride’s new life, so get the preliminaries out of the way, and party!

Picking Out Bridal Shower Invitations

May 1st, 2009 by admin

Bridal shower invitations are an important grace note for any bridal shower you throw. You want them to be perfect for your friend, and with a party to plan, you want to finish them quickly and easily. Before you spend money or valuable time on picking out invitations, take a moment to review the best and most efficient way to choose and send invitations to your friend’s bridal shower.

First, choose a bridal shower invitation design. Going online is the best way to do this; online stores let you search their catalogs by style, theme, or color, and you do not need to waste time driving from store to store and getting clerks to help you with the sample books. If you know what your friend’s wedding invitations look like, you may not even need to choose a new design, since many wedding invitation designs come with a version designed especially for bridal shower invitations.

Once you have chosen a design, lay out the text. Details like what the bridal shower’s theme is, whether the party is formal or casual, whether the shower is a surprise, where the bride is registered, the URL of the bridal shower page, and the bridal shower host’s name are thoughtful additions to the usual rundown of the bride’s name, the shower location, date, and time, and the RSVP information. Try to be straightforward, not cutesy. You have seen horrible jokes on invitations before, so you know how easy it is for humor to go astray.

Add matching envelopes and seals, address labels, and other small touches. Having the return address preprinted will save you considerable time that you would otherwise spend buying labels and sticking them on individually. When your invitation package is complete, choose how quickly you want the invitations shipped to you. Sooner is always better because extra time cushions you against the worry of losing invitations in the mail. If the party plans are in flux, rather than waiting until the last minute to buy invitations, consider sending out invitations earlier and putting up a web page for the party with the most up to date information.

When you are done, click the order button and wait a few days. Because online stationers print bridal shower invitations rapidly, you may receive the package within the week. Assemble the invitations, print out address labels and stick them on, and drop the invitations in the mail. That’s it! Now you can move on to the best part of the planning, and get ready to throw a splendid bridal shower.

The Process of Making Your Own Bridal Shower Invitations

April 18th, 2009 by admin

There was a time when a prospective bride was expected to send out very formal and boring shower invitations. The other choice was those “fill in your own information on the blank spaces” cards that came 10 to a pack. Now more and more brides to be are longing for creativity and uniqueness in their bridal shower invitations. They do not necessarily want the most expensive or the flashiest. Something different that everyone will remember fits the bill. If you subscribe to this way of thinking and strive to make your own bridal shower invitations, then I can help give you a few pointers.

The first step is to brainstorm. Draw everything out on paper or do it on your computer, if you prefer. Picture your guests receiving your bridal shower invitations and how the invitations will be situated in their envelopes. Put together a list of items needed for the ideas you like the most. Try to calculate the tab for delivery of the invitations. Often, it is easy to weed out certain ideas because the materials will just cost too much. Work on the wording of your invitation once you decide on the winning idea. Do this before you buy the materials, so you know what size paper you will need and how much room for embellishment you will have.

Once you have your concept and a solid list of the supplies you need and what size invitations you are going to make, you can head to the store. Make sure to order envelopes that correspond with your invitations. Your bridal shower invitations themselves do not have to be color coordinated with your envelopes, but they need to be of equal card stock and fashion. If you are going to handwrite the invitation message, a set of specialty calligraphy pens will be invaluable. If calligraphy or penmanship is not your bailiwick, consider purchasing a stencil set. You can also outsource that portion of the work for your handmade bridal shower invitations. Finally, you should always remember that invitations with bells and whistles always tickle the fancy of even the toughest shower guest. If you are doing something completely out of the box, you probably already have the frills covered. What prospective guests would not want to be greeted with music, feathers, ribbons or painted somethings when they open their bridal shower invitations? Give them something pretty.

I will close by saying that, if anywhere in this process, you decide it is too frustrating or you do not have time to have a regular job and make bridal shower invitations, abandon ship for the sake of your sanity. It is completely respectable to have your invitations outsourced. There are incredible companies and small boutiques online and on main street that exist because they provide cool and distinctive bridal shower invitations that will wow your guests. Have fun and chill. A stressed out bride is a bummer.

Bridal Shower Invitations That Invite Guests to Really Celebrate

April 14th, 2009 by admin

The cost of a wedding can cost more than most couples put down as a down payment on their first house. Many couples get lost in the details of table decorations and menu planning and forget about the whole idea of gathering loved ones together to help them celebrate their nuptials. The once sweet and innocent bridal shower has even been infected with the materialism bug. Bridal shower invitations often just obligate guests to purchase more presents. Guests should be delighted to attend, instead of feeling a sense of panic.

As more and more couples these days are in their 30s when they get married, the bridal shower should not be about presents. It should be about celebration. Prospective brides now have an opportunity to throw great alternative bridal showers that their grandmothers most definitely were not allowed to. Let friends and family who will get those bridal shower invitations off the hook for expensive presents and let them attend a creative and fun event instead. If you are having a difficult time getting started, I will give you some ideas.

Everyone loves wine and food. Send out bridal shower invitations to a wine tasting party. Buy a selection of wines and have your guests help choose the wine that will be served at the wedding. Do the whole nine yards, by covering up labels and giving everyone comment cards. Another option is to have a “stock the wine cellar” party, in which everyone brings a bottle to stock your home collection. Have sharpie markers on hand, so guests can sign the bottles. You will smile whenever you get a new bottle out of the collection in later years, as you toast to the person who gave it to you.

Now onto a few food bridal shower themes. One idea is to have all the guests bring the recipe of their signature dish. All the guests can then glue the recipe on a page in the book and decorate it however they want. You then have a cookbook of tried and true recipes and will remember your friends every time you make something from it. Another idea makes your guests work a little harder, but is all in good fun. Have your guests make an appetizer. Let the attendees choose the best one by casting votes on slips of paper. Serve the best hors doeuvre at the wedding reception by calling it by the guest who created it (The Sarah Simmered Stuffed Mushroom).

Send out the bridal shower invitations and let your guests eat, drink and be merry. Put your thinking cap on and come up with something different. You will be happy that you did not put pressure on anyone to buy you more gifts and will have fun appreciating the fact that your guests are there to help you celebrate.

Wedding Entry Today

April 8th, 2009 by admin

Wedding showers are held before the date of the actual wedding and wedding shower invitations are sent in advance. Today, the mother of the bride, a close relative or friend of the bride hosts the wedding shower party and sends out wedding shower invitations though traditionally this was the task of the maid of honor or matron of honor.

Gifts are given to the bride at the wedding shower party by guests and normally wedding shower invitations should be sent to guests who are invited to the wedding. Guests who live away from town should get wedding shower invitations at least four weeks before the party. Wedding shower invitations can be sent two weeks in advance for guests who live in town.

Wedding shower invitations sent along with a response card which specifies a cut off response date will help the host to budget the party expenses according to the number of guests who agree to attend. Some wedding shower invitations specify the details of the registry to which the bride belongs so that the guest will find it easy to choose gifts.

Main Points: Bridal shower invitations, Wedding songs, Free printable wedding invitations