Invites are Out!!!

So much is going on lately, I don’t even know where to start!




First off, my invites went out!!! Woo hoo! And here they are!

The design is by Tanya Williams at www.designbytanya.com



And she did an amazing job! The concept is of a story book! This all started when Cole and I were having a hard time finding beginning “wording” for the invites. We found one that said “Boy met girl, they fall in love, move in together and get a dog” which we loved. But we didn’t want to copy it right off the bat. So we had it changed  It seemed like a story and it sparked the creative genius in Tanya, and here is the product 

I also got my hair comb in! yay!! As well as belt for my wedding dress! I was so excited to see the belt on my dress that I made Cole stay downstairs while I tried to put on my wedding dress to see the belt. It LOVE it! Exactly how I wanted it  Once I was done and had put everything away, I saw a rhinestone on the floor. My heart dropped!!! It had obviously come from my belt!

So I had to take the belt out and I noticed another one came loose! I brought it downstairs for Cole to examine and we decided this could be hot glued on (even though everything else was hand stitched on). So I decided it would be best to put glue on the rhinestone, then the rhinestone on the belt. Cole decided it would be better to put glued on the belt, then put the rhinestone on. Well…. Just take a little guess as to which rhinestone turned out better ;)



The rhinestone that Cole and his giant engineer hands put on had too much glue that globbed everywhere. We had to let it dry and carefully cut off all the globs. It looks great now, but you can only image the horror on my face when I saw my belt, with rhinestones….but also with TONS of hot glue 

Everything is much better now :) Now I await the RSVP's..... now the REAL planing begins..... :)

Wedding Invitation Wording

Every month is a busy month lately!

This one started out with invitation wording and now it has moved on to our Catholic engaged couples coucniling, food tasting and dance lessons!

So I never realized how difficult inviation wording can be! Thankfully we are able to use traditional wording on our invitation! Did you know that depending on where you get married, your wording is suppose to be different? I do mean to say "suppose to be" loosely becase at the end of the day, everyone decides to do what they want. But for example, Cole and I are getting married in a Chapel, or aka house of worship. Since we are doing that, our wording should include the phrase "request the honour of your presence" and if you are getting married out doors or in a hotel or reception hall, you should put anything but "request the honour of your presence" as it implies that you will be in a church or worship setting. (Although being only 25, I would have NEVER known that!) But I guess for the people who do notice that, its a good idea to alert people that its a church or church like setting dress appropriately.

I think most people know about the whole "if the brides parents are paying" they put their names first, and if both families are paying then you say "together with their families" or if the couple is paying you are suppose to say you names and then "invites you to etc..". I personally dont care about that because its no one's business in my opinion whos paying. So with that, I think go with that you like more!

Also in the body of the wording, if you are sticking to traditions, the brides name, should state only their first and middle name. If their last name differs from their parents name for some reason, they would put first, middle and last name. Then with the grooms name you would traditionally put "Mr. Coulston Paul Van Gundy" or modernly you can put Coulston Paul if his last name is the same as his parents. It really depends on the style. Cole and i are mixing the traditional with the modern since we are a little of both :)

(I like the wrap around label in this picture :) and belly band with a tag )

Lastly, this is usually not as noticed and i think its something newer. Its almost like a header or and intro to your invitation! i have seen a couple of them, but not to many. "together with their families" is one or "because you have shared in their lives" and then it would go into rest of the invitation. Im not going to share exactly what cole and I have decided on.... I have leave some of it as a suprise!!! :) Ill post pictures after they have been sent out and hopefully everyone has gotten them. But I am still 6.5 months away so I wont be sending them out for awhile :)

then there is packaging.... but thats a whole other moster to tackle...to be discussed after invites are made :)

Save the Dates and Invites

Aww, those very important things that let people know when and where you are getting married, but are really saying "please plan ahead, we would like to see you, we will feed you". Anyways, I have the please of working with a young and creative invitation designer! Since I havent worked with other invitation vendors, I can't do a huge comparision, but she is great from what I thought other invite designers would be like. I assume most invite designers would have a big company and you're one of a million brides that year. No matter how you go about it, your products will look like someone elses, and mass produced. Maybe in different colors, or sizes, etc. I am also assuming that with a bigger company, you can get lost in the mix. The many emails that come across, and all the specifics you may or may not wanted jumbled in with everyone elses.

The reason I have this impression is because with the many vendors I have met with, I get that vibe from some. If a vendor is having a busy day, and it happens to be one of the days you meet with them, they tend to forget everything about you. I've been called Teresa, Polly,and Paulie. (so far) The sad thing is, I dont even bother correcting them. (even though I should).

Anyways, back to my point, I am working with Tanya Williams at Designs by Tanya in seattle, and it has been like working with a good friend. She is very responsive and has a very fresh and young take on things. She is also very versitle in her designs. Even better, you dont feel like you have to come up with the design yourself! Either way, she is very flexible and makes you feel comfortable. (which is probably why I email her everyday :) )

Here is the WONDERFUL save the date Tanya did for us! I have not sent them out yet, website is under construction still.

Also, I've been working with her on a bridal shower invite for my friend Stephanie and my MOH's are working with her on my bachelorette party invites! Im so excited to see how they turn out!!! Obviously Cole and I love her work and are excited about workign with her for our invitiations too. But thats a couple months away.... wow.. it will creep up on me!

For any of you Washington Brides interested, here is her website. designbytanya.com