We all know you have a wedding budget (you have an every-day-life budget too). But there are some things you could (read: we highly recommend you do) splurge on for your wedding day. Mainly for the getting ready part of your day. And they are…

1. Plum Pretty Sugar Robe. I adore these. They’re gorgeous and perfect for all those getting ready special touches. A wonderful gift to yourself and your maids (!!!), or a gift to you from your maids, or even a gift from your mom. My mama already knows it’s a must on my list :)
2. Perfume. We love amazing grace by philosophy. Very pretty, not overwhelming at all, and very bridal. If you don’t wear perfume, you’ll love this. And if you already have a signature scent, great! Regardless, go give this a sniff next time you’re in Sephora! You can thank me later for this bit of advice!
3. Champagne. The bubbles will make you feel giggly and should help with those smattering of butterflies in your stomach. Limit yourself to just one glass (mimosa or straight bubbly) because no one likes a tipsy bride. But a smiling one will be loved by everyone. (Photo by Pasha Belman via Southern Weddings)
4. Professional hair and makeup. Oh my goodness, I can’t express how much of a must-have splurge this is. If you splurge on nothing else, do this. It’s fun to be pampered and looking pretty on your wedding day. Trust me on this and book hair and makeup trials (if you haven’t already) today. You will love me lots for suggesting this! (Photo by Amy and Stuart Photography via Style Me Pretty)
5. A pretty, custom bridal hanger to hang your wedding dress on. Have it say bride, or I do, even your new last name will do! It’s perfect for pictures and to hang in your closet later as a sweet reminder of your special day. (Photo by Caroline Tran via Style Me Pretty – A Shop We Love – Original Bridal Hangers)

Would you treat yourself on wedding day? In what other ways could you splurge? How did you splurge on your special day? Share all your ideas with us in the comments below!! xoxo

We are so excited to have Heather from Simply Designed back for another installment in our Stationery Series. Today she’s going to discuss printing process options for wedding invitations. Be sure to also refer back to Heather’s posts on Letterpress Wedding Stationery, Day-of Wedding Stationery and Stress Free Wedding Stationery.

Many brides enter into designing their invitations and are overwhelmed by many terms that are almost like a foreign language to them. As a custom stationery designer, I like to explain the entire process, terminology, and anything else my brides and grooms might come across. My favorite part of the whole design process is printing. I love the smell of the paper and ink, and the physical texture of the paper and the way ink reacts to the paper. It is one of the few times I will admit I like science!

Because of my love for printing, I thought I would take you through some of the most common printing methods for wedding stationery and explain a little bit about each one. Hopefully this summary will help you decide which printing method will fit you and your wedding the best. I promise I won’t get into the science behind this!

Digital Printing

This is a fast, affordable, modern printing technology that results in stationery with a flat surface and vivid, beautiful colors. Digital designs can be printed on cotton based paper so your invitation looks and feels just as luxurious as letterpress. The bonus is a lot of digital printing can be done eco-friendly. Many printers have now converted their facilities to wind and solar power, add in your FSC certified paper and you have one very “green” wedding invitation.

Digital Printing sample (Design by Simply Designed | Photo by Kim Robbins Photography)

Thermography

Another very popular printing method for stationery is thermography. This process results in a raised or three-dimensional print effect that emulates the finished quality of engraving, but not at the same price. Thermography is a simple process typically used in conjunction with any conventional wet-ink printing press. When the printed sheets come off a press pass, they pass through a powder application where resin is applied to the wet ink. The resin is then removed from the sheet except where it adheres to the wet ink. The printer then heats the paper, causing the resin to melt and fuse to the ink. The page is then cooled, which finalizes the process. However, stationery with classic engraving still tends to have a fuller, more complete raised printing effect. The letters from a thermography print are also shinier than engraved characters.

Flat Offset Printing

Flat offset printing is sometimes referred to as flat printing. This printing method is commonly used for magazines, brochures and when you are looking for some fun out-of-the-box projects. The color range is limitless! When using this technique, you can add varnishes and use many different paper styles. It’s less expensive than engraving or thermography. The process starts with a metal or paper plate from a black and white image. The printer then hangs the plate on a press and the image is transferred onto paper. When printing in this method you can use up to 5 specific Pantone match colors, or 4 specific Pantone match colors and a varnish. The combinations are endless!

Flat Offset Printing sample (Design and Photo by Simply Designed)

Engraving

Developed during the 1700s, engraving is a classic, formal printing process. Think of your mother’s wedding invitations. Up until about the early 90‘s, this was one of the most popular ways to print your wedding invitations. Engraved invitations have a distinct look and feel that is easily recognizable. Because of their superior quality, engraving is the most expensive printing process available. The paper is pressed against a metal plate, causing the printing press to raise the letters on the paper. You can feel each character when you run a finger across the back of the paper. The raised letters in a matte ink finish produces an indentation on the reverse, and a gentle wave or ripple on lighter papers that gives engraved stationery a look of distinction. Surprisingly this printing technique is making a come back.

Letterpress

My absolute favorite! One of the things I love about letterpress is that this printing method is steeped in craft and tradition. The letterpress process results in stationery of exceptional beauty and authenticity. Letterpress is a printing technique that dates back to the 1400’s. Individual letters forged out of lead or wood were carefully hand set, inked and impressed into sheets of paper, creating one of the earliest forms of modern printing. Modern day letterpress is slightly different, but the end result is still as unique and beautiful to the touch. The design is rendered and refined, and made into printing plates. The inked image is transferred directly into the paper. Sometimes a slight embossing appears on the reverse side of the paper because of denting caused by the letterpress process. The finished letterpress image is usually sharp and crisp, each resulting piece is a unique piece of art, the culmination of hours of craft and creativity. The best part of printing your invitation on a letterpress is the ecological benefits. Letterpress is one of the most eco-friendly ways to print. All the inks are vegetable-oil based with low VOCs, and all the papers used are either 100% cotton or 100% bamboo which grows in abundance and is replenished very quickly.

Letterpress sample (Design and Photo by Simply Designed)

We heart this design and use it frequently as our business stationery :)

Embossing

I am so excited to now be giving our vendors the opportunity to guest post for us! It gives us a chance to get some fresh takes and voices on the blog, as well as expert advice in front of all of you. When A.J. Dunlap Photography first approached me with this topic, I’ll be honest, I had no idea it was even an issue. Photography, wedding photography especially, is extremely important to me. The photographs of your wedding are the only tangible detail left when all is said and done at the end of the day. You want them to be excellent! Do you know how you get excellent wedding photographs? You hire an incredible wedding photographer! Do you know what that incredible wedding photographer needs in order to deliver on his/her promise of beautiful wedding photos? Time! It’s so important to listen to your photographer when it comes to your wedding day timeline. Why? I’ll let A.J. tell you that. Just know this, when you listen to your wedding photographer, you won’t be the least bit disappointed in your wedding photos. And if you happen to be facing an issue of someone (anyone) telling you to cut the picture taking time short, A.J. has solutions for that, too! She did a bang up job on this post, let me tell you, and the photos we chose to accompany her words are all couples who took A.J.’s advice to heart. The result? Outstanding wedding photographs. Just you wait and see!! xoxo

Having a rock solid timeline is one of the most important things for helping a wedding day run smoothly. It can and will eliminate so much stress from the bride if she knows exactly what’s going to happen when. As a bride, it can be kind of overwhelming to know where to start with this timeline. I mean this is your first time doing this, right? This is where your photographer can help you. Yes, I said photographer!

I know what you’re thinking, your photographer is just there to take pictures, how can they help you with your timeline? I’m sure you’re like most of our brides in that you want the most beautiful wedding pictures ever, right?  You deserve it, so you shouldn’t settle for anything less! This is your one wedding, it’s what you’ve been dreaming about since you were a little girl, and your photos are the memories you’ll have forever.  Those, right there, are the # 1 reasons for consulting with your photographer before planning anything.  You’ve hired a professional wedding photographer to take beautiful pictures, so why not trust them with how long it takes to get those pictures and what time of day is best?  We are trained to understand and use beautiful light.  You’re paying good money for the knowledge we have about photography, and we’re happy to let you tap in to that knowledge base!

When our couples book us, we tell them from day one that we will help them set a photography timeline for the wedding, and if they’d like help with choosing a ceremony time that will be most conducive for good pictures we’re happy to help them with that too. We even offer to meet them at the venue to see where the sun will be on their wedding day, and help them choose a time that will be most comfortable for them and their guests and also produce the best pictures. We want to be a resource for them as much as possible!

Other than good light, something else your photographer knows is how long it takes them to work. Every photographer is different. You’ve hired your photographer because you like them and the photos on their website. Those photos take time, so be sure to check with your photographer on how much time they need for things like wedding party portraits, bride & groom portraits, reception details, etc. Trust me they’ll be over the moon thankful that you’re considerate of that, and your pictures will be stunning because of it!

Now, you might get some resistance from people when you tell them how long pictures will take.  Keep in mind that these are your memories, they only happen once and they should be documented beautifully. If your photographer likes an hour with you and your groom alone, and you’re ok with that, stand up for yourself if someone questions it!  Don’t back down. Remember it’s YOUR wedding day! It’s not the venue’s, it’s not your parents’, and it’s not your wedding party’s.

Here are a few of the most common resistance scenarios we see our bride’s deal with and how to handle the situation:

From the Venue or Caterer:

Sometimes the venue or caterer will think you’re arriving to the reception too long after the ceremony, and ask that you arrive earlier. There are a few things you can do in this situation.  First, you can do a First Look and take all the pictures before the ceremony, then head straight to your reception after.  Secondly, you can tell them that photos are very important to you and this is the timeline you are going to stick with for your wedding day. We’ve seen venues be pushy on this subject, and use reasons like the food will be cold if you arrive then. I promise you they can have food ready whenever you tell them to, so don’t let that affect your decision.

From your Parents:

If your parents are concerned about the timeline, it’s most likely because they don’t want to keep the guests waiting.  This is a legitimate concern, and since most of the time they’re paying for the wedding you should be respectful. However, they most likely have not been in the same communication with your photographer like you have. So, what we do when this situation arises is we offer to speak with the parents. We explain to them how long pictures take and why we’ve scheduled the day out the way we have.  Weddings today are much different than when they got married 30 years ago, so, usually all it takes to get them to understand is a little communication.  We also promise not to run even a minute late, and that typically eases their mind!

From Friends:

You might be hanging out with friends chatting about the wedding when they drop the subliminal hint of, “Oh, we were at Suzie’s wedding last week and they took FOREVER after the ceremony for pictures. You would never do that to your guests.” First of all, recognize that as peer pressure. Secondly, at Suzie’s wedding they were probably left standing around with no food, drinks, entertainment, just staring at the walls bored for an hour. Our solution, make sure you plan a cocktail hour. Usually, if you feed your guests something they’ll be happy.  We’ve even seen lawn games available to keep them really entertained while you’re gone!

We’re only talking about an hour here.  Like I said before every photographer is different, but for us we only ask to use the cocktail hour unless the bride & groom request more time. If you really don’t want to take that hour after your ceremony for pictures or would like to join your cocktail hour yourself, we highly encourage you to consider doing a First Look.  That will allow you to take almost all of your pictures before the ceremony, and then be able to relax and enjoy the rest of your wedding day.

The other option you have is you can cut your picture timeline short. This is not an ideal option, and I wouldn’t recommend it to any of our brides. Ultimately, it’s your wedding day so you get to make the call.  Just keep in mind your photographer isn’t a magician. If you cut the timeline short you’re going to have to give something up, and you definitely won’t get the same amount or quality of pictures you see on their blog or website.

I know it’s hard to please everyone when planning a wedding!  I do think it’s possible to get what you want as the bride without upsetting or offending anyone. It just takes a little tact, grace and open communication with all the people involved. I hope this has helped you in some way! I really hope you have a perfect wedding day and get the pictures you’ve always dreamed!

Thank you so much for taking the time to educate us today, A.J.! xoxo

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A.J. Dunlap Photography is a Premier Partner in the Heart Love Weddings Vendor Boutique. If you would like more information on how to become a partner, please complete and submit an application under our Advertising tab.

As we head into prime wedding season, many couples will be creating their wedding registries. We’ve collected some of our favorite, tried and true recommendations for the must-haves that just about every couple should include. And yes, we either have, or have used all of the items mentioned. I realize that all of them are for the kitchen and/or for entertaining, but they are truly practical things that everyone will actually use time and time again. Come take a look! You’re going to want to pin this one. :)

Kitchen Aid Mixer | Dinnerware | Flatware | French Press | Knife Set | All Clad Slow Cooker | All Clad Cookware Set | All Clad Roaster Pan | Steak Knife Set | Le Creuset Dutch Oven

How about you? What are some of your must-haves on your wedding registry?

xoxo

Over the last few years, there has been a trend towards colored wedding dresses – pink, blush, yellow, blue, red, and yes, even black. Some brides say no way and others have said heck, yes!

Many of us have grown up with the white wedding dress tradition, but you know that hasn’t always been the case. Queen Victoria influenced the white wedding dress as a tradition in 1840, but before that many brides wore something that was their Sunday best and hanging in their closet, no matter the color. (Remember Little House on the Prairie?) During WWII many ladies wore a basic suit, or even a uniform, if applicable. When I was growing up, we didn’t even imagine anything but white.

Amanda K Photography via Style Me Pretty

Nowadays, color is definitely making a splash in the wedding world, but did you know that there is a little poem that might make you think a little more on whether you want color, and/or exactly which color you should consider. (Remember, there is a lot of superstition that surrounds love and weddings.)

What to Wear to Marry

Married in White, you have chosen right,

Married in Grey, you will go far away,

Married in Black, you will wish yourself back,

Married in Red, you will wish yourself dead,

Married in Green, ashamed to be seen,

Married in Blue, you will always be true,

Married in Pearl, you will live in a whirl,

Married in Yellow, ashamed of your fellow,

Married in Brown, you will live in the town,

Married in Pink, your spirit will sink.

Source: The Book of Love, K. C. Jones

Wow! Who came up with this list? Oh my goodness! I think my best bet, based on this list, would be white (duh!) and blue. And I would definitely avoid red at all costs. Yellow isn’t exactly a good thing either…

One of our favorite white (yes) wedding dresses of all time! Swoon!!

Luminaire Foto via Heart Love Weddings

I thought I’d have a little fun and make a few revisions to this poem, since the original sounds, well, a little depressing, and downright morbid. Just remember, my rhyming skills are a bit lacking. I just wanted to have some fun! :)

Ha! What do you think? Would you choose a different color other than white for your wedding dress? If you did, tell us what color you chose and why? Because inquiring minds do want to know…

xoxo

It’s no secret that I LOVE wedding signs. I get giddy every time I come across one. From simple and basic to way cute and creative. Handmade, hand-painted, cute, colorful, even framed, and chalkboard. From love story timelines to menu descriptions to best day ever wedding directions. From those that say: “Let’s Do This Thing” to “Heck Yes ‘I Do’” to “Mutual Weirdness Forever.” These are 25 of THE BEST wedding signs!!

captured by Jodi Miller Photography via Southern Weddings

captured by Christopher Nolan Photography via Style Me Pretty

captured by Jillian Mitchell Photography via Style Me Pretty | captured by Danielle Capito Photography

captured by Three Nails Photography via Style Me Pretty | captured by Amanda K Photography via Style Me Pretty

captured by Shaun Menary Photography via Style Me Pretty

captured by Alyse French Photography via Style Me Pretty

captured by Lavender & Twine via Style Me Pretty | captured by Taylor Lord Photography via Style Me Pretty

captured by Larissa Cleveland Photography via Style Me Pretty | captured by Taylor Lord Photography via Style Me Pretty

captured by Ashley Maxwell Photography

captured by Flat 4Photography via Apple Brides | created by Wedding Signs With Love (Etsy)

captured by Divine Light Photography via Southern Weddings

captured by Shannon Michele Photography via Style Me Pretty | captured by Jenna Norman Photography via Done Brilliantly

captured by Jose Villa via Elizabeth Anne Designs | captured by Brett Heidebrecht Photography via Wedding Chicks

captured by Brent Van Auken Photography via The Bride’s Cafe

captured by Brooke Images via Southern Weddings | captured by Ashley Photographer via Delightfully Engaged

captured by Andi Mans Photography via Southern Weddings

Thoughts on all this creative wedding signage? Did you/Will you have wedding signs decorating your big day? What will they say? Tell us below! xoxo