Halloween favorites

Michelle's fun post made me want to share a few of my favorite halloween cards and accessories on eInvite!

Fun Seating Cards by Checkerboard

{images from Checkerboard's Unveiled collection}

Fun table cards always add a bit excitement for your guests. They see their names printed together, sometimes for the very first time. You can add a splash of design and whimsy to greet your guest as they enter the reception. Have fun with your table cards! This selection of really unique wedding suites is coming soon to eInvite.

Fun Wedding Touches by Checkerboard

{images of new Unveiled elements from Checkerboard...coming soon}

Some of the most kicking parts of a wedding are the little touches that accompany the invitation and all things paper. These items from the new Checkerboard , an inspired wedding collection called Unveiled, help you make all the little details sweet.

Don't miss eInvite on GILT for Wedding Weekend!

{homepage of Gilt Groupe}

{image via Gilt Groupe. visit Gilt to join the party!}

You are invited to the Gilt Groupe Wedding Weekend! We have partnered with Gilt featuring Checkerboard and eInvite designs. Eight beautiful ensembles with luxury envelopes and premium liners will be featured alongside, Sylvia Weinstock cakes, Vera Wang and Alexander McQueen gowns and everything from hair and makeup at Privé to a glam honeymoon in Bali.

Sale ends 3/15 MIDNIGHT EDT

Aurora: Pantone Top 10 Colors of Spring 2010

When you see how cute Michonne + Mike are in 100 Layer Cake's post, you may just become a fan of yellow. I am not really a yellow kind of girl, but the whole package is breathtaking, including her Carolina Herrera dress. Even on the hanger, that dress has a life of it's own. What I love about this wedding blog is that personal style and deliberate expression of personalities and stories are alive and tangible. The imagery is just so yummy.

When I saw the image of the bouquet, I thought it paired up so nicely with the Buttercup invitation that was recently featured in Brides Magazine.

Aurora yellow was forecasted in Pantone's top 10 Colors for Spring 2010. Yellow has been hot for a bit now, and I honestly did not think it would stay on top, but the optimistic feeling it gives you, just keeps it vital in design.

In the words of Nina Garcia quoted for the latest Pantone's Fashion Color Report:

“Designers have responded to the shift in the economy in one
of two ways: by using bold colors in comforting, familiar silhouettes; or by
creating eye-catching one-of-a-kind pieces that are completely irresistible. The
fashion constant, however, has been and always will be color. There’s nothing
like a vibrant hue of Royal Purple or Golden Yellow to make
us feel optimistic and hopeful for the future – just look at our first lady! She wears
color impeccably. I predict that we’ll see a lot more brights in spring 2010 to
inspire and uplift everyone’s mood.”

— Nina Garcia

Fashion Director, Marie Claire Judge, Lifetime’s “Project Runway”

Aurora PANTONE 12-0642

Invitations: Ordering

{Cartouche Espresso Invitation by Martha Stewart via eInvite}

Ordering your wedding invitations:

When to Order

Order your invitations as soon as your date, time and place have been confirmed. Three to six months before the ceremony is what most expert planners suggest. The more time you give yourself, the less harried you'll feel and the more carefully you'll make decisions. Give yourself or your calligrapher at least a month to hand address, assemble, and stamp the invitations and reply envelopes.

The Value of a Preview

Look for a printer or on-line dealer who offers CheckMate Preview technology so that you can see an actual copy of your invitation--with all your custom changes--before you order. CheckMate lets you personalize the invitation of your choice with your own wording, ink color and lettering style, and then shows you an actual copy of your creation almost immediately! If your store does not offer CheckMate, ask the staff to request a paper proof from the printer before the ensemble is printed. There is usually a charge for each proof you order and it takes a few days to a week to receive. If you don't like what you see, you'll need to make changes and order another proof.

How Many to Order

To calculate the number of invitations to order, count one invitation for each of the following:

1. Couple (married or living together)
2. Family with children under 18
3. Each child 18 years old or older and still living at home
4. Single guest
5. Fiancee/fiance of a guest
6. Invited boy-or-girl friend of a guest

For example, in a house with one set of parents and five children (one child 17, one 14 and three children 18 and older), four invitations would be sent. One would be sent to the parents with the name of the 17 year old and the 14 year old on the line below the parents' names (on the only envelope if using a single envelope or on the inner envelope if using a double envelope set), and one each to the three siblings 18 and older.

After calculating the number of invitations, as noted above, add approximately 25 invitations to your order: 10-12 more for keepsakes, plus extras for the last-minute guests (and there will be last-minute guests.) Reorders later can be costly. Also, depending on how large your order is, add 25 to 50 additional envelopes in case of mistakes in addressing.

When to Mail

Most established wedding planners agree that you should plan to mail your invitations six weeks before the wedding. Make sure you have one completely assembled invitation weighed at the post office to determine the correct postage. When you return with your invitations stamped and ready for mailing, ask to have them hand canceled. After all the care you put into selecting and addressing your envelopes, you'll want them to arrive in pristine condition for your guests' full enjoyment.

Destination weddings:

***Remember, if you are having a very detailed itinerary, more planning and foresight come into play!

Save the Date is a must:

Once you have chosen your destination and the date, you’ll want to inform your guests so they can plan their travel and lodging. Eight to nine months in advance is plenty of time. Save-the-Date Cards will tell them where and when the wedding will be held, and will give them their first glimpse of the celebration to come. More research on the bride and grooms end comes in advance of this. Watching flight pricing trends and scheduling accordingly to make it easier for all of you guests and their pockets, after all, you want them all there celebrating with you!

Getting there: invitations & the extra touches:

The perfect invitation will allow your guests to share your excitement the moment they open the envelope, and introduce the whole destination wedding idea. Your Invitations formally present your theme, setting the tone for your wedding. Response Cards are a simple way for your guests to secure their place at your celebration — and you’ll have a count of how many are attending. If your reception is to be held at a different site than the ceremony, you may want to send Reception Cards as well.

When they open your invitations, your guests will be excited and want to know where to go and what to do. A wedding blog or website can be helpful to give them the opportunity to peruse collected information you have already researched about the area. To make it easier once they arrive, have custom Direction Cards to all your wedding events. When traveling, you may be hosting more than just a reception. To help your guests enjoy all that your perfect locale has to offer, you may want to send Invitations for special activities to bring people together.

Destination weddings require a lot of separate pieces. When you combine your wedding ensemble, the magic is in the details! Some invitation sets are designed to keep your guests organized — and your invitations neat — with Custom Folders or Pockets that hold all the pieces of your wedding ensemble.

Schedules, agendas, programs and more:
How do you make your guests feel at home when they’re far away? A gift basket filled with local goodies will give them a warm welcome in their hotel room. To show your appreciation and bring your guests into the warm embrace of your event, include a Welcome Letter either in the gift basket, or by itself. You can also collect local maps and guidebooks for your guests, and suggest activities to do in between your events. Carry your wedding theme over to these and other materials, adding details that make your personality show through. These personal touches and thoughts go a long way. It is a nice way to greet everyone after their efforts and planning to be there to celebrate with you.

Have a little fun, go here and see your names on an invitation instantly!

Next: Wording your invitation

Holiday Perfection

I'm excited that Martha Stewart's Holiday collection is now live on eInvite.com! Her holiday designs are pure perfection, just like every other detail she crafts.

{peppermint meringues with chocolate filling by Martha Stewart}

{snowflake design by Martha Stewart on eInvite.com}

{jingle bell stockings by Martha Stewart}

{red cheers by Martha Stewart on eInvite.com}

InStyle flowers and eInvite Invites

Floral selections

paired up with eInvite's floral invites

{shown: california poppy, pink orchid, amaryllis all by eInvite, and

sweet pea by Checkerboard}


On InStyle Weddings today, I noticed the floral choices while checking out the latest scoop. One after the other were representative of our floral watercolor invitations on eInvite.com! We also have other interpretations of the flowers. Whether your choice is bold graphics or soft watercolors, if you are going with a floral theme for your wedding you will find a "bunch" of florals to choose from!

Two stunning Invitations for two beautiful brides

I am so excited!! My best friend Zoey is marrying Jem in August and Dan's best friend Brian is marrying Jess in October. This is a very special time for us, since both couples are like family!
I am just soooooooo excited for these weddings - I know they will be super fun! I wanted to share their stunning invitation choices with the rest of you.

Zoeys and Jems choice { phoebe from eInvite.com }





Brian and Jess's choice { bejeweled from eInvite.com }



more to come on the wedding stories ...

Orange Blossoms

The bright orange and white contrast of the Dandelion Dance invitation by einvite inspired this collection of images. The cocktail infusion party favors from beaucoup are an interesting idea for a spring or summer wedding, bridal shower, or party - and the packaging is irresistible. The profusion of petals that constitutes a dahlia and the pile of pots (images via marthastewart.com) make me smile and get excited about the new blooms popping up!

Where's the BBQ?

Lately, I’ve been enamored by the aroma of BBQ wafting through the spring air! It can’t help but conjure up images in my head of warm sunny afternoons spent with friends, gathered around the grill, eating roasted veggies, burgers and hotdogs. BBQ’s are a great excuse to sit back, relax and take a breather from the weekday grind. Here are some fun and quirky items that would spruce up any back yard grill fest! My particular favorite is the cow creamer, which could easily serve your favorite BBQ sauce!

{Images from L to R}
Spread The Love Lable from Etsy seller Miss Pickles Press
Cow Creamer available at Williams Sonoma
Bull invitation by Checkerboard Ltd. available at eInvite
Back-to-the-Farm Glasses available at Williams Sonoma
Bucket Grill available at Crate & Barrel
Country Barbecue Chop Plates available at Williams Sonoma
Mustache Handkerchiefs from Etsy seller Avril Loreti
Pirate Chefs T-shirt from Etsy seller Jon Wye
Vegetable Skewers available at Crate & Barrel

Graduation Invitation Sale

{15% off select graduation invitations on eInvite from now until May 19th }

Found in eInvite's 25% Off Spring Sale

There are some real gems in eInvite's Spring Sale - last day today: wedding invitations with multiple layers and ribbons at deep discounts, stunning letterpress invitations, thank-you notes, party and baby, too. The white foil text on the rich black paper of Beauty in Black sets a formal tone for an evening event and lets brights colors stand out even more. The letterpress invitation Field Flower in summery tones of yellow and green calls to mind margaritas and lemon-hued orchids (found on theknot.com). Take advantage of great sale prices and browse lots of other new invitations on eInvite!

eInvite review

I was excited to read this awesome review, wanted to share it with everyone. Thank you Victory and Samantha!
http://ataleoftwobrides.blogspot.com/