Monday, June 29, 2015

6 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Professional Wedding Stationer

Guest Blogger: Kelly Devera of Lovesky Design Inc.

Wedding invitations and stationery has become an important part of the wedding. After all, the wedding invitation introduces your guests to your special day so you want to make it beautiful and memorable. We all know weddings are expensive. Depending on what kind of wedding you're having and what's important to you, plenty of factors come into play. Brides try to DIY as much as they can to save costs despite their sanity. But even DIY adds up and before you know it, you've spent WAY more than you wanted in supplies and stressed yourself and your friends assembling DIY projects that didn't even turn out the way you wanted. And if it did, you used a lot of time that you will never get back. Like ever....

Wedding invitations seem to fall on the DIY list and people think it's easy to do. Until they realize the complexity and challenges paper, printing, design and assembling involves.

Why should you hire a professional wedding stationer? Here are 6 reasons:


1. We love paper and paper loves us.

Yes friends, we wouldn't be in this business if we didn't love paper. Because we love it so much we pretty much know more about it than the average person. Meaning once a couple conveys to us their dream wedding invitations, we will know what kind of paper might be perfect for your stationery. We can show you samples of different kinds and some that you can't even find at a local craft store. We can conjure up the perfect custom invite to match your colours and theme. Layers, texture, matte, metallic, laser cut, embossed.... the paper list goes on. Who better to guide and help you than paper nerds like us.

2. Attention to detail is our speciality.

Design is important to us. It's what makes your invitation unique and we strive to make it great for you. We go above and beyond by ensuring we pay attention to detail. We love the little details. It speaks to us. From the perfect font, layout to graphics... to marry them all with creativity and your vision makes us so excited! We have the ability to design a beautiful, custom stationery suite so everything from invitation to day-of wedding stationery is cohesive and lovely. It will add that extra special touch to your day.


3. Printing blues will not haunt you.

Have you ever printed something and the colour is different from the colour on your monitor? It's a bummer. We understand and empathize. We also know what to do. There's a lot of technical behind the scenes setups with printing your files but when you hire a pro, you won't have to worry about it because we take care of all that for you and the running around too! Not to mention possible paper cuts. Also, your home printer will thank you for not jamming it again.

Photo Credit: Paisley Photography

4. It is worth the investment.
  
Being professional stationers we invest in our business and so we are equipped with expensive, licensed design software meant to create custom design. No, we don't design this on Microsoft Word nor do we use a clip art from the internet in a low quality jpg resolution to copy and paste. You and your invitations deserve better! We also invest on building relationships with different vendors and suppliers allowing us to find great resources for your paper goods.

Photo Credit: Aeris Photography

5. We love what we do.

You know what they say about people who love what they do? They're happy to do it for you. The little things that would eventually annoy you are thing we love and can put up with! It might have been fun to mock your invite at home and do a few samples while loving your design like crazy. But try assembling it for 100+ times not accounting some mistakes that you have to redo and buy more materials as you juggle wedding planning at the same time too. Yikes. We have just one focus and we will make it amazing. Because again, we love what we do!

6. We want to take the stress away from you.

Not only do you get beautiful invitations but you're also hiring us so we can relieve some stress off you especially if you are a busy professional. That's worth something. That's worth a lot to some people! Let us deal and handle the stresses to create your invitations so you can take that out of your endless to do list and focus on other things.

Photo Credit: Photographik

Hiring a professional wedding stationer is a luxury that might or might not be affordable depending on a couple’s stationery budget which varies from couple to couple. But one thing is for sure, understanding the value and investment you make in hiring one is something worth saving up for when you plan your wedding. Time is value. Let the pros handle your paper projects while you spend more time celebrating your engagement with family and friends. And knowing your wedding stationery is in very good hands.
Happy Wedding Planning!

Monday, June 22, 2015

Red Dress Styled Photoshoot.

It is amazing how a vision comes to life when you work with a bunch of wonderful vendors!

I contacted Erin from Photographik because I had a stunning red wedding gown at our wedding consignment boutique. I thought this gown would be perfect for the non-traditional bride. Erin immediately jumped onboard to do the styled photoshoot because she envisioned a wedding with the colors of navy, red, gold, and white. The other vendors used the wedding colors and wedding gown as a jumping off point for their areas of expertise in relation to this photoshoot. Here are all the wonderful vendors that contributed to this photoshoot:

Coordination and Wedding Gown: Wishahmon
Photographer: Photographik
Paper Flower Backdrop: Prairie Love
Styling and Props: Orange Trunk
Linens: Chair Flair
Invitations: LoveSky Designs
Cake: Hand Made Cake Company
Florals: Occasional Blooms
Hair and Makeup Artist: Menaz Khan Makeup and Hair Inc. 
Jewelry: Mi2
Model: Marina Cosic

Check out the pictures from all of our hardwork!









Friday, June 19, 2015

DIY Wedding Activity Book For Kids

If you are having kids at your wedding and want a (somewhat) peaceful wedding, you will want to keep the little ones entertained. Keeping the kids entertained doesn't mean you need to spend a lot of money to hire clowns and magicians. An easy DIY activity book and some crayons will do the trick!

Free printable from Lovely Indeed.

DIY Printable Wedding Activity Book

DIY Printable Wedding Activity Book

DIY Printable Wedding Activity Book

DIY Printable Wedding Activity Book

DIY Printable Wedding Activity Book

DIY Printable Wedding Activity Book

DIY Printable Wedding Activity Book

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Tips for a Flat Belly For Your Wedding Day!

If wedding planning has caused you to stress eat and left your belly a little (or a lot) bloated, you will want to check out the following repost from Colin Cowie Weddings on how to beat the belly bloat!

The Colin Cowie Weddings team can't get enough of Amanda Russell's fabulous tips for a slim, wedding-ready belly! Read on for my 12 tips for beating belly bloat for your wedding day.

If there is one day you really don’t want the dreaded ‘belly bloat’, it’s your wedding day. Not only will it make you feel uncomfortable, you’ll be self-conscious in the dress you have been dreaming of wearing since before you had even found ‘the one’. Read on for my 12 tips for beating belly bloat for your wedding day.
1. Stop Swallowing Excess Air. Chewing gum, drinking through a straw, smoking, and talking while you’re eating can all cause you to swallow excess air become bloated.
    2. Skip The Sparkles. Carbonation can cause bloating, so stick with ‘still’ drinks in the days leading up to your wedding.
      3. Get moving! If you can do just 5 to 10 minutes of moving around, you can burn calories, fat, and bloat with interval-based high-intensity cardio. Check out this quick, cardio workout I previously shot for Colin Cowie Weddings brides!
        4. Eat Small Meals. Eating large meals stresses your digestive system and expands your stomach. Better to have small meals more frequently!
          5. Eat Protien - Adding protein to every meal acts as a diuretic and does wonders for reducing puffiness and water retention. Incorporate protein-rich ingredients in your meals such as string cheese, almonds or yogurt.
          6. Increase Your Supplements. If it’s your cycle that’s causing bloat, I recommend increasing your calcium and magnesium.
            7. Don’t Go ‘Sugar-Free’. Going sugar free is fine if you go ‘au natural’ however, too many of us end up replacing sugar with sugar substitutes like sorbitol. Best bet: avoid sugar-free gum, candy and diet drinks.
              8. Chew On Charcoal – I had bloating and a fellow health expert in NYC told me to take 2-4 of these supplements following a meal. They do work!
                9. Take Turmeric – Turmeric has fabulous anti-inflammatory properties. It can be taken in pill form or used in cooking or cocktails (check out the recipe section on FitStrongandSexy.com for a yummy turmeric flat-tummy drink).
                  10. Eat Potassium Rich Foods – Bananas, cantaloupe, mangoes, tomatoes, nuts and asparagus are all known to help with water retention. 
                  11. Drink Tea – This is HUGE the night before and the best way to start your Big Day. Try Ginger, Fennel, Chamomile, or bitter orange or add 3 coins of peeled ginger or fennel seeds to a pot of water, bring to a boil to make your own!
                  12. Much On Fresh Parsley- Is a natural diuretic so try chewing on some or adding it to your meals, especially if you’re trying to replace the chewing gum habit.
                  FitStrongandSexy is THE premier online fitness program perfect for busy brides to get fit, healthy and happy, anywhere anytime with effective customized fitness and diet plans. Real solutions for busy brides who want to lose weight and keep it off. Get fit, look and feel great for your wedding. 
                  Love,
                  Amanda 

                  Monday, June 15, 2015

                  DIY Fused Beads Table Numbers

                  In a previous blog, we shared how we can incorporate a childhood favorite past-time, making pom poms, into a wedding design. We found yet another craft we used to make as children that can be incorporated into a wedding - fused beads! This time, you can make table numbers out of them! (If you have the time and a small wedding, maybe you can make wedding favors too?!) 

                  Check out this super duper easy tutorial from Intimate Weddings

                  If you decide to tackle this project, please do share some pictures of your final products! 

                  ~Monica Hui
                  Owner, Lead Planner and Designer
                  If you like our weekly ramblings, LIKE us on our Wishahmon page too! More goes on there!


                  perler table

                  For these DIY table numbers you will need:
                  hama bead table numbers
                  This is how it looks when the flower border is complete.
                  table numbers hama
                  We then filled it in with white Perler beads and added a number in a different color.
                  hama table numbers










                  Friday, June 12, 2015

                  Wedding Beauty Checklist

                  The stress of wedding planning often shows up on your face and skin. Many of my brides finally turn their attention to their skin right before their wedding when it is a little too late. There isn't a magic potion that will turn back time or erase stress off your face. If there was, I would have found it and hoarded all of it.

                  Getting back on track, there is a wedding beauty checklist you can follow to have beautiful skin leading up to and on your wedding day. Sounds a little hard core to have a checklist or timeline for your skin, but I assure you it is worth it to have beautiful skin on your wedding day. Enjoy!

                  ~Monica Hui
                  Owner, Lead Planner and Designer
                  If you like our weekly ramblings, LIKE us on our Wishahmon page too! More goes on there!

                  I love this awesome wedding beauty   checklist for brides! Perfect for bride's family and friends   too!
                  bellasugar

                  Wednesday, June 10, 2015

                  Milk Glass Wedding Decor Part 2

                  In a recent conversation with a fellow wedding vendor, I was reminded of my love of milk glass. We talked about how we both like to scour garage sales for milk glass containers. She would have more luck than I would because she is one of those "early birds" that wait for garage sales to open. I was a "late bird" that goes when people are starting to pack up. So, it is understandable she has more luck than me.

                  If you are still not convinced and worried that your garage sale finds might make your wedding reception look like a garage sale, check out the pictures from our first post and the pictures below:

                  White milk glass wedding decor ideas #rusticwedding

                  These milk glass minis would make excellent centerpieces/favors for a bridal shower. Photo Source: FollowPics #milkglass #showerfavors #centerpieces
                  #milk-glass, #babys-breath, #centerpiece  Photography: Half Orange Photography (www.halforangephotography.com) - halforangephotography.com Wedding Planning + Floral Design: The Astin Mansion - astinmansion.com  Read More: http://www.stylemepretty.com/2012/05/21/bryan-wedding-at-the-astin-mansion-by-half-orange-photography/

                  Oh my goodness i Love making yarn pom poms! What a great idea to add something unique to a wedding

                  If you happen to find some milk glass at a garage sale that looks a little "ew", buy it anyways. You don't want to miss out on it and you can always clean it when you get home.  

                  ~Monica Hui
                  Owner, Lead Planner and Designer
                  If you like our weekly ramblings, LIKE us on our Wishahmon page too! More goes on there!


                  Monday, June 8, 2015

                  What's New - June 2015

                  I have no idea how we fell off the wagon on our What's New at Wishahmon  monthly updates. AND it is not like we had no news either! Here is what's new or new-ish.

                  All Bridal Accessories on Sale
                  Veils, wedding sashes, gloves, and bridal jewelry are all on sale one day only on Sunday, June 28th, 2015 from 2:00 - 4:00pm. Bring in your dress and gather your girlfriends for this event. First 10 brides to RSVP to weddings@wishahmon.com will receive a free gift too! (Please use subject line: Bridal Accessory Sale.) 

                  Elegant and Modern California Wedding From Caroline Tran Photography - visit our page to check more

                  Online Booking is Now Available
                  Yup, we finally got with the times and you can now schedule an appointment to view our wedding gown collection. We have some weekday evening and most weekend appointments available. Book your appointment here

                  Ethereal Lace Edged Bridal Veil | Ellie Asher Photo | Dreamy Mountain Lodge Wedding in Fuchsia and Mint
                  heyweddinglady

                  ~Monica Hui
                  Owner, Lead Planner and Designer
                  If you like our weekly ramblings, LIKE us on our Wishahmon page too! More goes on there!

                  Wednesday, June 3, 2015

                  How to Include Children At Your Wedding

                  If you are having kids at your wedding but a little anxious about how they will behave, here are our top five tips:

                  1) Allow Parents to Step Out of Your Ceremony
                  This is really the best scenario for everyone. It is not fair to ask kids to sit through a long (or short) wedding ceremony when they don't really understand what is going on. It is also hard to say your vows over the sounds of crying children. Discretely tell your guests that it is ok if they need to step out of your wedding ceremony with their children for whatever reason. This also helps anxious new parents too!


                  2) Have a Break Room / Time Out Room
                  This can apply to the wedding ceremony or reception. Weddings are long and when you are a child, it may feel even longer. The longer they have to sit in one spot, the more they want to move and stretch out. They easily become restless, hungry and overtired which can lead to tantrums, tears and frazzled parents.

                  Ask your venue if there is a room available for parent's to use during your wedding. This room can be a quiet room or an activity room. You can even ask your venue for a TV and DVD player to pop in a movie to entertain children that need a break from everyone. If your budget allows, hire a babysitter for that room too. Parents can have a little break to enjoy your wedding then!

                  West-Chester-Wedding-Planner-Children
                  West Chester Wedding Planning

                  3) Have Child Friendly Snacks/Appetizers/Meals
                  Children aren't going to necessarily enjoy the fancy five course meal you have planned for your guests. Provide them a kid friendly menu and you can ensure they will eat quietly and happily!


                  4) Have Activity Kits for Kids
                  Provide small activity kits for kids to do at the table. These can be puzzles or coloring books or small novels. Make sure you have kits appropriate to the kid's ages. Do this part right and they can be entertained for hours...or minutes.


                  5) Give Parents Some Credit
                  It is "their" kids afterall. If a parent is invited to a wedding, they will usually make efforts to entertain their kids at the wedding with snacks, favorite books and toys. Don't feel you have to do a lot to keep the kids at your wedding happy. You have to enjoy your wedding. Don't stress if you don't need to.

                  Do you have any other tips to keep kids entertained at weddings? If so, please leave us a comment!

                  ~Monica Hui
                  Owner, Lead Planner and Designer
                  If you like our weekly ramblings, LIKE us on our Wishahmon page too! More goes on there!

                  Christina Wu Bridal Collection

                  The newest Christina Wu Bridal Collection has all the glitz and glam for the modern princess bride. We especially like the ballgown ones! Which one do you like?

                  ~Monica Hui
                  Owner, Lead Planner and Designer
                  If you like our weekly ramblings, LIKE us on our Wishahmon page too! More goes on there!


                  Cristina Wu Wedding Dress

                  Cristina Wu Wedding Dress

                  Cristina Wu Wedding Dress

                  Cristina Wu Wedding Dress

                  Cristina Wu Wedding Dress

                  Cristina Wu Wedding Dress

                  Cristina Wu Wedding Dress

                  Cristina Wu Wedding Dress

                  Cristina Wu Wedding Dress

                  Cristina Wu Wedding Dress

                  Suggested Posts

                  Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...