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A credit card bill, a reminder from your dentist, some pizza coupons,...and what's this? A wedding invitation? You know that little spark of excitement - keep it in mind as you plan your wedding invitation. Give this precious piece of paper your all. Wedding invitations (besides providing the who, where and when) offer guests a sneek peek at what's to come. Make that vision something truly special to behold.

Order: Three to four months before the wedding date. The sooner you order, the more time you will have to proof them, address them and mail them out. Remember, its one invitation per household not per guest so if you have 150 guests, you will want to order somewhere in the number 0f 75-100 invites. Its always best to have a few extra as re-ordering a small amount can be very pricey!

Design: Since your invitation is the first look at your wedding, chosing a colour scheme or theme to co-ordinate with your wedding is ideal. Paper options, ink colours, and fold types can make a great impression. Many invitation books offer sample verses and proper etiquette rules for listing the hosting/sponsors of the wedding (ie: parents, bride and groom etc). Make sure you spell all addresses and dates in proper words (ie: 2010 would be two thousand and ten).

Send: Six weeks before the date is common; eight weeks is ideal (10 weeks if guests are coming from abroad).

Addresses: Spell out all words in an address on your envelopes. Rather than "St.," "P.O. Box" and "Apt." use "Street", "Post Office Box" and "Apartment". This applies to the city, province/state names as well.

Return Address: The preferred place for the return address is on the envelope's back flap. This ensures that undeliverable invitations will be returned to you should there be any problems with the mailing address or postage. You'll want the replies to be returned to whom ever will be keeping track of the guest list.

Outer and Inner Envelopes: Sending out an invitation in two envelopes ensures that your guest will receive a envelope, even if the outer one has been torn or soiled in the mail. Still, the two are not necessary; you may omit the inner envelope if you wish. The outer envelope includes all the information the postal service needs for delivery. The inner envelope should have the names of the invited guests in the household (including children, whose names do not appear on the outer envelope). It is etiquettely correct to send a separate invitation to children over 18 in the same household.

Remeber to add "guest" beside a single guest's name if you are allowing them to bring one to your wedding. If you know the name of the guest, it is more personal if you include their name on the inner envelope. If you do not include "guest" it is implied that they are asked to come alone.

Assembling Invitations: All enclosures should be placed on top of the invitation, in order of size with the smallest on top. The reply card should be placed under its envelope flap and this envelope should be printed with your return address and should be stamped as well. Insert everything into the inner envelope with the font size facing the flap so when your guests open the envelope they will see the lettering. Slip the UNSEALED inner envelope into the outer envelope with the guests names facing the back flap.

Proper Postage: Ensure you have your invitation checked by a mail clerk to ensure you are sending it with enough postage. Any delay could cause your guest to not receive their invitation in time. Out of country invitations will take longer to arrive.

Unique Ideas

I am constantly told by brides that come into the showroom that they find it hard to come up with new ideas on how to personalize the normal wedding traditions...from seating cards to centerpieces, it gets harder and harder to make your wedding unique and give it your personal touch. I have found a few unique options that I thought I would share. After all, no two couples are alike, so no two weddings should be either!

DIY Escort Card Display
Cut a poster of what ever theme you like - be it a an engagement photo or a city scape, into rectangles and add guests' names in small print beneath each section. Mount an identical poster beneath it so that the image will remain visible when guests take their cards. You can then keep the intact poster after the wedding to hang in your house.

Personalized Table Numbers
Instead of chronological table numbers, name each table a number that means something special to you. For example, 1,911 is the number of days you have been together as of your wedding date.








A Green Guest Book Option
Use river rocks in the place of a traditional guest book. Guests are asked to sign rocks, which can later be used in the new couple's garden.






Vase Variations
Gone are the days of matching centerpieces. A variation of size shape and content make for a much more interesting table display. Vary the combinations from table to table and keep the colour monochromatic for continutity throughout the room.

Duo Seating Cards

Use colour or design to help servers during the dinner service.

The colour of the illustration can indicate the guest's meal choice.

Stretch Your Guest List

For smaller receptions or to make your seating arrangement stand out, use long rectangular tables. Guests can be seated on both sides around the perimeter of the space but remeber to leave openings at each end for easy access. Place your dance floor in the middle so everyone can see the festivites. Accent the length of the tables with long rectangular vases filled with short cut flowers.

Seating Chart Display

Display your seating chart so that it won't blow away by mounting it on a board, mirror or in this case an antique window pane. It can then be fastened to an easel so you your guests can easily see it.

Floral Heights

Lanterns don't always have to be used to house candles. Group lanterns filled with flowers and hang inside tents on hang from tree branches. Mark your aisle with lanterns on shepherd hooks or hang in varying heights to mark the area where the ceremony will take place. They can be moved easily and provide more decor at the reception.

Put a Spin on Your Guest Book

In lieu of a traditional guest book, have your guests use a metallic pen to sign a record of your first dance song.

Drama for Less
Use groups of tealights or votives in patterns or rows on long rectangular tables for lots of ambience. Create drama by using tall vases with coloured water and floating candles without the added cost of flowers.

Mix it Up
Though monochromatic looks are still popular, style concious couples have been switching things up a bit. Going with three hues is a big trend. One of the best ways to do it? Have half of the reception tables feature large centerpieces showcasing flowers in all three colours, while the other half can hold trios of mini arrangements - one in each colour. It looks luxe but is actually easy on your budget. The smaller arrangements will cost less than if you had the same large arrangement on every table. Even if you prefer one colour, mixing the heights of centerpieces remains a major trend; it helps add to the wow factor of your reception. Drawing the eye to different levels creates a flow throughout the room, which gives your reception lots of visual interest.

For more ideas visit www.theknot.com.

2010 Trends

As you begin to plan you 2010 nuptials, keep in mind these top trends you’ll see next spring - all great ideas to help get you down the aisle.

1. Back to Basics
Events will focus on attention to the details, the foundation of the event, not the drama or grandeur of the evening. Guests see the essence of the couple, not what their money could pay for, for instance, a backyard BBQ wedding can be most memorable because it was personal. . Cocktail parties allow for more conversation and mingling, and food stations or finger foods are ideal. Make it YOUR day!


2. Home Weddings Hit Home
Intimate and personal affairs in the backyard are bigger than ever. Going home incorporates the continued trend of personalizing the wedding day experience. Smaller size guest lists, more intimate settings, grass roots weddings, elegant and detail driven, but in no way small on what counts. Tents are ideal for backyard weddings and with our marquis tents, we can setup tents in lots of different arrangements to accomodate both your space and guest list! Check out our tent gallery online at http://www.signatureevents.ca/.

3. Buttercream on the Big Day
Fondant is falling behind, buttercream corners the market.Tools and techniques now allow for buttercream to look as smooth as fondant when applied by a skilled artist. You have the option of better flavor, more natural ingredients, and less costly cakes that no longer suffer or lack in design. Cup cakes and other alternatives to the traditional wedding cake are also very popular.

4. Favor Comeback
Personalized appreciation is back. The effect that an event has on the guests is more noticeable than ever before so the importance of a favor is felt more than ever. A lot of brides seem to be making their own favours...canning jams, making a special recipe and packaging it up for the guests, the key is making it unique. Be sure to appreciate to those in attendance - it’s not just an afterthought, omission, or generic item. The new 2010 Weddingstar catalogue (available at the store now or online at http://www.weddingstar.ca/) offers hundreds of new favour items to make your day unique!

5. Nearby Destinations
Nearby destination weddings are taking flight over the exotic and far off locales. The ever popular destination wedding will remain but guests will get out of town by car (within driving distance) so couples can create a weekend, guests get an escape, but no one breaks the bank. Enjoy hot spots like Grand Bend, Port Stanley, or a local country setting that will allow you to spend within your own local economy, create a greener effect, experience undiscovered backyards, and stay sensible about cost while you’re at away.

6. Colors
Every year, I see the trends in colours slowly change. And while there is always the trusted wedding white, new colour trends emerge and allow each bride and groom another chance to make their own unique colour statement. Some of the trends in 2010 are : Monochromatic palettes - this doesn’t mean muted colors, just single color bunches. Vibrant Colors: Orange, green, yellow, purple and pink. Metal Colors: Gold, silver, copper, and pewter. And black is definitely the new black. Break the rules and show off the darker side of your event.

7. Being Green
It’s no longer about making the event appear “organic” – it’s about understanding how things are made, disposed of, and where/when events take place. Learning to make better choices that are unseen by the guest are just as important as those tree-free invitations everyone is talking about. Use your bridal party's bouquets as decor for the head table. Make use of the nature around you and use branches, twigs or seasonal flowers.


The number of courses determines the amount of plates and other equipment required to be transported and washed. For the least impact, pare down the courses and choose a seated dinner rather than a buffet, which requires more plates and utensils when people go back for seconds. Make a BIG Green statement by renting your dishware, glassware and placesettings with Signature Events!

8. Love Birds
One of the biggest trends I have seen this season, which seems to be filtering into the 2010 wedding season is the addition of all things bird...bird feathers, bird cake toppers, birdcage veils, bird cage gift boxes, the list goes on and on.

Birdcage veil are huge! These vintage-look veils combine a jeweled clip or feathered headpiece with netting that only covers the face. Wearing one allows you to have some dramatic glamor and feel like a bride, but is a more fun look and less hassling than a long traditional veil. Add bird feathers to flower arrangements, boutonniers or bouquets for great texture.

Perhaps its part of the green trend - going back to nature or a play on the whole "love bird" theme, but I think adding feathers or birds to your wedding will add a whimsical, timeless accent!


9. Mismatched Bridesmaid Dresses
For several years, brides have been selecting a bridesmaid dress designer and a fabric, then letting their bridesmaids choose the style that works best for their bodies. But the 2010 wedding trend takes idea further. Choose only a color, then let your bridesmaids find an off-the-rack dress of any designer that they like. Not only does this take some pressure off of you, but it also ensures that women are choosing a dress they like and they'll be likely to actually wear again. If you follow this trend, be sure to tell your bridesmaids how formal the dress should be – you don't want one bridesmaid wearing a casual sundress while another has on a beaded evening gown.

10. Food Stations
You want to incorporate your italian culture in your reception meal but your groom wants to incorporate his greek heritage as well...why not offer your guests both? Food stations have been becoming more and more popular at wedding receptions. You can offer smaller portions of multiple styles of food at several stations around the reception area. This also encourages guests to get up and mingle with other guests. You can even incorporate the same idea in to your dessert. By far, biggest trend is the candy bar...a buffet of candies, treats and sweets that guests can pick and choose from. You can even supply empty bags for guests to take home their favorites.

Unique!

So I often browse the internet for diffent ideas to share with brides and grooms and I came across this fabulous idea from In Style Weddings:



Create a Connection
Planner Jennifer Anderson says a couple she worked with asked each guest to hold a smooth stone during their wedding, make a wish for them, and then place the stone into a communal vessel. The newlyweds plan to incorporate the stones into their garden to remind them of those who shared their day.

What a great way to include all your guests in the wedding ceremony!

Welcome to our blog! We created this to keep our customers up to date with our latest news... new inventory, new ideas or just news about the store.
With the holiday season now here, we are gearing up for holiday parties, christmas dinners and of course, new clients as Christmas is one of the biggest times of year to get engaged! We hope you will consider us for all your rental needs this holiday season!

SALE! We are currently offering 25% off on all instock wedding inventory. Chose from knife sets, guest books, cake toppers, pens, and a large selection of other wedding supplies. Gift Certificates are available and would make a fabulous gift for any bride-to-be!



NEW!

We now carry fitted cruiser table covers! These sleek table toppers come in black and feature a sleek spandex fit to cover a bar table! They are very elegant for cocktail receptions and you don't have to worry about them being stepped on or pulled off! Tie them with a sash or add a coloured topper to make it your own. Come in and see our vast selection of other specialty linen as well!

Tents are going fast for summer 2010. Please call us to check availability for your wedding date! We suggest booking as soon as possible to avoid disappointment! Remember, if you are having a tent wedding, consider it like a hall - which is usually booked 1 year to 18 months in advance.

Cheers!
Heather