After "YES," Before "I DO" and Everything In Between

Living in what some call the "Digital Age," our lives are governed by virtual tools.  More than telephoning, we catch up with friends and family by Facebook, email or text.  We view/cherish each other's photos online as opposed to flipping through actual albums or asking to have copies made.  And instead of waiting for the mailman to see if you've been invited to a special event, most times invitations are waiting for you in your email inbox.  The company, Paperless Post, made a name for itself doing just that, allowing people to send visually interactive and engaging invitations/cards by email.  I excitedly used their service for two of my children's big events, their dedication and 2nd birthday party .  But, to my surprise, PAPER by Paperless Post emerged a few months back for those of us who still look forward to receiving an actual envelope in our mailboxes.  Admittedly, finding out Paperless Post (having over 1.5 million registered users) wasn'...

I recently came across an adorable wedding invitation infographic from Val Marie Paper via Every Last Detail that so very sweetly sums up everything you need to know about preparing wedding invitations.  You'll want to save, pin , tweet and print this one.   And be sure to keep it handy for non-wedding events as well.   Always remember, the invitation is 100% reflective of the celebration to come ... attention must/should be paid. - - - - - - - - - - by Rash a na Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY LLC

Guess who has partnered with Rexcraft to offer wedding invitations, save the dates, personalized favors, wedding party gifts and more online?  None other than Bed, Bath & Beyond .  Click below for a closer look! - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY

Girls can propose too!  And Tie That Binds makes it ever so easy with their support cute Bridesmaid Proposal Labels.  You can use their label set to ask your best friends/family participate in your wedding as bridesmaids in endless, unique ways.  Just stick these on any of your favorite giftables, like body lotion, chocolate truffles, perfume, champagne bottles, etc., invite her to lunch and surprise her with a pretty gift bag.  Voilà !  Plus, the entire process is so easy.  They send you a pdf of multiple sized labels and you print them out yourself.  Why not go the extra mile to show them how special they are to you?  It's the perfect way to say "Pretty, Pretty Please." - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, love is in the air, especially for our Isle to Aisle couple, Jamie & Nick!  And since their wedding will take place during the Labor Day weekend, early February save-the-dates were a must.  Thus, we suggested their guests receive a special "breaking news" notification in honor of the love-liest of holidays. Jamie and Nick took photos at the location where they were engaged, Washington D.C. area restaurant/bookstore/fair trade market/gathering place "Busboys and Poets" and incorporated them into this snazzy newspaper announcement designed by Magnolia Press for TinyPrints .  We were so excited to see how incredibly cute these save-the-dates turned out and are all the more anxious for the actual wedding, for which planning is well underway! Last year basketball star, Carmelo Anthony, had this same idea and mailed heart-shaped save-the-dates , which were gorgeous.  So you see, stationary inspired by holidays are defi...

Looking for a save-the-date that's far removed from the more common refrigerator magnets or calendar cards?  Then it's time to mosey over to White Aisle and check out their wood stationary !  These lovely pieces pack just enough of the "wow factor" most brides are looking for, while also conveying a modest and natural touch.  And White Aisle offers wood invitations as well.  Indeed a great find.  - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY

  (photo courtesy of Getty Images) When planning a wedding, brides and grooms a will likely do all they can to prevent any major changes or an untimely cancellation. However, in case of an emergency, they should be sure to make themselves and their family aware of the proper way to handle such situations. A wedding is an enormous event regardless of budget or scope, therefore any major modifications or postponements should be handled very carefully, with utmost care and in accordance with proper etiquette. Definitely talk to your wedding planner before making any decisions. We at THE BRIDAL PARTY recommend the following: Postponement If the wedding is to be delayed but will be rescheduled within a reasonable amount of time, a mailed announcement is proper.  If time does not allow for a mailed notification to your invited guests,  telephone calls and email are acceptable. Changes of Date : If the wedding date changes after invitations have been printed but BEFORE...

I've been enjoying planning a celebration for my Mommy, who's celebrating this golden birthday in just a few weeks.  I finished printing, preparing and mailing the invitations for her fabulous affair a few days ago, so invited guests should have received yesterday.  I really love this style, featuring an ultra-chic velvet zebra print pocket.  Who doesn't love a 3-dimensional textured piece of stationary?! Definitely befitting my mother and the upcoming party.  So, I thought I'd share a few photos of the finished product! - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY

Hostess with the Mostess™ , one of my absolute favorite virtual destinations, is holding a SURPRISE GIVEAWAY for brides-to-be (and to any friends & family members looking to help them out with a generous, budget-boosting gift)!  MagnetStreet Weddings is offering up a fantastic wedding invitation giveaway at Hostess with the Mostess™ this week: 100 Pocket-Style Wedding Invitations & Coordinating RSVP Cards…an amazing $425 value!! HOW TO ENTER: • Post a comment to the HWTM blog telling them which Pocket-Style Wedding Invitation design(s) from MagnetStreet Weddings you especially love! • Giveaway ends Sunday, February 21st at midnight PST . Winner is chosen randomly and will be announced on the HWTM blog as soon as they’ve accepted the prize. Good luck, everyone!! - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY

Basketball star, Carmelo Anthony, and television personality, LaLa Vasquez, mailed out Valentine's Day inspired save-the-dates for their upcoming wedding this week.  Very cute! The couple has hired celebrity wedding planner Mindy Weiss, who also worked on the weddings of Heidi Klum, Eva Longoria and Gwen Stefani.  And although Carmelo and LaLa split most of their time between Colorado and California, their nuptials will be held in New York (where both were born) on July 10, 2010. So far, LaLa has toured such premier locations as Pier Sixty and Cipriani, but an official venue has yet to be announced. Congrats to the happy couple! - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY

Guess who's offering a full line of wedding invitations in addition to being one of the most sought after event designers? "Mr. Fabulous" himself, Preston Bailey! Mr. Bailey says, "I want the bride to feel special about her event. That is why I created this gorgeous line of invitations. Each invitation tells a different story ... it is the first page of a wedding story." Here's a look at a few of the newest designs, sold exclusively at Invitation Consultants : - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY

So, it's no secret I'm a BIG fan of PosePrints and it's likely due to Jen & Denise always coming up with new and unique options for personalizing all of your stationary needs for special occasions (save-the-dates, baby shower invitations, thank you cards, etc). But this time, they've unveiled something just for fun : PosePrints MyPose for Facebook!  Now, you can create your own PosePrints caricature and post it on your and your friends' walls for all to see. Create your MyPose now , save it and then get the code you'll need for posting it to your Facebook profile.  It's really easy, as you can tell by my own MyPose, to the right. P.S.  If while having fun creating your MyPose you decide to make a purchase, don't forget to use our special coupon code " BRIDALPARTY " for 10% OFF your purchase , courtesy of The Bridal Party LLC and the ladies of PosePrints. Enjoy! - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Dir...

If you haven't stopped over and browsed Etsy.com for your wedding, RUN don't walk! It's an awesome site whose mission is to "enable people to make a living making things and to reconnect makers with buyers." There are hundreds of thousands of sellers on Etsy and of course you'll find a plethora of wedding items (from veils to invitations to garters).  You can always find something eclectic and unique. I love Etsy, so I made time to do a little net shopping today.  Check out what I found! Shilo Luxe Silk Box Wedding Invitations Personalized Engraved Escort Stones with Guests' Names Golden Dove Ring Bearer Bowls Handwoven Ivory Lace Petal Cones Hummingbird Brooch Garter The Kerry Wedding Program Whimsical Ostrich Feather Flower Girl Basket Couture Champagne Flower Girl Gown - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY

It's all about first impressions and they're hard to break, so never forget how important your wedding invitations are. Try not to fall into thinking such as "The invitations are only going to end up in the garbage, so who cares about that." Contrarily, you should pay very close attention to the style, formality and design of your wedding invitation, as this will set the tone for your event. For example, if you're having a casual intimate affair, it would be best to steer clear of overly embellished invitation sets with fancy wax seals. This may encourage female guests to attend in gowns as opposed to more appropriate cocktail dresses. Alternatively, if you're wedding is being held at a castle featuring two live bands and a caviar station, you'd want to skip the DIY invitation kits available at Staples. There's something out there for everyone, so start early and do your research. Here's a sampling of what's new and fresh in the market...

Your After "Yes," Before "I Do" & Everything In Between archive reminder has arrived! Again, let's take a look back at about a month's worth of interesting and informative posts one full year ago. * Paper Lanterns (inspiration for infusing paper lanterns into your event) * NEW from PosePrints! (unique silhouette cards PLUS The Bridal Party's special discount) * Have you discovered GENI? (online tool for staying in touch with your family) * Inspiration Board: Chocolate Twist * Photo Ops (introductions to the photography of Jeff Ascough, Bebb Studios, Joe Buissink, Jerry Ghionis and Christian Oth) - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, The Bridal Party

  (escort card design by Sarah Drake Design ) I love escort/place cards and nowadays there are countless unique ideas for displaying them in the most special ways. Some arrange their cards in various shapes amidst flickering votive candles or hang their cards from the branches of Manzanita trees, while others invest in holders that make a bold statement. If considering escort/place card holders, remember to keep these impressive styles for various themes in mind... Eco-Friendly Bamboo Place Card Holders A symbol of friendship and long life in many cultures, bamboo brings an exotic touch to any wedding celebration. You'll be amazed at how something so light and delicate can carry so much meaning to your guests. "Ain′t Love Grand" - Piano Place Card Holders A decorative gift for your guests to take home and use as photo holders, these diminutive replicas of a grand piano are especially adorable for brides/grooms who are pianists. "Bourbon Street" Streetligh...