Instagram Catch Up : Charlotte Wedding Invitations

If you're not following us on Instagram, you're missing a lot. You're missing sneak peeks into projects we're working on and styled shoots we're participating in. You'd be getting a behind the scenes glimpse into all things wedding and stationery.

Here's just a few pictures of what you're missing...

Now take a moment to follow us to stay in the loop with what's happening with us.

{Wedding} Shoes to die for :: Charlotte Wedding Stationery

We, in the office, are obsessed (to put it mildly) with shoes. We love sandals, flats, and heels and never seem to have enough. We have all colors and styles and are quick to show them off with any and every outfit.

So, we thought we'd show you some of the best (and different) wedding related heels that we found on Pinterest.

All pictures are from Pinterest

Featured on Rustic Wedding Chic :: Charlotte Wedding Invitations

We started the week off by participating in a styled shoot and today we've had the pleasure of being published for another shoot. Rustic Wedding Chic has published our Country Couture shoot that we did with some amazing vendors at a spectacular venue. Take a moment to check out the feature and then let us know what you think.

Photo courtesy of Christi Falls Photography

Featured on Rural Bride :: Charlotte Wedding Invitations

What a way to start our Monday morning off!!! We're over the moon excited to tell you that we're being featured on the blog Rural Bride for a shoot we did a couple of months ago. Take a moment to check out our feature and then I'll post more pictures from the shoot real soon.

Photo courtesy of Fort Mill Photography

Questions to ask your invitation designer :: Charlotte Wedding Stationery

Invitations are one of the most important aspects of your wedding right behind the dress, venue, and the food. The same criteria that you use to choose the vendor that you will buy your dress from, host your wedding (and reception) as well make your wedding cake and prepare your meal, should be the same one that you use to pick who will design and print your wedding stationery.

Photo courtesy of Michelle Robinson Photography

Here are some introductory questions that you ought to consider asking your stationery designer and why.

1. How long have you been in business?

Knowing if they just opened last week or last year helps you better figure out if they can handle your stationery needs. (Bridal Flavors has been in business for three years [3] and counting!)

2. Is your printing done in-house or do you outsource the printing?

The benefits of a stationery designer that prints in-house is that there's a quicker turnaround time, which can be handy if there is any reprinting that needs to be done. This also means that they can better help you with any last minute projects. (We print in-house!)

3. Do you offer custom invitations as well as templated styles? Is there a fee if I want to order a sample of either and existing invitation style or a custom design? If so, how much?

This helps you better know if the stationery designer can do what you want. (Yes! While we prefer to create custom designers for our brides (as every bride is different), we do offer templates for quick turnaround projects. Yes, there is a nominal fee for printed samples ($25 for 3 samples)).

Photo courtesy of Aura Marzouk Photography

4. If I choose a custom wedding invitation, what are my options for color, paper type, ink, and fonts? What is the word limit for the text?

Knowing what your options are help you better determine if this is the stationery designer for you. If your heart is set on a specific color or type of paper, then you need to make sure your stationery designer has access to that color or paper. (We have over 20 colors of standard paper in stock; but have access to over a hundred different types, styles, and weights of paper that can be utilized for your stationery needs. And while we have standard fonts we use, we welcome the opportunity to use a different font (a nominal fee may apply). There may be space limit (depending on what we're creating); but there is no word count limit.)

5. Can I also order my table numbers, place cards, escort cards, ceremony programs, menus, etc. from you?

It's easier to find a place that can handle all your stationery needs instead of having to find a secondary shop to match your table numbers, place cards, and other stationery. Finding one stationery designer that can all your stationery needs saves you time, energy, and money; which in the end can save you a headache. (We are a one-stop shop for all your wedding stationery needs. From save the dates and invitations to wedding programs and table numbers to thank you cards and wedding announcements.)

6. If I want to include a picture or a graphic on my save-the-date or invitation, can you accommodate that? If so, does the image need to be save in a specific format? Do you have photo retouching available, and if so, what is the price range? Can your photo specialist also convert color images to black and white or sepia? Is there an additional cost?

Many couples are moving towards having their engagement photos on their save-the-dates and invitations. And while this is popular, some stationery shops do not have the tools (or the knowledge) to make [the appropriate] edits to a picture. This is an important question to ask, especially if this is something you want done for your save-the-dates and invitations. (We are able to make the necessary and appropriate edits to your picture to show it in its best light/format.)

What Stationery Do I Need? Response Cards :: Charlotte Wedding Invitations

Included with the invitation, the response card allows your guest to inform you whether or not they will be in attendance at your wedding. The response card (also known as an RSVP card) can be a simple card [with an envelope] or a postcard; but wither way, it should be create to be mailed back to you.

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Larson Photography

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Larson Photography

   

Non-traditionally, many couple are electing not to have response cards. They are including a website or an email address for people to go to or use to indicate whether they're coming as well as other valuable information that may be asked of them.

Regardless of which option you choose, a response to whether or not your guests are attending will help you in the further planning stages of your big day.

Featured on Wedding Colors AND Festive Finds :: Charlotte Wedding Stationery

Earlier this year (January, to be exact), we were busy creating stationery for a variety of styled shoots that we hoped would be published for the world to see and guess what??? We've been published AGAIN and TWICE for the same shoot!!!

We're honored that Wedding Colors and Festive Finds featured our work on their blogs. Take a moment to check out our features on both sites and then I'll post more pictures from the shoot in the coming days.

(P.S. Of all the styled shoots we did that weekend, this was the one that we swooned over the most. The colors, the style, the details, and everything else about it just seemed to have us smiling. So, we're excited to share this with you guys!)

Featured on The Frosted Petticoat :: Charlotte Wedding Stationery

Back in January (2013), we spent a wonderful day (and evening) in the breath-taking mountains of North Carolina working with some great vendors for a styled shoot that showcased the Pantone color of the year: Emerald! Today, we're excited (and thrilled) to tell you that we're being featured on the blog The Frosted Petticoat. Take a moment to check out our feature and then I'll be posting more pictures from the shoots real soon!

Photo courtesy of Christi Falls Photography

Featured on Marigold Events :: Charlotte Wedding Stationery

A few months ago, we had the absolute pleasure of working with some amazing vendors for an Indian-themed styled shoot.  And today, we have the absolute honor of being featured on the blog Marigold Events: Indian Wedding Inspirations. Take a moment to check out our feature and then I'll be posting more pictures from the shoots real soon!

Photo courtesy of Aura Marzouk Photography

Follow us on Instagram! :: Charlotte Wedding Invitations

Are you on Instagram? Wanna see what's happening with us?
Follow us @davisdesignsbridalflavors. 

Here's a quick peek [via Instagram] of some of our work.

::::::

::::::

::::::

You can also see more of our work by entering #bridalflavors in the search box.

Why Venue Coordinators are NOT Wedding Coordinators by Leigh Pearce Weddings :: North Carolina Wedding Invitations

Many couples have recently gotten engaged this holiday season and are about the start the wedding planning process. One of the big decisions (after date and location) is whether or not to hire a wedding coordinator. So I've asked good friend Leigh Pearce of Leigh Pearce Weddings to provide for some clarification about the difference between venue coordinators and wedding coordinators as well as what makes her so special. Take it away, Leigh!

::::::

Scenario: I have a consultation with a bride who is about 50% through her planning process and is in need of a coordinator. She originally decided against hiring one because her venue has a “wedding coordinator.” Fortunately, she has come to the realization that her venue coordinator is not the same thing as a wedding coordinator and has plenty of time to remedy the problem. Most brides don't find out until the day of the wedding. Here are the top 7 differences between a venue coordinator and wedding coordinator:

Photo Courtesy of Alexa's Photography

1. Your venue coordinator is not going to confirm final details with your vendors (like making sure the cake arrives while the florist is there so it can be decorated). Your wedding coordinator will.

2. Your venue coordinator is not going to help you plan your ceremony (who walks with whom and when). Your wedding coordinator will.

3. Your venue coordinator is not going to set up your decor, make sure the linens aren't wrinkled, or arrange flowers. Your wedding coordinator will.

4. Your venue coordinator is not going to direct your rehearsal, run your last minute errands (because you forgot to buy a unity candle), or remind you to give the officiant the marriage license. Your wedding coordinator will. 

5. Your venue coordinator is not going to make sure your DJ shows up on time or remind the caterer of the changes you made with the salad. Your wedding coordinator will.

6. Your venue coordinator isn't going to pack up your champagne flutes with bubble wrap and put your gifts in your car before you leave for the night. Your wedding coordinator will.

7. Your venue coordinator works for your venue. Your wedding coordinator works for YOU.

Photo courtesy of Alexa's Photography

All that being said, I love working with venue coordinators. I understand why they do what they do because, before starting Leigh Pearce Weddings, I was a venue coordinator. I rented the event space to brides, checked that clients used our preferred caterers, and made sure that all aspects of the event relating to the venue were taking care of. I wasn't able to help direct the ceremony because I was showing the caterer where to take the garbage out. I wasn't able to cue the toasts because I was snaking a drain in the women's bathroom. Most aren't helping you because they don't want to, they aren't helping because they have other tasks to take care of on your wedding day. 

About Leigh (in her own words): "I am a lover of all things wedding and a North Carolina girl to the core. Leigh Pearce Weddings is more than my business.. it's my dream. A big smile from one of my sweet brides always makes my day. I believe in having a wedding style and never a theme. I love my cowboy boots, pimento cheese, NC State football, my two sweet puppies, and happy brides. I say 'Bless you heart' way too much and I'm proud to be from a small, Southern town. I am so excited to get to know you and I can't wait to work with you to create the most important day of your life!"

::::::

Thank you Leigh for your knowledge and expertise, I greatly appreciate it and I know many engaged couples appreciate the information! You can check out Leigh online here or on her Facebook page. Give her a call at 336-552-5645 or shoot her an email at leigh@leighpearceweddings.com.

With Thanks - Thank You Cards :: North Carolina Wedding Stationery

In an age where it's so easy to send a text or shoot someone an email, we have lost the art of writing thank you notes. While thank you notes are important in every day life, there are extremely important during the wedding process.

From the engagement party to the bridal shower to the actual wedding day, your thank you notes will let guests know that they (and their gifts, if applicable) were appreciated and valued.

So take the time to sit down and write a thank you note. Your heartfelt words will make someone's day!

DIY Invitations: Do's and Don't's :: Charlotte Wedding Invitations

I write this post after being asked by a few planners and current brides in the last couple of weeks about DIY Invitations. I'm asked questions all the time about what I think about them and would I recommend them. (Hmmm... NO!) But for those that choose to do their own invitations, here are some do's and dont's!

DO:

Purchase extra paper. While you may only be inviting 75 people to your wedding (and the package so happens to have 75 invitation sets), do yourself a favor and purchase an extra kit. You will need those extra invitations to test out specific colors, page layout, alignment of text, and so many other things.

Allow ample time to create your invitations. These invitations may be the first thing your guests receive from you regarding your wedding and you want to set the tone and theme of your big day with this piece of paper.

Make sure that you have enough ink in your printer (Or that you're local printer can (and is willing) to print for you.) The last thing you want to find out at midnight is that you

Proofread, proofread, proofread. Use spell check and have someone else proofread it as well. You don't want to print out 25 of your 100 invitations just to realize you've misspelled "recpetion" or "afternooon".

DIY Invitation courtesy of Bridal Flavors

DON'T:

Settle. If you're going to do your own invitations, make sure that you do them the way you want. Make sure that colors, ribbons, fonts, and everything are the way you dreamed it because these are the first impressions of your guests will have of your wedding.

Assume. Don't assume it will be easy. Putting your dream invitation on paper can be difficult when you're searching for the right font and the perfect color combination to create that perfect look.

Regardless of whether or not DIY invitations are for you, just make sure that you allow an ample amount of time for your PERFECT invitation to be created.

However.... If you do decide that DIY Invitations are the way that you want to go, then check out our DIY invitations. We're able to customize these invitations to represent the colors, theme, and style of your wedding day.

 DIY Invitations courtesy of Bridal Flavors