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Word Play: Finding the right verbiage for your wedding invitation
You’re well into the planning of your wedding and are finally ready to tell the world – or at least the 100 or so people you plan to invite. While you want the wedding invitation to reflect you and your fiancé’s personalities, you also want to get all the important details about the event in there. So where do you begin? These wedding invitation tips will help you get things underway, and create an invitation that will make your guests feel honored.
Set the Tone
Before drafting the wording for your wedding invitation, it’s important to decide what tone you’d like the invitation to carry. Do you want it to be formal or informal? Do you want it to be humorous or straight forward? Your wedding invitation, aside from your Save the Date, is the first impression guests will have of your event – and you want it to be a positive one.
Take Things Personal
If you decide to take a detour from the typical wedding invitation, bravo! Guests love to see originality when it comes to weddings, especially if they’ve been to so many of them that they could add “wedding attendee” to their résumé. So how do you make yours stand out? Make guests laugh.
Another great way to add your own personal touch to the invite is by telling the story of how you met your fiancé and became a couple.
Keep It Simple
No matter what your approach is to the wording for your wedding invite, keep things as simple as possible. You don’t want the important details about the event to get lost on the page or – worse – accidentally omitted because you were overly focused on the entertainment value. Remember that, while tasteful humor is welcome, the purpose of the invite is to give people the who, what, when and where. Those essential details should stand out above everything else.
Make sure your wedding invitation includes:
• The proper names of the people hosting the wedding.
• Your first and middle name.
• Your fiancé’s full name.
• The date, time and location of the ceremony.
• The location of the reception, and if it is immediately following the ceremony.
-If it’s not immediately following the ceremony, list the reception start time as well.
• An RSVP card, which can include an “RSVP by” date and dinner menu options, if desired.
• A self-addressed, stamped envelope for the RSVP card.
• Wedding registry information.
• Your wedding website URL (if you have one).
• The name, address and contact information for any hotels you’d recommend guests stay at overnight, along with the name of the wedding block you reserved space under.
Sample Wedding Invitation Verbiage
If you’re hosting the wedding:
Together with their families
Katherine Anne-Marie
And Christopher Ryan Lewis
Would like to invite you to their wedding celebration
Saturday, December 1, 2014
At 6 p.m. in the evening
Ceremony will be held at Victoria Gardens, [Address]
Reception to follow at [Address].
If your parents or the groom’s parents are hosting the wedding:
Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Davis [proper names of whoever is hosting]
Request the honor of your presence
At the marriage of their daughter
Katherine Anne-Marie
To Christopher Ryan Lewis
Saturday, December 1, 2014
At 6 p.m. in the evening
Ceremony will be held at Victoria Gardens, [Address]
Reception to follow at [Address].
Do you have tips of your own for wedding invitation wording? Share them with us on Facebook.
Top Five Best Places to Honeymoon
With your wedding quickly approaching, you’ve finally got all of the little details in order. Now, on to the fun part… deciding where to honeymoon! After all of that planning, there’s nothing you’d like better than to take a trip far away from wedding centerpieces, bridesmaids’ dresses and appetizers. So, to help you get started on your getaway, here are our top five picks for the best places to honeymoon around the globe. Au revoir stress … bonjour romance!
Destination No. 5: Sayulita, Mexico
Choose from day trips like surfing, whale watching, fishing or simply catching some rays in a place where you can experience Mexico’s authentic beauty. If you‘re the romantic type, consider a guided horseback riding tour alongside the beach with your partner.
Destination No. 4: French Polynesia
This slow-paced atmosphere is all about getting a little R&R – and getting away from it all. Indulge in a couple’s spa day, swim with endangered turtles in a lagoon, feed sharks or go scuba diving. Whether you’re looking for an adventure or just a drama-free zone, this tropical paradise offers both and so much more.
Destination No. 3: Paris, France
Nicknamed “The City of Love,” Paris will have you swooning in no time. Although a trip to Paris doesn’t come cheap, the view of the city from atop the Eiffel Tower is priceless. Other notable sites include the Notre-Dame Cathedral and Musee du Louvre, the world’s largest art museum and home of the famous “Mona Lisa.”
Destination No. 2: Florence, Italy
The food, vino and sites in Firenze (“Florence”) are to be savored. You can take in the city from a perch in the Oltrarno district of Piazzale Michelangiolo, which is known as one of the most popular viewpoints. Other “must-see” stops: The Galleria dell’Accademia – even if it’s just for Michelangelo’s “David” – and the Bóboli Gardens.
Destination No. 1: Maui, Hawaii
Whether you’re biking together through Maui’s Haleakala National Park or watching the waves crash into the soft sands of Wailea, there’s something inherently romantic about this scenic destination. Book a bungalow on the beach and the only problem on your horizon will be convincing yourself that you have to actually return to your day job afterward.
Spring Wedding Ideas
It’s spring – and there’s more than just love in the air. There’s the scent of fresh flowers in bloom, the sound of birds chirping and the sight of greenery growing anew. A delight to all the senses, spring is the perfect time of year to be outside – and to host an outdoor wedding. So how do you make yours stand out amongst the bunch? Find a unique theme that brings out the best of the season. Here are a few ideas for spring weddings, including dresses to help you play the part.
Rose Garden
Consider having your spring wedding in a rose garden, which offers an inherently romantic setting with natural beauty.
For the décor: Since the ceremony will already be filled with flowers from the surrounding garden, go another route with the aisle decorations. Keep it simple, tying lace ribbon into an over-sized bow and fastening it to each of the chairs nearest to the inside aisle. A bird cage also makes a great decoration – and can be used to collect wedding cards on the gift table.
For the dress: Keep the theme going by incorporating flowers into your wedding day accessories. Wear a flower brooch over your heart or tie a sash with a removable flower around your waistline.
Country Picnic
If your style is more country-inspired, a picnic in the park might be just your tune.
For the décor: Give guests a taste of your family’s home-cooking, with mason jars filled with the ingredients of your favorite dessert (like strawberry shortcake). Then, outside the jar, include a card with directions on how to make it. Keep the jars inside of a picnic basket for guests to take as they exit the party.
For the dress: If you’re bold, consider pairing a knee-length wedding dress with a pair of cowboy boots. If you’d prefer a more traditional look, choose a floor-length dress that’s still spring-inspired.
Pastel
The colors of the season are light, but bright. Work playful hues of pale pink, mint green or sunshine yellow into your wedding party.
For the décor: Set out cool drinks in clear cups, such as strawberry lemonade or peach tea that will add a splash of color to the table. You can use fun straws with stripes or polka dots on them, too. To make things even sweeter, consider filling old jam jars with pastel candies as your center pieces, with an old-fashioned candy scoop set out beside them.
For the dress: Be pretty in pink, like this lace dress with organza. For greater volume, try a ruffled organza dress with beaded appliqués, like this one.
Want more spring wedding ideas? Check out our Squidoo lens, “Accessories & Themes for Your Spring Fling.” http://www.squidoo.com/wedding-dress-floral-sashes-belts
Your daughter or son has finally found their perfect match. Now, all you have to do is find the perfect gown to wear to the wedding. But with all of the options out there, from colors and cuts to length and style, this decision may seem just as overwhelming as planning the wedding itself. So how do you find a dress that will make you look glamorous, without going over-the-top? Follow these five tips to have guests gushing, “Is that the bride’s sister? She’s gorgeous.”
• Play up your best assets. If you often get compliments on your toned arms, choose a dress that’s sleeveless, such as this black stretch mesh dress. On the other-hand, downplay other areas of your body you may not want to be as exposed. If you aren’t as comfortable showing off leg, for example, choose a floor-length gown. The best accessory any woman can wear is confidence so choose a dress that makes you feel that way.
• Choose a dress that’s age appropriate. While you want to look young and vibrant (who doesn’t?), you don’t want to look like you went shopping in the junior’s department. So choose one asset you want to show off, and make sure you have enough coverage everywhere else.
• Don’t be afraid of color, but use it wisely. Avoid loud colors, such as red or hot pink, and go for something more subtle yet stunning, like deep eggplant or silver. A gown with a little sparkle can also add a touch of glamour to your ensemble, but avoid head-to-toe sequins. Even if the wedding is in December, you don’t want to look like a Christmas tree ornament.
• Follow wedding blogs for MOB/MOG trends. These can help you get a gauge of what you like and what you don’t before heading out to the stores, and they can also help you choose a dress that’s up-to-date with the times. The Knot’s Blog is a good place to start. One rule every Mother of the Bride should strongly adhere to: No shoulder pads. Your shoulders are fine just where they are. We promise.
• Ask the bride and the other mother for input. If the bride wants you to be a part of the wedding processional, she may also want you to dress in their wedding colors. If the bride doesn’t have a preference, talk to the other mom and ask what she planned to wear as a courtesy. But remember, MOBs always get first choice.
Ready to start your search? Check out our Squidoo post, “Sleek, Stylish Mother of the Bride and Groom Dresses.”
While a wedding is all about the bride (and maybe the groom, too), when it’s your turn to stand at the altar, you’ll also be sharing the spotlight with a handful of your very favorite ladies. These are the girls that knew you when you had braces in high school, and were kind enough to destroy all photographic evidence. They’re also the girls who celebrated your victories and mourned your losses with you. So when they stand by you once again on your wedding day, you also want them to look – and feel – like the beautiful women they are. But how can you choose one bridesmaid’s dress style that will flatter all of them? Easy, don’t choose just one. We’ll give you the lowdown on why many brides are now mixing it up – from different cuts to different colors – for a trendy new take on the traditional matching bridesmaid’s dress.
Individualized Style
More often than not, your bridesmaids are likely going to be very different shapes and sizes, from voluptuous to pencil thin. And, of course, they also each have their own unique personality. Choose a different bridesmaid’s dress for each girl that flatters both their body type and their unique style. Give the fun and flirty girl a dress with ruffles, like this black, strapless bridesmaid dress. Find a conservative, knee-length A-line dress for your conservative friend who enjoys art galleries and independent films. If you do go this route though, make sure there is at least one aspect of the dresses that is consistent throughout, whether it’s matching accessories or matching colors. You want some form of uniformity to make sure they still look like they’re an important part of the party – not just another guest at the wedding.
Playing With Color
Another trend that brides are falling in love with is choosing bridesmaids’ dresses in colors that are complementary to one another, but not the same. If your wedding ceremony is being held on the beach, play with different shades of blue, neutral and gray, such as this chiffon bridesmaid dress. If you’re getting married in a garden, consider pale pinks and creams. You can even take it one step further and use the same base color, but assign slightly different shades to each girl. So if you decide to go with purple, the bridesmaid standing farthest away from you would wear the darkest shade of purple, like plum or violet, and each bridesmaid next to her would wear a slightly lighter shade of purple than the girl before her, leading up to you – the bride – in white.
No matter what bridesmaid’s dress you choose, make sure to pick a day to get together with all of your girls to try them on before making your final decision. While, ultimately, the decision is yours to make, it’s always nice to let the other girls weigh in on their top picks and ideas as well. Then maybe when it’s their turn – they’ll return the favor.
Just imagine: It’s your wedding day and all of your friends and family are seated at the ceremony, anticipating the moment you’ll walk down the aisle. The violinist is playing, the bridesmaids are matching (as they tend to do), and you begin your walk down the aisle. But, in actuality, it’s more of a small hop than a step because the dress isn’t really allowing you to do much else. At this pace, you’re not sure if you’ll ever make it to the end of the aisle to marry your future husband. Although, these days, anything goes when it comes to wedding dress styles, there are four questions you should ask yourself before saying “yes” to the dress.
1. Can you move? Throughout the course of the evening, you’ll be making your rounds to greet friends and family you haven’t seen in awhile. And you’ll – hopefully – be breaking it down on the dance floor (who knew grandpa Joe could move like that?). Make sure the wedding dress style you choose doesn’t keep you from working the room.
2. Can you breathe? Every bride has different aspects of the wedding that are most important to them. For some, it’s the photography. For others, it’s the dress. And for others still, it’s the food. If you find yourself in the latter category, make sure your dress provides enough room for you to enjoy the appetizers, entrees and wedding cake you worked so hard to select.
3. If I bought this dress now, would I stop looking? Too often, brides choose a wedding dress style they feel relatively ho-hum about, and then they continue to browse online or in stores to find a different one. Save yourself time and money by shopping around at several places before deciding on the final one – and then sleep on it. If you still want it the next day, you can purchase it feeling confident that you did your research first.
4. Does it fit my wedding theme? If you’re having a beach wedding, you might want a dress with a mermaid cut and intricate beading. If you’re getting married in a garden, look for wedding dress styles that are romantic and flow elegantly as you walk, such as this beaded Alencon lace and tulle wedding dress. And for destination weddings, keep the location in mind when shopping for your dress. If you’re getting married in Spain (lucky you), a fitted lace dress would be more appropriate than organza.
One of the most difficult decisions brides have to make during wedding planning is what they want to wear on a day when all eyes will be on them. Should you opt for the crystal beaded lace or the delicate chiffon? Would you rather look like a sexy siren in a fitted mermaid cut or like the belle of the ball in organza? It’s not easy to narrow down the thousands of wedding dress options to that one perfect dress that fits all your needs. That’s why the trend has recently become not to limit yourself to just one dress, but buy two instead. So if you’re trying to choose between two dresses, we’d like to encourage you to think in pairs because, much like a marriage, two really is just better than one. Here are four reasons why.
1. For comfort. Wedding dresses that are dazzling during the ceremony aren’t always functional during the reception. That’s why many brides are now choosing a shorter dress for the reception. Style 6733 from Mori Lee’s Voyage collection allows you to work the room during cocktail hour, without limiting your mobility.
2. To create an impact. If there ever was a day in your life when you should be the center of attention, it’s your wedding day. And nothing creates a greater buzz than wearing not just one wedding dress stunner, but two. Recreate the impact you made when you walked down the aisle when you walk into your reception with this crystal beaded lace cocktail dress and its removable tulle overskirt.
3. If your wedding ceremony takes place at a different venue than your reception. When selecting your wedding dress, it’s always important to keep your location in mind. If you’re getting married on the beach, but your reception is in a ballroom, each location has its own unique ambiance – and your dress should blend well with the setting. Having two dresses ensures a seamless transition, and Style 6707 could be the perfect fit for the party.
4. To keep white … white. There’s nothing more beautiful than the contrast of a white or ivory dress against the lush, green backdrop of trees on a quiet lake, or a garden with roses in full bloom. But there’s nothing worse than an expensive white or ivory wedding dress getting ruined in a matter of hours from it dragging on the ground behind you. Keep white looking bright by transitioning to a short wedding dress for your reception, like this floral organza dress, with its matching satin tie sash and flower.
Few fabrics can evoke the timeless sophistication and elegance that Lace can. It is no wonder why designers have been creating beautiful wedding gowns from this delicate fabric for so long. Although lace is often considered a more traditional fabric, new silhouettes offer today’s modern bride the best of both worlds. Iconic women from Grace Kelly to the most recent Kate Middleton wore lace wedding gowns and proved that lace could be created into beautiful pieces that transcend time. Here are a few gowns from our new Fall 2012 collections that showcase this beautiful fabric.
Style 1862
For this strapless sweetheart gown, it’s all about the lace. From the fitted mermaid silhouette, to the deep V back, this gown is perfect for the bride who wants to wear something form-fitting and feminine, yet traditional.
Style 3126
If you are looking for a more subtle version a full lace gown, style 3126 is perfect. The tulle overlay on this dress allows the lace to show through, but covers enough for the lace not to be the focal point. It’s a great balance for a bride who loves the look of lace but is unsure about wearing a full lace gown.
Style 4971
For a bride who is looking for just a touch of lace, style 4971 offers you just enough. The beaded lace details on the bodice and skirt add romance and sparkle to an otherwise, very simple A line gown.
Style 6733
This super fun and flirty dress definitely puts a non-traditional twist on lace. For a bride looking into a cocktail length dress with just a touch of tradition, this gown has it all!
Regardless of the application, lace is a great way to incorporate elegance and sophistication into your wedding gown. With so many great ways to wear it, it is no wonder that lace is one of this season’s hottest trends.
Choosing the perfect dress for a special event can be very exciting, but it can also be challenging especially if you have a specific look in mind. Whether you are looking for a simple cocktail dress for a party, your prom dress, your wedding dress, or a social occasion dress, it is important to stay true to what looks best on you. Considering your body type and complexion is key when choosing a gown- more so than going for something that is simply “in style”. When figuring out what look best suits you, think about the following:
Color:
Just because the dress looks great on the hanger doesn’t mean it will go perfectly with your complexion and hair color. If you have fair skin and bright red hair, a ruby red colored dress may not be the best choice. Similarly for olive skinned complexions, avoiding certain shades of green would be a good idea as well. Make sure the color makes your complexion and eyes pop rather than make you look washed out. Sharing the shopping experience with a close friend or family member whose opinion you could trust is always helpful in the selection process.
Style and Cut:
Choosing the right style and cut that’s flattering for your figure is just as important, if not more important, than finding the right color. Showcasing your best assets is key in finding your perfect dress. Do you have great legs? Show them off! Choosing a shorter cocktail dress such as our Affairs style 178 may be a great option for you. On the same token, if you are more concerned about hiding problem areas, such as your waist or hips, you may want to look at an A-line style gown that flatters your bottom half. A line silhouette’s such as styles 1803, 643, and 91002 are all good examples of styles that look flattering on virtually any body type. They cinch in the waist and cover up the hip area.
Accessories:
When choosing your special dress, you’ll also need to think about how you are going to accessorize. Shoes, handbags, and jewelry should complement the color and style gown you decide on. Usually, more neutral colors or metallics look good with anything. If you’re going for shoes and a clutch that match exactly, you may want to consider having the items dyed to match. When picking out jewelry also keep things in mind like the gown’s neckline, length, and how you will be wearing your hair. For example, if your gown is a halter neckline, wearing a necklace may be a little much. In this case, opting for a bold earring rather than a necklace would be the way to go. If your gown is floor length, selecting a shoe that is heavily embellished may not be the best idea as it could catch on the hemline. Go for a simpler shoe instead. It’s these small details and accessories that add the final touch to your overall look.
Time:
Give yourself time! Don’t wait until a week before your event to start shopping, In many cases, the gown will have to be custom ordered which will usually take several weeks. Don’t settle for less just because you didn’t give yourself enough time to shop. You should look your best and choose a gown you love!
Making a fashion statement doesn’t mean you have to follow the current trends. It’s about looking fabulous and feeling confident wearing something that flatters your best features. Hopefully these basic tips will help you the next time you find yourself shopping for that perfect dress!
Wild (Zebra or Leopard) Print Prom Dresses from Paparazzi by Mori Lee
Printed prom dresses are for a unique girl who is not afraid to wear what she wants. She is fashion forward and ready to show the world her true colors. The options below include a zebra-esque print Prom dress and two leopard-style print Prom dresses in tropical colors.
Mori Lee’s Flaunt Style 91105 is a beautiful beaded halter dress that skims the curves. The fabric is a multi-color charmeuse in a bright leopard print which is predominantly blue, magenta, and lime green with a hot pink lining seen through the thigh high slit on the left side. This leopard print Prom dress makes a statement entering and leaving a room, with a barely-there back of crisscrossed beaded straps and a small train.
Mori Lee’s Paparazzi Style 91007 is sexy and sophisticated in silhouette yet screams party on the dance floor in print. The brightly printed charmeuse is tropically colored with bright blues, purples and reds on a lime green background. The fabric reminds us of a Lisa Frank zebra print. There is a removable beaded strap attached to the top of the bodice, which is designed to be figure-flattering, curve-hugging, ruched fabric to mid-thigh where it flares out into an A-line skirt.
Mori Lee’s Paparazzi Style 91037 is for a unique girl. This printed Prom dress has the wild leopard-esque print as the lining and as a belt beneath the bust. The outer layer of the dress comes in bright blue or berry pink silky taffeta. The cut is a sweetheart neckline with ruched cups, under which is a patterned belt above a mini-skirt of layered pick-ups in the taffeta fabric. Although the dress is short in the front, with a peek-a-boo edge to a printed mini-skirt visible, the back of the dress has enough fabric for a ball gown, with pick-ups, below a criss-crossed corset back.
What is your favorite print to wear?
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