Don't Stress... It is not the end of the world (Or is it?)

The photographer is late, the caterer can't get the food right, the cake isn't the right flavor, the centerpieces aren't what you thought they would be! Not to mention that your husband to be isn't contributing enough and your mother-in-law is driving you NUTS! AHHHHHHHH!!!

Ok, now that you have that out of your system you should read this. We all know how stressful planning a wedding can be. After all, it is only the most important, precious, and memorable day of your entire life. Don’t let the stress get to you. Planning your wedding should and can be fun and also bring you and your special someone closer together and enhance the intimacy in your relationship. You can’t change the fact that there is stress involved, but you can change the way you handle it. Here are some quick tips to help you deal with it all.

What is wrong?

Make sure you identify the source of your stress. Is it your wedding vendors? Or your “monster-in-law” (yes, I had to reference the title of that movie at some point)? Sometimes it is just the anxiety of getting married; it is a huge change and a very big step in your life. It is understandable that marriage is causing anxiety and as a result increasing your stress level. Open communication is the best remedy for this. This sounds like something taken from some kind of kids show about conflict but talking things out with anyone, whether your partner, sibling, parent, close friend, etc. is the best way to sort things out in your mind. Many times it simply takes a bit of sorting through your thoughts to ease some anxiety. So many things to think about, so little time!

To do lists, flowcharts, calendars, meetings, all of the above!

For many wedding planning is unchartered water being explored for the first time. What may seem like an uphill road ahead can appear to be a much more daunting task than it is. Wedding planning is a very complicated process, but don’t freak yourself out! All it takes is… you guessed it, PLANNING! If you properly plan what you are going to do, when you will do it, and even set a detailed budget for each “milestone” then things will become much clearer and your mind will be more at ease. This also leads to more sleep at night, which thusly reduces even more stress :)! I bet you are thinking “I can plan until my face turns blue and I’ll still be up at night thinking about it”. Understandably so; but think about it for a sec... would you rather have a clear idea of what you need or just do things as you go and hope for the best. Some people may choose the latter, but planning things properly may prove to be advantageous. It is called wedding planning for a reason.

Whatever you do just make sure you are in tune with what things stress you out and keep in mind how you are going to deal with it. Screaming at people into submission usually doesn’t help your blood pressure. Don’t be the girl in the video below…

Money makes the wedding go 'round!!

Cash can be one of the biggest obstacles in planning that fairytale wedding you have been dreaming about since you were seven years old (unless your last name after the wedding will officially be changed to"Gates"). Couples, don't allow this to become an issue as below you will find three key tips to saving money on some areas of the wedding. This will allow you to splurge on other parts ;) (ie. Honeymoon).  

Basic Economics: Supply & Demand

Imagine a situation where a new, fancy gadget is released for the public to purchase. This gadget is coveted by everybody who can afford it and people line up In front of stores to aqcuire it (this scenario reminds me an aweful-lot of the "iPhone epidemic" of mid '07). Basic economic priniples dictate that (a) this gadget will be very difficult to obtain (b) will be very pricey. Now, enough of the business school lecture; lets tie this all together. Most weddings, 70% to be exact, are booked between May and October. Try to avoid these months as you will be competing with many couples for the same time slots/locations. November and December are good considering that the holidays give everything an extra flare; however, beware of the fact that caterers, photographers, etc. are tied up working holiday festivities. Try shooting for January through April as these months are usually less busy.

Put your money where your mouth is!

One of the biggest areas of expenditure for a couple planning their wedding is food and beverages. Lets face it, we all have that crazy uncle who stuffs his pockets with canoles and drinks until the lines between our world and the next dimension no longer exist. Everyone has their own preferences but if you are open minded then maybe an early wedding would suffice. Brunch is much cheaper than dinner and people don't usually drink before noon (except for that canole stealing uncle). 

Money behaves differently during weddings... It hides!

The title of this section doesn't make much sense but bare with me. Most couples spend money on decorations for the chairs, flowers to decorate the wedding cake table and the end of pews, and so on. These are areas where your gueste will not pay much attention to if at all. Instead, consider limiting the budget for these items and focusing the extra savings on center pieces or the area where you and your groom/bride will be seated. Also, consider places that don't need much decorations such as a historic building or a scenic outdoor location. 

Weddings are meant to be spectacular, incredible and insiprational for you and your guests. Why spoil the magic by worrying about how many hours you have to put in at work in order to make up for the expenditures?? Ease your minds by making intelligent decisions and strategizing two steps ahead.

If you have any more suggestions please feel free and share them in our comments section. You never know how many people you can help by writing a few lines for the world to see.

You are all appreciated!

It has been a long time since our last blog post and we sincerely apologize. We have been very occupied making many brides'/grooms' wedding invitation-dreams come true. We first would like to take this moment to thank each of our wonderful followers and supporters. Although we have been occupied we have not forgotten any of you and you have shown us that we are not forgotten either through your heartfelt messages on twitter and on our etsy website. We also want to thank each one of our clients as you have all taught us the joys of being part of one of the most precious days in one's life. THANK YOU!! 

We will be publishing a blog about wedding budgeting tips very soon... Stay tuned!

It is those little pieces that make up the big puzzle...

Many people ask me "hey, what is the secret to a long and happy marriage?" Many things contribute to a happy marriage and it is up to those married to find out what works for them. Unfortunately, there is no single method of keeping a marriage going. The "key" just doesn't exist (if it did I am sure someone would have made a ton of money by now). It takes patience, understanding, contributions and compromises from both parties, and LOVE!! With that said, I found a list of 41 interesting and funny tips for a long lasting marriage. I hope you find this list compelling and thought provoking...


1. Never assume.

2. Compliment more than you criticize.

3. For each time you vent about your husband/wife to your friends, tell three positive stories.

4. Remember that it is ok to do things differently (e.g. there is more than one way to peel a potato or fold the laundry).

5. Always make time for the two of you.

6. Marry someone that you enjoy listening and talking to.

7. Remember that marriage is sometimes a bed of roses and sometimes there are thorns.

8. Remember that the best gift that you can give your children is to love their mother/father.

9. Be fair! Split the housework, spending money, etc evenly. This way you are never resentful of your partners contributions (or lack of) or expenditures.

10. Never go to bed angry. (Unless it's 3a.m. and you're exhausted, angry, and not thinking straight.)

11. Remember that people do fight. It's how you do it that matters.

12. Before starting an argument, consider if it's really worth it.

13. Fight naked. ;)

14. Agree to disagree.

15. Never, ever mention the "D" word (divorce).

16. Do you want to be right or do you want to be married?

17. Respect each other's privacy.

18. Remember that "love is like childhood. You need to learn to share."

19. Marriage is not 50/50, it's two people giving 100/100 all of the time.

20. Surprise each other now and then.

21. The secret to a happy marriage is two TV's!

22. Have date night!

23. Never pass up an opportunity to say "I love you".

24. Hold hands.

25. Hug & kiss every day (several times a day actually!).

26. Always believe that you got better than you deserved.

27. Be quick to say "I'm sorry".

28. Choose the one you love, then love the one you choose.

29. Keep the in-laws out of your marriage!!!!!

30. Love isn't always a feeling, it's a decision.

31. Hang in there. It's worth it.

32. Play nice, play often, love much.

33. Never air your dirty laundry as a couple in public.

34. Never keep secrets from each other.

35. Be each other's champion. No matter what, take your husband or wife's side first!

36. Communication is the key!

37. Always respect each other.

38. Never underestimate the power of a good belly-laugh and don't be afraid to laugh at yourself.

39. It's the little things that matter most.

38. Never use the words 'Always' and 'Never' in a fight.

39. It's ok to argue, but never use curse words to express your anger.

40. Never compare your marriage to others. What you see on the outside is not always what it is on the inside.

41. Don't make love in the same place/position everytime. Variety is the spice of life!

Wedding Tips: Blissful Beach

Beach weddings can be some of the most memorable and beautiful weddings one can imagine...when planned properly. There are many factors to consider in order to make these kinds of weddings work!

Do your research!

Many government entities require certain permits in order to host an event on a public beach. Do your research and make sure you comply with all local and state regulations. Some states require a list of all equipment and food/beverages that will be served. 

Weather can be your friend... Or foe!

Sounds obvious, right? You would be surprised how many couples dont have "Plan Bs" in the event of unfavorable weather. Things like when high-tides and low-tides come about, time of sunrise/sunset, average temperature and humidity are all important things to consider. How many brides fantasize of their dream wedding on a beach in Miami only to find that during most summer afternoons it rains cats and dogs there?? 

Plan A...B...C...D...E... You catch my drift!

Ok, maybe a "Plan E" is a bit much (or is it?) but it is good to have contingencies in place. Think about getting a tent for the wedding to offer some shelter for your guests. Or, consider putting down a deposit on an indoor venue just in case. Remember that you may have relatives and close friends traveling long distances to celebrate your marriage so the key thing is how receptive your guests will be to certain things, especially the outdoors and the elements of mothet nature. 

She said "YES" Saturday: Guys, dont propose at a sporting event!

We have seen it on TV and Movies, we have read it in books and magazines, but proposing at the stadium/arena during a game is not the way to go. As romantic as hollywood makes it seem it only highlights the poor lack of planning and creativity by the groom-to-be. There are several reasons why this shouldnt be an option when planning that special moment:

Too Public

With thousands of roaring fans watching, the intimacy of one of the most special moments of your life is broken. A wedding proposal should be about the two of you beginning a wonderful journey together. A sporting event does not allow a couple to fully reflect and share their thoughts as there are too many distractions and noise during and after the proposal. 

Not very creative

We touched on this in the intro but lets revisit. Guys, look at this from her perspective: she is probably expecting things like doves, roses, candlelit dinner by the water, soft music or a bunch of children each holding up a sign which overall spells out "will you marry me". Many women dream of this day since their childhood and as many as 85% of women say the way they were proposed to was dissapointing. Do not be a part of that 85%, instead think of the things that would surprise that special person and implement an idea. 

Embarassing

I usually dont like to be negative but lets face it, if she says anything other than yes in front of all those people how embarassing would that be? Not to mention the unwanted  pressure placed on her to say yes because thousands are watching and she wishes not to humiliate you. Why make it so complicated?

Please note that every woman is different and only you know what kind of proposal would work. Do what makes you and the love of your life happy and always remember that no matter what you do it should be a special moment remembered for the rest of both your lives. 

Brief Wedding Invitation Showcase

Our Memorable Designs blog is finally up. To kick things off we decided we want to showcase some of our most popular wedding invitations. Take a look:

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.