Wedding Invitation – Why Getting Wedding Invitation Samples is recommended

Choosing your wedding invitations can involve some difficult decisions, whilst you may not think it at first, your invitations will provide an insight into your wedding day for your guests and so the way in which they are presented is very important. This isn't something that should be left until last minute make sure your pre-wedding planning includes your wedding invites. Obtaining wedding invitation samples first will help you to choose the right invites based on size, quality and above all cost – choosing the wrong ones from a picture alone could be costly.


Wedding invitation samples allow you to get a feel for the finished invitations by checking out the quality of the materials used and the print process. In the case of handmade invitations it is important to look at the way in which they are constructed and held together, the last thing you want is for them to fall to bits the minute your guests open the envelopes!


Samples will also let you look at the quality of the printing. Poor printing could result in bleeding colors, poor color matches and blurry images. A good printer should be able to provide you with a sample that has colors chosen from the pantone numbers to match your wedding colors and ensure the finished print is clear and properly aligned on the card itself.


If you want a printing technique other than laser printing, samples can help you to assess other printing methods such as thermography and letterpress. These techniques require precision and experience to get them right, otherwise they can look messy and unprofessional. Calligraphy is another printing technique which is done by hand and again a sample invitation will allow you to assess the ability of the artist.

Most printers and wedding invitation manufacturers offer free samples for their designs, whilst others may send you samples for an entire stationery suite so you assess the entire range including menus and place cards. Ask for a sample envelope as well as the quality of the envelopes will affect the price and the overall appearance of your invitations.


Getting hold of invitation samples is important as it is the only way you will be able to determine if they are of a suitable quality and if the colors are a match for your wedding. Remember the designs you see on a computer screen can look very different in real life and that invitation that looked absolutely perfect on screen, could turn out to be completely unsuitable when your order arrives.

Choosing a gown for your beach wedding

For a beach wedding you will need to choose your wedding dress along a different set of criteria compared to a traditional venue. Choosing beach wedding gowns means you will have to think about the temperature on the day but also the terrain you will be walking on!

Traditional wedding dresses could be difficult to manage on shifting sands and feel very heavy in hot temperatures. Really, when considering beach wedding gowns you need to think along the same lines as destination wedding dresses especially in terms of fabrics and style. Lightweight fabrics and strapless or sleeveless styles are the best options when it comes to a beach wedding.

Although long gowns are the most traditional style, there are many short and tea length dresses featuring in designers collections this season and these make a great choice for a beach wedding. If you want a full length gown however, avoid one with a wide skirt or long train, both of which can drag against the sand and make it difficult to walk.

Look instead for gowns with straight skirts and modified A-lines which are flattering to all but not as wide as the usual A-line skirt. Puddle trains are fine and fishtail skirts create an elegant silhouette on many body shapes, also look for dresses with single layer trains in fine fabrics such as chiffon or organza. The best fabrics to look for are thin, sheer materials such as chiffon, georgette and organza, as well as delicate lace and silk.

If you want a full skirted gown look for a skirt made from layers of tulle which will be lighter than silk or satin and will glide over the sand far easier. Slim fitting styles are very popular but may not be comfortable on a hot day, something which also needs to be considered when looking a bodice styles. 

Do think about your undergarments and petticoats as well, especially if your dress has a large skirt which will need to be supported by a petticoat to give it the correct shape. Remember the more you have to put on, the heavier your outfit will be and less comfortable as the day progresses.

Consider your accessories with equal care. You may want to purchase a wrap or shrug for when the temperature cools later on. Shoes are another important consideration especially if your ceremony is taking place down on the sand – high heels may be difficult in the sands! Many brides actually go barefoot for a beach wedding or purchase bridal flip-flops instead.

sources: 
1Weddingsource.com
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Jessica Simpson & Eric Johnson just married

Jessica Simpson and retired NFL player Eric Johnson married Saturday July 5th. After having two children together and dating for three years they decided to tie the knot. The event proved to be "the happiest moment of our lives…The weekend was magical for us. We feel complete." said Simpson to People.

Jessica 33-years-old looked better than ever as she walked down the aisle at the San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, Calif., wearing fashion icon Carolina Herrera custom wedding gown.

Simpson teamed up with Carolina Herrera to create a gold and champagne strapless multi-layer tulle gown. “The whole dress is embroidered in gold and feels very regal,” Herrera tells PEOPLE. Her goal was to transform the bride into a “beautiful golden girl,” says Herrera. Jessica and Carolina collaborated to create a breathtaking gown.

Jessica wore a cathedral length veil (View our suggestions on Wedding Veil styles) as well as Brian Atwood shoes and Neil Lane jewels. As for any bride, Jessica needed something blue, so Carolina added a blue ribbon inside the gown.

Click links to see her wedding gown

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Congratulations to both Jessica and Eric, wishing you only the best of luck on your path together.

Sources:
Facebook/1Weddingsoure
1weddingsource.com

Wedding Place Cards – Pretty Ideas for Wedding Place Cards

Wedding place cards are one detail often overlooked by brides when it comes to setting out their reception tables. Many choose simple tent cards with their guests names handwritten on them. This is fine, but rather uninspiring and considering many guests like to keep mementos of the wedding day, it can be a nice idea to more though into your place cards.

Use your Wedding Favors:
This is one of the most popular alternatives and saves on buying separate cards for place names. Simply place your wedding favors on each place setting and include a thank you tag printed with your guest’s name.
Shop for wedding favors by clicking here

Wedding Chairs:
A nice touch for a small wedding is to create chair backs with each guest name on. Simple wooden signs hung by ribbon is a nice alternative to place cards and you can easily paint these up yourself by buying wooden blanks from craft stores. Consider using heart shapes for your female guests and simple rectangles or squares for your male guests. Your guests can then take these home with them.

Wedding Napkins:
Make your own napkin rings with ribbon, lace or fabric or create beaded wire rings. Use printable fabric for ink jet printers and print out a list of your guests names, leaving enough room between each so you can cut them out. Then just simply sew them onto your napkin rings to create a stylish alternative to place cards. Another alternative is to create paper napkin rings using strips of paper or card layered on each other with your guests names on top.

Wedding Menus:
Create customized menus for each guest with their name at the top. You can print these out yourself by setting up a template containing your wedding breakfast menu and then add each guests name to the top as you print them out.

If your budget will stretch to it, have napkins customized with your guests names embroidered on them. Machine embroidery is obviously much faster than doing it by hand and may not be very expensive per napkin. You could also take this a step further by turning your napkins into wedding favors and have your names and wedding date embroidered on them along with a short thank you message.