Events and Design by Ashley introduce our guest blogger...Katrina Larcade!

We have a Guest Blogger this month! 

Meet Katrina Larcade our High School Intern! 

Here are her thoughts about wedding trends for 2016...

As we roll into 2016, we will begin to see the most beautiful wedding trends of all time. This is the year we bring out the sparkle and glam with a unique touch. From the wedding dress all the way down to the color scheme, it all ties down to your special moment that you will remember for the rest of your life. Here are many loved details that you can expect for our 2016 weddings trends!

• The long sleeved wedding gowns are finally in! With the lace arms topping off these beautiful dresses, it gives you the romantic and vintage vibe that you have always been searching for.

• Cream-colored bridesmaid dresses are a go-to for many elegant weddings. This trend puts forward subtle beauty and adds great texture to the wedding party!

• Some brides are tossing the traditional veil and adding a floral headpiece to their look. It adds a perfect piece of natural beauty and is a huge trend for outdoor or rustic weddings! This piece will look stunning with any type of hair design you may be craving!

• Monochromatic color schemes are one of the biggest trends in 2016. Brides are finding that less is more- and all you need is one color- in a variety of shades! Try mixing up the centerpieces with a tone-on-tone explosion. Having a few different shades will create a gorgeous ombre effect at every angle.

• Ambience is the key to setting a romantic and intimate environment for your wedding. Both vintage and modern chandeliers with Edison bulbs will make this the perfect feeling that you have wished for.
• Fondness for fonts is your way to go! Having a delicate variety of fonts on your invitations will send out a fresh personality! Warm tones like rose gold and copper are the highest hit right now for 2016. From a simple stamp on the wedding invitation to a polished centerpiece, they have a unique way of expressing a feeling of comfort!

This is our time to express beauty and art into a visual effect for everyone to absorb. 2016 brides want the glitter, sparkle and glam to show off their beautiful glow on their wedding day! This is the year we want to make the best for you and the love of your life!

Photo Credits:

color: https://www.elegantweddinginvites.com/wedding-colors-2016-perfect-10-color-combination-ideas-to-love/

dress: http://www.stylemepretty.com/2015/08/01/21-elegant-sexy-wedding-dresses-that-will-make-his-jaw-drop/

bridesmaid: http://letsgetweddy.com/beautiful-bridesmaids-2/

headband: http://ruffledblog.com/century-house-wedding

What Wedding Planners Wish Vendors Knew

In an industry full of high stress, constant emails, phone calls, timelines, packing, unpacking, scheduling, rescheduling, crazy hours, 24 hours a day, vendor pleasing, client pleasing, constant marketing....a wedding planner truly has a lot on their plate. In resent weeks we have encountered a few instances with vendors that I thought I would address to help others understand the craziness a bit better with hopes that there would be more GRACE.

1. If we don't get back to you right away, please know that we have lots of events, vendors, and clients we are managing. We have most likely read the email or listened to the message, but are trying to prioritize replies to make it a bit more manageable.

2. If you are not a part of every event, it is not because we do not want to work with you. Our clients have different budgets and we help them choose the best vendor for their budget. If we could use you all at one event, we would do it. IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

3. If we do not refer you at all, please understand there is a reason for this. This is not to say that we do not give second chances. We are not always perfect and make mistakes as well, so we get it. Some circumstances or experiences may have have left us unable to give a second chance to protect our clients and our own business integrity.

4. If you are not tagged in every post we share, please know that there are so many vendors involved and we are NOT ever intentionally leaving you out of the post. We value the work that our vendors do for us and our clients and would not maliciously leave you out. We give a lot too that goes unrecognized.

5. Our lives do not revolve around our business, even though we work crazy hours. Some of us have young families we are trying to love and care for. If we are not working, we are home with our families, fighting the urge to answer phone calls and emails.

6. We are not PERFECT and make mistakes just like that rest of you. We do our best to cover the details, to get the job done. We ask for GRACE, just like we extend to you.

7. If you are not reaching out to us to build a relationship, we are not responsible. We would LOVE to go to coffee with all the new and fab vendors in town, but our time is limited. We would love for you to reach out to us via email and tell us about your business and how you feel we could work together to better our client experiences.

8. Most of us speak on behalf of our clients. Do not go behind our backs to communicate with the client, unless they reach out to you first.

9. As vendors we ALL have a preferred vendor list. Again, it was those people that were intentional about building a relationship, that you have things in common with, or perhaps the product or service is out of this world awesome....do not be offended if you are not on that list. We are not everyone's favorite planner...we get it.

10. Most of us genuinely love our clients and are doing our best to please them, while trying to keep our vendors happy too. We are in the middle and we ask for a little more understanding.

I am sure there are more, but these are the major ones we encounter. As for me, I know that I am not liked by everyone, not everyone agrees with what I do, who I work with or my approach, but I am just fine with that. I can't please everyone, all I can do is my best. That is all any of us can do. I challenge all of us to extend more GRACE this year. I think it will help build stronger relationships and better service for our clients.

Tips for Tackling The Wichita Bridal Show! 2016

Congratulations to all of the newly engaged couples! This coming weekend on the 9th and 10th of January, is The Wichita Bridal Show located at Century II. Attending a bridal show can be most helpful in planning your wedding. They are exciting, festive and full of terrific ideas. You will be able to meet and ask questions from many wedding professionals all under one roof. You will want to gather information, compare prices and services, receive discounts, register for prizes, see the latest fashions, get great new ideas and simply just have fun.  The bridal shows are big so go early. Plan to spend a minimum of 4 or 5 hours in order to see all the exhibits. Don't be in a rush to get through! When you first walk into the show it can be very overwhelming, daunting and stressful. I have come up with some tips for the year 2016 that will help you have a productive, enjoyable time!

1. The most important and also the most obvious would be solidifying a wedding date before you go so that as you are talking to vendors you will be able to see if your specific date is even available.

2. Before you go to the show, make a list of the different vendors you need to get information on and some keys questions you have for each one. Some of the the vendors to consider: venue, catering, florist, cake, photographer, videographer, hair and makeup artists. Here are a few questions to ask the vendors as well: How many years experience do they have? What sets that particular company apart from others that do the same thing? What is their basic pricing?

3. Before you start talking to any of the vendors, take a stroll around the show. Sample cake, look at decor, take brochures, watch the runway shows, etc. Take it all in so you see what all is available and are not overwhelmed by getting it all figured out in one instant. After you have been able to look around you are able to better understand your needs and wants and will be able to communicate that better when you talk to each of the vendors.

4. Start a conversation with the people at the booths. Don't be shy. You will know right away if they are someone you would want to work with in planning for your special day. It is very important that you get a long and click with the vendors you choose. 

5. Wedding shows are not supposed to be stressful or overwhelming. There is so much to see and so many vendors. Taking your time to view each exhibit will help reduce the stress. Remember wedding planning is preferably done over time, not in one day. It's one decision at a time.

6. Bring a small notebook and pen. You never know what tips or ideas you'll discover and want to write down. It will also be hard to remember which vendor told you what. 

7. Some vendors offer drawings for prizes. To make this a speedy process, bring address labels to save time in filling out registration blanks.

8. Material swatches that suggest the colors of your wedding are helpful when speaking with florists, bakers, gown shops and other professionals. Know the size of your wedding party, your color scheme, and the location of your reception facility if you have already booked your venue. You may also want to bring pictures of some of the things you have seen that you like for decor to show to the different vendors as well so they have a good understanding of your vision.

9. Have a couple of people attend the show with you so that you have more eyes to see and ears to hear all the things you will be taking in.

10. A lot of vendors give discounts at the show. Take advantage of this if you are able to.

11. Ask lots of questions. The show is filled with wedding professionals, and while you're there you should take advantage of the opportunity to learn as much as you can. These vendors want to impress you with their knowledge of their particular specialty...take advantage of it!!!

12. Be confident in what you need and stick to your budget, but also stay true to your tastes, style, personality, so that there are no regrets later on. This is a day in your life that is like no other, you want it to be perfect, so go with your gut!

13. Don't forget the reason you are even there! It is easy to get lost in the details and forget that you are marrying your best friends. Get excited but don't forget to prepare for 24 years and not just for the 24 hours! 

Preparing for 24 years, not just 24 hours

As a wedding and event planner, my favorite aspect of the job is the ability I have to help design and implement beauty that is pleasing to the eye. Along with the decorations, I get to see ALL aspects of the wedding planning process, including the way the couple interact with one another and what they find most important in preparing for their marriage and wedding day. 

All to often I see the bride and groom getting lost in the details of planning, and if I am completely being honest, I do to. Recently, I have been more sensitive to this issue and want to take a moment to get more personal. 

Prior to my very own wedding/marriage my expectations were full of fairy tales and lots of loving. I was naïve in thinking that there wouldn't be difficult days and that the key to a long, lasting marriage wouldn't take WORK at all! I expected my husband to allow me to do whatever, whenever and however, without throwing a fit and with complete support. His expectations were different, but also self seeking at times...a barefoot and pregnant wife, home cooked meals and a perfectly cleaned home when he came home from work each day. I thought he would continue to wine and dine me, and he thought I would give him daily love notes that would never cease. 

This was certainly not the case and was almost culture shock upon revelation. Lust quickly became starch reality. No more wine and dining, or cute little notes--go ahead and add kids to this recipe, along with disagreements, kids fighting, careers, long hours, pet peeves, worldly influences, all kinds of kid activities and an enormous amount of other distractions.

I have to admit that after my husband proposed to me in Africa...this was grand(oh man, if he asks me big questions like this all the time, I am going to be the luckiest girl ever!)I came home from that amazing, surprise proposal and quickly got lost in the wedding hype, showers, the decor, and all the ideas I had in creating something unique. I hit the ground running and soon forgot why I even said "yes" to the man of my dreams. I can say without question that most conversations we had as a couple during the 6 months of planning, were quickly "wedding" related. What kind of food, how many tables and chairs, what was our color and theme? We forgot to continue dating. Forgot to continue getting to know what our likes and dislikes were and most certainly forgot to build a strong foundation for the next 24 years of marriage instead of the 24 hours of wedding celebration.

My 7 year marriage has had it's challenges, but I can say that after 7 years, it has truly become about "love" and not lust. Sometimes, love is a daily choice even, but I know God has brought me the man I am suppose to live life's adventures with. I share this in hopes that you will ask more of the hard questions and have more uncomfortable conversations that are not all fun to set the foundation for a strong marriage before your big wedding. 

While we aren't the way we used to be be walking down the aisle, we can still integrate the things we loved about each other during the 'lust" stage; notes, diners out...they just simply mean more now, especially when it is not as common as before the "I Do".

I think it’s important that newlyweds-to-be discuss what is expected in a marriage—what each person hopes for and how they plan to make it work for them. Couples are really doing a disservice to their lives together if they don’t discuss the big issues before they take that final walk down the aisle. Now, let me assure you, I know that there will be conflict even if you do your homework before hand. Preconceived notions and comparing our relationship to other couples; that's what gets us into trouble!

Here are some questions you can ask on your next date that will begin to create open communication between you and your fiancé, all while preparing for a day that honors your life long commitment to each other. 

• Besides love, what is your main reason for marrying your partner?
• What are three things other than appearance that you love about your partner?
• What does the word "compromise" mean to you and how will you apply it to your marriage?
• Who will do the majority of the household chores?
• How will they be divided if you both work?
• If you plan to have children, how many would you want and when would you like to start growing your family?
• How much of your income would you like to save?
• Do you save?
• How do you prefer to spend your free time?
• Are you impulsive or a planner? 
• How do you deal with the unexpected?
• How do you deal with conflict/confrontation?
• Do you share the same level of religious commitment?
• How will you resolve disputes?
• What’s your 5-year plan (both personally and professionally)?

What are some creative ways that you might be preparing for your marriage while planning your wedding? We would LOVE to share with others!

Venues in Wichita and Surrounding areas!

We took a vacation from our blog series last week, but we are back and close to the end of the series! We have been able to feature several vendors and past brides who have talked about some of the important elements that go into the planning of a wedding celebration.

Although many have already chosen their venues, we have fall brides, 2016 brides and companies trying to determine the best venue for their celebration. We thought we would compile a list of venues in Wichita and the surrounding areas that could host your party.

The list is written in no particular order, but will hopefully give you more options to think of while you are choosing the best one for you! Make sure you read to the bottom to read tips on choosing a venue.

Ceremony: 
1. Bartlett Arboretum-south of Wichita
2. Botanica-Downtown Wichita
3. Plymouth Congregational-College Hill in Wichita
4. Pathway Church-West Wichita
5. Central Christian Church-East Wichita
6. Cathedral-Downtown Wichita

Reception Venues: 
1. Villa Luna-West Wichita
2. The Ville-Andover
3. Skyline Venue-Downtown Wichita
4. The Lux-Downtown Wichita
5. Venue 3130-west of downtown Wichita
6. Loft 420-Downtown Wichita
7. Museum of World Treasures-Downtown Wichita
8. The Point Event Center-Augusta, Kansas

Ceremony and Reception Venues:
1. Abode Venue-Downtown Wichita
2. Wichita Art Museum-Downtown Wichita
3. Botanica-Downtown Wichita
4. The Boathouse-Downtown Wichita
5. Noah's-East Wichita
6. Exploration Place-Downtown Wichita
7. Cowtown-Downtown Wichita
8. Illusion Studios-Derby
9. Event Center-Kansas Star Casino
10. Tanganyika-Goddard

Country Venues:
1. Fidelis Events-Near Eldorado
2. Prairie Pines-West Wichita
3. Eberly Farms-West Wichita
4. Fulton Valley Farms-Near Towanda
5. Redbud Party Barn-Douglas, Kansas
6. Stonehill Barn-Maize, Kansas
7. Gracehill Winery-Whitewater, Kansas

Hotel Venues: 
1. Hyatt Regency-Downtown Wichita
2. Ambassador Hotel-Downtown Wichita
3. Hotel Old Town-Downtown Wichita
4. Homewood Suites-East Wichita

Rehearsal Dinner locations:(50-100 guests)
1. Ya Ya's-East Wichita
2. Larkspur-Downtown Wichita
3. Newport Grill-East Wichita
4. Ambassador Hotel-Downtown Wichita
5. Loft 420-Downtown Wichita
6. Villa Luna-West Wichita
7. Corporate Caterers-East Wichita
8. Event Center-Kansas Start Casino-Mulvane
9. Hereford House-East Wichita

Here are 5 key things to look for when choosing a venue:
1. Clear communication with event venue coordinator
2. How many people can the venue accommodate?
3. What are the rules on decorations allowed or not allowed
4. If the venue can accommodate multiple events in one night, how does the effect your event?
5. What do the reviews say?

here is a great link to more important questions to ask! click here

The Bride's Experience-In Her Words

Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure that I am really living in my dream job. While it has had challenges, hard clients, mistakes, and great ops for lessons learned, I keep on keeping on because of the people/clients that make it truly rewarding and exciting. I am beyond thankful for the incredible events we have had the opportunity of being a part of. From the Not Wedding(aka..Big Fake Wedding), Biz Bang-Youth Entrepreneurs biggest Fundraiser, to the countless weddings. What an honor!!

For today's 4th post in our blog series, I have asked a few of our past brides to share their "been there, done that" experience with other brides-to-be! Brides! If you have more questions you want answered from other brides who have already gone through the planning process, we are launching a Bridal Mentoring program that is FREE. Please contact us and we will put you in touch with a past bride to be mentored and encouraged by during your very own wedding planning process. Email us at: ashley@myeventbyashley.com This is a great tool so make sure you take advantage of this opportunity!

Bride and Groom: Kelsey and Brandon Baker

Venue: Exploration Place

1. What is one thing that you have heard the guests remember most about your wedding? Our guests are still to this day telling us how awesome the reception was and how much fun they had.

2. What was the deciding factor when choosing your vendors? Some of it was recommendation from other brides, but I really took Ashley's advice as a planner who has dealt with so many vendors! If she recommended someone that's who I wanted!

3. Were there any unexpected trials your experienced during planning? There was no unexpected trials during the wedding planning process! It's crazy because I tell people that wedding planning was so easy and I was never stressed about anything throughout the whole year of planning. As a very anxious person, I had assumed my anxiety would be at an all time high, but I really didn't have any problems with it. The only issue I had was not realizing how heavy my dress would be and that it would fall so much making it a little long. Walking into the reception I kept tripping on it. I will never forget that Ashley and Amy were on their hands and knees pinning up my dress so I would stop tripping I loved my dress, but wish I would've had a short fun dress for the reception!

4. What element was most important to you for your ceremony and then reception? The most important thing about the ceremony to me was time. I hate when ceremonies take forever, so I wanted a 30 minute ceremony and one where the minister didn't talk forever. Our minister at East Heights was perfect and actually quite funny! At the reception my main goal was for us to have an awesome DJ so that it was fun! I wanted people to leave our reception talking about how fun it was and we definitely accomplished that!

5. What is most memorable to you? The most memorable thing was how much fun my husband and I had that day! We had a blast with one another and our closest friends and family!! We said we had so much fun we wish we could do it every year!! I also think part of that was due to the fact that there was no stress in the planning process! I didn't have to worry about anything and could just enjoy it all!

6. What piece of advice would you give to brides/future bride? My mom and I always say the #1 piece of advice we would give to any future brides is to hire Events By Ashley!! They make it so you can enjoy every part of your day and never have to worry about the small stuff! I know so many brides who weren't able to relax and enjoy the day because they were so stressed about all the little details that ultimately people don't care about! The day goes by so fast!! Hiring a wedding planner gave me the piece of mind to know that all those little details would be perfect and taken care of, allowing me to fully enjoy every part of the day!!

Bride and Groom: Isabelle and Rob Rotola

Venue: Abode Venue

1. What is one thing that you have heard the guests remember most about your wedding? The venue and decorations. They tell me it was simple yet beautiful and although I didn’t have tons of decorations the venue was pretty the way it is without having to add much.

2. What was the deciding factor when choosing your vendors? Price and also style. When we met with them we paid attention to how they treated us and how well they listened to what we wanted to make sure we could trust them to do what we wanted.

3. Were there any unexpected trials your experienced during planning? Yes!!! I had lots of questions, doubts and had a hard time making some decisions since there are so many details that we don’t realize when it comes to planning a wedding, no mater how simple it is. It was also hard for me since I am not from the USA and the culture and wedding traditions are not the same. I overlooked some things because I simply didn’t know that they were important and I wish I had known. Also there are so many options out there and it was hard for me to pick one of each and stay within budget.

4. What element was most important to you for your ceremony and then reception? We wanted our ceremony to be short and simple yet different. We wanted to include all of our immediate family members and close friends in it to share that special moment with them. The most important element for our reception was to make sure our guests had fun. We wanted the reception to represent what we like and who we are. We did that by serving our favorite foods as dinner, a candy table for the groom instead of a “grooms cake”, cupcakes and brownies instead of a wedding cake and played the music we like.

5. What is most memorable to you? How beautiful everything looked, how much fun we all had and how smooth everything went.

6. What piece of advice would you give to brides/future bride? I recommend getting a wedding planner first of all. I didn’t from the beginning and I wish I had someone to help me explore different options and be the creative side when I was blind, just trying to get things done and looking at ideas on Pinterest. Take your time when choosing every piece of your wedding, don’t try to rush and look at different options even if you are not sure if you like it or if you don’t think you can afford.

The Importance of a GREAT Wedding Film-The Brickhouse Films

Mary and Craig Beebe; owners of The Brickhouse Films are two of the most kind and patience people to work with. I have enjoyed getting to work with them on many weddings and look forward to continuing working along side them this year on several weddings and events. There was a day when wedding films were the last thing booked depending on budget when planning a wedding. Now, it has become one of the first things a bride and groom book.
Read Mary's post below to find out why! 

The Importance of a Great Wedding Film

Written by: Mary Beebe, cinematographer and editor at The Brickhouse Films

Until very recently, most couples considered wedding videography to be the least important part of their wedding day. It was something that they would "wait and see" if they had room for. Oh how the times have changed! There have been numerous blogs and articles written about how the number one regret brides have regarding their wedding day, is not hiring a videographer. Apparently the word has spread and couples are finally realizing the importance of having a beautiful wedding film! 

Why is a wedding film so important you ask? Well, it is a means of capturing the most momentous day, and what is essentially a split second, of your much longer love story. There is nothing that will preserve your memories more vividly than a wedding film. It will capture all the emotions of the day - the reactions, sounds, the little "I love yous" between camera flashes. A wedding is not just a single moment, but a live event.  Above all else, when the years pass by it is an amazing keepsake to share with your children and grandchildren! You can relive your day and share the memories in whole, not just snapshots, but the actual laughter, spoken vows, music and dancing. Take a look at one of our recent films:

Mischia + Sam from The Brickhouse Films on Vimeo.

The last five years has brought more changes to the video/film industry than anyone had thought possible. New technology has made it possible to provide not just a home movie look, but a wedding film look. The result is a very exciting time for wedding video! Everyone knows how much time, planning and money a wedding requires, so make sure to hire a professional wedding cinematographer so those memories can be preserved for a lifetime!

If you need more persuading, watch this film by Love 24fps, where real couples talk about the importance of a great wedding film!

love24fps.com education | Why a wedding film is the best investment you'll make from Long Haul Films on Vimeo.

It's About the Signature Drink-Xclusive Event Services

It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to our contributing guest blogger today. Crystal McDonald is co-owner of Xclusive Event Services. She and her brother Cody Lathrop have changed the mobile bartending scene here in Wichita and surrounding areas! I am honored to work along side these two and their team of hard working, dedicated hosts. They love to serve others, and give of their time and talents to ensure that their clients and guest have an exceptional, safe celebration, meeting, or special event. The bar is more than just the alcohol, it's about the passionate people behind the bar, handing a guest their drink in a way that provides comfort and great service to those receiving.

It's all about the Signature Drink

written by: Crystal McDonald

When planning your big day what comes to mind?  From your dress to your entertainment to your venue there are a lot of details and planning that is involved. Being the bartender at literally thousands of weddings I gained great insight that some Brides/Grooms seem to overlook..like the BAR!!!  

Its not just a bar anymore, its another important piece of the puzzle. The bar and what's being served is a small detail that can make a big impression. 

Being the bartender at these events allows me talk to guests in a manner that most involved don't get the opportunity to. Guests share things with us that they won't tell the Bride/Groom, planner, florist, caterer, DJ, or other vendors. People seem to just open up to the bartender like women do to their hair dresser!(might be the alcohol) but we hear the good, the bad and the ugly about these events, whether we want to or not.

So what do I hear? What do guests tell us? What do they say when they think nobody else is listening? 

I will tell you that more often than not, they never mention the ceremony, or the vows you spend days or weeks worrying about. They may not remember the amazing decorations you spent endless hours working on, or even the kind of cake they ate. All of those things are equally important in pulling off an exceptional event, but offering complimentary adult beverages of some kind will be something your guest will definitely not forget about.

Think back on any event/wedding you have been to and try to recall a few things about it.  It could be lots of stuff you remember, but I bet you remember if it had an open bar or if any drinks were served complimentary. 

While open bars can be pricey, there are ways to make it work on a budget.  Offering just Beer and wine and a signature cocktail or two is one way to scale back and is what we usually suggest to our clients.  A Signature cocktail is a fun and inexpensive way to not only please your guests but add another element of "unforgettable", personalization to your wedding.  

A few things to consider about signature cocktail(s):

• Make sure its crowd pleasing.  Not everyone likes tequila or whiskey but most people will drink vodka or rum if mixed properly.  Or offer a "his" and "hers" cocktail to please them all.
• it makes the bar line go quicker.  Providing less options or having a signature drink already ready to grab.
• Have it match your color(s) or theme.
• Serve them in fun glasses that they can take home so they will never forget the night.
• And the most important... Make sure it represents your love story.  The wedding is an expression of you as a couple, as should be the signature cocktail!

We want to enhance the fun you can have with personalizing your signature cocktails.  Step out of the wedding norm and think for yourself!  What I mean is be unique, make it special, and do something that makes an impression.

We bartended a wedding that used Swedish fish tied to a straw to make it look like a fishing pole as the garnish.  The drink was called the "Salmon Slayer" and it had lots of personal connections to the bride and groom that most would know if you knew the bride/groom. 

At my reception we had a Margarita bar.  We were married in Mexico so thought it was only appropriate.  We had  a large variety of tequila, mixes, flavorings and garnishes that or guests could choose from.  Another fun option is a Vodka bar, same concept just with Vodka!

So all the above to say: let's have some fun, be creative. Add a fun, unique garnish, straw or stir stick. Add anything that could represent you as a couple and make the bar impressionable, because most people will remember this piece of the puzzle whether you think about it or not.

Here are some other fun cocktail ideas...  

P.ink Creative-Invitation Etiquette 101!

We are excited to launch our blog series that features some of the best in the wedding and event industry here in Wichita and in Kansas City. As I think about the last 4 years of EBA existence I am truly blessed to be able to look back and say that I have made some of the best contacts and relationships that have developed in to life-long friendships. What an honor to serve along side some of the  most passionate people who love serving and beauty just as much or more than I do.

As the spring season is upon us so marks the time to get your invitations designed and sent out! I have asked one of the most creative, best stationers; Gretchen Postiglione, owner of p.ink Creative to give us some invitation etiquette. Hopefully this aids in answering any questions you may have as you make final design selections, wording and much more for your special invitation. This is a GREAT refresher for me as well!

Make sure you check out more of her great work by clicking on the link above! One thing I love about Gretchen and what a lot of our past brides love about her is how quickly she responds and gets in touch with her clients. Her creativity and knowledge definitely make her one of a kind!

Invitation Etiquette 101

Written by: Gretchen Postiglione

Wedding Invitations: What to Know

When planning a wedding, invitations are usually the first glimpse that guests have of your wedding. Invites are important because they set the tone for your wedding.  They should be beautiful but functional as well.  Wedding invites should accomplish the following things: address formality or feel of the wedding, give pertinent details about the wedding, and give guests a clear indication of who is invited.  Easy, right?  Well, with etiquette rules and multiple people having input, it can be a little tricky.  Hopefully these tips will help to guide you through the process and give you guidelines for wedding invitations.

What is the level of formality and feel of your wedding?

Your invites should portray the feel of your wedding ceremony and reception not only with style and color but with formality as well.  It is easy to see a design that appeals to you and just want to go with it, but it is important that it carries the feel of your event.  A bohemian invitation design might be adorable, but it gives the impression that your wedding is more laid-back. This would be an excellent choice if you are having an outdoor wedding or a casual afternoon reception. But if you are having a formal church ceremony and a black tie reception, this choice wouldn’t be as appropriate.  I always tell brides, “Imagine what kind of attire you want people to wear, then ask yourself if that’s clear in the style of invitation you selected.  It should be clear, without the need to have it in writing.”   Your invite designer should be able to help you indicate the formality to guests through design, paper choice, and wording. 

Make sure all the details are given on the invite.

This seems simple, but how many times have you received an invite that didn’t provide all the specific details?  Any information you can give your guests is helpful.  That being said, etiquette rules dictate the way this info is given to guests.  Traditionally, on the invitation itself, you should have details about the ceremony ONLY.  It should be clear who is hosting the wedding, (i.e. the bride’s parents, both parents, or the bride and groom) and should be worded accordingly.  If the reception is immediately following the ceremony, you can put that at the bottom of the invite.  All other details about the reception should be put on an extra insert card.  Other things that can be included if they are applicable to your wedding are transportation details, hotel information, map or directions, and other wedding activities.  One thing that should NOT go anywhere in the invites is registry info. It is considered improper to include this in the invite or on the extra cards. I recommend creating a website that has all the details of the wedding, including registries, and include that link instead.  It gives people the ease to find it without coming across as “buy me these presents.” RSVP cards should be included as a separate card if you want them sent back.  Make sure to include postage on the RSVP.  I LOVE the new trend of RSVP postcards as a way to save a little on postage!  

Who is invited?

This is probably the biggest concern I hear from brides.  How do I make it clear on the invite who is invited, and how do we indicate children are or aren’t invited? The best and proper way to do this is through the addressing of the envelopes.  If you want to be crystal clear, I recommend investing in the extra inner envelope.  The outer envelope should include the parents and the inner should include or exclude the children’s names.  However, many people don’t know this etiquette anymore, so they still bring their children, even if their names weren’t listed.   I am not a fan of putting “adults only” on the invite, because I think it can come off as rude and makes it awkward for children like ring bearers and flower girls to attend. That is why I LOVE this new trend to make it clear to guests:

On the RSVP card include this line:

_____ seats have been reserved in your honor

____accept with pleasure

____decline with regret

Before mailing invites to guests, you fill this in with the number of guests.  If the quantity written is two, then the parents clearly see that children are not invited, without the invite outwardly stating ‘NO KIDS.’  This also allows for some kids (like nieces and nephews) to be invited without anyone else questioning it if the invitation had stated ‘no kids.’ 

In closing, invitation etiquette can be tricky, but remember that this is your wedding, and if something above doesn’t seem like you then don’t do it!  I give each bride this same advice, but as you can see from these examples, they each add their own personality to their invites.  The most important thing is that YOU LOVE your invitations!  

---Gretchen

Stephanie + Jake

When a bride calls and wants us to help them plan their wedding, I am both honored and excited to be able to help them along the way. With Stephanie, she became more than a client, but more of a close friends I advocated for along the way. The LOVE between Stephanie and Jake was evident from the moment I met them both and even more noticeable when I read the vows Steph sent to me to read. I cried and knew that God had truly brought them together. I know that their love goes above and beyond any issue we dealt with after the wedding was over and clean up began.

Stephanie is a super creative, incredible designer; a hair dresser by trade...and so the elements and details of her wedding were personalized and a true reflection of the couples style. I loved how unique and special each detail was. From custom built bars, a beautiful back drop created for the ceremony, bells instead of flowers for the little ADORABLE flower girls and the head table that was to die for.

Thankful for the opportunity to witness and share in their love and for the countless opportunities we had to learn and grow. Enjoy the pictures taken by Photographer, Morgan Weber...they are stunning!

Venue: Murfin Stable-Private Venue
Caterer: Newport Grill
Videographer: Brandon Parigo
Florist: Magnolia Floral Studio
Furniture Rentals: Ruffles and Rust-A Vintage Rental Company
Transportation: Spot's Party Bus
Wedding Cake: Buckingham Cakes

Here is to HAPPILY EVER AFTER!!