Jo
Gartin's Top Tips for an Inspired Wedding
By Jo Gartin
Author of Jo
Gartin's Weddings: An Inspiring Guide for the Stylish Bride
Getting
Started:
- Take
a moment to prioritize each element of your wedding in order of importance
to you. This will help you to distribute your budget accordingly.
- Start
a wedding scrapbook filled with magazine clippings that catch your eye to
serve as a visual reference for your vendors.
Stationery:
- Even
a simple sheet of card stock can make a lasting impression if you simply
play around with wording, font combinations, and layouts. Also,
incorporating a sense of the setting into the text of the invitation adds a
nice personal touch (At sunset on the island of Jamaica . . . Under the
willow tree . . . This autumn in the family garden . . . ).
- Be
sure to visit your local post office in advance with a sample of your save
the date and invitation to ensure
they will be approved to travel through the mail and to see if additional
postage is required.
All
Dressed Up:
- Wedding dress designers often have up to two sample sales a year. Call your
local boutique to find out the dates and you may just get to walk down the
aisle in your dream gown for a fraction of the price.
- Use
your wedding shoes as house slippers for a week or two so you can get used
to them before the big day. Having a pair of ballet flats with you at your
wedding can also come in handy for tired toes.
Blissful
Blooms:
- If
you are trying to save a little money on the cost of flowers, here’s a
tip: avoid planning your wedding just before Mother’s Day or Valentine’s
Day.
- Personalize
your bouquet by wrapping it in a photocopied love letter or note written
during your courtship. Attaching a family heirloom is also a great personal
touch.
Cocktails:
- Bring
an intimacy to your cocktail hour by scattering cushions, placing art books
from home on coffee tables, and displaying little photo frames housing fun
trivia about your relationship . . . how many days you have been together,
who said “I love you” first for example.
- Add
a twist to your cocktails by adding a skewer of frozen cranberries as a
garnish.
Let's
Celebrate:
- Include
the story of how you met into your ceremony. It allows guests to experience
part of your love story.
- Spray
your favorite room spray about the dining room just before guests enter for
a scented welcome.
- Offer
guests a midnight snack of donut holes and chocolate milk at their good
byes.
- Ask
your music company or musicians to compile a CD for you of all the songs
they played at your wedding. It makes a great keepsake.
Copyright
© 2006 Jo Gartin
Author
Jo Gartin is the author of Jo
Gartin's Weddings: An Inspiring Guide for the Stylish Bride (January
2006; $22.95US/$30.95CAN; 1-59486-261-3). She founded her event-planning
company, Love Luck and Angels, in 2002, after discovering her talents while
planning her own wedding. She is a regular contributor to InStyle
and InStyle Weddings. Her work
has been featured in many magazines, including Self,
Lucky, and Women's Wear Daily.
Vogue named her their
most-recommended wedding coordinator in 2004. She currently lives in Los Angeles
with her husband and daughter.
For
more information, please visit www.loveluckandangels.com
Even though the wedding favor itself is important, the real key is in the presentation. The way you present it, its overall look, and how you give them out are what coordinates your favor with your wedding. With stylish packaging, ribbons, and labels, your wedding favor will take on an entirely new look.
