IC is Cleaning the Closet-Green Style!

In the last two years I have been in seven weddings. In addition to my bridesmaid dresses I also have a gown for each year of homecoming and prom from high school for a grand total of 13 dresses. Yes, 13 dresses patiently waiting in my closet for a chance to be dined and danced in once again. So what happens when the event is over and you are left with a truly gorgeous (or horribly awful) hot mess of a dress? Of course you can have it shortened and wear it as a cocktail dress right? As much was we would like to…we know no one does that. After doing some research I have found some places that can help your chiffon move on!

Give it up and Turn it Loose

Most men will never understand it, but we often attach ourselves to our clothing through memories we created while wearing them. Unfortunately not all girls get to experience this feeling. Instead of letting your dress sit in your closet let someone else breathe new life into it. There are some amazing organizations out there that help ‘recycle’ your gowns to create a special prom experience for girls who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend because of their financial situations, or organizations that sell your gown for a greater cause.

 www.fairygodmothersinc.com has locations in New York, Virginia and Florida and you can also donate money to their cause.
 www.glassslipperproject.org based in Chicago, IL has helped over 10,000 high school girls go to their prom because of their services.
 www.rubyroomseattle.org is a nonprofit organization located in Seattle whose motto is “You felt great wearing it, now feel great sharing it.”
 www.makingmemories.org raises money by selling recycled dresses to go towards making last wishes of terminal breast cancer patients.

Saying Goodbye

I know it is hard to say goodbye to these treasured pieces of your past, but with the help of friends everything can be made easier. You could host a party to gather your friends and their dresses to donate to one of these charitable organizations. Welcome guests to bring photographs and memorabilia from the special days that their dresses were worn so you can swap stories and reminisce. You could also make print outs of some of the things that each organization has done for guests to read. 

Personally I have clothes in my closet that will never be worn again, but the thought of giving them up used to make me feel like they wouldn’t be there one day when I wanted them. It is shallow I realize, but my style is part of who I am. When it comes down to it though, these are just material things. Material things that could move on to create memories for another young woman or raise money to make a sick man or woman’s last dream a reality, and that is worth letting any garment go.

Invitations from left to right: Lily's Dress, Delightful Dress in Aqua, and We've Got Tonight.   

"Fetch me my quill feather.. It's Party Time!"

You're hanging out with a friend. You come up with this great idea to throw a party!.. So you run over to your computer and pull up your favorite invitation site (Invitationconsultants.com of course!). After looking through all of your many options, you pick the perfect invitation for the occasion. You type in your wording and click your way through the checkout process. Before you know it, your invitations are at your front door! Too easy, right?

Shiny papers, raised inks, ribbons, die cuts: these are all luxuries we have become used to seeing in relation to invitations. Inviting your friends to a party wasn't always this easy though. When it became possible to have leisurely events such as a party, the task of inviting your friends was a bit different than it is today. Think feather quill and ink jar. Most invitations were hand written by a Scribe with the highly skilled art form of calligraphy. Instead of a paper like 110 lb. card stock, they used Parchment which is animal skin that is stretched and dried so it retains ink appropriately. Many important documents like Torahs, and other manuscripts were also created using parchment and calligraphy.

Before printing ever became efficient, the use of parchment and hand written calligraphy was the most popular method of inviting your friends during that time period. Invitations were created one by one. With 100+ guests, that would make for a very sore wrist!

So next time you're ordering invitations with all of the bells and whistles, just think about how it all began!

It was a Pet Showdown!

Congratulations to our Invitation Consultants Cutest Pet Contest winner! His name is Brodi and he is by popular vote the cutest of them all. There was a wide range of personalities from Schmoopies to Dukes. I can’t tell you how many awww’s and oooohhh’s there were going around the office when we saw each other's pet photos. It was similar to my reaction when I first saw these “pet”icular invitations from our birth announcements catagory.

From Top to Bottom Floppy Eared Puppy, Floppy Eared Bunny, and Cute as a Kitten.

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Innies and Outies

My brother and future sister-in-law just received their adorable JeanM wedding invitations and both instantly asked me, "What's the deal with all the envelopes?" Their invitation set came with both inner and outer envelopes. They also ordered response cards bringing the envelope tally to three and the confusion level to 100%. I broke it down for them and here is how it goes:

First, you should know that some invitations come with inner and outer envelopes. Inner envelopes are typically used for more formal events, and are placed into the outer envelope prior to mailing. Here is our etiquette tip:

• Outer envelopes should be addressed to guests using the proper titles (Mr., Mrs., Miss, Ms.) Don't abbreviate names or addresses. The outer envelope has the guests' names and address.
• When determining whether to use Ms., Mrs., or Miss, always respect the woman's preference. If it is not known, it is appropriate to use the title "Ms."
• Men and women living together who are not married should be addressed with the names on separate lines.
• The inner envelopes should only have the guests' names. It is not gummed so it doesn't seal. You may be formal by writing Mr. and Mrs. William Jones or as informal as Uncle Bill and Aunt Jenny.

On the invitation's web page, the envelope information will be listed at the bottom of the page under the features tab. Here is an example of what it may look like:

For every invitation, you will have the option of having your return address printed on the back flap of the envelope. If your fantastic invite is lost on its way to the lucky guest, the return address will ensure its safe return to you. Many choose to have the return address printed in the same ink color they plan on addressing their invitation in- most commonly black.

Some invitations will have the option of purchasing envelope lining to decorate the inner flap of the envelope. If the invitation comes with inner and outer envelopes, the inner envelopes will be lined. If only outer envelopes are included, the outer envelope will be lined. This option adds some spice to your envelopes and is used to compliment the colors of the invitation.

Finally, response cards are dependent little creatures who come with their own little envelopes to keep them warm on their way to their destination. These envelopes have the hosts' return address printed on the front so that the invited can mail their response back to the invitee.

There you have it- the run down on the envelope situation. If you think you might make some typos addressing your many envelopes, then it's a good idea to purchase additional envelopes for mistakes in step one of the order process. To  purchase envelopes by themselves, click here.

Best Wishes to Jenna Bush!

President Bush will be acquiring a first son-in-law as of tomorrow.  Now all the details for this merry occasion, including the invitations, have of course been kept top secret (darn that security clearance!), but that doesn't stop us from creating our own list of perfectly presidential wedding invitations to mark the event. 

When I imagine the White House, I picture everything being monogrammed from the contents of their sock drawer to the White House pets.  A high-end traditional wedding invitation with a monogram could not be more suitable:

 

When it comes to presentation, these items can't beat.  Having a jacket or pocket embellishment is like having your own personal secret service to cover and protect your invitation:

Then again, coming from someone who cries every time she hears "I'm Proud to be an American," I can't help but feel it would be fun to incoporate the colors and symbols of this great nation with something purely patriotic:

As for the rehearsal dinner invitations, I love the following choices.  Especially since I heard they may be including a barbeque in the festivities:

The last time we had a First Daughter married was the Nixon Administration, so it may be awhile before we have another politcal princess find her Prince Charming.  Who knows?  Maybe Chelsea will be next!

For the princess in you - Inspiration for a Victorian Dinner Party!

Like most, but not every, girl at one point in time I was obsessed with dressing up. To be honest, I still am. Who doesn't love having an excuse to get dolled up and spend a fabulous evening with their friends? Most often I've found that my friends only get really glammed up for special occasions like weddings, birthdays, or graduations. However, I've found a cure for those few and far between events: Dinner Parties! And for the girl in you who wants to get dressed up like I do a Victorian themed dinner party is a great place to start.

The best part is you can throw a modern twist into the party with the latest fashion pieces that are Oxford inspired. Also a unique way to decorate for cheap would be to find different, or matching, small vintage picture frames to hold the name cards or as a party favors. You can keep the colors classic and neutral or you can throw in a punch of color anywhere you like! We have some gorgeous new invitations on our site that would be the perfect accessory to any Victorian themed dinner party.

Images from left to right: Blouse, Brooch, Shoe, Frame (stock image), Color palate

Invitations from top to bottom: Gold Pockets, Floral and Shimmery, Satin Tied

Offbeat Bride- Taffeta free alternatives and so much more

It's my opinion that a wedding is supposed to be a celebration of the love between two people and the celebration of this love should be as traditional or as offbeat as the couple wants it to be. Ariel Meadow Stallings, author of the book Offbeat Bride: Taffeta-Free Alternatives for Independent Brides., expands upon this in her entertaining and endearing blog, Offbeat Bride. Scattered with photos of brides donning colorful wedding dresses and intricate tattoos, Offbeat bride is a great resource for brides (and grooms!) who want to insert their personalities into the pomp and circumstance of their ceremony and reception. I relate to Offbeat bride because I did not want to toss the garter or the bouquet at my wedding. I wasn't sure I understood that tradition, and I really couldn't visualize all of my girlfriends tackling each other to grab a bunch of flowers. Also, I didn't want to interrupt the dancing and eating for everyone to focus on my spin in the bridal bullpen. BUT, tradition won out because it was too difficult to explain to my mom, my friends, the photographer, and the DJ why I personally didn't want to toss my blooms. If I had read Offbeat Bride prior to my wedding, I may have thought of a fun alternative to this tradition and had the guts to forgo it.

 

At Invitation Consultants, we pride ourselves on having a selection of invitations to suit the personality of any event. I visualize nontraditional colors like black or red, and less traditional designs or themes like a casino night or masquerade reception for offbeat wedding stationery. For offbeat brides looking for unique invitations, I would say follow your instincts. If a design pops out at you, and you feel like it is a great representation of the type of event you are trying to create, then there should be no reason to second guess yourself.   

Image from Allebach Photography on offbeatbride.com.

Cinco de Mayo!!

 

Here's a great recipe from Martha Stewart for crispy empanadas to kick off your Cinco de Mayo celebration!

Ingredients

Makes 2 dozen

• 1 whole chicken breast (1 pound), skin removed
• 1/2 white onion, halved
• 1 dried bay leaf
• 1 fresh poblano chile
• 6 cups (48 ounces) vegetable oil
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon ground canela (Mexican cinnamon) or regular cinnamon
• 4 canned plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped
• 2 canned chipotle chiles in adobo, coarsely chopped
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 tablespoon pepitas (pumpkin seeds), toasted and coarsely chopped
• Empanada Dough 
• 1/2 cup shredded queso blanco
• 1/4 cup sugar, for sprinkling
• Crema pura or sour cream, for serving (optional)

Directions

1. Make filling: Place chicken breast, half the onion, and the bay leaf in a medium saucepan. Cover with cold water, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and poach until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate; reserve 1 cup cooking liquid, and discard onion and bay leaf. When chicken is cool enough to handle, shred meat from the bone with a fork; set aside.
2. Roast poblano chile directly over a gas flame, turning as each side blackens and blisters. (Alternatively, roast chile under the broiler.) Transfer to a bowl, and cover with plastic wrap; let steam 10 minutes. Remove plastic wrap; peel off and discard blackened chile skin. Remove stem, seeds, and ribs; discard. Slice chile into 1/4-inch strips; set aside.
3. Finely chop remaining onion. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and garlic; sauté until soft and translucent. Stir in cumin and canela; cook 1 minute. Add shredded chicken, tomatoes, chipotle, poblano, and reserved cooking liquid. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until liquid has thickened, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper; stir in cilantro and pepitas. Set aside to cool.
4. Make empanadas: Break off a 1 1/2-inch ball of empanada dough. On a clean work surface, roll dough into a circle about 1/8 inch thick. Using a 3 1/2-inch cookie cutter, cut out a round of dough. (Or use an inverted glass as a guide, cutting around it with a sharp paring knife.)
5. Place 1 teaspoon filling in center of each round; sprinkle with cheese. Using a pastry brush, moisten edges of dough with water; fold dough over to seal, pressing gently. Crimp edges with a fork; set aside. Repeat with remaining dough. Gather scraps and reroll. (Only do this once, to avoid toughening the dough.)
6. Pour remaining oil into a medium saucepan; oil should be 2 inches deep. Place over medium heat until oil reaches 375 degrees.on a deep-fry thermometer. Working with a few empanadas at a time to avoid overcrowding, fry until golden, turning once, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to drain on a paper-towel lined baking sheet. While still hot, sprinkle tops with sugar. Serve immediately with crema pura or cream on the side, if desired.

Yummy Cinco de Mayo invitations featured above from left to right: Sombrero, Peppers Azul, and Maracas.

Happy Earth Day!

For ideas on going green check out Treehugger.com, a guide to getting informed and taking action to make our planet a little more green. Detox your home, your wardrobe, and your lifestyle with small steps that can be taken everyday. With a team effort, mother nature will feel appreciated!

For eco-friendly invites, check out our selection of recycled papers. No need to sacrifice style when going green!

From left to right: Penelope Lime, Natural Subtleties, and My Special Light Keeper. For more recycled invitations, click here.

Ribbons & Bows

Martha Stewart Weddings recently published their spring spread of adorable ribbons incorporated in stunning designs. In their Fit To be Tied article, find how-to tips on using sweet but sophisticated ribbons as accents on your perfect day.

Here are some items from our own collection to inspire you to tie things together:

 

From left to right: Ode to Joy, Love of Chocolate, Satin Tied, and Green Apple Delight