Fab * Blog by InvitationConsultants.com

What’s Old Is New

Fashion and trends tend to be a circular sort of beast. Decades ago bell bottoms were all the rage with the “hippies”. Then the 80’s came around, and if you weren’t wearing neon colored shoulder pads, you were nothing. Then the 90’s rolled its way in, and suddenly bell bottoms were cool again (at least in my middle school they were). I remember my mother commenting every time I bought a pair that she used to have some just like those when she was younger. And then I would have to calmly explain that no, these pants are inexplicably better. Duh. And now, the wheel of fashion has again turned to the 80’s and we have all somehow found ourselves in neon colored clothing. No shoulder pads though. The wheel hasn’t spun that far!

And just like clothes, invitations also follow the old is new trend. Many couples getting married generally fall into 2 categories. Those that want a modern and chic wedding, and those who wish to have a vintage, classically styled wedding. We have invitations for both couples, but for those who wish to have a traditional wedding like back in the good old days, here are some examples of the beautiful vintage styled invitations we offer. (Click images to view invitations)

Equisite Ecru

My Chariot Awaits

Golden Wave

Movin' on Up

There is something very cathartic about moving. No matter how temporary your living arrangements may be, it is almost impossible not to create meaningful memories in a dwelling place- may they be good or bad. Maybe it is just my perception, but it feels like more people move during the summer months than during any other season. I imagine meeting new neighbors at summer block parties, watching new college graduates lug the remnants of dorm life into post-grad apartments, and impromptu kickball tournaments helping to make the new kid in town feel welcome. Moving can be a momentous and life changing event, so it feels appropriate to announce your move to your family and friends. The awesome thing is that there are unlimited possibilities when it comes to moving announcements. Even better- choosing an announcement is not nearly as difficult as closing escrow.

So here's to a happy move to all of you out there who may be packing up ship this summer!

Moving Announcements from left to right: Home Sweet (new) Home, Modern Move, New Home Warm. For more, click here.

Superstitions and the Bride!

Something old, something new, something borrowed something blue, right? Wrong! If you only knew how many superstitions brides subscribe to. I used to think this clever rhyme was the only one, but the list goes on! In the spirit of Friday the Thirteenth I have compiled a list of my top 10 favorite bridal superstitions.

10 Marry your man on Monday?
Certain days of the week are better than others for a wedding: Monday for health, Tuesday for wealth, Wednesday best of all, Thursday for losses, Friday for crosses, Saturday for no luck at all.

9 Don’t forget the sixpence!
A lucky bride: something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a lucky sixpence in her shoe.

8 Color me crazy?
Married in white, you have chosen right. Married in grey, you will go far away. Married in black, you will wish yourself back. Married in red, you will wish yourself dead. Married in green, you’re ashamed to be seen. Married in blue, you will always be true. Married in pearl, you will live in a whirl. Married in yellow, you’re ashamed of your fellow. Married in brown, you will live in the town. Married in pink, you spirit will sink.

7 If I had a dollar for every Chimney Sweep I have met…
Good omens on your wedding day: Seeing a rainbow, having the sun shine, meeting a black cat, meeting a chimney sweep.

6 Don’t Marry Butter-Fingers
If the groom drops the wedding band during the ceremony, the marriage is doomed.

5 Sure, go to bed honey…
The spouse who goes to sleep first on the wedding day will be the first to die.

4 I Eat Cake, I don’t dream with It…Is that why I’m single?
If a single woman sleeps with a piece of wedding cake under her pillow, she will dream of her future husband.

3 Anybody got a peapod and white thread lying around?
Take a pea-pod which has 9 peas and suspend it over the doorway using a white thread. If the next person who enters by the same door is not a member of the family and is a bachelor or spinster, then your wedding will take place in not more than a year's time.

2 Eat your herring single gals!
If a woman should eat a salted herring just before she goes to bed, her future husband will appear to her in a dream, carrying a cup of water with which to quench her thirst.

1 You BELONG to me Dear!
In the olden days, when a wife was considered a possession, a wedding ring was a sign that the woman had been purchased by the groom.

Ok, so I guess I made a little of a joke out of it…but the truth is even here at IC we get etiquette questions that border on superstitious. It is my belief that if you stick to what you would like for your wedding, all else will fall into place! Happy Friday the Thirteenth!

Superstitions courtesy of www.oldsuperstitions.com

Let’s talk about socks baby!

  Let’s talk about the laundry

My niece is 1.25 years old and cute as a button. She has changed my family’s whole outlook on life and… on laundry. She’s got the teeniest clothes but somehow manages to create loads upon loads of dirty laundry. Her variety of yuckiness is a wide range of socks with fruit snacks stuck to them, to shirts with a pleasant mix of spaghetti sauce and grape jelly mashed into them.  However, we still ooo and aww when we see the cute little numbers my brother and sister-in-law dress her up in.

These gasps of adorable overload are often heard at baby showers, when mom-to-be’s hold up little shirts and pants and picture the most precious of babies who will soon use them as their own personal cloth napkins. Nonetheless, the cute factor wins out, and with that I present our most charming baby shower invitations with baby clothes as their theme:

From left to right: Baby Onesie, Laundry Line Girl, Sailor Boy, and Baby Green. For more, click here.    

Hey, Baby...What's Your Invitation Sign?

Okay, I admit it.  I tend of think there may be something to be said for horoscopes.  I don't go as far as to read them daily or think they can predict the future, but I do see many common traits shared by people of the same star sign.  For example, my husband and I are both Libras, and you should hear the two of us discussing what we should do for the night..."I don't care, what do YOU feel like doing"...it can go on for HOURS without a decision in sight. 

Gemini (May 22-June21) is this month's astrological sign.  It is the sign of the twins, so people born under this sign tend to have two (or sometimes more) sides to their personalities.  They are said to be: Enthusiastic, Witty, Imaginative, Independent, Adaptable and Outgoing.  So in honor of all you Geminis out there, I have compiled some invitations that remind me of all these awesome qualities you possess. 

    Gwen is a Gemini                      Peapod                    Come Celebrate                    Modern Green

                  

                          Hightide Paisley Folded Notecard                        Say it Square

And finally, the following invitation Black on Pink was selected by IC's very own resident Gemini, Jennifer, as the perfect representation of her sign.  Look for other stellar star signs in future blog posts!

Be A Good Sport

With the summer season around the corner (or if you have the pleasure of living in Florida, you have already been sweating in 90+ temps for a few weeks now), it is the perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors! I myself have just joined a softball league, which is a bit daunting, considering I have not played a sport or done any real physical activity for about 6 years. (I doubt my sporadic attempts at pilates count).

Golf is a great sport to play during the summer, as the weather is warm and sunny, and can be played with a party of friends. I myself have only attempted to play golf once, since in Florida you can play golf all year round. My one and only attempt to play golf involved me hitting the ball on the eighth hole, and quickly losing it near a pond in the middle of the golf course. After quite a bit of time looking for it, I happened to stumble upon it. However, an alligator happened to find it before me, and seemed to be having such a good time holding it in it’s mouth, I thought I would just let it keep it. Such are the water hazards in Florida I guess.

Beach volleyball is also a great game to play, since summer months are frequently spent at the beach anyway. Most beaches already have volleyball nets set up, so all you need to do is bring your friends and your volleyball and show off your skills! Also, pickup games of football and baseball are also a great way to get outdoors and have fun with your friends in a relaxing and enjoyable way (unless of course you are a super competitive person like me, and then it is war!).

Invite your friends to any of your summer sport events with these fun sport themed cards!

        

Find these sports related summer invitations here, here and here!

Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language. ~ Henry James

It is that time of year again. You know, the time when the sun doesn’t set until well after dinner, the water from the sprinkler dries up before it even hits the ground, and you will inevitably regret spending six hours outside without reapplying sunscreen. It’s summer time!

Summer is my favorite time of year, although I will probably be changing my mind about mid July when a short walk to my car causes dehydration. However, through all the mosquitoes, heat waves, and sunburns I can always count on summer for that one day when fireworks, finger food, the pool, and friends and family come together – the 4th of July. And what better way to celebrate than hosting a little (or big) summer time get-together to celebrate?

The best part of a summer is that there isn’t much hassle in throwing the party. Just tell everyone to bring their favorite dish and a lawn chair. You can provide the paper plates and plastic silver ware so there is no clean up! Of course you will need to tell everyone the parties details so why not check out some perfect 4th of July invitations to help set your party off right!

Invitations: left Star Spangled Card, bottom right Poolside, top right Glory Stars

Celebrity Baby Boom

 You may not have noticed (you may not read People as much as I do), but apparently the newest look in Hollywood is one of impending motherhood. It appears that every other week, there is a picture of a celebrity cradling their newest little one in their arms on the cover of a magazine, talking about the new joys of mother hood, how even though they had the baby yesterday, they have somehow managed to regain their size 2 figure, and how they simply adore the diamond encrusted baby rattle they received from TomKat.

Anyway, since some of my favorite celebrities have found themselves in the preggers state, I think it would be fitting for me, a true fan, to guess what kind of baby announcements and baby shower invitations they may buy. I watch them on TV all the time! Of course I would know their style!

Angelina Jolie

A serious actress with a serious amount of children (mother of 4, with a fifth , and just confirmed sixth one on the way), Angela may chose to go with a simple, classic announcement, similar to her own sense of style.

Gwen Stefani

Oh Gwen. My how you have grown since your No Doubt days. This rocker chick is known for her eclectic and colorful style. That is why I would imagine she would choose an equally unique and colorful announcement for her baby shower (which based on recent pictures, should be coming up shortly.)

Amy Poehler

The most recent Hollywood baby announcement was from this funny lady, and her equally fully husband, Will Arnett. (Maybe her recent movie Baby’s Mama inspired her?) Being quite the comedienne, this expectant mother would I imagine send cheerful, and humorous baby announcements.