Invitation Consultants Blog - Wedding and Party Inspiration

BRILLIANT CUSTOMER IDEA: Host a Flamingle this Summer!

As it starts heating up, we definitely have summer on the mind!  And with summer comes so many reasons to throw parties - even if there's no real reason at all!  We loved this theme idea from one of our many brilliant customers for a flamingle!  They had used it for a birthday party, but it's the perfect theme for a just because summer party!  Pick up some of those delightfully tacky flamingo lawn decorations and scatter them around the yard or even in the house.  Find all the flamingo themed, Florida inspired decor you can and enjoy a night out on the patio or a day time pool party!  There are so many great reasons to have your own flamigle!  What kind of flamingle would you host?

Behind the Scenes: How our Bloggers' Husbands Popped The Question!

Spring time is wedding time, and we were nostaglic about our own proposal stories, wedding events, and our sweet hubby's. This lead to a fun little interview with some of our bloggers' dear husbands. Their proposals are so sweet from their perspective! First let's hear from Vince::

Date, time, locale of proposal?
Our proposal happened on June 24th, 2011 at the Violet Hour in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood around 7:30PM. I had called in advance to let them know what was going to happen, and the staff was so accommodating. Found out that we were the first engagement at Violet Hour, which is hard to believe with how beautiful and romantic the setting it is inside.

How long did you have the ring before you popped the question?
Well this is where the story gets interesting. I had a ring for quite some time, but it didn't end up being the actual ring. I wanted it to be perfect, and so after thinking this was it - I still wasn't sure it was the right one. After much internal debate, I took my mom back out with me a final time. She helped me feel a lot better about my purchase. (funny side note: Amy and I changed the ring a 3rd time once back in Tampa)

Did you tell your friends or family beforehand?
We were in Chicago from Florida for a wedding that weekend. So when the Friday arrived, my family was already in the know. I arranged her sisters and best friend Jenna to meet us at Violet Hour shortly after the proposal, so they too had some advance warning. I was so worried it would leak out to Amy, that I didn't tell anyone until just hours before - that included her parents, which I would highly recommend getting them involved long in advance for the grooms-to-be. That was my only regret.

In no more than three words, describe your state of mind a few moments before you proposed:
Three words would be next to impossible and I will explain why. After going over in my head about a dozen times what I would say, I was finally ready for the proposal. The almost very instance I was about to drop to one knee, Amy says "I will be right back, have to use the bathroom". So I guess the first and last three words that popped into my mind were "oh wait, ok"

If proposing meant gifting your bride-to-be something other than a ring, what would you have chosen for her?
A few years ago, I started a photo box for Amy of all the memories we had up to that point. It may be cheesy or corny, but memories are all you have at the end of day. And my memories with Amy can be treasured for a lifetime and then some.

Jump to read Courtney & Gavin and Kaity & Bobby's stories!

Behind the Scenes: Fiesta Friday!

I don't care how old you are, there's nothing more exciting than the long awaited moment of a ton of candy falling out of pinata!  We decided to have one of these moments in the office last Friday.  We took a little more subdued approach and rather than beating the candy out of him, we pulled ribbons until we found the one that did the trick!  Needless to say, that Friday afternoon there was a universal sugar high around here.  The best part about hosting a fiesta themed party is that it works for almost every occasion!  A graduation fiesta, summer fiesta, retirement fiesta or a birthday fiesta works for any age!

Key ingredients for a good fiesta would be the pinata of course, some variety of margarita or Mexican soda to sip on, lots of festive foods like tacos and chips and salsa to snack on and some mariachi tunes to get everyone in the mood!  Have props around for guests to wear like sombreros and mustaches.  Makes for excellent photos!  Hope our Fiesta Friday has inspired you to have your own!

Gifts for Grads! Our 2013 Graduation Gift Guide!

As a new batch of students prepare to walk down that aisle in their cap and gown, now is the time get planning!  Whether it's a graduation party that you're planning or just a loved one that's taking that step, now is the time to get your gradtuation invitations, graduation announcements and graduation gifts ordered!   Lucky for you, we have all three!  We're a one stop graduation shop with gifts and announcements for all types of graduates and all different degrees.  We're sending an early congratulations to all our 2013 grads out there!  Be sure to stock up on your luggage tags, notepads, stationery and stampers before you head off to college or out to the working world!

Introducing Our Newest Production Team Member, Christine!

We are SO excited to have Christine on board!  She jumped right in and has learned everything about...well...everything production has to offer.  But you wouldn't officially be an IC employee without gracing the blog with a little info about yourself.  So here it is!  Thanks Christine for sharing!

Where are you from originally?

Ortonville, Michigan. Not much to see at all - don't bother visiting.

How did you end up in Tampa?

I couldn't resist the weather. Getting away from the cold/snow was a decision I'll never regret!

What’s your favorite place you’ve ever lived or visited?

Hmm that's tough - haven't lived too many places (or visited for that matter). I went to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico once and that was fantastic! I'd love to explore Mexico more in the future. 

What would we find in your fridge right now?

Lots of chicken, turkey, fruit, greek yogurt. Can't forget the almond & peanut butter in the pantry! Its an addiction, really.

 Do you have any nicknames?

Chris or Bean! (It rhymes with Christine and it's stuck ever since my mom started calling me that when I was little) 

What do you like most about working at IC so far?

My co-workers!! Everyone has been so welcoming :) And all the new challenges (and opportunities) I've been given.

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Wow that's tough. Some kind of pasta.

 If you were having a party soon, which invite would you choose & what kind of party would it be?

I LOVE "Let's Fiesta". Maybe it'd be like a backyard BBQ...? Something fun and casual.

 

When you’re at the beach, books or magazines?

Neither. Just silence and waves :)

Where can we most likely find you on the weekends?

I love trying out new restaurants, or when it's nice out going to the beach/someone's pool would be ideal :)

Have you ever had / do you have / do you want to have pets?

I love pets!! Especially puppies, I'm a bit obsessed. I have one cat and one dog though, that's enough for now.

What’s your favorite part of summer?

Everything (besides the humidity & bugs)

Brilliant Customer Idea: Clever Graduation Announcement Wording

The whole cap and gown thing is formal enough for graduation - keep it interesting by making your gradutation announcements or graduation party invitations a little more creative!

We just loved this customer idea: the perfect photo of a skeptical five year old just starting out on her journey in education, and now to be celebrating her having made it through almost all of it! With the right photo and the right caption, your graduation announcements are sure to leave a lasting impression. We always love all the photos and inspiring stories we get to see come through here during grad season and we certainly appreciate the funny and creative ones here and there! Thanks for this brilliant customer idea and keep 'em coming! 

Brilliant Customer Idea: Pizza & Pinot Party

Put a new spin on the classic wine and cheese soiree by adding in everyone's favorite food - pizza!  Have all your guests bring their favorite pinot (or other wine of their choosing) and you provide the pizza.  Or you get really creative and provide the fixings to make your own pizza!  Let each guest craft their own custom pie while you all share each others favorite vino.  You can ask each guest to bring a bottle that has a story behind it or name that has meaning to them and share stories about why they chose that bottle.  The options are endless but we absolutely love this brilliant customer idea!  Host your own Pizza & Pinot party and let us know what details you choose!

Brilliant Customer Idea: Sweet & Spicy Bridal Shower

We're always inspired by customers that break the norm when it comes to wedding traditions.  One of our customers recently submitted a design with the idea for a Sweet & Spicy Bridal Shower!  We love the idea of bringing the bride-to-be a little some thing sweet like candy, homemade cookies or a little piece of jewelry and also something spicy like an assortment of hot sauce for the kitchen or some lingerie!  It's always wonderful to get gifts off the registry but the ones that your guests come up with on their own are always memorable!  By adding a bridal shower theme, it gives them some guidance and adds a little fun to the party!  We especially love the idea of something a little more open to interpretation like this one so guests could go in so many different directions with it!  What do you think about bridal shower themes?  We're all for 'em!  Thanks to our customer for yet another brilliant party idea!

PANTONE COLOR OF 2013: Emerald

We're seeing green this year and getting on board with the 2013 color prediction!  All shades of emerald are so perfect for so many parties!  Many of our gifts and invitations can be customized in the color of your choice, so even if you don't see it in green, you can design it to be!  We're loving our greens combined with black and white, gold or monochromatic shades of green.  There are so many things you can do with emerald - we're loving this years color already!

Personalized Notepads | Rehearsal Dinner Invitations | Calendar Poster | Square Party Invitation | Luggage Tag

Annual Holiday Movie Breakfast!

Every year we have a morning of breakfast and a holiday movie classic voted on by everyone.  This year the breakfast was a little different in that it was at 2:00 pm and we had an ulterior motive - we heard about a collection of snowflakes to display when the kids of Sandy Hook go back to school and immediately everyone was on board with joining in!  We turned our annual movie breakfast into a snowflake movie craft & snack!  Just as fun - maybe even better?! 

This year we cut tissue paper snowflakes to Home Alone and inevitably quoted almost every line right along with the movie.

Audrey schooled us in the art of snowflake crafting and while we all tried, she still wins for craftiest snowflake cutter!