Starting Dec. 1 the FTC will put into affect a new regulation that could very well be a bride’s best friend. Simply stated, it means that if someone has been paid or is paying to be on a “preferred vendor” list it must be disclosed to the public. So no longer can a vendor pay a site to be listed on their preferred list without being identified as such. If money changes hands it must be noted on the list. If a venue gives you a list of preferred vendors, it must be vendors that they have worked with and actually do not hesitate to recommend and have accepted no money from in exchange for a listing. If it is a paid list it you must be told upfront. The same is true for blogs that review a product or person. If the person being reviewed has paid for the opportunity that must be disclosed. Here is the actual FTC Act if you would like to read it.
We’ve talked before about the need to be careful of magazines, websites, blogs and even some vendors’ lists of preferred vendors or “award” winners. Now it looks like these lists are going to have to be a lot more honest and forthcoming.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Just Something I Loved!
I recently saw this arrangement in Inside Weddings Fall 2009 edition and just had to share. I’m not sure what it is about it that I love so much but I just think it is beautiful. Marie Antoinette meets funky tropical would be the way I would describe it. It’s different but still bridal lovely. According to the magazine the florist was Mark’s Garden and the photographer was Yitzhak Dalal. Both did a great job.
What do you think? Do you like it?
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Willrich Bridal Attends U Designs Grand Opening Event
On Friday, we attended the grand opening of U Designs’ new office. The office is located in downtown Greenville at 5 B East Coffee Street. It is a very cool, modern and sleek space. The black and pink interior make for a great background to view their photos, videography, cakes and invitations.
U Designs Staff
If you remember we did a wedding a few months ago with the crew from U Designs. They were a great group to work with and we really enjoyed being invited to their grand opening.
I thought you might enjoy seeing some photos of the U Designs team and their new office space. I especially loved the pink sign over the center of the space. Too Cool!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Great Deal on Your Westin Poinsett Wedding in Downtown Greenville, SC
Photo Source: U Designs
It’s Cool to Save!
Qualifying weddings that spend $10,000+
Choice of :
*5% off total food and beverage sales
(excluding tax and service charges)
OR
*$500 Best Buy Gift Card
Qualifying weddings that spend $25,000+
Choice of :
*5% off total food and beverage sales
(excluding tax and service charges)
OR
*$1,000 Best Buy Gift Card
OR
* Westin Heavenly Bed
Contact:
Jennifer Davis
864-250-7901
Wedding or wedding related events must be
booked by November 30, 2009, and consumed by June 30, 2010.
Amount spent calculated in food/beverage and sleeping rooms paid for by the client.
(Not valid on currently booked business)
Thursday, October 29, 2009
An Interview of Local Wedding Expert Sara Theisen of Sara Theisen Design
I invited Sara to share her view on wedding invitations and information on her business with my readers. Enjoy!
Tell me what makes your company special?
We are a full-service print and design studio specializing in unique cards and invitations for every occasion. We specialize in wedding invitations and each design is custom to fit each individual brides style and personality. This means that your invitations will be one-of-a-kind and will be uniquely you. Be sure to view our creative design portfolio at www.saratheisendesign.com to view our wedding invitation samples.
How did you get started in the business?
I graduated from Michigan State University in 2003 with a degree in graphic design and have been in the design field for over 6 years now. Originally I began designing wedding invitations as freelance for friends and found that I really enjoyed working with brides and helping them to create beautiful unique designs to make their day special. Starting my own business has always been a passion of mine and so at the end of 2008, I began Sara Theisen Design.
What do you like best about your job?
I absolutely love talking with brides, one-on-one to get a feel for their style/personality and what their overall look and feel will be for their wedding. It gives me such a great feeling to know that I have been a part of making their big day so special. I also love that I am the person that they talk with about their invitations from start to finish. I personally do the customer service, quoting, design and will also deliver their invitations. I’m not sure how many other company’s can do that!
Tell us about your favorite creation, wedding or event:
I had such a great time planning our wedding. For our favors, we decided to design chocolate labels with our picture on the front and the inside of the wrapper had a story about how we met. I knew a woman who made amazing homemade chocolate and my husband and I each picked our own ingredients for the chocolate bars. We placed them at each table (every other seat) so that each guest could try our different creations. We called them “The His & Hers Collection”. It gave our guests a reminder of how we met and why we chose our wedding location.
What are the questions a bride should ask when choosing a vendor in your field?
When should I order my invitations by?
It is my recommendation that you order your Wedding Invitations at least four weeks prior to mailing them out to your guests. This will allow you plenty of time to receive your wedding invitations and double check to make sure you have received everything you ordered and no mistakes were made. It will allow you enough time if a reprint is needed. It will also allow you plenty of time to address all the envelopes, especially if you plan on using a calligrapher.
How many invitations should I order?
Always order extra invitations, even if you know the exact quantity of guests that are invited. It is recommended to take the total number of people you will invite and divide by 65%. This will account for single guests, and will allow for some extras. Remember you do not need one invitation per guest, but rather, one invitation per couple. Always order 25 more than you think you will need. Nine times out of ten, you will use them. It costs very little to order an additional 25 when you place the original order, but it is very expensive to create a new order for just 25 pieces. You can keep a few extra for a keepsake and you may have guests that you decide to invite closer to the wedding date.
When should I send out my invitations by?
Wedding Invitations should be mailed out so that your guest will receive them at least six to eight weeks prior to the Wedding. This will allow your guest enough time to make travel plans and return the response card you included with your Wedding Invitation. If your wedding falls on a holiday weekend, save-the-date cards are typically sent a year to six months in advance. Save the date cards can be sent out anywhere between six months to a year before your wedding. It is helpful to include the accommodations information on the back of the save-the-date (or include it in the envelope with the save the date) so that your out-of-town guests can make travel arrangements ahead of time.
What’s the hardest thing about your job?
I would say coordinating the invitations to ensure that the vendor is on time with the exact delivery date. Sometimes a printer can delay the project because of miscellaneous reasons but in the long run it is up to me to make sure they are ready on time. I have very high expectations with the printers that I use and expect exceptional results.
Anything else we should know?
Not only do we design and print wedding invitations, but we can also design your cooresponding party invitations as well. We create Engagement, Save the Date, Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party invitations too! View our samples at www.saratheisendesign.com or call 864-561-0712 for more information.
Remember that this is a special time in your life and to try not to get too stressed with the planning process. Have fun with it! If it gets to be overwhelming for you, ask your friends and family members to help you, they will be honored to help plan your special day.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Our Visit to Aisle Style at the Charleston Musuem
I have been dying to go to Charleston and visit their newest exhibit, Aisle Style: 150 Years of Wedding Fashion. It began in October and runs through June of next year. This past Monday, I got my chance to go see it. It’s extra exciting to me, because I have a slip from the 1800’s that was my great-great-great grandmother’s. All the girls in my family have worn it under their wedding dresses. So I felt a connection to these dresses and the people that wore or donated them (even if it was faint).
The dresses were beautiful and tiny. People back then were so much smaller than we are today. It’s really amazing to see it. We took a few pictures for you to enjoy. You’re not allowed to use flash, so they aren’t the best but you get the idea. Besides you should do yourself a favor and see it in person.
It's amazing how much detail of the antique dresses we still see on today's dresses
Not all wedding dresses were white
This is my own very special petticoat
How to Make That Father/Daughter Dance Really Special
But what if Dad or you are just not that comfortable on the dance floor? Well there are several things you can do. We’ve had combined father/daughter, mother/son dances. Start with you and your dad for just a moment or two and then have your groom and his mother join you. There is comfort in groups.
Want an even better twist on the old favorite. Request that all the fathers and daughters that are in attendance join you for the dance. There are bound to be some bridesmaids and their fathers in attendance or guests and their dads. Same goes for the groom, start with just him and his mom and then invite all the guys that happen to be there along with their moms to come to the floor. You won’t be dancing alone and I bet there won’t be a dry eye in the house
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