Help - I have too many Parents!

Today, it seems that we have lots of blended families. When it comes to wording the invitation, this can cause some challenges.

Remember, that the Host of the wedding (the one paying) is usually listed as the person doing the inviting, at the top of the invitation.

Traditionally if the Bride's parents are paying we could say:
Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Smith request the ..

If your Parents are divorced, then it might read:
Ms. Sally M. Johnson and Mr. Robert J. Smith request the...

Maybe you want the spouse's names included as well:
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard D. Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Smith request the...

Maybe both sets of Parents are paying:
Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Smith
and
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew L. Watson
request the ...

Or, if it is just too cumbersome and hard to read, or is causing grief among the Parents, use:

Together with the Parents, then your names.

Always use a professional invitation company. They are well versed in the correct etiquette of wording, and will be able to ease the pain and confusion over what is correct and not correct.

Looking for more fun wording - try: http://www.verseit.com/, we love their many options for wording the invitations, RSVP cards and other wedding stationery.

Call if you need wording help, we can't change the number of Parents you have, but we can help you make appropriate wording choices. Tel: 800-676-3030, or Email: info@uncommoninvites.com

Best of luck!

Palm Tree Favors

These stainless-steel Palm Tree Cookie Cutters are ready to cut out a batch of mouth-watering cookies in kitchens near and far. In keeping with your beach theme, the 2 ¾” x 2 ¼” x ¾” palm tree cookie cutter sways on a sun-drenched shore in a clear gift box, with blue sky above and two leafy palm trees on the back. Adding to the atmosphere is a small version of braided nautical rope tied around the box and holding a “For You” tag that matches the beachscape on the box, which measures 3 ¼” x 2 ½” x 1”.

Matching Postage Stamps

Did you know that for many of our products, we can create matching postage stamps? Here are 2 cute notecards, one folded and 1 single sheet, with coordinating envelope liners, and matching postage stamps. Yes, of course, we can change the colors and the fonts!

Baby Tweet Announcements!

It is kind of like having Twitter announce the new baby! These adoreable Baby Tweet announcements are perfect for a boy or a girl, and we can have them out the door for you in 1 day, after receiving your wording and photo!

Want children at your Wedding or Reception?

We get many contacts daily with questions about the desire to not have children at the wedding & reception.

Q: What do we tell our friends who want to bring their small children to our wedding & reception?

A: You may word your invitation to read, "Adult reception following the ceremony". This makes it very clear that children are welcome at the ceremony but not at the reception. Should a guest then respond with their children's names on the RSVP card, have someone contact them immediately by telephone to remind them that due to space limitations and/or alcohol service, only those over (insert age here)will be welcome at the reception.

You may also word the invitation to read that guests 12 and older or (16 or 21), are welcome to attend the reception following the ceremony. It is best to be very clear, and not to expect your friends and family members to guess at what you want.

It is very nice to offer a Nanny service to your Guests, and to say so in the wording. "Licensed Nanny service will be provide at the hotel for all children under the age of 12." This allows those who are coming from out of town to know that you care about accommodating their children.

But remember, if you have children in the Bridal Party, then it is difficult to allow them to attend, and not other children. You can not always make everyone happy, but you can graciously accommodate everyone with some of these options.

Good luck!

Bamboo Skewers - "Green" and very Cool

Monday at the Washington ABC meeting, I had the good fortune to meet Todd Zalkins, Vice President of Bamboo Studio. He shared some of his catering products with me that are made of Bamboo and are totally "Green". Here in Oregon that is BIG!

At our recent ISES meeting 4 caterers did a sustainable food lunch and talked about their commitment to going "Green", and I can't wait to show these products of Todd's to Crave Catering, Artemis Foods, Phresh Catering and Celebrate Catering who presented our fabulous luncheon that day.

Today the photo I am sharing from Bamboo Studio is of Pineapple theme skewers - just be cause they are cute. There are many styles and so much more on their website. I will share some others photos in a later post.

You can contact Todd at his Office: 949-951-2064.

Email: todd@ecobambooware.com
Web: http://www.ecobambooware.com/

5 tips on Addressing Invitation Envelopes

1. Spell out all directional terms: Northeast, Southwest etc.

2. Spell out the identifiers: Avenue, Boulevard, Street, Road and Post Office.

3. Spell out street or apartment numbers up through 19; One, Two etc.

4. Spell out the State name, Oregon, New York etc.

5. Do not use any symbols, again spell it out - &-and, #-Number


Never use labels, even clear ones, unless this is a work related invitation list. It is perfectly acceptable to do the envelopes through a good printer, to print the guests names and addresses and the return address.


Don't want to deal with at all? Uncommon Invites offers a complete addressing service. We provide you with an Excel template to fill out, we clean up the list, print the envelopes and ship them back to you (at your expense).


Cost is only $10.00 set up fee, $1.25 per envelope if we address to your Guest and print the return address as well, or $1.00 per envelope if you already have the return address printed on your envelope.

Consider the amount of time it would take to hand write them all out, and all of a sudden this become a very affordable and high priority item!

Finally - Fuschia!!

One of our main suppliers, Waste Not Paper, has finally released a Fabulous Fuschia! We are so excited to get this color into our sample line. As you can see it is yummy with Papaya, it will be dramatic with Black & White, lively with Lime Green, calming with Sage Green and fanciful with Chocolate Brown. The combinations are endless.

Watch for samples on our "Invitation Friday", coming soon. Tell us what color combination you think is the next "BIG" thing! Email us at info@uncommoninvites.com. Send a suggestion, and your contact information and we will send you a "Let's Do Lunch" note card, so that you can invite a friend to lunch, share some laughs and a beverage and remember why they are your friend.

Let's Do Lunch!

This great note card was created by our designer galfriend - Rosie Augustine. See her website at http://www.rosieaugustine.com/. We love the funky silverware, and of course we have added a green Swarovski crystal on the handle of the fork.

All of our note cards come with a coordinating lined envelope, making your quick invite to lunch become something special!

Baby Shower Favor Boxes

These adoreable favors are only $.50, based on quantity you order. They can be filled with treats of your choice, and used as a favor or combine it with the place card to create a cute place setting for the shower.

The Perfect Pair

Beaming with the look of love, the colorful, resin pair brings a breath of fresh air to anyone's kitchen, including their own. They're right at home in a comfortable kitchen setting, cuddling happily on their refrigerator, all displayed in a clear gift box that measures 4.5" x 3.75", topped with a sheer organza bow and a leaf-design "For You" tag.

Friday's Invitation Selection

It isn't really Asian or Indian, but reminiscent of those old china patterns. Our client chose this great Aqua and Black color palette, we used a double outline with a curved corner, then the invitation is mounted onto a black backer card.

The card and envelope as shown is only $2.50! Add a coordinating RSVP card/envelope set for $1.00. You could choose to add a Black Swarovski crystal for only $.15, and a black envelope liner for $.50 or a matching pattern liner for $.75.

We can create a wedding program, menu card, place cards and table signs to match as well. And of course we can change the colors to your palette, and get them out the door within 2 business days.

"The Attire" Question on your invitations

You have a vision of your wedding, and it doesn't include guests in shorts or blue jeans! How do you get the point across gracefully? There are NO perfect answers, but I can offer some suggestions.

1. Country Club Attire - no denim permitted
2. Coat and Tie for Gentlemen - Cocktail Attire for Ladies
3. Sunday's Best Attire - Usually what they would wear to Church
4. Black Tie - indicates the Gentlemen need to be in a Tuxedo
5. Black Tie optional - indicates the Gentlemen must at least be in a suit and a Tuxedo would NOT be out of place

If you are getting married on a farm or other more casual outdoor setting, you need to be very specific. Even then you may want to state one of the above options. If you are looking for a more casual look to the event, then some suggestions would be:

1. Picnic Attire - indicates that anything goes
2. Garden Attire - shorts not permitted
3. We are hiking into the Glacier - so wear appropriate boots and outdoor gear!

Also, for an outdoor event you may wish to say: flat shoes appropriate; hats, sunglasses and sunscreen encouraged.

Most of all you want your guests to feel comfortable knowing what to wear, and then being comfortable with the walk to the site and the heat/cold when they arrive by having on the appropriate attire.

Note cards in all styles!

Here is one of our favorite note cards - black, white and sage green. It is embellished with a white Swarovski pearl on the flower, in a white envelope with a sage green liner.

We can also personalize any note card with your name, initials or a special message.

It's a Boy!

At Uncommon Invites we also love Babies!

This darling 2-layer announcement for a baby boy features all of the family members, Parents, Siblings, and Grandparents. This way everyone can have some to send out to their friends.

Price is $2.50 per each, with a minimum order of 25.

Hot off the Grill!

Hot dog! This sizzling, fresh-off-the-grill favor proves Kate Aspen designers always cook upthe best! How do we do it? It's a family secret—but we can tell you that every guest at your outdoor event will flip over your char-ming thank-you gift!

Features and facts:

• Whimsical, black, backyard grill is crafted from resin with metal legs and place card/photo holder
• Lifelike accents include grill-top handle and tiny wheels on two of the three legs
• Grill top lifts to reveal tea light candle
• Grill measures 3 ¾” h (without place card) x 2 ¼” w
• Two hot dog and two hamburger place cards included
• Tea light candle included
• Sold in a set of 4
  

Sail Boat Tea Light Favors

Is there a more romantic image than candle-lit sailboats on a nighttime harbor, each one glowing with ambience? These charming tealight holders make an impeccable presentation at every place setting, as the tealights within illuminate their frosted glass sails. They work great with springtime, summertime, or nautically themed weddings, especially. Sold in sets of four – tealight candles included. Each sailboat measures 3" x 3.5".