Gifts

Who you give gifts to is really personal preference. I know that there are etiquette rules surrounding this issue, but I believe that it is very important to give based on your personal relationships. Similarly, no matter how many "Gift Guides" I read, the perfect gift often seems elusive. So I am not going to try to tell you what to buy who, but rather, I am going to try to point you to some of my favorite retailers and go-to spots for gifts in a pinch.

Room Service Home is an excellent spot for gifts. From housewarming to wedding gifts, baby shower items to gifts for the person you really don't know, Room Service Home has it all. The boutique has a bit of antique/shabby chic flair. If you are looking for parent or bridal party gifts I would highly recommend perusing this site. This boutique categorizes its items well which helps with navigation of their selection.





Red Envelope has always been a favorite of mine. It is classic. Items offered fall under a wide range of prices, many pieces can be customized and luxury items are available at reasonable prices. Red Envelope allows you search for gifts by category, occasion, or recipient helping you to find exactly what you are looking for.


Blue Tulip has a cheeky collection of goods that I always seem to find a reason to buy. Their online store is good, but there actual retail locations are much better. Currently they have stores up and down the North East Coast in CT, MA, NY, NJ, PA, and VA. They are regularly opening more stores. If you have one near you, I highly advise checking it out.


Hopefully these sites can get you started in the right direction. If you still aren't sure what to give, let me know. I often do gift consultation {for free!} and might just be able to offer some suggestions to point you in the right direction.

Today's Wedding Etiquette

Are you saving for your first home? Are you paying for your wedding yourself? Are you or your spouse bringing considerable debt to the relationship?

There are time in life when "just cash" would be absolutely wonderful. Unfortunately, telling excited guest that you really don't want another crock-pot is not very nice. The best way to go about ensuring you get mostly cash on your big day is to give your guests something to be excited about.


Try one of these tips to up your odds or receiving some dough:

"We are so excited to be embarking on our new life together and are eagerly saving up for a home. It would be wonderful if you could help us to reach this goal!" *this implies give me cash* Use this phrase on shower invites, your wedding website, and even the information card, just not on the actual invite!

There are now many ways that you can incorporate paying for your wedding into your registry. Now many photographers and even honeymoon resorts offer you the option of setting up an account which guests can contribute to and then you pay the final remaining balance. This is a great way to allow family and friends to contribute to costs without actually asking for handouts. {note: these services vary so you will have to check with local vendors}

If you would really like a few large pieces of furniture, but know your guests won't go for the splurge, register at the furniture store for a few small items and gift cards. This will help you accumulate some cash to buy that comfy sofa {and allow you to toss the futon sooner}.

Have someone else do the dirty work. Get a friend or family member to spread the word about your situation to the wedding guests. Be sure to pick someone lovable as the message might not be exactly what people are expecting to hear!

If you don't want gifts at all because you simply don't need any more money or stuff {lucky you}. Find a cause for people to give to. One place to jump start your search: Kiva - an organization that helps facilitate micro-loans for entrepreneurs.

Wedding Invitation Inspiration

Invitations set the tone for your celebration. There are now many options of affordable wedding invitations that can be customized to meet your specific needs.

Below are some of my favorite wedding invitation suppliers and inspiration from their sites:

Blue Tulip:

This invitation is perfect or any season and is helping me cope with the transition into fall! It is hard to imagine that this weekend is already Labor Day. Summer has flown by...but that is another story all together. The beauty of this invitation is that you could also replicate this concept for a homemade invite.

Broadway Paper:

Can you imagine a paisley themed wedding? There are countless ways in which you can continue this theme to make a truly unique. It also provides you a whole host of colors to jump off from. The blues in this invitation allow you to either have a rainbow effect of colors or carry a monochromatic/tone on tone color scheme.

Paper Source:

This invite immediately makes me thing of a winter wedding (December-February). The raspberry red is absolutely stunning and yet there is nothing harsh about this invitation. The use of red in the flower creates a rich tone to the invitation.

Wedding*Paper Divas:

This invite defines simple elegance. The rich slate paper strikingly offsets the gold writing. This invite is modern and sweet without all the fuss.

Check these retailers out for more inspiration as well as custom designs!

Client Comments and Testimonials

Please feel free to read my client references and testimonials listed in the comment section of this post. Also, you may add your own comments. Please be sure to include your name and location.

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Rates

Calligraphy
$2.00 outer envelope
$1.00 inner envelope
$1.50 place cards
$1.50 pre-addressed thank you notes
$3.00 table cards


Monograms
$40


Logos
$40-$90


Maps, Directions, and other Custom Work
$150+ depending on size of project
(negotiable when paired with other work)


Colored Ink
$20.00 additional charge
for ink color other than black or blue

$30.00 additional charge for metallic ink


Consultation
$20/hour

Mailing & Shipping Services
Stuff, Stamp, and Ship Invitations
$20/hour
$100 base rate
+ cost of stamps

~ all pricing subject to negotiations ~

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