26Jan2012

Checking it off the list! 10 Things You Should Know About Respond Cards

Wedding Planning Checklist: Section 6: Part 3

Respond cards are the most common way for couples to tally an accurate guest count, which is essential for the caterer and for seating. Although a small part of the invitation ensemble, respond cards are an important part. They save you money on food and they save you the embarrassment of not having enough seating. Here we’ve compiled a few things you should know about respond cards before sending them with your invitations.

1. Respond cards are most common, but R.S.V.P. services are also available. You are given an account with a phone number, which you include on your invitations. Guests respond via the phone number and the service manages your guest list for you. To learn more about this option, check out the original R.S.V.P. service, www.rsvpservices.com.

2. Respond cards are usually sold separately from the invitation, although Ann’s does offer value sets that include a respond card or respond postcard with the invitation, like this Dramatic Accent Invitation in Amethyst with Free Respond Cards.

Dramatic Accent - Amethyst - Wedding Invitation wtih Respond Card

3. Consider response postcards. They’re simple and economical. With postage always on the rise, the savings can really add up.

4. All respond cards include a simple verse, such as “Please respond on or before [date here],” and a place for guests to write their names. You will often see this in the form of “M” with a blank line after it. The “M” begins the guest’s title (Mr., Mrs., or Miss) and the name goes after. Many of today’s respond cards include a space for number of people attending, or number of “accepts” and number of “rejects.”

5. Menu choices are included on the respond card if you decide to go that route.

6. The respond-by date should be three to four weeks before the wedding. You will need time to contact guests who have not responded and to create a final guest list. The caterer will need the head count two weeks before the wedding.

Damask Arches - Black - Thank You Note Folder and Envelope

7. Respond cards come with printed respond envelopes for no extra cost at Ann’s. The respond envelopes should include the return address of the person keeping track of the guest count. This could be the bride and groom, or the task could be assigned to a relative or close friend.

8. Respond envelopes should be pre-stamped, always. This is for your guests’ convenience and your own. You want to make responding as easy as possible since your food and seating depend on it.

9. Keep track of the responses by maintaining a numbered guest list. Write a number on the back of each respond card that corresponds with the appropriate guest on your guest list. This allows you to verify that you’re marking the correct person just in case you can’t read their handwriting.

10. Once it’s time to assemble your wedding invitation ensemble — respond card and all — read, Helpful Tips for Assembling/Addressing Your Invitations.

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23Jan2012

Wedding Invitations & Respond Cards: Get 2 for the price of 1

Need to maximize your invitation budget? We hear you! Our Style Expert, Robin, created a few invitation options that allow you to get more for your money.

Option 1: Wedding invitations with FREE respond cards. Yep, you heard us right! These invitations are bundled as value sets so you get the invitations with blank outer envelopes and respond cards with respond envelopes all for one great price. This peacock-inspired wedding invitation is just $99.99 per 100. You can spice it up a little by choosing two fonts (shown below) for free, or change the wording color (just $7.00 per piece). Add a colorful lined inner envelope for a snappy finishing touch. Value sets are even available with matching thank you postcards. With postage rates increasing, postcard thank you notes add up to big savings.

Peacock Feather Fancy Wedding Invitations with Free Respond Cards

Option 2: Wedding Invitations with FREE Respond postcards. In this bundle, you get invitations with blank outer envelopes and respond postcards all for one great price. Not only do you get FREE respond postcards in this bundle, you also save money on the postage you have to include with your respond cards. Again, you can spice it up with combination fonts, changing the wording color or adding a lined inner envelope. Matching reception cards are also available.

Candelier Chic Amethyst Wedding Invitations wtih Free Response Postcards

Gotta love 2 for 1s!

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21Jan2012

Presenting… Ann’s NEW Mobile Site

Does the busy bride really have time to shop? She does now! Ann’s mobile site allows you to shop easily, anywhere at any time.


Like when you’re…

waiting at the gown fitting.

at the baker’s and inspired to find the perfect cake top.

having coffee with your moh, you can both shop bachelorette stuff.

in the travel agent’s waiting room — check out destination wedding invites!

listening to your mother-in-law discuss her guest list additions, at length. (did we say that?)

 

 

 

What other nifty things can you do on the mobile site?

Save your favorites when you create an account.

Sign up for email alerts about great sales and product exclusives!

Check back daily to see what’s new.

Request a FREE catalog.

Okay gals, it’s time to get on the phone and shop!

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19Jan2012

As Featured in Bridal Guide Magazine

This purple floral coordinated look is featured in the March/April issue of Bridal Guide!

Purple Floral Wedding Stationery Look

Go treat yourself to a beautiful glossy wedding magazine and look for our ad with a special offer! If you like browsing the pages of a magazine, you’ll love our FREE catalog! Request yours today.

Bridal Guide Magazine

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17Jan2012

Congrats to Our $500 Shopping Spree Winner for December!

A big congratulations goes out to Kim and Shawn — the last winner of our monthly Shopping Spree Giveaway! December was the last month to enter and win a $500 shopping spree for www.AnnsBridalBargains.com. Kim and Shawn will no doubt enjoy shopping the wide range of products Ann’s has to offer, from save the dates and wedding invitations to accessories and bridal party gifts.Kim and Shawn - the $500 Ann's Bridal Bargains December Shopping Spree Winner

So let’s meet the lovely couple! Kim and Shawn met when they were 18 and dated for about a year, but they decided to split up and go their separate ways. Kim never stopped thinking about Shawn and decided to look him up one day on Facebook. The conversation started all over again. When visiting her area, Shawn invited Kim to have coffee and the rest is history.

A wedding date has been set for July 1, 2012. They’re planning a beautiful, blue and silver wedding. We can’t wait to hear about all the details!

Congrats, you two, and have fun shopping!

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16Jan2012

Ooh la color™ Napkins: A Perfect Match for Your Wedding Invitation

Ann’s Bridal Bargains now offers a brand new line of personalized napkins — so new they’re patent-pending! What’s really exciting about these napkins is the designs offered are exact matches to nine of our top-selling wedding invitations.

Now you can extend your wedding invitation look and style through to your wedding reception. Ooh la color™ napkins are available in both beverage and luncheon napkins. Beverage napkins are perfect for placing at dessert tables, candy bar tables and cocktail bars. Luncheon napkins look great at each place setting or on the buffet tables and food stations.

Check out the designs and all the colors available below!

 

Colorful wedding napkins

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14Jan2012

2012 Color Trends for Spring

Looking for bright, fun colors to complement your spring wedding theme?

Consider tangerine or canary. These colors are alive with energy and will bring a fresh, bold look to any floral bouquet. Use the color lipstick, similar to fuchsia, if you want the same brightness but prefer a pink.

 

Ann's Bridal Bargains 2012 Wedding Color Trends

 

If you want a color just as bold, but not quite as bright, consider the deep and engaging eclipse. It is more interesting and visually appealing than a traditional navy or midnight blue, and it provides depth and texture — a great accent color! Use coordinating ribbons to make a color statement that gets attention without extensive cost.
Pretty pastels are also available in the Spring 2012 lineup. These include petal (a light and dusty combination of pink with a hint of coral) and Lagoon (a unique blue-green color with a hint of turquoise).

Prefer to stay classic? Orchid is a beautiful hue of purple that makes a great traditional shade for any wedding. Ocean blends blue and purple, creating a soft color that’s incredibly pleasing to the eye. Let’s not forget the neutral and earthy tones such as sterling and latte, both of which are excellent accent colors.

A few of these colors were highlighted during Floral Week. Check out the looks we pulled together in the hibiscus post, the orchid post and the daisy post.

Are any of these YOUR wedding colors?

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12Jan2012

Real Wedding couple, Jake and Ellen, got married! See pics from the wedding…

Jake and Ellen were married on December 17, 2011, at the Grand Event Center in Northfield, Minn. The wedding was beautiful, but what you really want to know is how the dessert buffet table turned out, right? Here are a few pics for you to take a peek:

Jacob and Ellen's White Sox Candy Buffet

Here’s the happy couple next to their baseball-themed buffet table. The look was inspired by the Game-Time design created by our very own party planner, Carynn. See the other looks Carynn came up with when you visit our post, “Check out the looks we pitched to Jake and Ellen.”

Treat and Candy Buffet at Wedding Reception

We LOVE how the black and white wedding napkins add a touch of dramatic style to the spread. The fish bowls of treats with scoops and the vase of baseballs make great additions to the setup.

White Sox Themed Treat and Candy Bar

The glove filled with baseball candies is super clever, and the wooden crates lined with fake grass create a fun backdrop for the entire table as well as a fun spot to display more treats.

Wedding Reception Treat and Candy Bar

Personalized favor bags are easy to arrange and easy to use, making them a big favorite with today’s couples. Plus, they create a nice, clean look as a part of this buffet spread.

We’re quite pleased here at Ann’s Bridal Bargains with how well the dessert buffet table turned out. Thank you so much to Jake and Ellen for letting us be a part of their special day, and thank you to everyone who followed this Real Wedding Story.

 

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09Jan2012

Butterfly Wedding Themes: All a flutter!

One of our most popular themes that brides are searching for is butterflies. This theme fits spring and summer weddings beautifully.

Butterfly Wedding Theme

1. Small cellophane bags are filled with colorful candies, tied with purple chiffon ribbon and finished with personalized seals. Tip: smaller bags equal less candy and will save you money.

2. Butterfly in Grapevine wedding invitation and thank you note folder. This invitation is available in three color options, plus you can choose the wording ink color and fonts.

3. Have guests fill the air with bubbles as you leave your ceremony or reception for a romantic getaway.

4. Dress up glass containers with purple satin ribbon and personalized seals. Tip: cover ugly flower stems by lining the containers with large hosta leaves.

5. Lavender and purple napkins will add a colorful touch to your cake table or candy bar. Personalize them with your names, wedding date and a butterfly design cut. Or add a fun saying or sweet message instead of your names and wedding date.

Really love butterflies? Add them to your hair, bouquet or even dress and shoes. Ask your baker to create sugared butterflies for your cake or cupcakes. Have your young flower girl wear wings as she walks down the aisle.

Have fun with a theme — guests will appreciate the details!

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07Jan2012

Our Favorite Wedding Trends for 2012

Carynn’s Top Trends

Reception Food Stations – Food stations are making a permanent home as wedding reception dining options. Their popularity will explode in 2012. Setting up stations around the room allows for traffic control and eliminates the long wait holding a plate. Offering a variety in foods ensures guests are able to try everything and enjoy mingling. Food station ideas to consider: your favorite foods, ethnic foods, pastas, liquor tasting stations, coffee bars with baristas and so much more. You’re only limited by your imagination!

reception food stations

Dessert Tables – On a related note, the dessert table gains ground over the traditional cake again in 2012! It can include your wedding cake plus so much more: pies, cupcakes, cookies, donuts, candy, miniature cheesecakes, or a gelato cart with frozen treats. It’s a buffet of beautifully displayed flavors and options for guests. We recently posted some creative candy buffet table ideas with a baseball theme. Read, “Check out the looks we’ve pitched!”

Good Night Station – Couples are now combining food and fun for their guests at the end of the evening. Satisfy those late-night cravings with buffets of pizza and sandwiches towards the end of your reception. Set out some sweet treats they could enjoy the next morning like pastries, doughnuts and coffee or hot chocolate, and provide guests with a goody bag to go.

 

Jackie’s Top Trends

Color for the Bride – Looking for a simple gown that fits the budget, but still has personality? Add a colored sash or a large, colorful flower in your hair — a cheap way to show off your trendy style. Color is hot, and adding a pop of color to your wedding day will show everyone that you’re just as fashionable as the recent celebs that rocked a splash of color in 2011, like Reese Witherspoon and Shania Twain.
custom ecru birdcage veil
Short and Chic – Long wedding veils can be spendy, but you’re in luck! The shorter veil is chic once again and less expensive. Check out this custom-made, ecru birdcage veil with flower, rhinestone AND feather from Etsy. Just $31!

 

Robin’s Top Trends

Non-Floral Décor Accents – Brides are taking note of today’s fashion and incorporating things like feathers, fabrics, jewels, and metals into the wedding decor. Jeweled accents, “bling,” never seem to go out of style and will sparkle brooch bouqueteverywhere in the year to come. They adorn everything from the bride’s hair to the bouquets (brooch bouquets). Whether paper, fabric, tissue, felt or feathers, wedding décor like bouquets, centerpieces and pomander balls aren’t just made from fresh flowers anymore.

Full-Scale Themes – More than a color palette, wedding themes are carried throughout your wedding, from the invitations and flowers to the linens and dessert. Some popular themes include: vintage, rustic, all white, nautical and seasonal, but creativity knows no bounds, so pick one that reflects you and show it in the details. Hunt down the perfect wedding reception site and favor for your chosen theme. A winery wedding with wine glass favors and tasting stations is a beautiful example of a themed wedding.

 

Shanna’s Top Trends

E-Invitations Gaining in Popularity – Not as wedding invitations, of course, but they’re becoming more and more popular for pre-wedding events. I recently received an e-invitation for a bachelorette party from paperlesspost.com — quality animation and graphics created a realistic, stylish and elegant invitation. Now don’t get me wrong, weddings are special occasions that deserve special treatment like paper invitations, but e-invitations are also a great option.

Creative Signs – Direct guests to the ceremony, reception, toward cocktails, chalkboard wedding welcome signfood stations and more with signs that fit the style and theme of your wedding. Not only are signs an awesome addition to your wedding décor, they’re super helpful for guests. Have your signs professionally made or do it yourself. Hand-painted barn wood is always charming. Chalkboard paint on a variety of things is very popular. With a little imagination, you can come up with a perfect fit for your wedding.

 

What’s YOUR favorite trend of 2012?

 

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