Monthly Archives: December 2011

31Dec2011

Happy New Year!

Cheers to ringing in the New Year with great family and friends and a very special new member of the family.

Congratulations, and best wishes in 2012!

Happy New Year's from Ann's Bridal Bargains

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29Dec2011

What’s your best piece of budget-savvy wedding advice?

Did you learn a few budget-savvy tidbits while wedding planning? Have advice you’d like to share with other brides so they don’t have to go through what you did? Want to win a $50 gift card to Ann’s Bridal Bargains? We thought so.

Now through Sunday at midnight, add a comment to this blog post with your BEST piece of budget- savvy wedding advice and you will be automatically entered to

Win 1 of 3, $50 gift cards to Ann’s!

Don’t worry if you don’t see your comment post immediately — we’ll be watching for them and will post each one as soon as possible.

Come back throughout the weekend to get some great tips, and visit on Tuesday to see if you’re a winner! Get some advice, win a gift card — it’s a win-win.

Good luck!

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Posted in Budget-Savvy Ideas and Tips, Contests and Giveaways | Tagged | 111 Comments
26Dec2011

Just engaged? Kick Off the Wedding Planning with New Save the Dates

What a romantic time of year to get engaged — congratulations to the newly engaged! Now it’s time find a save the date to ensure the people you love most can make it to the wedding. Lucky for you, we just added some fabulous new designs, and have some Q&As to get you started because we’re sure you’re wondering if they are really necessary…

Why send save the dates?

In today’s world, planning ahead has become a necessity. Save the dates allow your guests to plan for your wedding day well in advance. This is especially important for out-of-town guests, or if you’re planning a destination wedding.

When should save the dates be sent?

Save the dates should be sent as soon as you set your wedding date, which usually includes booking the ceremony and reception sites. This would normally be anywhere from 6 months to a year before the wedding. If you are planning to have a destination wedding or if many of your guests will be traveling, you should send save the dates a year or more in advance.

How much planning is needed to send save the dates?

Not much, so don’t worry! You will need to create a guest list but it doesn’t have to be finalized before sending save the dates. Just remember that only guests who will be invited to the wedding should receive a save the date. Save the dates are not announcements.

You won’t need a lot of details for your save-the-date wording. All you really need are your names, wedding date and something like “Invitation and Details to Follow.” If you’re doing a destination wedding, you’ll want to include the destination, travel agency you’re working with and the resort/hotel information.

What type of save-the-dates should I send?

There are lots of save-the-dates out there that will catch your guests’ attention and express your personalities. We just added new save the date magnets, photo save the dates and save the date cards. To find themed save the dates, visit our favorite wedding partner, Invitations by Dawn.

Planning a wedding can be an overwhelming task, but letting your guests plan ahead is as simple as a save the date. Check out these new designs and find the perfect one! Want to research more before deciding? Read, “Should my save the date match my wedding theme?”

Blue Photo Save the Date MagnetsBlack and White Damask Save the Date Cards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you sending save the dates?

 

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24Dec2011

Happy Holidays, Bargainistas!

We’d like to wish you an abundance of happiness and prosperity this holiday season.

Here’s to a warm and bright holiday filled with family and friends, laughs and love, giving and receiving, and remembering what’s important in life.   May the magic of the season bring good cheer and hope to your home.

Happy Holidays from Ann's Bridal Bargains

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22Dec2011

The November $500 Ann’s Shopping Spree Winner Is…

Courtney and her fiancé, Matt! Congratulations!

Now the couple can have fun shopping for wedding invitations and stationery, as well as other wedding accessories, without worrying about their budget.

Courtney and Matt met at Iowa State University when their Greek houses were paired together during Greek Week freshman year. They’ve been together now for more than three and a half years.

November 2011 Ann's Bridal Bargains Shopping Spree Winners

The proposal story is heart melting! At the time, the couple lived near a river where Matt enjoys fishing. He called her outside, to show off his catch she assumed, and pointed to a message in a bottle! Courtney, thinking this message randomly washed up on shore, was intrigued and began to read the message inside. The letter was written like an old-time fairy tale about a prince and princess, but it touched on different things the couple had done together. At the end, the prince wanted to spend the rest of his life with the princess, and then Matt proceeded to get down on one knee and ask her to marry him. Awww…love it!

The couple will marry in November of 2012 in the Quad Cities in Iowa. Pink and grey are their wedding colors. So far, they have made just a few wedding plans, but Courtney has already learned a few things she’d like to share with other brides.

  1. Don’t wait too long to get the dress. Then you’ll have time to order, send it back if need be and alter it. Give yourself plenty of time.
  2. Meet with different photographers. Courtney found that she loved pictures from one, but the photographer turned out to be rude. Instead, they selected another that had a whole wedding-date package, engagement session and a CD with copyrights. Now the couple can buy the photos they want via the CD rather than the photographer’s prints.
  3. Take cake baker suggestions from friends and family, or from your own experience, to be sure you’ll be happy with the result and the price tag.
  4. Find a decorator! Courtney thinks it’s so worth it for sake of sanity. She found someone to take care of tablecloths, all the flowers at the church, centerpieces, bouquets and boutonnieres. They’ll set it all up and come back to pick it all up the next day.

Congratulations, Courtney and Matt. Happy Shopping!

Want to win a $500 Shopping Spree? December is your last chance! Sign up to become a member today and be automatically entered to win. We’ll select our last winner the first week of January, so watch your email!

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22Dec2011

After-Christmas Deals for Your Wedding

Post-Christmas sales can help a bride on a budget save FORTUNE. You’ll find a variety of possible wedding decorations marked 50-90% off.

Not having a holiday wedding? Doesn’t matter! A lot of “holiday” decorations can be used all year round. You just have to take the time to shop and find the right items.

What to Look For:

  • White Lights – for romantic lighting at the wedding reception, inside or out.
  • Bulk Ribbon – for accenting stationery, centerpieces, bouquets, Ornamentsgifts, favors, etc.
  • Bulk Netting – for creating favors.
    Candles
  • Battery-Operated Tea Lights
    Lighted Branches – for centerpieces and general room décor at the reception.
    Silver or Gold Chargers – make attractive bases for table centerpieces.
  • Greenery and Florals
  • Ornaments – can be used in clear glass vases as centerpieces.
  • Beads and Garland – can be used in centerpieces or on tables.

Where to Look:

  • Hobby Stores – probably your best bet for the most variety of decorations.
  • Department Stores – Department stores get picked over fast, so shop early. You can find things like candles, votives, lights, ribbon, etc.
  • Home Improvement Stores – Great for strands of lights in all different colors and lengths.
  • Grocery Stores – the holiday aisle(s) have more than just candy and cookies.

There are plenty of other places to visit and many more treasures you’ll find after Christmas, but this should at least get you started. Have fun shopping, Bargainistas!

 

What tips do you have for snagging those after-holiday deals?

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19Dec2011

10 Romantic Holiday Outing Ideas

The holiday season has flown by and Christmas is just a week away. In the midst of all the craziness, you’ve likely forgotten to sit back and enjoy this magical time of year with your fiancé. Don’t fret! Here are a few special things to do for couples this holiday season:

1. Bundle up and go for a stroll through your neighborhood to find the best holiday lights display. Too cold for a walk? Take a leisurely drive instead.

2. Go for a winter hike and make the final destination a bonfire in the snow (if possible). Bring a thermos of hot chocolate and marshmallows for toasting.

3. Take a walk through your favorite city park and admire the familiar surroundings all dressed up for the holidays.

 

 

4. If you receive a good snowfall, have some fun with it! Make some snow angels, a snowman or even a snow fort just like when you were kids.

 

5. Go sledding just the two of you at the best hill in town, and don’t forget to name the sled something awesome like Snow Surfer 2000 or Super Chill Ride.

 

6. Make reservations at a nice restaurant with an outdoor view, a fireplace or romantic lighting. Be sure to order a classic winter drink, like hot buttered rum or mulled wine.

7. Learn some new moves with your fiancé and take a ballroom or salsa dance class. Bonus: you can surprise everyone with your new skills at the wedding reception.

8. Book an appointment for a couples massage for a little de-stressing. See if you can’t sneak in a hot, steamy sauna before or after the massage.

9. Discover something new together. Take a class doing something neither of you have done before: Thai cooking, pottery 101, glass blowing, etc.

10. Take in a holiday performance. Whether you choose a theater production or a choral concert, you’re sure to enjoy a little something traditional.

And after the holidays are over, check out our 10 Tips for Rejuvenating Your Wedding Planning Spirit.

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15Dec2011

Checking it off the list! 5 Tips for Mailing Wedding Invitations

Wedding Planning Checklist: Section 6; Part 2

Here are 5 tips for mailing those wedding invitations.

  1. Wedding invitations should be mailed six to eight weeks before the wedding so your guests have plenty of time to respond and make travel plans.
  2. See A Simple Guide to Assembling your Wedding Invitations, for step-by-step instructinos on assembling your wedding invitation ensemble.
  3. Weigh a fully assembled invitation with all enclosure cards and envelopes at the post office to determine exact postage needed. (Note: many invitations mail for the cost of a standard postage stamp, but some styles may cost more due to unique size and shape.)
  4. Make addressing envelopes easier by ordering your envelopes printed with your return address. Most invitation retailers offer envelope addressing. (Tip: use the same ink color and lettering style as your invitations for a fully coordinated look.)
  5. Don’t forget envelope seals! They add the perfect finishing touch to your invitation ensemble. Order extra seals as accents for gifts, favors and thank you notes.

Envelope Seals

P.S. Double- and triple-check that all names are spelled correctly and titles are accurate before mailing wedding invitations. Misspelling a guest’s name is not only discourteous, it’s embarrassing.

Happy Inviting!

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12Dec2011

New Product Alert: Seal and Send Wedding Invitations in Fresh, Stylish Designs

From the delicate appeal of lace-inspired patterns to the bold beauty of oversized flourishes, our new designs for seal and send wedding invitations are captivating! The best part is, seal and sends save you money – and there are more color options! After you’re finished ogling over the new designs, we’ll show you how.

Yellow Damask Seal and Send Wedding Invitations

Vintage LaceBlack and White Seal and Send Wedding Invitations

Damask Arch Red Seal and Send Wedding Invitations

Black and White Wedding Playbill Seal and Send Wedding Invitations

See how these unique wedding invitations help you save money, plus other important details, in our post, “What’s the deal on Seal and Sends?”

 

Click here to visit our Wedding Invitations 101 guide and scroll down for helpful animations showing how many of our wedding invitations fold, including seal and sends.

 

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08Dec2011

It’s Game Time! Jake and Ellen chose look #3 for their buffet table

Looks like the A-Team has scored with Look #3: Game Time. Jake and Ellen loved the fun-loving nature of our last buffet table look, but they threw us a curve ball and chose a few elements from the other two looks as well. Here’s what they chose!

black and white baseball candy buffet

1. Game-Time spread with wooden crates, fake turf, Cracker Jacks and popcorn.

2. Clear favor bags with flourish favor labels in black and accents of black satin ribbon.

3. Black, personalized wedding napkins with baseball design cut in white.

4. White favor bags with the baseball design cut and “7th inning stretch” in black foil.

Want to see how they put it all together for the big day? Check back in January and we’ll have photos from the wedding reception!

We want to send a HUGE thank you to Jake and Ellen for working with Ann’s Bridal Bargains and giving us the opportunity to offer some creative ideas. Have a wonderful wedding and a long and beautiful life together!

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