Tag Archives: save the dates

19Apr2013

Planning Your Destination Wedding: Keeping your guests informed.

Save the dates are a must for destination weddings. They should be sent as soon as you know the date, location and have decided on a guest list. This should be at least 6 months in advance. If your wedding is planned over a holiday or high travel season, send your save the date closer to a year in advance. Find some fun themed save the dates at Ann’s for destinations like Las Vegas or tropical locals.

Destination Save the Dates from Ann's Bridal Bargains

 

Create a wedding website (available for free through Ann’s collaboration with Wedding Wire) that explains travel options, hotel information, local activities, planned activities, typical weather and wedding-related events with time, location and suggested attire. Your wedding website does not have to be complete by the time your save the date is sent, but include the website address anyway and ask guests to check back often for more updates. You should have the information completed by the time you send wedding invitations.

 

If you send save the dates, send your wedding invitations at least eight weeks before the wedding. If you choose not to send save the dates, you will want to send wedding invitations in plenty of time for guests to start planning. We recommend at least 6 months in advance.

 

Welcome packets are recommended for all of your guests. You can be as creative or as simple as you want with wedding favors or appreciation gifts, but you will also want to give guests a contact for questions or problems. You can list your wedding coordinator, best man, maid of honor or parent (preferably not the bride and groom). Then list room and phone numbers where they can be reached.

 

Wondering what locations are best for an affordable destination wedding? Check back next Friday. We’ll cover your most budget-friendly options according to Inspiration Travel.

 

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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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31Oct2011

Five Frightful, Wedding-Planning Stressors to Avoid

Your heart’s pounding, your skin is crawling, your palms are sweating…another scary Halloween? Nope. Just everyday wedding planning. It’s absolutely frightful how stressed brides-to-be can get when planning a wedding.

 

Here are the top 5 stressors for brides and how to beat them:

 

We won’t have enough money…

You’re on a budget, but the last thing you want is for lack of money to get in the way of your perfect wedding day. First of all, it won’t. You can throw a great party with limited means. Check out some budget tools to help you plan and ease your mind. Visit www.GetMarried.com for some great options.

 

We won’t have a great turnout…

A wedding is all about gathering with your family and dearest friends, and the bride-to-be has every right to worry about who will be able to make it. Might we suggest…save the dates! Save the dates aren’t just cute cards you send to tell everyone you’re getting married with your photo on it, they’re meant to allow the guests to reserve your wedding day well in advance.

 

 

What if it rains on our outdoor wedding…

Always have a backup plan. No matter how many times you check the Farmer’s Almanac, you will not be able to predict or control the weather. There’s no use fretting about it. Choose a backup plan that you’re equally happy with and you’ll have no reason to gain a single gray hair over this potential threat.

 

I’ll trip or fall on my way to the altar…

All we can say is wear shoes you’re comfortable walking in. Even if you have to purchase a pair of white ballet slippers to walk down that aisle, go for it. If you have a floor-length dress, no one will know the difference. Rest assured that even though you’ll feel like you’re walking on air as you float toward your honey, you’ll have two feet planted firmly on the ground.

 

I’ll mess up my lines…

I was the maid of honor in my best friend’s wedding a few years ago. She was quite nervous about speaking in front of all her friends and family, and as they said their vows to each other, she said “I, Michael, take thee, Jennifer,…oh wait…” Yep, she got her own name wrong. But everyone had a quick laugh, including her, and the service was still absolutely lovely. Moral of the story: your wedding will be wonderful, even if you mess up a few words.

 

No matter what happens as you plan your wedding, you can always look forward to that highly anticipated honeymoon. And, just in case you find yourself stressing about packing too much for your vacation, check out our 10 Helpful Tips on Packing Light for Your Honeymoon.

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25Aug2011

5 Ways to Save the Date

You’re getting married and you’ve set the date. Share the excitement and important details with your family and friends right away. Getting your wedding date on their calendar early will ensure they can attend, especially for those who need to make travel plans.

There are so many ways to save the date these days. Choose something that fits your styles and personality as a couple. Here are our 5 favorites:

Beneath the Swirls Bard Red Photo Save the Date Magnet

1. Photo cards and photo magnets. Everyone loves a photo, which is why photo save the dates are #1 on our list.

 

2. Stickers for the calendar! Whether you choose a save the date that includes a sticker or add a sticker yourself, guests will appreciate this cute, thoughtful idea.

 

Hearts and Flourishes Lipstick Save the Date Postcard

3. Postcard save the dates. They’re simple, fun and economical because you save money on postage.

 

4. Save the date video. Create a video starring you, the happy couple, encouraging guests to save the date. Then post it on Facebook or YouTube and share with everyone.

Passport Save the Date Card

5. Themed save the dates. Choose a save the date that matches your wedding theme or location. You can find some great stuff nowadays, from paper airplanes to passports.

You’ll never forget your wedding day — send save the dates that make sure no one does!

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15Jun2011

Congratulations, Carrie and Kurtis! You’re the Ann’s Bridal Bargains Shopping Spree Winners for May!

The lucky winners will receive $500 to use anytime on anything site-wide, and at Ann’s Bridal Bargains, $500 goes a long ways! Since Carrie and Kurtis plan on getting married in August of 2012, they have lots of time to shop everything from save the dates to wedding invitations to wedding reception decorations.

Let’s hear a little bit about this couple’s romantic story.

Carrie and Kurtis are getting married after parting ways 20 years ago! Carrie says Kurtis stole her heart, but her parents didn’t approve at the time. Of course, that resulted in the two of them sneaking around, but after getting caught a couple of times they decided to go their separate ways. Both got married and had children, but both marriages fell through. Then Carrie discovered his name on a friend’s social network page. Carrie decided to send him a message and the rest is history! Kurtis moved to Illinois shortly after to be with Carrie.

“We have 6 kids between the two of us and the best of times!!!” she says. “The first time you fall in love, it changes you forever and no matter how hard you try, that feeling just never goes away.”

Ann's Bridal Bargains May Shopping Spree Winners

Congratulations you two! We’re so happy you found each other once again, and we’re glad to be a part of your extra special day.

Sincerely,

The Ann’s Bridal Bargains Team,

P.S. Sign up to be a member at Ann’s Bridal Bargains and you could be next month’s $500 Shopping Spree winner!

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13Jun2011

Adding Color to Your Damask Wedding Invitations


This week is Damask Week here at Ann’s Bridal Bargains, which means we’re super excited to share with you our many affordable options for incorporating bold, stylish damask into your wedding.

Today the spotlight is on our amazing selection of damask wedding invitations and save the dates, and how you can add a brilliant pop of color to enhance the dramatic style.

Many of our damask invitations and save the dates are offered in your choice of vibrant colors. Find the design that fits your wedding style best and change the color to coordinate with your wedding colors perfectly. The Clearly Refined Wedding Invitations are a great example! Choose one of five colors for the elegant damask border framing your wording.

Want to add more color? Or maybe you just want a pop of color on a black and white invitation. You can change the color of your wording on almost any damask invitation or save the date. There are more than 20 colors for you to choose from, so have fun while personalizing and find the perfect color combo!

Like what you see? Check out other popular damask wedding invitations.

Looking for save the date ideas?  Check kout these damask save the dates!

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31Jan2011

New, Unique Save-the-Dates Just Added to Ann’s Bridal Bargains

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Jaci Christensen

(507) 386-5848
jechristensen@theoccasionsgroup.com

 

NORTH MANKATO, MN – January 31, 2011 – Ann’s Bridal Bargains has expanded their selection of affordable save-the-dates to include some new, unique options.

Two new styles of save-the-dates are now available: save-the-date magnets and save-the-date postcards. Brides can feature a fun, unique or traditional photo on their save the date magnets and select cards — an increasingly popular way for couples to announce their wedding. Cost-conscious couples will also have their choice of different sizes to fit their budgets: business-card size and enclosure size.

“Now that couples are expressing their personal style in a variety of ways, Ann’s wanted to offer more than traditional save-the-date cards. The save-the-date postcards, for example, are something different from the norm. They’re printed with a return address, making them cute, clever and efficient. We expect they’ll be a big hit,” says Jean Noren, brand specialist for Ann’s Bridal Bargains.

With save-the-date postcards, brides will also take advantage of a lower postage rate and they’re more environmentally friendly since envelopes aren’t needed.

Ann’s does offer traditional save-the-date cards in a variety of designs and styles, and wedding invitations are available as save-the-dates as well. Couples can change the wording on any wedding invitation to create a save-the-date that coordinates perfectly with their wedding theme.

 

About Ann’s Bridal Bargains
Ann’s Bridal Bargains is dedicated to bringing couples a complete line of discount wedding invitations, wedding accessories, decorations, gifts and more. Ann’s products are offered in a variety of styles to complement the look and feel of any wedding beautifully. Free samples of all wedding stationery products are available, giving consumers full confidence in the quality of our stationery. Ann’s also offers advice and ideas on planning, shopping, finding the best deals and more at advice.annsbridalbargains.com.

 

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03Jan2011

New Save-the-Dates Just Added!

You’re going to LOVE our new save-the-dates. We’ve added fun, stylish and inexpensive designs to fit your wedding and your budget!

 

Check out these awesome new options!

• Save-the-date magnets in two different sizes.

• NEW postcard save-the-dates — save money on postage and save a tree by using less paper!

• Photo save-the-dates — always a big hit!

Love Birds Photo Save the Date Magnet Damask Border Save the Date Postcard Hearts and Flourishes Photo Save the Date Card

 

Since many of our new save-the-date cards feature your photo, you’ll not only find a save-the-date that fits your style, you can add a photo for a beautiful, personal finishing touch.

Check out the collection of save the dates – there’s lots of color options!

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27Dec2010

Should my save-the-date match my wedding theme?

Q&A with Ann’s Bridal Bargains

Question: Should my save-the-date match my wedding theme?

Answer: That’s totally up to you!

Truly, it is. Since there are so many fantastic save-the-date designs available, you may or may not want to limit yourself to one that coordinates with your wedding theme.

 

Here are a few things to think about when making your decision.

• The formality of your wedding.

If you are planning a formal or very traditional wedding, you should choose a save-the-date that reflects that style. It doesn’t have to be equally as formal, but keep it classy. The Simply Smooth save-the-date is a great example of an elegant, inexpensive save-the-date. Also check out Ann’s photo save-the-dates. Photo save-the-dates are a trendy choice that will coordinate well with most wedding styles.

SimplySmooth Olive Chocolate Crest Save the Date

Simply Smooth Save the Date Postcards Photo Save the Date Cards

 

• For the destination wedding.

There are some really fun save-the-dates available for destination weddings. You’ll find a variety of tropical designs, Vegas designs and traveling designs with passports and even paper airplanes! Invitations by Dawn is an excellent wedding retailer for themed wedding products, including save-the-dates.

Destination Save the Dates Vegas Roulette Save the Dates Airplane Save the Dates
Tropical Save the Dates Vegas Save the Dates Airplane Save the Dates

 

• The season in which you’re sending the save-the-date.

Unlike wedding invitations, save-the-dates are often themed around the season you send them, not when the wedding is taking place. (Money-Saving Tip: Consider combining your save-the-date with your annual holiday card. Photo holiday cards work beautifully as save-the-date cards. Check out www.peartreegreetings.com.)

 

• Your personality as a couple.

These days, it’s all about your personalities! What’s your style as a couple? With so many designs to choose from, you’re bound to find a save-the-date that reflects who you are.

 

• And, of course, your budget.

Affordable save-the-dates are pretty easy to come by. Watch for our Postcard Save the Dates which are coming soon!  They’re cute, simple and cost effective since no envelope is needed and the postage rate is lower. But really, at Ann’s, every save-the-date is affordable. Just shop around and find which one suits your style best!

Sneek Peak of more Postcard Save The Dates:  Here is a preview of a couple of favorites that will be available in the next two weeks.  Check back in our Save the Date section of Ann’s Bridal Bargains.

Forever Floutish Save the Date Postcard Love Birds Save the Date Postcard

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14Sep2010

Inexpensive Wedding Ideas for Your Heart-Themed Wedding

We’ve
gathered some inexpensive wedding ideas to help you create a coordinated look
for your heart theme — from start to finish!


Heart Theme Wedding ideas at Anns Bridal Bargains

Start your theme with the stationery.

Save
the Dates

Save
the dates don’t necessarily need to coordinate with your theme, but it’s
awesome if they can! Check out these stylish save the dates: Simply Smooth Save the Date Postcards, Heartfelt Save the Dates

The
Invitations

The
wedding invitations are your guests’ first glimpse at your wedding style, and
the perfect opportunity for introducing your theme. Check out these inexpensive
wedding invitations: Close at Heart Wedding Invitations,
Skipped a Beat Wedding Invitations, Interlocking Hearts Wedding Invitations, Designer Style Heart Seal and Send Wedding Invitations

Continue your theme through the
ceremony…

The
Programs

Your
wedding programs are a great way to continue your theme. Our Contemporary
Love wedding programs are an excellent choice.

The
Unity Candle

What
better way to symbolize your union than with a Hearts
Unity Candle Set or our Two
Hearts Unity Candle featuring our oh-so-popular intertwined hearts design!

Aisle
Runner

This
Interlocking
Hearts Aisle Runner will make your walk down the aisle even more romantic!

and through your reception.

The
Favors

The
best part about wedding favors at Ann’s Bridal Bargains is you can put your
choice of several heart designs on everything from Favor
Boxes and Favor
Bags to Matches
and Notepads.

Wedding
Napkins

Wedding
napkins work the same way as wedding favors. You can choose any design you
want to be featured on your napkins, and they are available in a range of
colors to coordinate beautifully with your wedding.

Serving
Set

Imagine
how beautiful this Heart-Handled
Server will look next to your wedding cake!

Reception
Decorations

And,
to make sure your reception decoration is looking fabulous, shop Ann’s for
these heart-themed reception decorations: Heart
Place Card Holders, Heart
Votive Stands, Personalized
Flute Charms and so much more!

Finally, finish it off with the Thank
You Notes.

Put
a little heart into your thank yous with these Silver
Heart Thank You Cards (also available in ecru).

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