TODs Tip of the Day: Beyond Monogram

Yes, yes, we get it, you have initials. And they are everywhere. I like customized things as much as the next fella, but I am getting sick of a monogrammed everything. Take it one step further with a stamp of you and your other’s cute faces! Stamp your napkins, thank you cards, anything! Send a photo to Lilim and Drill and they will make you into a rubber stamp. Awesome.

TOD says: Be a stamp tramp!

Thursday TOD: Use Your Talents!

pressed flower cards from Martha Stewart

I’m not one to recommend anything DIY for your wedding unless it’s extremely low maintenance (which is an oxymoron), but after the fact is where you can get creative with a DIY thank you card!

• Use your special talents: Do you sew? Like photography? Drawing? Collaging? Stamping? Use your fun and unique hobbies and turn them into a fab thank you card! Your loved ones will appreciate your thought and time in exchange for their gift of happiness (and something from your William Sonoma registry) on your wedding.

TOD says: Get crafting after your day!

How To – Thank You’s

How To by Jennifer Crone

Some couple’s dread returning from their honeymoon, and not just because they have to get off the beach and go back to work, but because they have to write 200 Thank You cards to boot! This can be a daunting task as you and your newlywed get settled into your nest, so here’s How To:

card: Kate’s Paperie

• Think Ahead: Before your engagement shoot have fun with a DIY “Thank You” sign. Use a miniature chalk board, garland (a la “Happy Birthday sign”), or get creative and use a parasol, draw in the sand, etc. The possibilities are endless! If you’re not doing an engagement shoot, bring your sign, or idea, to your wedding a get a shot then.
• Include Thank You cards in with your other paper goods. Whomever you’re getting your invitations from will likely sell Thank You cards as well. This option may be a tad more pricey, but this way your cards match your invites and in turn your wedding theme as the cost is all upfront–no additional items to buy after the wedding. This will save time and possibly a headache if you can’t find something you like.
• Buying your Thank You’s from a paper store may be the most cost effective option, but know that they may only have 30 of the one you like in stock, etc. These cards usually come in packs of 10 or 20. If you do go this route, Kate’s Paperie is one of our favorite places to buy all things paper. Purchase online for a better chance of having the number you need.
• For the planneriest of all planners, I’ve got an idea for you! Pre-address your envelopes against your RSVPs. Once you get an RSVP card indicating a “yes”, address an envelope to the guest and put your thank you card in it. Once you return from your honeymoon you can simply fill in the card with your sincerest thanks and seal the envelope. Go a step further and pre-stamp as well.

photo: Carmen Nauseef of Blink of an Eye Photography

Tip: First things first–cards get separated from gifts and it’s often difficult to remember who gave what once time has passed. Make a list of who gave what first and foremost so that when you sit down to write your Thank You’s you don’t have to keep getting up to find a card or gift.

Remember, there’s nothing more proper or appreciated than a gracious host and hostess.

How To – Engagement Photo Shoot

How To by Jennifer Crone

Many photographers now include a free engagement shoot in their wedding package (one of the pluses of booking early!), which is contributing to the trend in engagement photo shoots. You can use your photos as your Save The Dates, Wedding Invites (for a casual wedding) or Thank You cards. Here’s How To:

What To Wear? You’re most  likely going to be at your most formal on your wedding day, so keep your engagement shoot photos casual and more akin to what you normally wear. Still stuck? Think of what you would wear to a day time graduation party. Jeans and a nicer shirt for your man and a cute but moveable dress for the bride to be. Most importantly: you must feel comfortable and cute.

• Tip: Wear something timeless. Don’t wear something super trendy. You don’t want to look back and say “What was I thinking!?”

Where to Shoot? Keep this in the same vein as not too trendy. A graffiti backdrop may be cool now, but you probably don’t want it hanging in your house in twenty years. Go somewhere that means something to you, like outside the restaurant where you went on your first date or in the park where he proposed. Sentimental locations always trump trendy spots. When in doubt go outdoors. A park, a field, or near a body of water is your best bet.

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  Photo credits: first row: Ryan Brenizer, Autumn Lin, Autumn Lin, second row: Kat Braman, Autumn Lin, Kat Braman, Ryan Brenizer

• Tip: If you’re stumped, let your photographer lead the way. They do this all the time, and you hired them because you like their work, so trust them!

How to Pose? Your wedding portraits, with all your family, etc, will be posed. Your engagement photo should not be. Have fun with it! And most importantly, incorporate your personalities. If you love to golf, go to the range! If you love to read, bring some books along. Your engagement shoot should express the two of you as a couple: Your personalities and your love for one another. Go with the feeling and be in the moment. The best photos will happen when you forget the camera is there and focus on each other.

• Tip: If you’re thinking of using your photos for Save The Dates or Thank You cards, make a cute sign to take a photo with. An easy DIY project for once!