Out of Town Welcome Bags

I have 50 of these Brown/Bronze Gift Bags -perfect for Out of Towners bags or for Bridal Party Gifts. I will sell in increments of 8. They are aprox 8x11 with jute handle. 4 for $1 + shipping

Please comment or email if you are interested. Thanks

Lehigh Valley Wedding

Over the next few days I am going to share with you all about this past weekends wedding in Lehigh Valley and all about the details.

I put together the out of town gift bags. They were earth friendly fabric bags I purchased at Papermart. Inside was lots of goodies: pretzles, granola bars, bottled water, an apple. As well as shout wipes, advil packs, tissues, golf tees, Hershey's Kisses and mouthwash. For the hang tags I used their engagement picture and had moo print them.
I also had special key cards made with the couples engagement picture on them. This was a first for Hotel Bethlehem.
The guests were so excited and kept talking about how cool this was.

Happy Earth Day.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

Think about getting reusable bags today - Either a Target, Whole Foods etc. Get a few keep them in your car and use them.

Oh and if you are planning a wedding - think about using these as your out of town gift bags. You don't have to put your names on them just make them practical for your guests.

Happy Guests

So you are planning the perfect wedding-You are analyzing every detail, making sure every favor is tied and every dress is hemmed but have you stopped to think about your guests?

Most of my couples tell me they want to make sure everyone has fun at their wedding.
Here are a few tips to help with this:

1-Try not to have too much time between your ceremony and reception. Its best to go directly from one to another. I know you think you have to have a nightime reception with dinner at 8pm but think about moving it a little earlier, your guests will thank you.
Sometimes this is unavoidable if your church is only availalbe at 1pm, if this is the case offer your guests something to do in between times. For example I was working on a wedding at the Omni Downtown Washington, DC - we took the guests on a bus tour of the monuments between the ceremony and reception - it was a hit and really occupied them for the hour in between time. If you are having your reception at a country club - maybe you can set up a putting contest before cocktail hour.

2-Give your out of town guests some ideas on what to do during the weekend - restaurants, activities or must do events before then jet out of town. You can add this to the out of towners gift bags offered at the hotel. A cost saving tip - just write up a welcome letter for everyone and list restaurants, cab numbers and a wedding day schedule.

3-Don't I repeat DON'T have a cash bar - You wouldn't ask your guests for money if they came to your house for a dinner party would you? Cut out a extra dessert or calligraphy and offer a beer/wine reception instead.

All of this will help make for happy guests!

Everything can be Customized

Tarte Cosmetics will personalize their lip glosses for your wedding.

Adam & Eve…Fred & Ginger…Romeo & Juliet…Tarzan & Jane…

Just a few of history’s famous couples! At tarte we’ve celebrated these “perfect pairs” with our double-ended lipgloss! Now we’d like to honor YOU… the couple-to-be!

Here’s how our offering works:
1. Choose a lipgloss duo from one of our existing pairs.
2. Order 25 or more at least one month in advance.
3. Provide us the name of the happy couple.

Min order is 25 and a little pricy but how great would that be to give to all the ladies at your wedding -or stick in the out of town bags.

Dial Directions

FYI a helpful tip for your out of town guests.

Post your wedding or event on www.dialdirections.com and when guests dial 347-directions (328-4667) they will get turn by turn driving directions texted to their cell phones.

Cost is free except for the cost of receiving text messages.

Put this on your wedding website and in the hotel out of town gift bags.

Will You Be My Bridesmaid?

Putting some thought into how you ask your bridesmaids to stand up for you at your wedding will really let them know how much they mean to you. It will also set an example of how fun and unique your event will be.

Something simple:
A small note card that asks the question - this gives you a good opportunity to write a few personal words.

Toast to your friendship - buy a bottle of champagne for each lady, attach a little note to each that 'pops' the question.

Customized cookies that asks the question with icing - Check out the new look from Weddingish $8.50 eachHow about a Maids Mix - a custom cd that has lots of your favorite songs on it - have the label say 'will you be my bridesmaid?'


Something a little more extravagant and in lieu of a bridesmaids gift given closer to the wedding.
Put together a little gift bag and enclose some spa items, a journal or maybe a beach towel and flops. Invite all the ladies to dinner and present them with their gift that will surely get them excited.

Order the Lands End canvas bag $15.50 or 19.50 or even a cute colorful bag from Beau-Coup $25.


You don't have to give the ladies all the same thing - how about customize with a monogrammed bracelet, a small purse or cosmetic bag.

Monogrammed purse from Ballard Designs $19.50 for petite size
Cosmetic bag from Pottery Barn - only $25

Making Your Guests Happy

Its no more Bridezilla - Brides and Couples are thinking of their guests more and more. I get asked all the time for ways to make the travel, accommodations, registry and wedding more enjoyable for the guests.

Here are some of my tips:
-Send save the date cards with info on hotel and travel arrangements
-Create a wedding website; put all your information on here including maps and fun things to do around town
-Create a registry that has different types of items on it and different price points; make sure there is an address on file so your guests can ship them directly to you
-Make a welcome bag for all hotel guests; include a welcome letter, directions and some munchies
-If your budget allows provide transportation for guests to ceremony and reception
-If your ceremony will include a joining of religions; explain them in a program
-Do not have a cash bar at the reception
-Do something unexpected; change the scenery from garden cocktails to after party club setting or change the colors from all light pink ceremony to hot pink and red at the reception.
-Make your event personal; show your style and add unique touches as a monogram, your favorite color, food or activity

and lastly make sure you are having fun; guests will follow your lead!

Out of towners gift bags

Since I get lots of questions about what to put in the out of towners gift bags I thought I would list my ideas.

You want to make the goodie bag personal yet usable. You definitely want to have water bottles(personalized labels are optional), something sweet and something salty and of course a welcome note.

I always tell my couples to try to include items from their home towns or from the city where the wedding will take place. For example: a couple that met at UVA put 'Go Cavaliers' pens in each bag. Other ideas include personalized M&M's, VA peanuts, Tastycakes or Pepperidge Farm cookies, etc. If you are getting married in Virginia - 'VA is for Lovers' bumper stickers are a great idea. Don't forget metro maps, PLASH train guides and/or tour guide info.

Go to Costco or BJ's and get pretzels and Hershey kisses, breath mints and Tylenol. Think of getting personalized sewing kits and/or matches. And most importantly put a welcome letter, weekend schedule and directions to the wedding.

Put it all in a nice bag and top it off with a bow in your wedding colors of course!