Often, when it comes time to begin the invitation process, most people have some vision for what they want.  At least they think they do until they begin to look at all of the options out there and then it can become very overwhelming.

So, let me take the stress and anxiety out of the equation. By the time you are ready to order invitations (or at least consider the options) you most likely know whether you’re having a formal or casual event, what time of year it is (consider seasons) and what your color scheme is.  Once this is figured out, the rest is infinitely easier.

I’d like to dispel a few myths about working with an invitation company:

MYTH 1

It will be too expensive.  Not true.  I can work within just about any budget and will advise you as to which manufacturers are best suited for your wallet and taste.

MYTH 2

I won’t get a unique product. Not true.  My fine arts background enables me to offer custom solutions, even with a stock item. There are a number of “tricks of the trade” that I can apply to add that unique, personalized detail.

MYTH 3

It’s easier to order from an online company. Not true.  The first consultation is in my studio.  It’s a creative, inspiring space that my clients love visiting.  I provide personal, one-on-one attention.  After our initial meeting, we can do everything over the phone or via email.  You never go through a customer service department or have to get in the queue of customers waiting for replies.

Just the facts….

Invites Ink! offers one stop ordering. You can check off multiple items from your list with one visit.  Invitations, announcements, save the dates, thank you cards, favors, kippot, wearables, hostess gifts and more are all available. There is always something new coming in so feel free to make an appointment to stop by and see what just arrived.

Call Terri for more info or to schedule an appointment to meet in the Invites Ink! studio. 248-258-1657 or terri@invitesink.com

I’ve put together several ideas for you to try out.  Remember, you can also include your son/daughter’s Hebrew name in the invitation wording.  This is definitely not an area to stress out about.  You are preparing for a joyous occasion and the invitation should be a reflection of the joy, happiness and pride you are celebrating with this milestone event.

If by chance, none of these wordings are quite right for your family, please give me a call.  I will be happy to work with you to come up with something unique just for you.

Examples:

We invite you to join us

As we celebrate

The Bar/Bat Mitzvah for our daughter

We invite you to share our happiness

On a very special day in our lives

When our son

Adam

Is called to the Torah as a Bar/Bat Mitzvah

Happy occasions when shared with

Family and friends become life’s cherished memories

Please join us when our son

Adam Michael

Is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah

It would be our pleasure to have you join us

In worship and celebration

When our daughter

Marci Lynn

Becomes a Bat Mitzvah

With pride, with joy and mostly with love

We invite you to join us

At the Bar Mitzvah of our son

Aaron Jonathan

We warmly invite you to join us

As we celebrate

A special moment in our lives

At the Bat Mitzvah of our daughter

Together with my family

Please join me at my Bar Mitzvah

Time, date, place

Aaron Joseph Smith (signed by the Bar or Bat Mitzvah)

For twins or siblings sharing the Bimah:

Please join us as our children,

Noah and Emily

Are called to the Torah as B’nai Mitzvah

We invite you to share our happiness

When our daughters,

Sara and Noa

Become B’not Mitzvah

For invitations, kippot, napkins, save the date, thank you cards and more, call Terri at Invites Ink!  248-258-1657 or email Terri@InvitesInk.com.

Technology certainly makes everything easier these days and that includes the invitation selection and ordering process.  One of the advantages is that you often can save some time and begin your process a little later than used to be necessary.

Follow this frazzle-free  timeline as a guide – remember, you always should do what works for you with the ultimate goal of getting invitations out no later than 6 weeks prior to your event…8 weeks is even better, especially if you have a lot of out of town guests who need to make travel arrangements.

7 to 12 months

Send a Save-the-Date card…if you have less than 5 months, don’t worry about it; the invite will be in the mail soon.

6 months to 9 months

Start to look for your invitations, determine which style suits you for the type of event you’re planning.  Do you want classic or contemporary, engraved or thermography or maybe letterpress?

5 to 6 months

Write invitation wording

Order invitations – this leaves you plenty of time to see a proof before final printing, make any necessary changes and get them back without having to rush the process.

4 months

Print maps/directions, hotel information & any other weekend itinerary info

Address, stuff, seal, stamp…make sure you check postage before you buy the stamps!

8 weeks

Mail invitations, rehearsal dinner invites hotel information and any post event brunch invitation

4 weeks

Order place cards, napkins, kippas

Begin work on seating chart

2-3 weeks out

You should have all RSVPs by now; start printing the place cards.

1 week out

Complete seating chart and place cards

Day of

Enjoy your event!

As a side note, I know that there are numerous details over the 9 to 12 month planning period. Invites Ink! has worked with wonderful vendors over the past dozen years.  Feel free to call me for additional resources. I can provide referrals in the following categories: selecting a venue, choosing a photographer, planning the honeymoon, finding a caterer or hiring the entertainment. Email me!  or call 248-258-1657.

Elegant wedding invitation

You’ve set the date, found a venue and even selected the perfect invitation. Now, comes the hard part. How do you find just the right words to include step parents, siblings, significant others, deceased parents and more?
Fortunately, there is no right way anymore to extend your invitation, via a printed gesture, to guests on behalf of yourself or others. Many formalities have gone by the wayside in lieu of more modern approaches that tend to be inclusive rather than exclusive and accommodate blended families, as is often the case.
Whether you are planning a wedding for yourself or your daughter, celebrating a Bar Mitzvah or throwing a bridal shower, Invites Ink has more than a decade of experience in helping families craft just the right message.

Criteria to consider when choosing or writing your invitation message:

• How formal is the affair?
• Are parents throwing the wedding?
• Are the parents of the bride and groom involved?
• Are there step parents to consider?
• How do you include parents if you and your fiancé are planning/paying for your own wedding?
• What if a parent is deceased? Does his/her name appear on the invitation?
• Is the ceremony going to be held in a religious sanctuary or a reception/banquet space?

Here are some samples to help you with your wedding invitation wording:

Sample 1: Bride and Groom’s parents sharing in the wedding planning/expense equally

Mr. and Mrs. David Green
Mr. and Mrs. John Rosenberg
Request the honour of your presence
At the marriage of their children
Amy Lynn Green
to
Steven Andrew Rosenberg

Sample 2: Bride and Groom giving the wedding

Amy Lynn Green
and
Steven Andrew Rosenberg
Request the pleasure of your company
At their wedding

Sample 3: Mother re-married, father deceased

Mr. and Mrs. Michael John Davies
Request the honour of your presence
At the marriage of her daughter
Jennifer Marie Forrester

For help with other invitation etiquette questions, feel free to connect with Terri.

How to Throw a Fabulous Bridal Shower

by Roz Keith

Your best friend just got engaged and you’re throwing the shower.  One of the best things you can do for the happy couple is to generously take on the planning of the bridal shower without burdening them with unnecessary details.  All they need to know is where and when to show up.

Here are a number of tips, tricks and trends as well as some do’s and don’ts for the organizer and the bride.

Tip #1

Use a notebook or 3-ring binder (with pockets) that you can use to house all the details

Tip #2

Work with the bride to set a date – the shower should be held 1-2 months prior to the wedding

Tip #3, 4 & 5

Decide on a theme, choose a location and determine a guest list

Tip #6

Set priorities.  DO determine the must haves and you can back into the rest later.  For example, if you know that you must have 75 people because the bride has a big family, then your food costs are going to dictate how the budget is spent

Trick #1

Use the bridal registry as a cue when determining the theme.  If the couple has a lot of kitchen items on their registry, then you could throw a “Recipe” shower.  You can get playful with the invitation wording and the theme by playing off the “recipe” idea.

• Design the invitation to look like a recipe (Jan and Steve’s love is one part family, 2 parts friendship, etc)
• Ask guests to bring a favorite recipe on a 3 x 5 card
• Plan the menu around their culinary favorites

Trick #2

Determine a budget upfront.  DON’T assume that everyone is comfortable spending the same amount.  DO plan an event that meets your budget and stick with it.  While this seems obvious, when overlooked it can be the cause for a lot of stress.

Trick #3

DO hire outside professionals to help where your budget will allow.  Consider hiring a professional photographer and videographer to document the day. Photographer, Elayne Gross, reminds us that a “bridal shower is a great time to capture special moments between the bride and her family.”  There will be lots of private conversations at the tables and great laughter… watch for those special moments.  Watch their faces; see the laughter and excitement as the bride opens her gifts.” Contact Gross at www.ElayneGrossPhotography.com

Hiring a caterer is a great option and you won’t have to worry about the food, serving and cleaning up. According to Julie Herman, of Annabel’s & Co. Catering, the benefits to using a full service caterer are numerous.  “The servers will greet your guests, take coats, serve hors d’oeuvres and drinks and then clean up—you won’t even know that you had a party when they’re done.” Ideally, you want a caterer who will come in and set up the food presentation to optimize guest access and traffic flow.  DO look for a caterer that is experienced in the presentation so your food will not only be delicious but beautifully displayed.   Following these guidelines, says Herman, “will allow the hostesses to be guests at the shower.”   Call Annabel’s directly at 248-813-7800.

Trend #1

Couples showers are gaining in popularity, according to Event Coordinator, Ali Lazzeri of Blue Heaven Events.  “The trend is all about personalizing the event for the bride and groom.  For a couple that loves the outdoors, you could host a camping-style shower and rent a pavilion in the park.”  Check out Camp Ticonderoga in Troy or The Iroquois Club in Bloomfield Hills for venues that offer an outdoorsy feel .  Does the couple spend every spare moment at the beach?  Host the shower at a venue with a water view.  Then, plan/design invitations, décor, favors and games to compliment the chosen theme.  “Set the tone for the shower by reflecting the couple’s interest and you’ll make it a unique event.”  Lazzeri can be reached at 248-408-8660.

Trend #2

The menu is trending towards “healthier, lighter fare,” says Herman. “Fruits and vegetables create a artful presentation on a  buffet or plated meal.”  She recommends a buffet if the group is larger than 20.  However, if your home is spacious and you can accommodate serving a plated, sit down meal, then by all means work with your caterer to execute your vision.

Trend #3

Destination Showers are popping up. Think “day at the spa” for the bride, her close family and friends.  Each guest can enjoy a spa service, have a light lunch and beverage and then the bride can open gifts. If you want to meet in the afternoon, swap wine/champagne and hors d’oeuvres in lieu of lunch.  The party can then move to a restaurant for a leisurely dinner.  This might be the time that the event goes from “girls only” to “men allowed.”

Remember, at the end of the day, this is all about the bride and groom…it’s not about you.  DO consider their wishes, their lifestyle, any dietary restrictions, family issues (wheelchair access for an elderly relative) or their personal style.  If the couple leads a casual, laid back lifestyle, they might be very uncomfortable with a fancy, formal shower at your private golf club.  DO get organized immediately.  Consult a planning timeline

(www.partyplanningplus.com) to help guide you.  If  by chance, you are a bride reading this, then here are a couple of tips for you.  DON’T get involved in the planning.  Let your bridesmaids (or other hostesses) do their thing.  It’s their budget, their responsibility and their way of showering you with love.  DO show your appreciation on the day of the event.  When you thank your guests for coming, make sure that you acknowledge your hostesses and how much you appreciate their efforts.

Happy planning! You are on your way to putting together a day filled with memories their will be cherished for a lifetime.

Gifts – Limited edition Prints From Mitzvah Artistree

ARTIST:
Michelle “Shell” Rummel

DESCRIPTION:

Designed to coordinate with our B’nai Mitzvah Invitation collection, each Gift Print features your child’s name in English and Hebrew, their Bar/Bat Mitzvah date, and the biblical phrase,

“May your eyes shine with the light of Torah and your face reflect the brightness of the heavens”, in English and Hebrew.

Each Gift Print is printed on 8.5 x 11″ fine art archival paper and is professionally matted in an elegant white matte, to finished size, 11 x 14″. The matted print is then slipped into a protective archival sleeve: a beautiful and complete presentation for gift giving.