Congratulations! Your BFF or sister got engaged! One of the milestones that many little girls dream about, getting engaged is the first real opportunity to shout your love to the rooftops. For many, the occasion calls for an engagement party. And though it’s in poor taste to throw one for yourself, your family and/or friends will undoubtedly want to do the honors. But how do they plan for it? How can they make yours fun? Are there any dos and don’ts to the planning?

We’re Getting Married

Here are some tips to help the engagement party planners/hosts as well as ideas for hosting an enjoyable event:

• Host your party within a month or two of the engagement. As with any other milestones, the impact is greater when it is announced closer to the actual event. What’s more, throwing the engagement party early on affords the bride more time to plan for the actual wedding.
• Choose your venue and theme. Your party venue will affect how many guests you can invite, whether the affair is casual or more formal, and possibly the theme, food and décor. Channeling your inner Carrie Bradshaw? Host your event at a trendy restaurant (though hers was at Buddakan in New York City) like City Zen. Perhaps a sophisticated cocktail party is how you’d prefer to announce your engagement. If you and your fiancé are more laid back, an afternoon barbeque might be the way to go. Don’t have much money but still want to mark the occasion? You can keep costs down but still add a touch of elegance by simply serving a beautiful cake and champagne.
• Select engagement party invitations. These can be simple and casual or more elaborate and formal. It’s up to you. Either way, it is a good idea to keep them similar in feel and look to the other wedding stationery. So, if the nuptials will be a grand affair, a more formal engagement party invitation is appropriate. For more casual weddings or where the engagement party will be hosted in a relative or friend’s home, simpler is better.It should be sent out four to six weeks before the party.
• Deck the halls. A festive atmosphere helps to set the mood. Like the other elements of your engagement party, decorations can be spare or over the top. A backyard celebration in the evening might inspire you to hang colorful paper lanterns in the trees. If you want to stick to your budget but add a touch of chicness, beautiful paper plates and monogrammed cocktail napkins can do just that.

Dos and Don’ts

• Do make sure that the couple announces their engagement to their closest relatives and friends before you start planning the party.
• Do plan the party closer to the actual engagement than the wedding date.
• Don’t hold your engagement party fewer than eight weeks before the wedding.
• Don’t invite too many people. It should be a more intimate affair than the wedding.
• Do include the couple’s closest relatives and friends though.
• Do ensure that a wedding invitation will be sent to every guest invited to the engagement party.
• Do encourage the father/mother of the bride (or whomever is hosting the event) to make the first toast.
• Don’t ask guests to bring gifts. Guests bearing gifts are fine. But they shouldn’t be expected to do so.
• Do encourage the couple to plan a dinner with both families and so they can get to know one another before the engagement party. 

The engagement party should be a fun, stress-free way to kick off the one of the most important events in the bride and groom’s life. Heed the above advice and you’ll be off to a good start.

You’re in the homestretch. The big day is just around the corner and you’re busy tying up loose ends. One of the final stationery items is your wedding program.

The wedding program details how your nuptials will progress, from start to finish. Though it is not a requirement, it enables guests to follow along, understand what will come next and identify all ceremony participants. Here are some tips to remember when creating your wedding program:

• Flex your creative muscle: Unlike many of your stationery items, the wedding program is not constrained to specific etiquette rules. With that said, use this item as an opportunity to be a little more creative, fun or expressive. Your program can be formal or informal, a booklet or a single sheet, elaborately embellished or endearingly simple. However, whichever direction you choose, make sure it has some connection to the rest of your wedding theme. In other words, if your ceremony is very formal and religious, you will not want to create a cheeky program.
• Select your stationery: Ideally, you should select wedding program stationery that matches your other items such as invitations, response cards, etc. What’s more, it is best to have it typeset or engraved by the same printer as your other wedding stationery to ensure consistency of color, quality and print type. Working with your stationer on all of these items will make this process easier and confirm cohesiveness.
• Dot the “I”s and cross the “T”s: Details make all the difference in the world. When selecting your program stationery think about the rest of your wedding. Having a dreamy affair? Add a sheet of velum tied with a billowy organza or luscious silk ribbon to the front of the program. More modern and low-maintenance? Choose a clean font like Modern No. 20 or Biondi. More casual events might call for printed programs as opposed to more formal engraved or letterpress ones. Will your ceremony be on the scale of William and Kate’s wedding? Opt for a booklet style program. It will convey opulence and enable guests to follow along easier. It can be bound-stitched or held together with a beautiful ribbon. For more formal affairs, use a heavier stock paper. Less formal affairs do not require thick stock but shouldn’t be on onion skin either.
• Reflect your personalities: Your program should reflect who you are as a couple. Elements that reflect your personalities/courtship include special religious readings and songs as well as those who will participate in the actual ceremony-usually family and friends. Did your betrothed woo you with a heartfelt poem? Include it in your program. If you are Francophiles, a beautifully embossed, gold leaf fleur-du-lis on the program is a nice touch. Is a destination wedding in the cards? Attached a sun-bleached seashell or tropical flower to each program. If family and friends will participate in readings, special rituals or the music, feel free to include how they are related to you. For example, if your college sorority sister will do a reading, you can write it as such in the program:

First reading, Corinthians 13:1-13 Susan Johnson (college friend of the bride)

• Make it fit to print: The program should be outlined according to how events will unfold including music, specific prayers, readings, vows, etc. For those who might be unfamiliar with specific religious rituals, you may include prayers and readings in full, so guests can follow along. The same holds true for your vows if you’ve decided to write them. Other elements occasionally included in wedding programs are a special note from the bridal couple expressing their appreciation to their guests for sharing in their special day, directions to the reception locale, a favorite poem, remembrance of late relatives and friends, and acknowledgements to those who planned and/or participated in the events. As with all stationery, take special care to proofread the program for spelling errors and event accuracy before sending it off to the printer.

Finally, the wedding program is a nice keepsake for you and your guests. So relax and have fun, knowing that the wedding program will keep your special day on track and your guests engaged in the events.

You’re Invited . . .
To the Second Annual Wedding Gala at
The Venues at Rockville’s Town Center
April 17, 2011
12:00 – 4:00 pm .

Come meet with D.C Metropolitan’s best wedding professionals to plan every aspect of your dream wedding.
See The latest wedding fashions
Listen to professional wedding musicians
Taste culinary delights by local caterers and bakers
Experience the Venues at Rockville’s Town Center.
Envision your dream wedding.

For vendor opportunity please e-mail katie@rockvillerooftop.com

For more information go to http://www.rockvillerooftop.com/calendar-events/2nd-annual-spring-linenbridal-showcase

You’ve gotten hitched. The honeymoon was divine and oh, so relaxing. The two of you are setting up house, or perhaps, outfitting your current digs with all of the great wedding gifts you received. Now you can kick back and enjoy your togetherness, right? Not so fast.

As wonderful as technology can be, it has turned thank you note writing into a dying art. Though it may not involve all the bells and whistles of a blackberry or iPhone, a beautiful, personalized, handwritten note can have a profound impact on the recipient. Society has accepted the fact that many people forgo the thank you note. However, a wedding gift thank you is one you should never neglect.

Here’s the 411 on wedding thank you notes:

What kind of stationery should I use?

Any kind of stationery is better than no stationery at all. However, personalized stationery with both you and your better half on it is preferable. For one, it signifies the start of your union and 2) you should express your gratitude together. For many, the thank you note is an extension of their wedding announcements, save-the-dates, invitations, place cards, etc. If you do forgo personalized, wedding-themed stationery, then be sure to select a good quality, tasteful one from your stationery store.

What elements should be included in my thank you note?

If you are thanking a close friend or relative, you may refer to them by their first name in the salutation (i.e.-Dear Susan and John or Dear Aunt Sadie and Uncle Herman). For those you don’t know as well, use the more formal greeting such as “Dear Mr. and Mrs. Jones”. Next, mention the gift specifically when thanking the recipient. Show true enthusiasm and appreciation (i.e.-“Thank you for the beautiful champagne flutes. We shall think of you each time we use them.”). Finally, close with an expression of appreciation for them attending your special day or if they were not able to attend but sent a gift, say something like “We missed you on our special day but look forward to seeing you soon.” End with “Love”, “Best Wishes” or “Sincerely” (depending on your level of intimacy with the recipient) and your names.

When should I send the thank you note?

The short answer is sooner rather than later. More specifically, it is best to send them within two or three weeks of your return from the honeymoon. However, writing and sending them within three months of the wedding is also acceptable.

How do I thank them for a check or cash? For a donation in our names?

Money always seems to be a taboo subject. It can seem tacky to say “thanks for the cash/check”. A better way to express gratitude for such a gift would be to say “Thank you for your very generous gift. We will put it towards furnishing our new home.” When the recipient has made a donation to a charity in your names, it should read as follows: “Thank you for the generous donation to Habitat for Humanity in our names. As you know, it is a cause that is near and dear to our hearts. Your thoughtfulness will surely better the lives of many.”

What if I received a group gift from my coworkers?

You should still write an individual thank you note to each person that went in on the gift. Whatever you do, please do not write one thank you for all of them and then pin it up in the break room. Tacky, tacky, tacky.

More Thank You Note Tips:

• Never use pre-printed cards. We understand that things have been a whirlwind lately and that writing thank you notes can be overwhelming. However, your guests took the time to select a generous gift for you and many also made the effort to be a part of your special day. So the least you can do is spend a few minutes thanking them. If you tackle ten notes per night, you’ll be done in no time.
• Never email a thank you note. True, there are some pretty electronic thank you notes out there. But nothing replaces the satisfaction of opening one’s mailbox to find a heartfelt, handwritten note on a beautiful piece of stationery.
• In the same vein, don’t post a generic thank you to your wedding website. Aside from being downright offensive, it connotes that you just don’t care enough about your guests to send individual notes.
• Always send thank you notes to all of your invited guests. Even if you don’t know what they gave you as a wedding present (and what bride/groom has encountered this dilemma?), you are still obligated to write a note of thanks. In this case, you may use the more generic “thank you for the generous gift”.

Your guests were privy to one of the most intimate events of your life. It is incumbent upon you to show them how much you appreciate their support, love and generosity. A beautifully written thank you on high-quality stationery is just the way to do so. Before you finish saying “thank you”, they’ll be saying, “No. Thank you!”

Heidi Kallett is the CEO and President of The Dandelion Patch, a 16-year-old fine stationary store with locations in Vienna, Reston, and Leesburg, Virginia as well as Georgetown in Washington, DC. She has grown The Dandelion Patch by more than 425% since1994. Heidi serves on many non-profit boards and is a member of several area chambers of commerce and professional organizations. She is a past President of the Junior League of Northern Virginia and the current President-Elect for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Greater DC chapter. She is a frequent contributor to various magazines and blogs.

Planning a wedding presents many decisions to be made. Color schemes, types of flowers, and designing your cake are just a few of the choices you will have to make. Having these ideas and communicating to your vendors can also get tricky; your idea of an elegant rose centerpiece may be executed as a Rose Bowl Parade float reject, and we can’t be having that on your big day.

Enter Designed by the Bride, an online tool that lets you decorate your cake ,bouquets and centerpieces.
Designed by the Bride was dreamed up of by two friends , who were planning their wedding and searched everywhere for a tool that would allow for virtual styling of these important wedding details.

To create the exact look you want, there is a tool bar that allows you to increase/decrease flower size and flip, rotate or move flowers front to back (with almost 250 flowers to choose from). You also have the option to change the background color, giving you the ability to envision your designs against different dress colors or tablecloths. Once you’ve finished designing, you can save your design and either print or email it for others to see. And if you have a new idea or changed your mind, you can simply go back and design another!

Designed by the Bride also prides itself on Going Green! Now you can see multiple designs without the cost, or waste of flowers.

Designing is free with a limited number of choices. But for a small fee you can become a subscriber to Bloom, where you have access to all options. For a limited time, Designed by the Bride is giving away free 2 day trials to Bloom. Email designedbythebride@gmail.com today and mention District Bride Guide to receive your free trial!

visit Designed by the Bride at http://www.designedbythebride.com/

Happy Designing!

Katie

Follow the Wedding Bell at http://talesofaweddingbelle.blogspot.com/

They’ve been with you through thick and thin. Perhaps, those ever-so-patient bridesmaids have put up with your bridezilla moments. The groomsmen threw you a stellar bachelor party and your fiancé is blissfully unaware of the goings-on from that night (what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right?). For goodness sakes, they even endured those bridesmaids dresses with smiles on their faces (sure…they’ll wear them again).

Don’t they deserve a token of your appreciation? Gifts for your wedding party should take as much thought as all of the other details of your wedding. Here are a few suggestions to ensure that their undying allegiance to you does not go unnoticed:

• Spa items: If you’re planning on hitting the spa with your gal pals before the big day, items such as slippers and bath towel cover ups are great wedding gifts. These items work equally well on the big day when everyone is getting ready. A fun idea is to snap a photo of you and your bridal party decked out in the colorful cover ups and slippers.
• Bath items: What girl doesn’t love beautiful soaps, bath salts and sachets? We all love to indulge but often feel guilty doing so. Give them a good reason to soak in a luxurious bath. Better yet, assemble a beautiful basket for each, containing such items.
• Bags, bags and more bags: We love our handbags, make-up bags and tote bags. Can’t get enough of them. Practical by nature, we always welcome a functional bag to hold all of our goodies. We love them even more when they come in pretty colors with our initials stitched into them.

• Jewelry: Okay. We admit it. We brides can be a bit (ahem) controlling when it comes to our wedding vision. That being said, why not mask your control in a sweet piece of jewelry that your bridal party can wear on the day of the wedding? A pretty necklace, earrings or a bracelet are appropriate for the women in your party. For the guys? How about a great pair of cufflinks?
• Barware: We want the men in the wedding party to be just as happy. They’ll love a nice set of monogrammed wine or beer glasses. Personalized coasters or cocktail napkins are another nice touch.
• Picture Frame: You can never go wrong with a picture frame. Both guys and gals appreciate this gift.
• Small accessories: Need a place to corral your keys? Give them a silver key chain. Present them with a compact mirror to ensure that they’re looking good at all times. Bestow a lovely keepsake or jewelry box to stash their gems. A business card case with their initials engraved on it is sure to make an impression too.

So you’ve got some ideas to ponder. But before you seal the deal, ponder these dos and don’ts when selecting wedding party gifts:

• Do personalize…as in monogram it.
• Do be tasteful.
• Don’t give something a college kid would like…as in shot glasses, distasteful t-shirts or alcohol.
• Do order well in advance, particularly if items need to be monogrammed.
• Do wrap it beautifully.
• Do get the same gift for each bridesmaid and each groomsmen, so no one feels that one was favored over the other.

Traditionally, your bridal party is comprised of your siblings and/or closest friends. Show them some love and give them gifts that reflect your fondness and appreciation of them.

Rooftop Wedding <– Click to see a video of A Rooftop Wedding

Are you sick of looking at generic ballrooms and hotels for your wedding?

Do you want a unique venue that has a vogue city feeling yet conveintly located in your neighborhood?

If so look at The Rooftop at Rockville's Town Center , the only open air rooftop located in Montgomery County. In conjunction with the Center for Visual Arts you have the option of having your ceremony and cocktail hour in the fun and artsy  VisArts event space and gallery followed by dinner and dancing under the stars on The Rooftop, or vice versa, really your options are endless and  they will throw in the moon and stars for free!

Are you interested in more information?

 If so check out www.rockvillerooftop.com or e-mail at info@rockvillerooftop.com

They are hosting an upcoming Bridal Show on Sunday, April 10th. More information to come!

There are so many glamorous aspects of a wedding  but thinking about your bathroom is at the bottom of that list. However stocking a bathroom basket with tolietires  can save a guest’s day.

My recommended bathroom basket necessities.

For Saving Face + Party Dresses

• Oil blotting sheets
• Lint Roller
• Mini Sewing kit
• Spray deodorant ( do not get regular roll on, think about it . . . eww)
• Tampons/pads
• Lotion + light body spray
• Bobbi pins / hair elastics
• Hairspray
• Mints
• Clear nail polish
• If your wedding is outdoors  sunblock and bug spray would be very appreciated.
• Floss/ mouthwash/ brush ups
• Tide to go pen

 For when the Electric Slide really gets going

• Ibuprofen
• Antacids
• Band aids
• Neosporin
• Cough Drops

You can all of these necessities at Costco reasonably priced. You can use a variety of containers ranging from a wicker basket to a flower pot, go with your theme.

It’s always nice to add a scented candle or diffuser to the bathroom as well as framed pictures of the couple and even a cute bathroom poem.

I used this one , in a frame with our wedding monogram.

Welcome to Our Wedding

Dear Family and Friends,

Thank you for joining us on our special day.

If your skin feels dry, your hair out of place,

Your throat is parched, or whatever the case,

We’ve put this together to help you along,

Now get yourself out there before the next song!

(Author Unknown, quite clever though! )

Your guests will be able to get back on the dance floor after being saved by the basket!

Happy Sunday,

Katie

For more fabulousness visit

http://talesofaweddingbelle.blogspot.com/

Our friends at Photographick Studios in Alexandria, Virginia are taking the reigns today at DBG and offering up valuable advice on engagement photo sessions. Thanks, Sunny and Neeva! (And check out their gorgeous work! It’s no surprise Photographick was named in WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards 2011 for Wedding Photographers!)

Most people haven’t taken professional photographs since high school. No wonder so many couples feel nervous and pressured when it comes time for wedding photo-shoots! Having to act carefree, relaxed and “like yourself” while working with someone you have never met can be daunting.

Because of this common hesitation, Photographick Studios requires our couples to book an engagement session. We encourage every couple to arrange one with their wedding photographer! We’ve noticed that couples who partake in an engagement session are much more relaxed and at ease during their bridal portraits on their wedding day. The goal is to be friends on the wedding day, not strictly vendor-and-clients.

The benefit of the engagement session is twofold. First, it allows us to see how the couple looks best in front of the camera. If the Groom blinks a lot or if the height difference between the couple is significant, it’s important for us to be aware of these issues in advance of the wedding day.

Another benefit of the engagement session is the opportunity for the couple to interact and get comfortable in front of the photographer. You experience firsthand the photographer’s personality and shooting style. We also share posing tips and tricks throughout the session, ensuring that we capture the most flattering angles and arrangements.

In all, opening up to one’s wedding photographer is vitally important to ensure your day is captured correctly and accurately. Of course, the biggest reward of the engagement session is the fabulous images you will cherish for a lifetime! These images can also be used for save-the-date cards, your wedding website, or guest signature book.

The writers at District Bride Guide couldn’t agree more, Sunny! Engagement sessions capture that excited “we’re getting married!” glow forever, and they will zap those wedding day photo jitters for good.

Photographick Studios
Blog: photographick.com/blog/
Email Sunny Mathur: sunny@photographick.com
Phone: 571.449.7468

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

—My Favorite Things from The Sound of Music

Who doesn’t love to sing along with Julie Andrews? While Julie (aka Maria) listed some pretty great favorite things, we think there’s a few more that brides-to-be might like to give to their wedding guests.Though not necessary, a wedding favor is a nice touch to show your guests how much you appreciate them taking part in your day. It is also a great way to continue your wedding theme through this little detail. The following favor ideas make for a lovely memento of your special day:

Picture Frame: A lovely silver-plated picture frame is a fabulous favor. For one, it can also serve as your guests’ place card holders. It will add a festive touch to the table and best of all, guests can slip their favorite photo in it after the event (hopefully a picture of you and your betrothed).

Candle: Nothing says romance like a candle. Why not get one in a scent that is reflective of your wedding? Give a candle that smells like the ocean at your beach destination wedding. Present guests with a eco-friendly soy candle to reflect your green theme. Choose a candle in your color theme.

Seed packets: Come on, you know what we’re gonna say! Spread your love! That’s right-a seed packet in an artfully crafted box is as elegant as any other gift, and one that keeps giving.

Edibles: Who can resist a sweet treat? Fine chocolates connote romance. Mints or gum are a welcome favor after a long day (or night) of drinking, dancing and eating. If you want to pay homage to your heritage, almonds are the traditional Italian favor. Chinese? Send them home with personalized fortune cookies.

Coffees and teas: Your guests are sure to be slow waking up the day after your wedding. How about sending them home with a lovely gourmet coffee or a selection of teas?

Barware: A pretty bottle stopper with a personalized ribbon attached to it or a set of coasters is always welcome. Either is as pretty as it is useful.

Fans and sachets: Hosting a summer wedding or are you from an Asian background? A beautiful fan can celebrate your heritage and keep guests cool. A beautifully wrapped sachet is a thoughtful and useful gift as well.

Now that you’ve got the creative juices flowing, consider these tips when selecting favors:

Do stick to your wedding theme when selecting a favor.

Don’t go overboard or over budget.

Do ensure that the packaging is just as nice and festive as the favor itself

Do make certain that each guest receives a favor

Do select unisex favors and one that you would like to receive yourself

Don’t underestimate the number of favors you need. Account for breakage and extra guest.

Choose a thoughtful favor that reflects your personality and/or theme. Wrap it beautifully. Your guests will be sure to walk away with smiles of appreciation as well as wonderful memories of the day.

Next time, we’ll discuss what favors NOT to give. Trust me. You’ll be shocked. Stay tuned. In the meantime, happy planning!