Jean M Blog

Keeping the littlest members of your wedding party happy

They may be all dressed up and looking more perfect than they ever have before, but remember: your ring bearer and flower girl are still energetic little kids inside all that finery. When you plan ahead and the needs of the little ones in your wedding party, they’ll be happily occupied during what can be a very exciting, very long day for them.

Photography by: Dietrich Gesk, Minneapolis, Minnesota

First, sit down with your ring bearer and flower girl and talk to them about what it will mean to be in a wedding. Walk them through their roles (and practice walking down an imaginary aisle!) so they’re comfortable with what they’ll be expected to do during your ceremony. Include them in as much planning as you can, and make them feel special by giving them gifts to mark the importance of their jobs, like a pretty bracelet for your flower girl that mimics the jewelry you give your bridesmaids or a favorite toy for your ring bearer that he’ll have fun with during the reception.

During the ceremony, provide fun tote bags filled with quiet activities that will keep the children busy, like our bug activity book and soft toys.

During the reception, make sure the kids get child-friendly meals (like chicken fingers and fries). If many children will be attending your wedding, set up a special kids’ area with little tables and chairs so they can eat and play with their friends. Provide games and activities to keep them occupied and entertained, and arrange for someone to supervise the kids so parents can enjoy themselves.

Enjoy!

Adding a signature touch to your cocktail hour

After the vows are said and you’ve walked down the aisle, you and your guests will be in the mood for celebrating! Make your cocktail hour festive with personalized details and fun and festive refreshments.

Set up a design-your-own drink bar so guests can mix and customize their own Bloody Marys or other drinks, and print cocktail napkins with an invitation to enjoy.

 

You can even request that your signature drink be made in your wedding color (like a pink "marrymartini") for a fun and pretty touch — and order personalized cocktail napkins to match!

 

Encourage toasting (and maybe even roasting!) by providing napkins printed with a toast design.

 

Be sure to have plenty of those personalized napkins on hand for guests to use while they’re sipping. They’re sure to be a hit!

Enjoy!

“Glam” gifts for your fashionable bridesmaids

When my daughter Holli got married, we had the best time planning, shopping and dreaming for the perfect day. But we had a difficult time finding the perfect gifts for her stylish bridesmaids. We eventually found great appreciation gifts for them, but I wish I would have known about these oh-so-glam accessories then!

The added “bling” make the items so fashionable and so fun for the girls to use at the wedding and long afterward. You get to choose black for drama or white for a sleek look to match your bridemaids’ personalities. And best of all, they’re all on sale now!

Black card cases with quilted faux leather tops or white card cases with a gold-tone fleur de lys on top are great for keeping business cards or credit cards handy.

Little black wristlets with a crown design or white wristlets with a fleur de lys accent are the perfect size to hold an ID, lipstick and change.

 

These boxes are oh so cute!  The black faux patent leather jewelry box with a gold crown or white faux patent leather jewelry box with a gold fleur de lys design hold all their precious bling. The animal print interiors add a fanciful touch.

Bridesmaids on the go? Help them travel in style and keep their jewelry safe while they do! Choose black or white hanging jewelry cases. The animal print interiors are so “in.”

I love items that multi-task, like these very glam key chains with mirror compacts attached. Choose the black crown mirror key chain, or the white fleur de lys mirror key chain.

Large enough to fit all their beauty necessities, but compact enough to pack easily.White faux leather make up bag or black faux leather make up bag - the perfect make up case! The animal print interiors make them extra fun.

Perfect for last-minute makeup checks before walking down the aisle, and for tucking into a purse or pocket for nights on the town. The black quilted faux leather compact or white fleur de lys compact are oh so cute!

 

All these items are ON SALE NOW and you could save up to 50% on some items!

Go glam — and enjoy!

 

Wedding must-haves under $10!

Ready for some good news about your wedding budget?

Here it is — many of the things you need to make your day run smoothly, look beautiful and go a little easier are actually affordable!

Take note of these must-haves, and fun items, all under $10 each:

The Bride’s Thank You Guide is packed with information you NEED to know — and it will make the task of writing those notes so much easier.

Good news: $7 each

 

Cellophane bags are so versatile — use them for favors, wrapping small gifts or to hold late-night treats for guests to take home.

Good news: $5 per 25

 

Save yourself from the task of licking envelopes and make the whole invitation assembly process go a lot easier with roll-on envelope moisteners.

Good news: $7 for 2

 

Love coupons are a little something fun to tuck into a gift — or to give to your fiancé!

Good news: $9

 

Cute, little silver-plated scoops are a must to have at your candy bar and they make a great accompaniment to a gift of gourmet coffee.

Good news: $9 each

 

Stick-em keeps your candles straight — no worries about your centerpiece or unity candle tapers slipping out of their holders!

Good news: $3 per .5 ounce tin

 

Swankie hankies are a thoughtful addition to gift baskets and to hand out with your wedding programs at the ceremony to catch tears of joy.

Good news: $1.75 per packet

 

Enjoy!

 

“Thank you.” Such small words with such big meaning.

A lot of things in the wedding world have changed since your mother got married.

~ Bride’s side and groom’s side at the ceremony? Not necessary anymore.

~ Parents’ names on the invitations? Not if you’re footing the bill.

~ And changing your last name? Only if you want!

But there is one bit of wedding etiquette that remains just as non-negotiable now as it has been for generations. And that is writing thank you notes.

Whether it’s for a gift you received, an act of kindness or assistance someone offered you or a party someone threw in your honor, make sure the thank you note you write and send is beautiful, personal and meaningful.

Yes — I said, “write.” There are so many options for personalized and printed thank you notes these days that some brides think they can just scribble a signature at the bottom of the note and pop it into the mail. Go ahead and order that personalized thank you note, but remember that you MUST include a handwritten message. In your note, mention:

• the gift you received

• the service you received or the kindness made toward you

• how much you appreciate it

• how you plan to use the gift (if it’s monetary, how you plan to spend it)

• a personal anecdote or mention of your connection to make the giver feel acknowledged, remembered and appreciated (i.e., “Grandma, I can’t wait to use the mixer you gave us to make your special pineapple upside-down cake!”)

As an added plus, the thank you notes you choose are available in styles and colors that coordinate with your wedding stationery for a beautiful look that will remind them of your invitations and your wedding.

 

My favorite thank you note designs right now? Consider these!

 

Bird Thank You Notes

I love the sweetness of the design AND the colors. (You lovebirds!)

 

Cherry Blossom Thank You Notes

Perfect for an Asian-inspired theme or a springtime event — or just if you love pink!

 

Brianna Thank You Note

LOVE the fresh colors and the whimsical little flowers.

 

Thank You Note Set

Recipients will love seeing these cute illustrations of the parts they played in your big day!

And if you want a custom thank you note, shop the enclosure cards section, select a style, choose a paper color, and personalize the note folders with a design or monogram.

 

Enjoy!

 

It's a banner day!

When you're in love and excited about getting married, you want to shout about it to the world. While that may not be practical (or well-received) you do have another option: decorating with big, bold, personalized banners like these!

Hang the banners inside as decorations at your ceremony and reception, or hang them outdoors to help guests find your locations.

You get to personalize the banners with your names and wedding date, monogram or design, and choice of color for a look that shouts “stylish!" for you.

 

Personalized Jasmin Banner

So romantic — your names surrounded by swirls. Choose how you want to personalize - with names and date, or with a monogram or a design.

 

Personalized 3-Line Banner

Say what you're feeling out loud!  What will you say in 3 lines?

 

Personalized Zoe Banner

Your names and wedding date and sweet swirling designs.  Or, select a monogram or a design to be surrounded by swirls.

 

Personalized Monogram Banner

Your new last name initial — for all to see!

 

Enjoy!

Make guests feel right at home — at your wedding!

They've accepted your invitation, blocked time off their calendars, made travel arrangements, purchased a gift (and probably a fab new outfit...plus shoes and accessories, of course) and booked hotel rooms.

How do you make your wedding guests feel appreciated the moment they arrive? Pamper them by arranging to have a welcome gift waiting for them in their hotel rooms!

Here's where you get to have fun and be creative. Find pretty boxes, baskets or bags and start shopping for items to fill them. Think about your wedding theme, season, location and style. For instance...

...for a winter wedding, pack a box or basket with hot chocolate mix or coffee favors, biscotti or cookies, candles and matches, a thank you note and a pair of cozy slippers. Package the items in cellophane bags  and personalize with colorful place cards, ribbon and stickers.

 

...for a destination wedding, pack a colorful beach tote bag with a straw hat, bottled water, sunscreen, some beach toys and a fluffy towel. Personalize your water bottles with personalized stickers for a fun touch.

 

...for weddings in your favorite locale or close to home, fill a basket or box with local treats like locally brewed beer or other beverages, snacks the area is famous for and a map for sightseeing. Add a personalized thank you note with a handwritten message.

 

...for the bachelorette party, give all the girls fun and fancy treats they'll love! Fill your welcome box with a martini glass, wildly printed tissues, cute "diva" luggage tags, fun accessories and a personalized photo album for storing memories of the event.

 

Be sure to include a printed itinerary of the weekend in every guests' welcome gift so they know the schedule of events and feel included in your celebration.

 

Enjoy!

It's your last chance to save during my "favor"ite sale of the season!

Don't miss your chance to save 15% on ALL FAVORS! 

 

Order now — the sale ends at midnight tonight!

Enjoy!

It's my "favor"ite sale of the season — and it's only for 4 days!

Why is it my "favor"ite? Because it's all about FAVORS!  All wedding favors, including unique wedding favors, favor boxes, favor bags, favor containers, favor tags, ribbon, matches - ALL FAVORS are on sale right now — shop to your heart's content and save 15% off your order!

Which favors will be your "favor"ites? Here are some of mine to get the ideas flowing:

 

A prettily decorated, gourmet cookie in a cellophane bag tied with ribbon?

 

Delicious chocolates in colorful two-piece favor boxes or classic favor boxes?

 

Tiny treats dressed up in our tux and gown favor boxes?

Colorful sweets in glass votive holders decorated with stickers?

 

Tiny favor boxes or colorful organza favor bags hanging from our stylish scrolled favor trees?

 

Start shopping, get creative — and SAVE 15% on all your favors!

Hurry - Sale ends September 14.

 

Enjoy!

When's the right time to give appreciation gifts?

You've shopped carefully, you've wrapped beautifully and your appreciation gifts are ready to be presented. Many brides ask me when the best time is to give those gifts to attendants, special friends, parents and grandparents.

 

My answer? There's always a great time to give gifts if you make the occasion extra special! Here are some ideas:

• Hold separate bride's and groom's breakfasts the morning of the wedding and invite all the women and men in the wedding party. When the meal is over, surprise your guests with Bloody Mary or mimosa toasts and present them their bridal party gifts individually.

• Plan to spend a few moments with each bridesmaid and groomsman individually after the rehearsal dinner. Tell them how much it means to you that they are in your wedding party and give them their gift at that time.

• Welcome your attendants to their hotel rooms by placing their wrapped gifts on their beds along with a thoughtful welcome basket filled with snacks and water, pampering items like bubble bath and lotion, a weekend itinerary, a gift card for their morning coffee, and some comfy slippers or socks to wear at night.

• Plan a bridesmaids' and groomsmen's evening the weekend before the wedding. Tell them it will be a time to go over details, but surprise them with fun activities like facials, pedicures, golf lessons or tickets to the game. Give them their gifts over dinner.

• If you're presenting your attendants with jewelry or accessories to wear on your wedding day, it's a fun idea to give them these gifts at the final fittings of their gowns and tuxes so they can see their total look all put together.

• Plan to spend some special moments with your parents and grandparents the day of the wedding. Sit down with them for a cup of tea and ask them about their wedding memories and also ask their advice for a happy marriage. Give them their gifts along with hugs and kisses!

 

Enjoy!