Jean M Blog

Parisian Week Trend: Black, White and Bedazzled!

** Don't forget to leave us a comment for your chance to win our fantastique Eiffel Tower Centerpiece! Today's your last day to enter.

Black and white weddings have been popular for years, but leave it to Parisian designers to take the trend to a whole new level! Bling and brilliance accented everything from gowns to table settings in a look that could only be described as "bedazzling!"

1. The scene was set with strands of crystals dangling from the ceiling in shimmering curtains. Sparkling crystal chandeliers were the focal points for reception tables and other décor.

2,3. Black, white and bedazzled – evident in this table design featuring black hydrangeas, crystal chandeliers with black candles and handsful of crystals scattered among the settings. Even the menu cards and place cards had tiny rhinestone accents on them.

4. Bejeweled gowns were a hit at the fashion show, whether they were totally blinged out...

5. ...or set with a hint of sparkle that still caught the light.

6. In love? Spell it out in crystal beads on your dress for the world to see!

How do you add Parisian dazzle your weddings? Add sparkle, glitz and glamour to every element, from invitations to favors!

Go dramatic and glamorous with our Jasmin custom layered wedding invitations in black and white paper layers — notice the rhinestone accents!

Remind you of those curtains of dangling crystals in the photo above? We thought so, too! Monique Lhuillier's "Delicate Inspiration" invitation  translates the look onto gorgeous, heavy paper and sparkling silver foil.

Top off your dazzling wedding day look with a headband-style wedding tiara set with a multitude of rhinestones.

 

Want to add a little bling to everything? We don't blame you! Use our adhesive rhinestone add-ons for a sparkly finishing touch for your wedding invitations, wedding programs, menu cards, place cards, thank you notes, wedding favors and so much more! Also use our pearl add-ons for variety.

Make each place setting dazzling with place cards tucked into rhinestone-studded frames that guests can use to hold a special photo after the wedding.

 

It's all in the presentation! Set up your drinks station with crystal toasting glasses and black napkins printed with a toasting design in silver foil set on silver trays lined with blingey crystals. Eye-catching!

 

All eyes will be on your and your cake when you cut it with this attention-getting, rhinestone handled serving set.

 

Send guests home with a little brilliant bling of their own! Swarovski crystal accented wine bottle stoppers make a perfect gift that will recall your dazzling wedding for years.

 

I hope you have enjoyed our little trip to Paris this week and have gotten beaucoup ideas for adding high-fashion style to your own. Au revoir until next week!

P.S. Because we're thankful for YOU, we're offering you three ways to save, beginning TODAY! Offer expires November 29^th. Hurry — order and start saving now!

 

Parisian Week Trend: Hidden Surprises

There were beautiful fashions, unique decorating ideas and eye-catching trends at the Salon du Mariage at the Carrousel du Louvre. But there was also something...else. Everything had a little something...extra. Whether it was a layer, a removable train, a stunning hemline or a fun way to present favors, the Salon was like a treasure hunt full of "Hidden Surprises!"

1,2. Big, beautiful ball gowns straight out of a fairy tale were draped in layers of tulle, accented with silk flowers and feathers, shimmering with sparkles. And then the magic continued — those skirts could be removed once the grand entrance was over and the party began!

3. Even traditional gowns had a little bit of flair...and a lot of dare! Gowns were beautifully styled with all the trimmings in the front, but when they were turned around — Wow! The bare, the bling...beautifully daring!

4. The favorite decorating accent? Glass cloches. Small ones were used to top tiny floral arrangements holding place cards. Mixed sizes and shapes were clustered as centerpieces, topping objects that matched the theme (flowers, seashells, etc.). Big ones covered stacked goodies on cake plates. Hidden under glass, the treats were even more enticing!

5. Demure for the ceremony, still beautiful for the party — all it takes is a wrap in an eye-popping color that can be removed later to show the details of the dress.

6. Like the lavish layers of tulle in this skirt aren't enough, there are silken flowers and butterflies hidden among the folds. How secret-garden sweet!

7. The best of both worlds — a dress that's short and stylish in front with a long train in back that still feels "bridal."

How do these trends translate to your wedding? Add little surprises — from invitations to favors — to keep guests delighted throughout your entire celebration!

A little peek-a-boo and a LOT fashion-forward! Our Zoe invitation is held in a clear, plastic wrap accented with bright white flowers.

A beautiful wrap and a lavish ribbon — opening this Lindsey invitation is like unwrapping a gift!  PLUS - you get to select the folder color, inside invitation card, and ribbon color, and personalize to fit the formality with your choice of design, fonts and ink colors.

If the short-long hemline dress caught your eye, you'll LOVE this "Regal Presentation" wedding invitation  from Monique Lhuillier. The short-fold, embossed jacket and two ribbons make a definite fashion statement.

It looks like a cake — but it's really a circle of beautiful, wedge favor boxes!  Display them on a cake plate and hide candies, nuts, a gourmet chocolate or mints inside to complete the surprise treat. They're also available in mocha satin to coordinate with your wedding.

It's a little touch, but it will mean so much — add this tiny memory bouquet frame to your bouquet to keep good thoughts of a loved one close to your heart during the ceremony.

Only you and your groom will know that underneath that elegant exterior is a Wild Thing! Be a little daring and wear an animal print garter under your gorgeous gown for a touch of fun.

Loving the surprise-in-the-back look? Check out our brand new invitations featuring printing on the front AND the back! They're not only stylish, they're a great value — you can print all your reception information on the back, eliminating the need for a separate card. These invitations are coming soon to the website; look for them after the first of the year.

 

Au revoir — until Friday’s Parisian post (which will have you dazzled)!

Enclosure Cards: The rest of your stationery ensemble

Your invitation is the thing that introduces your wedding style to your guests. It's tells them the who, what, when, where and why of your wedding.

But how do you let guests know about the "how do I get there?" and the "where do I stay" and the "what's for dinner"?

Enclosure cards! They come in every Jean M paper color to match your invitations, and many enclosure sets were created to match our new invitation designs. They can be printed in a variety of formats to coordinate your entire wedding stationery look. Here's a breakdown of the types of enclosure cards available and why you need them.

Reception Cards: You’ve worked so hard to create a reception look that will reflect your personalities and will make guests feel welcome. Show your excitement about the celebration that will continue after the ceremony by inviting guests to join you. Reception cards are just the thing to accomplish this. The cards list the times and locations of the reception, dinner, dance and other events.

 

Respond Cards: These practical little cards become fun when you start receiving them in the mail from guests, tallying their responses and reading their little notes about how much they’re looking forward to celebrating with you. You may also include menu choices on the respond card to provide accurate information to your caterer. Jean M offers you the unique option of ordering colorful envelopes for your respond cards.The price of respond cards includes printing the envelopes with your return address. Be sure to place a coordinating stamp on each envelope for guests’ convenience.

 

Note Folders: Attention to detail is everything in making your wedding a success. When you choose folded note cards that coordinate with your stationery ensemble and use them for pre-wedding correspondence and thank you notes, you’ll be carrying through the tone of your wedding style. Notes may be ordered with your maiden name monogram (for pre-wedding notes and bridal shower thank you notes), with your married name monogram or with your names. Note folders are available with your choice of our unique colorful envelopes.

Direction and Accommodation Cards: You’d hate to have chosen the perfect ceremony and reception sites and have your guests not be able to find them, or not be able to book a hotel room for the weekend of your wedding. So make it easy for out-of-town guests to book hotel rooms and find your ceremony and reception sites by enclosing printed direction cards and accommodation cards with your invitations. Direction cards are printed with the directions you provide. For accommodation cards, include the name, address and telephone number or website of the hotel at which you’ve reserved rooms for guests, and the date by which they need to reserve rooms.

 

See? It's easy to keep your guests informed, included and welcomed to your wedding with enclosure cards! Decide which cards work best for your wedding style, select your paper colors and formats, and have fun sending those invitations!

 

Create a custom look for EVERY element of your wedding!

What will make your wedding stand out? The personal, custom touches you add throughout that will catch guests’ eyes and let them know you’ve thought of every detail!

Go ahead and customize your…

CANDLES!

You can add a personal touch to your centerpieces by adding your monogram to beautiful, ivory obelisk-shaped candles.

Make your unity candle ceremony even more special by customizing your unity candle with your monogram in your choice of color to coordinate with your wedding.

You can also personalize blended family candles and memorial candles for unforgettable style.

 

GLASSWARE!

Make your wedding toasts — for you AND your wedding party — extra special by raising engraved glassware.  Glasses may be engraved with your monogram or names and wedding date for a custom look.

Also order stylish, personalized stemless glassware to use at home after the wedding!

 

CAKE TOP!

Top your cake with individual style! Personalize your cake top with your names, monogram, a poem, a design — anything that makes a personal statement about YOU!

VASES!

Get personal with your decorations — place floral arrangements, decorative items, candles, favor treats and other creative items inside rectangular vases engraved with your monogram or design choice.

NAPKINS!

Make a custom style statement, right down to the napkins at your tables! Napkins are personalized in a variety of creative ways — names, monograms, designs or combinations of these — to add the perfect touch to your reception.

FAVORS!

How cute will your favors be? It’s up to you and your creativity! Choose your favor (box or bag, envelope or tin, etc.) and your personalization (ink or foil, monogram or names, design, etc.) and then fill them with delicious treats guests will rave about. Don't forget to accent with ribbon and personalized favor tags!

Customize to your heart’s content — and Enjoy!

Announcing The Jean M Designer Search — we’re looking for your best ideas!

Do you have great ideas?

A flair for design?

A talent for trend-setting?

Then the Jean M Designer Search is for YOU!

We’re looking for creative, fresh, fantastic new invitation designs to be added to the Jean M line — and we want your best ideas. If your invitation design is chosen, you’ll win a cash prize of up to $1,000 PLUS have your invitation featured in the Jean M product line.

We encourage you to submit as many designs as you like. All design specifications and details for the Designer Search are included in the application and the official rules. The winning designs will be selected by a panel of Jean M judges.

Top Design Prize: $1000

First Runner-Up Design Prize: $500

Second Runner-Up Design Prize: $250

All other designs selected will be purchased for $100 each

 The Jean M Designer Search

runs from July 15, 2009, through September 30, 2009.  

Winners will be contacted by October 15, 2009.

 All designs will be posted to this blog and all readers will be able to select their favorites. Visit the blog often to see what other designers are submitting and to find out what readers are loving.

 Good luck. We can’t wait to see your designs!

What’s hot now? Custom looks you create!

Check out what real brides are creating with help from Jean M!

Your wedding is all about YOU and your fiancé, and you’ll want every element to reflect your personalities, your love and your style. Adding custom touches to your invitations, accessories and more is a great way to show your individuality — and Jean M can help you every step of the way!

Here are just a few of the custom items we’ve helped our bride search winners create:

 

                             

Alexa, our 2007 Jean M Bride, asked us for a custom invitation — which is now available to you! We also took her ideas for custom place cards, table number cards and menu cards and created just what she wanted.

                                                             

Rhiannon, our 2008 Jean M Bride, also had ideas for the perfect invitation — and this one is available to you, too! We also designed custom flourishes and a peacock design (Jean M design: JM8210) in honor of her husband, Sandeep’s, heritage.

                                                                        

Denise, our 2008 Canadian Jean M Bride, wanted custom red and gold invitations for a tea ceremony in honor of her husband, Phil’s, Chinese heritage. No problem! We also suggested that she use the design for the tea ceremony on favor tags for a coordinating look.

But you don’t have to win the Jean M Bride Search to have us help you create a custom look. That’s where our Custom Design Service comes in. We love helping real brides take their dreams for their invitations and accessories and turn them into reality! We can print a custom format or design from your artwork (a recent bride wanted a gnome on her invitations — it was adorable!), accommodate your needs with pockets, even help you print a custom wedding itinerary.

Contact us anytime. We can’t wait to hear about your ideas!

Enjoy! ~Jean