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)!

Parisian Week Trend: Queen for a Day

A colleague of mine just got back from Paris, where she attended an amazing wedding show, the Salon du Mariage at the Carrousel du Louvre. She shared all her trend, inspiration and idea discoveries with me and my team — and we're so excited to pass them along to you on this week's blog.

I'll be highlighting Parisian trends in wedding design, décor and style, and I'll also be showing you how Jean M can help you incorporate those trends and make your wedding "fantastique!"

PLUS — as a special "merci" for reading our Parisian Week blogs, we're giving away one of our fabulous, Eiffel Tower Centerpieces. All you have to do to be entered to win is leave us a comment and let us know how you'd incorporate these Parisian trends into YOUR wedding. We'll randomly select a winner and will notify them via a blog post next week.

______________________

 

Parisian fashion and event designers have always had their fingers on the pulse of what women want. And from all the glitz and glam they presented at the Salon du Mariage, it's evident that the hearts of today's brides are absolutely a-flutter about being "Queen for a Day!"

 

1,2. There were dramatic, regal looks from head to toe with gowns of lavish layers, splashes of sparkle, fluffy feathers and rows of ruffles, and looks were finished with neo-classical style, lace-up shoes to match!

3,4. Single, add-on elements absolutely screamed modern royalty — like delicately feathered boas draped over shoulders or Elizabethan-style neck ruffs paired with ultra-contemporary gowns.

5. No royal wedding would be complete without Prince Charming, right? The Parisians went whimsical and featured Monsieur Frog prominently — even on centerpieces!

6. Speaking of Prince Charming, there was nary a traditional black rental tux in sight for the Parisian grooms of 2010. Oh no. They were decked in rich, creamy brocade jackets with satin ascots...

7. ...and in dapper top hats, walking sticks, cutaway jackets and pinstriped pants worthy of attending their "queen!"

So how do you turn these Parisian dreams into your wedding reality? Start with an invitation worthy of your royal-style wedding.

Love the lavish, layered look? Our "Audrey" wedding invitation features three fabulously embossed layers all tied together with a satin ribbon. Also check out the coordinating Audrey table number cards and Audrey menu cards. Ooh la la!

 

Dreaming of a designer look for your wedding? Jean M is proud to present fashion designer Monique Lhuillier's wedding invitations and stationery, created especially for the bride who wants classic, elegant invitations with a modern twist. Monique Lhuillier’s invitations were inspired by her bridal fashions and incorporate only the finest papers and printing processes. Her "Timeless Filigree" wedding invitation has a crest-like design at the top to tie in with your royal theme.

 

Accessorize your ceremony with the richest brocades and regal, satin tassels of our Silver Brocade Collection. The flower basket, ring pillow, guest book and pen will set an ultra-elegant tone for your romantic moments.

 

And then add dazzle to your reception with our crown-inspired regal flutes, regal serving set and regal candle stand set.

Crown every personalized item with our crown design! Emblazon your favor boxes, wedding napkins, menu cards, place cards and more.

 

And while you're at it, crown yourself, too! Add this sparkling gold wedding tiara to your hairstyle and you're to be an even more beautiful center of attention.

 

Want your own touch of whimsy? Jean M's version of Monsieur Frog — a sweet, stuffed frog ring pillow — is just awaiting your kiss and "I Do!"

 

Au revoir — until Wednesday, when we'll be back with more chic wedding trends from Paris!

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!

 

My ideas for saving money on your wedding invitations

For some brides, the invitation is everything and they’ll dedicate a large part of their budget for the expensive, lavish, professionally printed and assembled invitations of their dreams.

But for other brides, while having a beautiful invitation is still important, they don’t want to spend a fortune.

For brides in the second category, here are my best ideas for saving money while still having beautiful, unique wedding invitations guests will never forget.

Order your invitations unassembled. We can print all the elements of your invitation ensemble and provide you with all the pieces you’ll need, and you can put your invitations together. Make it a party! Invite your bridesmaids and friends over for a night of good food and refreshments and your invitation assembly with go smoothly and enjoyably.

Lose the layers. Wedding invitation cards are available in gorgeous colors and can be printed with great designs and in ink colors that will create a colorful, unique look. Guests won’t even miss the multiple layers and ribbons and you’ll save money.

  

DIY. Do it yourself wedding invitations can be a good thing - if you’re creative and have the time. We make it easy for you with pre-cut cardstock in the perfect sizes for you to create your invitations, place cards, programs, menu cards and more.  And, to add a little something extra, add a rhinestone, pearl or ribbon. Ribbons are sold on the roll, so you can use it for your invitations, and then use the rest for decorating!

Order it all together. You may think that price comparing and ordering different items from different sites will save you money, but in reality, it’s more of a hassle and a risk. You’ll end up paying for shipping over and over. You won’t be guaranteed that paper or ribbon colors with coordinate. And paper stock quality varies from company to company. Jean M guarantees your satisfaction and the highest quality — and beautiful items for your wedding at prices you can afford!  Plus - you can relax knowing that all the Jean M paper colors match the ribbon colors, perfectly.  Coordinate away ladies.

Enjoy!

I share my best wedding planning ideas with Brides.com!

I was honored to share some of my wedding planning ideas in a recent Brides.com interview. Click through to their site to read the article and get great ideas about wedding favors, wedding invitation colors and what you really shouldn’t worry about at all!

 

Read Interview

Enjoy!

Let us address your envelopes so you have more time to enjoy being the bride!

Planning a wedding can be a full-time job, and when you add planning to your already full-time LIFE, you can get pretty overwhelmed.

The good news? Jean M is here to help! Our Custom Envelope Addressing Service provides you with affordable, professionally printed invitation envelopes — it saves you time and hassle and allows you to check one whole task off your to-do list!

Professionally printed envelopes provide a polished touch to your wedding invitations, and reduce errors that can happen during hand-addressing. Our Customized Envelope Addressing Service will address your inner and outer envelopes with your guests' names and include your return address in the upper left corner of the outer envelope. Addressing will be printed in the lettering style you selected for your invitation and in most ink colors to coordinate with your invitation.

And the cost ranges from just $45-$87 per 100 envelopes — a small price to pay, considering the value of your time and your sanity during this busy wedding planning period.

Also, if you want to use this service, please DO NOT place your invitation or save the date order until after you contact us - that way we can be sure we print your envelopes exactly the way you want.

Find out all about our Custom Envelope Addressing Service now!

We are always here to help.  Please call if you have questions - 1-800-766-8595.

Style made easy — just choose your personalization!

I can't wait for you to see our new, fresh and stylish save the dates and invitations available in the great designs and combinations shown here! We've selected the paper color and design for you — just personalize them with your choice of ink, wording and font. Visit www.myjeanm.com for more of these great designs — look for the "JM" symbol shown to find them and start personalizing!

 

Gray Damask Save the Date Cards

A damask pattern adds a dramatic flourish to this gray save the date!

Pink Floral Save the Date Cards

Sweet, tropical-style flowers add a touch of paradise to this petite save the date — perfect for destination weddings!

 

Personalize your save the dates FREE with…

• up to two ink colors

• up to two fonts

• your choice of wording

• your choice of colorful envelopes

                                             

Brown Damask Wedding Invitation Cards

Vintage-style damask is given a contemporary look in this invitation's design — perfect for your stylish wedding in the fall or anytime of year!

Aqua and Black Damask Layered Wedding Invitations

Aqua damask and black paper — elegant, eye-catching and oh-so you!

Personalize your invitations FREE with…

• up to two ink colors

• up to two fonts

• your choice of wording

• your choice of colorful inner envelopes and outer envelopes

Add a unique touch with personalized ooh la color envelopes accented with your wedding color!

Also check out our colorful, coordinating napkins and favor boxes to complete your wedding theme!

High-quality cocktail napkins and dinner napkins are personalized FREE in a variety of options to suit your style:

• your choice of 180 designs

• your names and wedding date

• your choice of 66 monogram styles

• a fun phrase or saying with your names and/or wedding date

Choose our pacific blue napkins or our espresso napkins shown here — or one of our other beautiful colors to coordinate with YOUR day!

 

Purchase our high-quality, two piece favor boxes blank for accenting with ribbon or seals, or order the boxes personalized FREE in a variety of options to suit your style:

• your choice of 180 designs

• your names and wedding date

• your choice of 180 designs plus personalization

• your choice of 66 monogram styles

• personalization is printed in your choice of 25 foil colors and 38 fonts.

Choose our cream shimmer favor boxes or black favor boxes shown here — or one of our other beautiful box colors to coordinate with YOUR day! Mix and match the lids and bottoms of our two-piece favor boxes for impact.

 

Enjoy!

Money-winning and money-saving ideas!

I just wanted to remind you of two great opportunities to win AND save money with Jean M!

Opportunity #1

Our new Designer Search opens today!

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.

Download our application today and start designing!

Download Designer Search Application

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.

 

Opportunity #2

Our Semi-Annual Sale has been EXTENDED through July 19! Shop now and SAVE 20% on your entire order.

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!