Fabulous tips for using Jean M’s beautiful ribbons!

Here's one of my favorite decorating secrets: bulk ribbon!

Our ribbon is available in great quantities — some on huge, 100-yard rolls — for great savings AND endless decorating possibilities.

Ribbon is so versatile. It can be used throughout your entire wedding, from accenting your save-the-dates and invitations right down to adding the last detail to your favors.

You can choose the same color ribbon you selected for your invitations to use when decorating your entire event, add in complementary color to mix and match and give your look a splash, or choose an entirely new color for a fresh look at your reception.

With more than 300 ribbon options to choose from, you're sure to find the perfect accent for your wedding.

Here are some of my favorite tips for decorating with ribbon:

• accent the chairs or pews at your ceremony with beautiful bows

• tie ribbon to tree branches outside your venue for a fluttering welcome

• wrap ribbon around wedding programs to bring in your wedding colors

• provide your florist with rolls of ribbon for tying around centerpieces, floral arrangements, corsages and boutonnieres

• use ribbon to add a splash of color to your centerpiece candles, table number stands, menu cards, place cards and other printed items at the reception

• ask your baker to include colorful ribbon in your cake top or to wrap it around the layers of the cake for extra beauty

• accent favors with knots and bows tied from layered colors of ribbon

• create colorful sashes for your wedding gown and your bridesmaids' gowns to change the look of the dresses for the reception

Be creative — and enjoy!

Posted at 07:00 AM in DIY Wedding, Embellishments, Ribbons, Unique Wedding Ideas | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

What’s hot now? Late summer weddings! Here are some great ideas for keeping your cool.

Late summer is a beautiful time to get married. The sunshine, the outdoors, the surf, the sand — all add to the appeal of your warm-weather celebration.

But while the colors, the atmosphere and the seasonal beauty can make your wedding look hot, you certainly don’t want you or your guests to get overheated. Here are a few ideas for keeping your cool.

Provide chilled bottles of water, juice and soda for guests during the ceremony and reception. Dress up the bottles with personalized seals, favor tags and ribbon.

You can also set up a refreshment stand where guests can help themselves to fresh lemonade. Add your personal touches to the spread with ribbon in your wedding colors, personalized seals, printed cards listing the refreshments served and personalized napkins.

If your wedding is at the beach or on an uneven lawn, do your guests a favor by providing flip-flops for them to wear. They’ll appreciate not having their heels dig into the grass or getting sand in their good shoes.

Guests can make their own cool breezes with pretty fans printed with your program wording. Tie a ribbon to the fan handles for a custom look.

Enjoy!

Posted at 07:00 AM in Embellishments, Outdoor Weddings, Ribbons, Unique Wedding Ideas, Wedding Trends | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

What’s hot now? Outdoor ceremonies! Here’s how to make yours beautiful.

Getting married outside is so romantic — nature provides the décor, the atmosphere and the beauty for you! But you’ll still want to add your personal touches to your ceremony location, whether it’s in your backyard, a park, a field or a formal garden.

First of all, think of your guests’ comfort. If your wedding is in the morning or afternoon, make sure to place chairs or benches in the shade so guests don’t swelter in the sun or get sunburned. If no natural shade is available, provide parasols guests can use, or set up a pole or frame tent to create shade. Also provide guests with programs printed on fans to keep them cool.

Define your ceremony space to create a sense of intimacy in the great outdoors. Make the most of the surrounding trees by hanging beautiful ribbons from their branches. The ribbons blowing in the breeze will look romantic, elegant and welcoming.

Mark your ceremony entrance, light up the surround area or edge your aisle with candles in pretty, wire lanterns. The open design of the lanterns will blend in with your natural surroundings beautifully. Also decorate with candles in glass vases filled with sand to protect the flames from blowing out.

Speaking of flames blowing out — have you ever tried to keep an unprotected candle lit outside? It’s almost impossible! That’s why I suggest having a unity sand ceremony instead of lighting a unity candle at an outdoor wedding. The symbolism of two lives joining is just as lovely and meaningful with blended sand as it is with a lit candle. Choose containers and colorful sand that match your wedding colors and theme.

Make a grand entrance — and protect your shoes and dress — with a unique, personalized aisle runner. Your processional will be so memorable!

Let everyone be a “flower girl” at your outdoor wedding! Hang pretty purses filled with petals on your chairs and invite guests to strew them over the aisle before your processional or to toss them over you after the ceremony. Everyone will have fun taking part in your ceremony in such a fun way.

Enjoy!

Posted at 07:00 AM in Green Wedding Ideas, Ribbons, Unique Wedding Ideas, Wedding Ceremony, Wedding Trends | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

DIY is beautiful and fun with Jean M cardstock!

Are you a do-it-yourself bride? Jean M has everything you need to create invitations, menu cards, place cards, programs and so much more!

Our cardstock comes in so many shapes, styles and colors. Choose pockets for a unique presentation, then go with colorful scrapbook papers to add the perfect accents.

Take a peek at this idea — I think it’s absolutely adorable! We took a flat card and printed it with each guest’s name and seat assignment, added a sweet bird cut from our scrapbook papers, then made little leaf-shaped tags for drink tickets from our imprintable sheets.