Remember
— 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.
Good luck!
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!
You
have planned every last detail for what will undoubtedly be a beautiful wedding
reception, but have you given any thought to entertaining your guests? Here are
a few tips to help you throw a fun and energized reception that all of your
guests will enjoy.
Lounge
areas set apart from the music and the dining area are all the rage. Provide
couches, chairs and floor cushions for guests to gather and relax and visit
with each other.
•
Set up a gaming room for gambling fans to try their luck and take a break from
the reception action. Provide billiard tables, casino games and a poker table
with a dealer.
•
Have the videographer set up a stationery camera so guests can record their own
messages to the bride and groom throughout the evening.
•
During cocktail hour, consider offering a dance class. Guests will have fun
learning and it will get them in the mood to dance later on. It also might help
coax a few of those shy closet-dancers out onto the floor.
•
Place a card with the words to your first dance song at each place setting so
guests can serenade you during that magical first dance.
•
Try candy instead of cake. Set up a candy buffet that is sure to entice every
taste bud. It adds to your wedding décor AND it’s a fun way for guests to
mingle and satisfy their sweet cravings.
•
Write place cards with a few words that describe each guest. They will
appreciate the thought and you will have a blast describing your friends and
family with words like “super mom” or “wildly entertaining.”
Now, use your creative side and come up with some
unique-to-you wedding reception ideas for your fabulous reception!
Enjoy!
Saving money and
paying attention to your budget doesn’t mean you have to give up all of your
dreams. It just means thinking about things differently and working those
dreams into realistic wedding plans.
1. The
dream: a
big, posh hotel wedding.
The
beautiful, money-saving alternative: A celebration in a smaller, chic restaurant.
You’ll still have a great dinner and superb atmosphere at great savings, versus holding your wedding at a full-service hotel banquet hall. You’ll also probably
get more unique menu options and more personalized service if the restaurant
is independent and locally owned.
And you’re more
likely to be able to bring in items that are important to you, like a cake
baked by the baker of your choice, special wine, personalized napkins and your own toasting glassware.
2. The
dream:
Riding with your entire party in a stretch limo from ceremony to reception.
The
beautiful, money-saving alternative: Being whisked off, just you and your new
hubby, in a friend’s sports car. The ride will be much more romantic — and it’s
a great opportunity to surprise your new spouse with a special gift. Riding in a friend’s car or renting a small car for just the two of you will
save you hundreds and hundreds of dollars over booking a top-of-the-line limo.
Just be sure that everyone in your wedding party does have transportation to
the reception site; arrange for family members and friends with cars to provide
rides.
photo: Clark Art Photography • clarkartphoto.com
3. The
dream:
A wedding bash in the heart of the city.
The
beautiful, money-saving reality: An elegant wedding with all the trimmings in
your hometown. You can still have everything you want to make your wedding special
when you host it in your hometown, but it will cost you a fraction of the bill
you’d be presented with if you’d hold it in the city on a weekend. You'll also
have the opportunity to take advantage of activities, services and products
that make your wedding unique, like trolley transportation in a historic town,
a getaway in a decorated boat at the lake or providing local treats for favors.
Enjoy!
When it comes to your
wedding budget, it’s all about balancing. There are big decisions to make and
priorities to set. Here are some of my ideas for trimming costs in certain
areas so you can free up some funds for items on your dream list!
1. Keep
the bubbly for yourselves.
Alcohol is expensive,
and champagne is the most costly of all. When you skip the bubbly altogether or only serve it to the head table, you’ll save hundreds of dollars. Your guests
won’t miss having champagne when you’re already providing a well-stocked bar;
they’ll be happy to raise whatever is in their glasses in honor of your
marriage.
Just be sure that YOU
raise stylish toasting flutes, whether you’re toasting with champagne or not!
2.
Let’s do brunch.
Who says your wedding
has to be in the evening? If you’re not night owls and you don’t plan on having
a wedding dance, consider having your wedding on a Saturday morning and serving
a lovely brunch afterwards. You’ll be almost guaranteed to get the wedding date
and venue you want since evenings are the most popular times for weddings, and
you’ll certainly save money serving a brunch rather than a full dinner. And
having your wedding earlier in the day means you get to leave on your honeymoon
that much sooner! Gotta love that!
3. Keep
the party small.
One of the most
important decisions you’ll make is who will be in your wedding party. It may be
easiest to just throw up your hands and invite ALL your friends to stand up for
you, but think about the costs associated — for you and for them. When you have
only one or two attendants, you’ll save money on bouquets, boutonnieres,
accessories, hotel rooms and bridal party gifts. Use the money you saved to throw an even better party for all your guests.
Photo: Clark Art Photography • clarkartphoto.com
PLUS There’s still time to
save during our Rolling Discount Sale! Now you can save 10% on your order. But hurry, this offer will roll on... Click here for the details!
Enjoy!
Your
wedding cake is like a canvas for you to show your personality, your style and
your creativity — in everything from the colors, the decorations and the shape.
So don’t forget about
the ultimate personal touch to your cake: an engraved, crystal-like acrylic
cake top!
They’re
as far away as you can get from stiff, old-fashioned couple cake top figurines
and as today as you are.
We’ve
come up a great selection of personalization options for you, so you can make
your cake top your wedding cake’s crowning glory.
How
about a cake top engraved with a big, bold initial — your new last name
initial, that is!
A
touching verse surrounds your monogram with meaning.
Design
your own cake top! Choose your monogram or a design and your wedding cake to be
engraved for a one-of-a-kind look. Choose square cake tops like these or…
…round
cake tops with the same personalization options!
A
touching verse backs your names and wedding date. How romantic.
Want to see more options? Click here to shop
all of our personalized wedding cake toppers!
Enjoy!
Escort cards and place cards
— what are they and how in the world do you use them? Don’t worry, Jean M has
everything you need to get your guests to their reception places easily and
stylishly!
First things first: the definitions.
Escort
Cards are printed with the guest’s name and the table number they are to be seated
at. They are set up at the entrance to your reception, usually alphabetically
so guests can find their cards easily.
Guests then take their escort cards to their
tables (which you have beautifully and prominently numbered with printed table
number cards, and they find their…
Place
Cards,
which are written with the guest’s name and are placed at their individual
place settings.
Be creative — display your cards in rhinestone
frames that double as favors!
Or coordinate the two cards by having them
printed with the same design and printed in the same font and ink color. Mix
and match paper colors for a colorful look or go monochromatic for classic style. Just find the place cards you love the most, personalize, and add them to your shopping tote, and return to the item to personalize for the other purpose!
Don’t want the two-step process for guests, or just want
to save a little money? Just use escort cards printed with the guest’s table
number. When guests arrive at their tables and see no individual place cards,
they will know to seat themselves at the table.
It’s always a good
time to pay attention to your wedding budget. Trimming some of the little costs
here and there will allow you to splurge on the things you really want for your
big day — like perhaps that tiara that makes you feel like a princess, golden toasting flutes for stunning wedding toasts or a personalized aisle runner to make a grand
entrance!
1.
Think BIG when it comes to flowers.
“Big” and
“money-saving” usually don’t go together, unless you’re talking flowers! Think
about it this way: when you have bigger blossoms, you’ll need fewer to create
big, lush bouquets and arrangements. A single hydrangea can take up as much
space as five roses — and will cost much less. And remember the decorating
power of ribbon. Even the simplest, least expensive blossoms will look
beautiful when wrapped in gorgeous ribbon. Order ribbon by the roll
for great savings!
2. Plan
an off-season seasonal wedding.
Have a favorite golf
course? Consider booking your wedding there — but in the winter. Venues like
golf clubs and arboretums may offer great discounts on weddings held in the
of-season months. Then cozy up your winter event with lots of candles and seasonal decorations.
3. Skip
the cake.
When you forego the
towering, lavishly decorated, multi-layered wedding cake, you open up a huge
chunk of your budget to be used on other priorities. But that doesn’t mean you
have to let your guests go dessert-less after dinner. Arrange for a dessert bar
made up of dainty servings of your favorite treats so guests can help
themselves, or send guests home with beautifully decorated or homemade cookies
(Mom’s favorite recipe?) in cellophane bags
tied with pretty ribbon
and personalized with seals. This is definitely becoming a trend!
Save even more money — take advantage of our Rolling Discount Sale! The sooner you order, the
more you'll save. Starts Friday!
Enjoy!
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 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!
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.
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!
