Every bride and groom faces stress as their big day approaches. There is always some little detail that won’t work itself out. In my case, we faced the challenge of having a groomsmen who refused to wear a tuxedo. We tried everything we could think of to get him to conform, even made appointments for him at a local suit shop the day before the wedding, but it was hopeless. Many of my bridesmaids suggested that we kick him out of the bridal party altogether, but he was our friend and we wanted to include him.So, I had to learn to forgive his stubbornness and forget that all of our wedding pictures look like we are playing a game of “which one doesn’t belong?” I guess the lesson to learn is that if you are gonna put “black tie optional” on your wedding invitations, make sure you mean it! And to remember that when things are put in perspective, sometimes the little details really are just little challenges that shouldn’t ruin your affair.

I love flowers. Who doesn’t? But they sure are expensive. Although we are on a tight budget, having a few blossoms was important to me. For those of you looking to keep costs down, do some research to find flowers that are in season during your wedding. For example, peonies, tulips, lilacs and daisies are great for spring weddings, while chrysanthemums, hydrangeas, iris and zinnias are in bloom during summer. Dahlias like the ones below are available in fall, and daffodils, hollies and of course poinsettias are available during winter. There are also a variety of flowers that are available all year round like carnations, roses and orchids. Check with your florist for the best deals of the season.

I took a few photos while I was in Hawaii of centerpieces that I really liked. Not sure how much these would cost but they would match perfectly with my green color theme. Don’t you think they look so fresh and modern? Another way to incorporate flowers as a wedding theme is through floral stationery. I went to one wedding in Boston where the bride used dahlias like the one below on everything from her save the date cards to her invitations. And these vibrant blossoms were peppered throughout her ceremony and reception, from her cake to the centerpieces and everything in between.

A great idea would be to incorporate a favorite flower which can be weaved through the entire theme. Whatever flower you choose, I think that overall having a single element will make a huge statement about your wedding.

I think outdoor weddings are so pretty! That’s all I ever wanted for my wedding. Whether it was going to be at a beach or in a garden, that’s the only thing I ever dreamed about. When my dream became a reality however, I realized that there were a few challenges I didn’t initially think about. For example, the weather! For all you brides out there, who love an outdoor wedding as much as I do, remember to think of alternative indoor locations. Although I’m praying for a sunny day, we’re fortunate to have an indoor place just in case. Also, right now there are such great ways to counteract the various kinds of weather possibilities. Have a bucket filled with chic umbrellas to give out to guests for cover, or hand out cool bottled soft drinks as favors. Wedding Paper Divas has great place cards that could be used to tie around trendy bottles of pop. If you have a wine themed wedding and getting married in wine country, using their Wine Country place cards to hang on wine bottles would match perfectly with your theme and be so ultra-hip and cool.

Wine Country Place Cards

I’m leaving you with a few nature themed cards to get you inspired for your own outdoor wedding!

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it will be like to have a new last name. It’s so weird and something many of my girlfriends went giddy over while they were all engaged. I didn’t agonize over hyphenating it or not changing it at all. My full name is so long that adding another thing to it would be excruciating. And leaving my maiden name was never really an option for me. I wanted to change it as a kind of ritual. Anyway, I’ve been web surfing reading about all the things you have to do to go through this process. One thing I remember reading somewhere was that it is important to do all of your name changes on important stuff like your ID and passport before your honeymoon bound. With all the restrictions at airports these days, your vacation will end a lot sooner than you think if you don’t have the appropriate identification. It is another thing I need to think about in the midst of all the wedding planning. But good to know that there are kits you can buy to help you make all the necessary changes. Before I got that far, I realized suddenly that I really need to embrace my name as it is. Soon I will have a whole new name all together. It seems so strange to suddenly have that changed after it has been part of my identity my whole life. Then I realized how important my save the dates and wedding invitations are. I get to see my full name, maiden name and all, in fancy font and in print. That’s something I can treasure forever!

If your wedding invitations create the first impression your guests have of your big day, then the addressing of your envelopes is truly where it all begins. Your invitation should convey the same theme, style and spirit you’re planning for your special celebration and that includes your address style. Whether you’re planning something classic, contemporary or completely unique, the right invitation and address combination can create the excitement you want to inspire.

Traditional calligraphy is a sumptuous and beautiful handcrafted option for wedding invitations. Couples generally have guests’ addresses written in calligraphy on the inner and outer envelopes. The return address is usually printed on the envelope flap. If you’re having a calligrapher address your envelopes, we suggest ordering them in advance. When your invitations arrive, your gorgeous envelopes will be addressed and ready to go.

Depending on your budget, traditional calligraphy is a perfect choice for small, intimate events. You can choose digital calligraphy that’s produced on a computer and printer, but nothing compares to the exquisite elegance and artistry a professional calligrapher can create with classic pen and ink. A Diva delight this season is Laura Hooper’s divine calligraphy and charming, illustrated maps.

I was recently reading an old issue of Martha Stewart weddings that I had lying around when I came across the cutest wedding that I had ever seen! In 2006, Minhee Park (currently Minhee Cho, who is also one of our favorite Wedding Paper Divas designers) and her fiancé, Truman Cho, threw a wedding with a school-house theme. The article, titled “grade-school sweethearts” initially caught my eye because it sounded like it would resemble the story of how my husband and I met. And boy did it! Minhee and Truman met in the 4th grade (so did my husband and I) and didn’t date until 14 years later (we waited 8). When I saw the dozens of great ideas in the article from using apples for place cards and offering favor bags filled with school supplies to sending invitations on notebook paper, I was so jealous! I mean, I loved my wedding, but why didn’t I think of that! What unique theme is out there that specifically fits you and your wedding?

By guest blogger Geeta Sachdeva

Do you have a lot of out of town guests coming to your wedding? If so, providing them with directions and maps are not only a thoughtful gesture but necessary to prevent your guests from getting lost. Here are some tips to help guests have an easy, no-fuss time getting to your wedding.

1. Include separate enclosures with directions, accommodations and flight information. Directions cards are a great way to help all your guests with locations that are difficult to find.

2. Double check that the driving route is accurate and the landmark details are current.

3. Keep in mind that just because you send them instructions, doesn’t mean your guests will remember to bring them. Always arrange for extras available at the ceremony site.

4. Keep the theme of your stationery consistent by choosing directions cards in the same family as the rest of your wedding suite.

5. Include the phone number of your wedding site, as well as the contact information of people who are assisting with your wedding such as a coordinator or family member.

6. Lastly, to really go the extra mile, create a gift bag for out of towners that includes a welcome note, a schedule of wedding events, and activities, a city guide, and a little souvenir unique to the area. This shows how much you appreciate your guests traveling such a long distance.

Follow these steps and guests will not only get to your wedding with little hassle but they will feel special and appreciated.

Lime Grosgrain Directions Cards

I love the look of rice thrown or petals tossed in the air! Brides look so pretty in pictures that capture falling roses and rice which looks like snowfall in photographs. As a child, I would think about this scene over and over in my head. Now with the chance to plan my own wedding, I find out that the site I’m getting married at does not allow either! While I was initially bummed, it also forced me to find creative ways to still keep the romantic mood of the day. A lot of sites, especially if they are historical sites like mine’s is, want to keep their locations clean. With other brides-to-be in the same boat, I hope you’ll find some inspiring ideas to help you with this minor obstacle. I’ve thought about having bubbles blown by guests which makes whimsical photographs and would be fun for kids. And because I couldn’t shake the idea of falling rose petals, I was ecstatic to see that Wedding Paper Divas has a wedding suite designed with this image. Don’t you think their Falling Petals wedding invitation in Black Russian is so elegant and pretty?

Falling Petals

By guest blogger Geeta Sachdeva

A bridal shower is a beautiful tradition of friends and family coming together and literally showering the prospective bride with gifts to help her set up her first home. The celebration is customarily hosted by the maid of honor or the bridesmaids. It may also be held by a relative, a close friend or the mother of the bride to be. Ideally, the hostess should mail the shower invitations 3-4 weeks before the shower.

Although traditional bridal showers are still popular, a growing trend is a prenuptial party for the engaged pair. Showers are no longer strictly for women and can honor both the bride and the groom. Cocktails, evening parties and barbecues lend themselves nicely to this new option.

A bridal shower with a modern twist deserves a complementary, contemporary invitation. Wedding Paper Divas offers a wide variety of exclusive invitations that are fully customizable so you can easily incorporate your own creative ideas to complement the unique style and theme of your shower. A popular unisex design this season is our cheerful Bubble invitation.

Bubble: Plum

I’m fortunate to have had two bridal showers, one with friends and the other for my fiancé and me with family. It was touching to see the effort displayed by all the people I loved-the handmade favors, the decorations, and the sweet gifts. One of my friends brought a miniature Christmas tree and had everyone write their advice and wishes for me on white cards with tiny ornament bulbs attached.

The creativity and the thoughtfulness wowed me and brought tears to my eyes. Although I never really enjoy being the center of attention, I admit that it was nice to feel so loved. When I look back on those two events now, what really strikes me is the details that made the event come together. My cousin decorated my shower with red and pink streamers and kitchen supplies, and friends each brought their own favors and games to the party. I think that these little touches really made me feel special. When I look at all the bridal shower and bachelorette party invitations it brings back great memories of my showers.

If you have a friend in mind who’s getting married soon, make party invitations part of the theme. It’s a great way to help make the bride-to-be feel like a queen! The Hearts bridal shower invitation in Lime is so timely with Valentine’s Day coming up and reminds me of falling in love. You know when you can’t stop thinking of that certain someone and find yourself doodling hearts nonstop? The Martini bachelorette party invitations are perfect for girl’s night out. I wish I saw them before my friend got married. They’re so ultra-hip and so “Sex in the City!” And if you really want to keep with the theme, get some great matching shower favors. My friends were so sweet to spend the time to make my favors. But for those of you who can’t, matching mint tins are really cute way to add something extra to the shower.