I always envy brides who are able to effortlessly pull together an ensemble of complementary and matching themes and colors. For example, their dress compliments the linens, and the napkins and flowers go with their wedding colors and all of the wedding party’s attire. I’m hopeless when it comes to seeing the big picture and how everything goes together. The nice thing about Wedding Paper Divas is that you can purchase an entire matching set without having to think too much about it. Here’s an example of a stationery ensemble that would work well for any wedding.

Many brides wonder whether or not they should send save the date cards. While they are not absolutely necessary they are a great way to announce your engagement to friends and family. They are also especially important when you are planning a wedding that falls on a holiday weekend or is considered a “destination” for most of your guests. So, while not required they are a nice touch!

Often sent 4-5 months before your event, save the dates are also the first piece of stationery being sent to your guests. So, your card can really help set the tone for your event. When picking your save the date card, think about the theme that would best reflect your wedding:

Cultural Wedding

On/Near the Ocean

Traditional & Romantic

Modern & Contemporary (this also works for those of you who are undecided)

If you’re having an outdoor wedding like me, you may be spending much of your waking hours envisioning what the weather will be like on your special day. Don’t you wish you could predict things like that? If you’re getting married somewhere where the weather is pretty predictable and you’re not worried, you are very lucky. As for me, getting hitched in San Francisco during the summer is a little bit scary. Unlike other parts of the Bay Area, San Francisco summer’s have once been quoted by Mark Twain as being “the coldest winter [he has] ever spent.”

Wherever you are, check out Weather.com to help you ease some of the unknown. There you can type in your wedding date and see what the average highs and lows will be for your special day. They also offer valuable tips on ways to deal with the weather such as making your programs also function as fans in case of high heat or treading carefully on wet grass. Although you might not be able to control every little thing about your wedding, this site at least gives you the option of being prepared.

Another idea I had for a guest book makes use of your place cards. Guests can write little messages on the backs of their cards and drop them in pretty glass bowls. Later, cut the cards in half and display both your guest’s name next to the card with their message. This will make a beautiful and meaningful scrapbook. Store your wedding invitations, your place cards, and any other stationery item or keepsake to help you remember this day. Here are a few I love.

With less than a month left until my wedding day, I have to admit I’m getting just a little panicked. Okay maybe more like a lot! Especially since I’ve been undecided about a variety of things and one of them being the guest book. In Hawaii, a lot of couples use regular sign-in books for guests to fill out their name and addresses or have guests double-check their contact information on index cards. This is mainly for practical reasons-that way the couple can immediately send out their thank you cards without the fear of it not being sent.

The problem is that I love to do things differently and I’m definitely not practical. And I’d love to the photo booth idea that I wrote about a few posts ago, but while really cool, it was a little too expensive for our budget. So I have been debating for several months whether or not I should give in to the recent fad of the Polaroid guest book. You know the ones where someone takes a picture of your guests and then these photos go with their messages in a scrapbook? Well, you can get the entire kit with Polaroid camera, guest book and film as a set at beau coup and various other sites. The kit can get a little pricey which is why it’s taken me so long to decide.

Lucky for me, however, a friend who used this idea for her own wedding donated her camera to me. I found film at Target and will use photo corners to align guest’s pictures. Although time consuming, I think it’ll be worth it as a keepsake and to be able to match people’s messages with their faces. What kind of things are you doing for your guest book?

Yesterday I posted pictures from a vibrant orange and stunningly blue themed wedding. What I didn’t tell you was all the extras they included that really made their wedding stand out. The couple incorporated several surprises in the night that was a big hit with guests. One thing they did was rent a photo booth. A popular trend at weddings these days, guests practically ran over one another to get their pictures taken. Here are a few more pictures and one of Wedding Paper Divas’s own orange and blue creations.

Wedding signature drinks are becoming more and more popular. In fact, we noticed that Martha Stewart Weddings features a signature cocktail recipe at the end of each issue. And, why not!? Signature drinks are a great way to show your personality and play up your theme. Whether alcoholic or non, these are a great idea for any event.

Below is a stunning drink option that matches our Floral Flurry wedding invitations:

The Cointreaupolitan

I went to another wedding this past weekend and it really showed me how color can bring energy to an event. The bride chose deep blue with vibrant orange to create a bold, modern look. Orange tones brought a sense of fun and liveliness while the brilliant blue brought a contemporary and formal contrast to everything from the bridal party’s dreamy blue dresses with tangerine sash to the tables decorated with bright orange blooms and sparkling blue napkins topped off with juicy orange daisies. Nothing about this wedding was ordinary. If you’re looking for a way to infuse excitement and liveliness into your wedding day, add this color combo into your decor.

If so, you’re probably like me, excited and can’t wait until Sex in the City hits the big screen! Expected to come out on May 30th, the anticipation is growing, excitement is running high with everyone waiting to see what happens to our favorite TV girlfriends.

If you’re still getting over Aidan or wish you could be Carrie, why not throw a Sex in the City themed bachelorette party? Get a few of your closest girlfriends together for martinis and lots of gossip and gab. And invite them all with one of these perfectly suited party invitations!

By guest blogger Geeta Sachdeva
Next weekend is Mother’s day. How about taking the opportunity to get some wedding stress off your mind? Plan a wonderful day with your Mom. Remember that these past few months have probably been a whirlwind for her as well. So why not involve her in the planning process, seek her advice and make her feel that you value her opinion? Make the most of this time, and tell her the wedding of your dreams will be incomplete without her support.

A great idea would be to give her a handmade Mother’s day gift that shows how much she means to you. A personalized photo album would be great for showcasing your childhood memories.

Another cool idea would be to have two cards in contrasting colors placed on adjacent pages, using one as a frame for pictures or memorabilia and the other for writing comments! (I got the Wild Grass Wedding Reception Cards in chocolate and soft pink from Wedding Paper Divas.)

Here is a page from my scrapbook. I hope it inspires you!

Image courtesy: Matteus Pan