A:  The line after the ‘M’ is meant for your guests to fill in Mr, Mrs, Ms, etc. followed by their name. For example, a completed response card would look like this:
 
Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

Some guests may neglect to write in their names on the response card, or they may write illegibly. To avoid having to make phone calls to determine who the mystery guest is, number your guest list. Then, discreetly print the corresponding number on the back of each response card.


 
 
A: Regardless of how the invitation is addressed, some guests may assume that they are automatically invited with a date or that they can bring children or additional guests that you did not invite. If you want to avoid making the potentially uncomfortable phone call explaining that they were not invited to bring a date, their children or any other additional guests, you can include, ___ of ___ will attend or ___ seat(s) have been reserved in your honor on the response card, and pre-fill in the number of people you are inviting. For example;

We have reserved 2 seats in your honor
M___________________________
___ Accept with pleasure
___ Decline with regret
Please respond by [RSVP date]
 
OR
 
M___________________________
___ of 2 will attend
Please respond by [RSVP date]
 
However, there is a downside to this approach. This leaves the door open for people to add on a guest if one or more of the people that were invited can’t make it. For example if you invite John and Jane to your wedding, but only Jane can make it. Jane may respond that she is coming and she’s bringing Michael with her since there were 2 seats reserved. Make sure you are prepared to deal with this potential outcome before deciding to take this approach with your response cards.


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A: The answer to this question is going to vary by region and depends on so many factors, like the size of your guest list, day of the week, time of year, etc. There’s a website called Cost of Wedding, where you can type in your zip code and it will tell you the average cost of a wedding in your area. 

Keep in mind this is just an average based on what other couples have spent. The average can be easily skewed higher by a few extremely large and expensive weddings or skewed lower due to several inexpensive and smaller weddings. So the average cost may not be truly representative of what the majority of people are paying in your area. 

Regardless, this should only be used to give you an idea of how much a wedding could cost. Your budget should be based on what you can afford and what you are willing to spend, whether that's higher or lower than the average. Remember, you can have a wedding on any budget. Sometimes it just means scaling down, thinking outside of the box and getting creative.  


Do you have a question? Email us and we will be happy to answer it.

 
 
 
A: If the couple decides to take pictures together before the ceremony, the photographer will usually set up a moment for the couple to have their “first glance” or the “first look”. This is the opportunity for the photographer to capture the expressions and emotions of the bride and the groom as they see each other for the first time on their wedding day. This is a fabulous example of the “first glance” moment, taken by Maureen Ford.
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Do you have a question? Email us and we will be happy to answer it.

 
 
A: A videographer should be put in the “really nice to have” category. Definitely consider hiring a videographer if you have room in your budget. While a good photojournalistic photographer should be able to capture all the same moments, a videographer will be able to capture elements such as, sound and motion, that still photography simply can not. 

Do you have a question? Email us and we will be happy to answer it.
 
 
 
A: Bubbles! If your ceremony site has restrictions on what can be tossed during your exit, bubbles are a great alternative. With bubbles there is no mess to clean up and they make for gorgeous pictures, like this one taken by Ross Oscar Knight.
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You can buy small inexpensive bottles of bubbles at your local craft store or dollar store. To personalize the bottles, add ribbon that matches your colors, a tag with your monogram, or a charm that matches your theme.
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If you’re having an evening ceremony sparklers are another fun, no-mess option that photographs really well. Check out this fabulous exit, photographed by Jennifer at Love Life Images.
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Note: Laws on sparklers vary by state. Ensure there are no restrictions in your state or venue before deciding to use sparklers for your exit.

Do you have a question? Email us and we will be happy to answer it.
 
 
To answer this question we consulted our friends at Pennywise 20 Something, a blog that provides advice on reducing daily expenses and saving for your future.  Here are their top 3 suggestions on how to cut costs and save big.

1. Get rid of a major monthly expense: Sell your car if you know you can live without it. Live without cable for a year, you can watch most things online anyway. If you have a land line get rid of it and just use your cell phone.

2. Don't just dine-out less; Dine-out WAY less: Try to eat a home cooked meal 6 days out of the week. In addition to that, cut down on your grocery budget. One way to do this is to go vegetarian for some or most of your meals.

3. Don't pay full price for anything: Do not pay full price at the grocery store. Do not pay full price at the mall. And if you must dine out, definitely do not pay full price at a restaurant! Coupons, sales and specials should be your new best friends.

For more money saving tips visit www.pennywise20something.com

 
 
A: There are a lot of colors that look great with brown! For a spring wedding we suggest pairing a rich brown color with a pastel color, like coral, canary yellow, light pink, sky blue or lavender. One of our favorite color combinations with brown is a mint green with gold accents.
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Do you have a question? Email us and we will be happy to answer it.
 
 
A: It’s not necessary to register before your engagement party but it is perfectly acceptable if you do. Some of your family and friends will want to purchase a gift for the newly engaged couple and setting up a registry will give them options and ideas.

However, registry information should not be included on the invitations for your engagement party. Only provide registry information to people who specifically ask for it.

Also, keep in mind that some items that are typical found on registries are seasonal and are often discontinued or unavailable at the end of the season. If you do register before your engagement party you should manage your registry throughout your engagement and update and remove any items that may have been discontinued or that are no longer available. 

Do you have a question? Email us and we will be happy to answer it.
 
 
A: To clean your engagement ring at home, soak your ring in a mild liquid detergent and use a soft bristled brush, like an old toothbrush, to loosen any dirt that may be stuck on your ring. Then, rinse your ring with water and use a soft, lint-free cloth to dry your ring and it should sparkle like new! You can also take your ring to a reputable jeweler and have it professionally cleaned using an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.

Tip: Before purchasing and using any store-bought cleaner make sure it is safe to use on the type(s) of metal and gems that are in your engagement ring. If you are unsure if a particular chemical will have an adverse effect on your ring contact your jeweler and find out what cleaning method they recommend.

Do you have a question? Email us and we will be happy to answer it.