My turn to vent...

    • Gold Top Dog

    jennyx0023

    Bonita - You can actually make some money handwriting invites for people? Wow, that'd be great to do on the side..haha. I do have really nice handwriting.

    You would be shocked !!   first contact with a decent grade stationary your local event planners.... Using your best "normal" handwriting...

    Not calligraphy etc simply a pretty sample.  As a general rule If I remember  My note to them and My Ad went something like..

    "Do you have Brides, Mom to Be's and  other overwhelmed proffessionals who would like to send invitations or thank yous in the excellent and elite fashion of a hand written note?  I would be happy to  offer my services , assisting with annoucements, invitations, and thank yous.

    Select and simple or dictation for more specific  acknowlegements,  why send a tacky pre-made note that just anyone could buy?"

    I did not call I mailed  

    This made such a difference, I was in nursing school, two tiny daughters and zero money for the most part.  I had then bought a decent grade blank note paper and a few high quality stamps. The dragon fly and an oriental flower were hugely popular, after stamping them I used water colors and barely highlighted them. Then with a thesaurus and a few sample I was able to make enough money to keep the wolf from the door while earning my degree.

    Most of my invites were done after brief consults with the party planners, Today Stamps are so easy to find and really so much better you could do anything from something of great elegance to something to celebrate fido's birthday.....  Thank yous were always kept simple with a single rule of thumb IF I was hired then the Maid of Honor etc would be in charge of a list WHO , WHAT and the ADDRESS.  I then made friends with who ever may be taking the photos and tried for every party to get a snap of the honoree with the gift..you would be amazed at how people were beyond pleased by the cards. Simple Thank yous, " The Layette set you bought for our baby was absolutely adorable,  I have been shopping and not seen anything this cute, clever, beautiful etc.etc.etc......  Thank you so much for the effort you took to give this to us"    Mother in laws and their friends went over the moon for this type of thanks.  Anyone can send an email and more folks than ever now make zero effort to even acknowledge a gift anymore,   Invitations are limited only to your and the event planner's imagination.   Rather than a simple Party at our house time date and place....  A note saying " We would love to have you at ...."  or "It would be a wonderful evening if we can count on you to attend..."

    If you work through a planner have them buy the stationary and inks.  Some insist on not just a grade but a tone and color. If you are setting this up for yourself never buy less than two of anything you are using as making do won't cut it.... 1/2 in this ink and paper  1/2 in another....

    Best locations to contact... Baby Stores.  Party Planners, Florists, Office suppliers, Party Suppliers

     

    • Gold Top Dog

    Ron...you...in tights. I think I am going to faint.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Hee hee!  Glad my short-temperedness has inspired people, LOL.  It does shut people up pretty quickly, you are right!

    • Gold Top Dog

    rwbeagles

    Ron...you...in tights. I think I am going to faint.

    Yes, it was magic, awe-inspiring, something out of a dream. My fan club awaits.

     

    • Moderators
    • Gold Top Dog

    This is the wedding stuff that SUCKS!!!  All the fantasy belongs to the bride.  Having been in dozens of weddings, I have learned the following about bridal parties - particularly the female side:

    Whoever pays has a say.

    So, as crappy as it sometimes feels - if the bridesmaids contributed funds, they have a say in how things go.  You mentioned at your own wedding, you almost didn't have a bachelorette?  Yeah, that almost happened in a wedding party I was in because the MOH decided she'd had enough of committee decisions and wanted to put her foot down for whatever was convenient for her.  But she wanted us ALL to contribute funds (in the $hundreds) and rearrange schedules. 

    On the other hand, if the friends are not contributing funds to the shower, then they have VERY LITTLE to say about this. 

     And to whomever said they planned everything themselves.... I had a friend like that - but she gave all of her wedding party/readers/assisting friends a time line in 15-minute increments of everything they were supposed to do... like it was a stage production.  Yeah, that was fun.