Design Sampler: New Dealer Options!

If you didn’t make it to the National Stationery Show in May, you may not have had the chance to see our new product packages for dealers!  In order to better serve our current & future dealers we’ve come up with alternative packages, including this great Sample Pack deal!

Our sample pack comes with TEN invitations that you actually get to choose from our lines.  We give you the choice because we recognize that you know your client base and you know what they’ll love. It doesn’t end there! 

Among those ten invitations will be one full suite that comes with accessories for that design!  So not only will you have multiple designs to show your clients, you’ll have one design that comes with multiple accessories to show them as well!

If you’re already a dealer, login to the shop to order your Sample Pack!  If you’re not yet and would like to be, get connected with us to become a dealer today!

Engagement Photos: Today’s Great Tip For A Killer Session!

So he put a ring on it and now you’re venturing into the the world of wedding planning.  You’ve probably had at least a few moments of being overwhelmed and are now trying to remedy that by seeing what you can cross off of your gigantic to-do list now.

via Adrienne Gunde

Your engagement photo session is one of those things to get proactive about, especially if all the ideas you’ve pinned are specific to a season that will soon be wrapping up.  If you’ve already hand-picked a great photographer you may have no apprehension at all, but some brides feel a little pressure for the engagement shoot.  I mean, it is the photo session that will be all over your wedding website, maybe your save the dates, probably a few shots will be in your wedding and wedding videos, etc.  Quality photographers know how to capture the magic and make sure that the love you share translates in photos, but if you’re still a little nervous about trying to look your best while posing for these uber important photos, we know a trick that will help you be more natural and comfortable...

Action, action, action!

Plan a fun or sweet event for your and your love to do for your engagement session!  It can be big and extravagant or it can be something simple that you both love to do, but it will help you be natural!  Of course you will want some posed shots in there too, but those will probably come naturally once you gets comfortable!

 via Lauren Conrad

 via Sincerely Kinsey

From dancing in an open studio, a nice park picnic, or a carnival, there are so many things you could enjoy together that would bring your romance to life in your photos!  If those ideas don’t suit you, just make action shots happen wherever you are by walking, playing in the leaves, or taking time to be unashamedly in love wherever you’re having your session!  Letting your photographer see your natural interactions will help them make sure the sweetness of your love translates!

via Style Me Pretty

Let go, relax, and be in love... it will look great!

Summer Dealer Appreciation: Special Offer

 Summer is in full throttle and we wanted to make sure to stop and take the time to reach out to our Intricutz dealers!  Whether you’ve been an Intricutz dealer for a few years or whether you’re a new dealer we met at NSS, we appreciate you all, and would like to take the opportunity to give back with a special offer!

That’s right, FREE shipping on any domestic Intricutz orders!  For whatever you need from us:  albums, sample packages, or orders for your clients!  Make sure you take advantage of this deal while it lasts, and order the things you’d been holding off on, freight free!  We heart our dealers and we want to make sure we show it!  

If you are not yet an Intricutz dealer, but would like to see more of us, check us out on Facebook or Intricutz.com.  If you’re ready to don the the dealer name, sign up to be a dealer here!  If you were unable to get through many of the links above for lack of password, contact us for your dealer password.

Making Lemonade Out of Wedding Day Rain!

The Midwest has had an extremely cloudy and rainy summer so far, and for those who are trying to plan a beautiful and unforgettable event, it can be disheartening.  Fear not!  There are many things that you can do to turn the situation around and make it a rainy affair to remember!

You can capitalize on the rain by finding rain accessories that tie in your personality!  Not only is it another way to brand your wedding, but it also will make for much better memories (for you and your guests) than letting the rain make your day disappointing!

Photo from Lovely Bride

We love the classic yellow raincoat, but there are so many styles and designs everywhere for you to find the rain jacket or accessories that perfectly compliment your wedding!  Between raincoats, boots, and umbrellas, you have all kinds of opportunities to make it your own.  It’s an unforgettable touch for your wedding, and makes for some great photos of your day!

Photo from Tim Duncan Events

Speaking of great photos, here are some incredible photos taken that really capture romantic moments in the rain.  By the end, you might be hoping for rain on your wedding day!

Photo by Ariel Renae Photography 

 Photo by Lisa Bogg Photography

Photo from lin-noldor.livejournal.com

Photo by Moshe Zuseman Photography

Rain can create opportunities for capturing cutesy and sweet moments, but also very romantic ones.  Mother Nature is a variable that is impossible to control, so the best idea (if you live in a region where rain is a real possibility) is to prepare for it anyway.  Don’t let rain ruin your day, rock the rainy day like it was your plan all along and make memories!

July Nautical Inspiration

In lieu of the festive week of Independence day, we wanted to feature this bit of inspiration.  The obvious choice for this week would be Americana inspiration, but we thought instead we’d feature Americana’s classy cousin.  This Nautical palette is a classy compromise for those who love the Americana theme but want a more elegant affair.

The Nautical theme has a beachy, oceanic vibe, so while it’s not as informal as a vintage backyard wedding, there are still ways to keep it comfortable and personal. You get to keep the navy, but instead of bold reds, pair it with more subdued blushes, peach, and yellows and then balanced out with some neutrals and even gold for a little glam!

Glam doesn’t mean that you can’t keep it comfortable.  There’s plenty of room for cute ways to show personality.  We love the ways these groomsmen kept it light with the rope boutonnieres and the ones below with boat shoes.

 Talia Events

Mike Larson Photographers, Inc.

This is such a simple theme to build around, and can be perfected in the details!

Natalie Frank

Green Tree Photography

Pop The Champagne Events

Alea Lovely

Alea Lovely

We’re obsessed with the navy, the soft colored flowers, and the little bit of glitzy gold!  

If you’re interested in a nautical wedding, check out our Nautical invitation, pictured here in Navy & Magnolia with Gold Foil.  Everything we do is customizable, so you could adapt it to your colors, but it’s a great pick for your elegant Nautical wedding!  If you’re not going with Nautical, we have a beautiful line of wedding invitations to choose from, or we could custom design one for your big day!

Too Many Hands In On The Plans: How To Deal With Momzillas!

Planning a wedding can be extremely stressful!  Budget is one of the biggest anxiety-inducing aspects (check out our post on ways to cut costs and avoid unnecessary financial stress in planning), but the other biggest point of stress is consolidating two family’s traditions, values, culture and personality into one ceremony and celebration!  If leaving Aunt Marge’s new husband’s extended family off the guest list to keep the number of guests below 150 doesn’t cause a family war, something else probably will!

Modern times have freed the bride’s family from the traditional burden of paying for the wedding, which has relieved some of the pressure on brides to let their mother make all the planning choices.  Back when a bride’s family was responsible for funding the whole shin-dig, it seemed less possible to be able to take a stand for the kind of wedding she was wanting; times have changed.

Really, no matter who is paying for the wedding, the bride and groom should be the ones making the choices; but a mother of the bride/groom may not always see it that way.  If this is your predicament, take a deep breath and remind yourself that it IS just misguided love; she wants your big day to be perfect!  “Perfect” just looks different to you than it does to her.

It’s far easier to plan your own wedding without the awkward power struggle.  It’s a natural feeling (whether or not’s a proper one) for family to feel that if they’re helping financially, that your say should weigh in on the planning process.  It’s not a fair perspective necessarily, but it’s natural; and when you accept someone’s financial gift, you accept the possibility of running into this.

So what do you do if she won’t relent?  You find opportunities to include her without compromising what’s important to you and your groom.  If there are choices in aspects of the wedding that you don’t feel as strongly about, let her help you in your decision... be it a food decisions or a floral.  If at all possible, avoid having to have the “It’s OUR wedding” talk, but if she’s still pushing on issues that you are determined to not budge it just may be necessary.  Make it clear that you know she means well and you want to include her, but that you and your groom have made your own choices.  We all have our irrational moments, but she’ll most likely snap out of it and remember that these decisions are important for you two.

You and your groom deserve a chance at creating the wedding day that you want without drawing family resentment; but it’s also important to appear grateful for the offered help.  Make sure you harness your inner bridezilla urge to freak out and remind yourself that it really is love, it’s just coming in the form of misguided “help”.  Lots of people are guilty of it (they want to help in the way they want to help, not in the way you need it).  Be patient and kind, but don’t be a pushover.  You can’t get this experience back, so you don’t want to regret the way you handled it, or didn’t handle it!

The More You Know: Borrow Marital Wisdom!

An idea that we’re rather fond of is finding an opportunity to collect marital wisdom from your elders and married family and friends; you most likely won’t be giving them all to share it via the open mic, on the big day, or trying to have a million heart-to-hearts at the reception for their wisdom deposits. Finding some way to allow them to share it on paper is wonderful, as it is easier to recollect later and isn’t a wedding day time-sucker.  It’s a great idea to keep close to the guest book at the ceremony site, or for them to fill out at their table at the reception.  You will really enjoy reading them later.

This idea is easily adaptable to your wedding theme.  You could do an old typewriter for people to type in their wisdom nugget and name, or a vintage suitcase open to put notes inside (with pictures of you two in the top half, pinned across string like a clothes line), or even just finding the perfect book for the job.  Options are endless!

This idea is by no means a wedding MUST, but just something you sentimental brides may want to consider.  From the many notes I received in mine, I selected several that I felt were most important for us as a couple and put them in a book to look over and remember, and hopefully apply to my marriage daily!  It’s nice to be able to draw from the wisdom of people and marriages that you look up to and aspire to be like... from close friends who have been married a few years and have grown together in stride, or your grandparents who have been married 50 years strong... it’s priceless.

Just remember that no two people are identical, so definitely there are no two couples/marriages that are identical.  General wisdom applies to all, but don’t get so caught up in trying to emulate someone else’s relationship that you forget to nurture and adapt to your own!

::Shout Outs::
Images found at (from left to right):
weddingbycolor.com
vickytrainer.blogspot.com
oneandonlyeventsblog.com
rickandalliewedding.com