Wedding: How to create a beautiful Save The Date

On me: Black Ralph Lauren sweater / Veronica Beard denim (fit is true to size) / Bootie / Tote (not seen)

Here we are! This is the first blog post in my WEDDING series. I will try to get these out to you as we move along in the process. Once the proposal has happened, you will be anxious to share key information with those you intend to invite to the wedding. Let’s discuss how to create a beautiful Save The Date with Print Shoppe Club.

I am thrilled to share with you how I am planning our daughters wedding. Yes, you heard right, I am planning it. In my opinion, there is no one better qualified to plan this special occasion than me. Not only because I love Taylor but because I’ve chaired numerous events in Dallas including the Junior League of Dallas Ball, Cattle Baron’s Ball and too many luncheons to count. At the end of the day, a wedding is a large event involving numerous vendors and lots of decisions. Since I know who the very best vendors are in town, I decided to cut out the wedding planner step. Now, I know what you are thinking… How will this play out at the very end right before the wedding? I’ve hired a part-time planner who will take over two weeks prior to the big date. After all, I want to enjoy this beautiful moment in our daughters life and be there to support her.

It’s funny what you focus on when planning a wedding. And let me just say this right off the bat. No matter what your budget is, the process is basically the same. Whether it’s a huge, formal affair or a small, intimate gathering, the process will be similar. Unless of course the couple elopes. So, we will focus on what it takes to get the perfect Save The Date printed and mailed, which is one of the first things you will do.

Before you select a printer for this job, you must first have several key components decided. The proposal has happened and the happy couple will be on Cloud Nine for a while. I let Taylor and Jeff enjoy the thrill of engagement for a week before we sat down and met about ideas. The reason you will want to meet and move things along is a simple one. There are 52 Saturday’s in a year and vendors book quickly. So if you really want to pick your vendors, you will need to focus on getting the following locked down immediately.

1) Location for the ceremony

2) Location for the reception

3) Date

and then before you can move forward with any planning…

4) The guest list

If you can get through all of that, you will have cleared a huge hurdle. The wedding guest list is the number one reason people disagree. Who should be invited? How much family, how many friends, acquaintances, etc.? You might think this is a simple task but it really isn’t. The list is needed because you will be sending the Save The Date to all of these people. Feelings get hurt when people perceive they have been left off the coveted guest list. In all honesty, it boils down to what kind of ceremony and reception you want to host. The venue size will also help determine the amount of guests that can attend.

I’ve known and worked with Heather Wiese Alexander at Bell’Invito for many years. Her European influence and eye for design make her the natural choice for invitations (more about that in another blog post). What many people don’t know is that there is a second company called Print Shoppe Club housed at the same location offering a bevy of print options. This is the route we went for the Save The Date. Everything is beautifully custom printed on high-end paper. Their staff is so helpful with the design and color process.

We shot their engagement photo’s in a very sentimental place for Taylor. Her summers spent at Camp Waldemar meant so much to her and Jeff was happy to shoot in the Texas Hill Country. The picture of the two of them on the Guadeloupe River is a true reflection of their love for each other. While we had endless choices to select from, we chose this vertical shot for the Save The Date. By the way, I styled them for this shoot. Should I do a blog post on that too? There are definitely a few fashion hints to follow.

One thing to remember is that this card will be put on refrigerators and invitation holders. It was important to us that it was a one-sided card with all the pertinent information on the front. That way if you forget to flip it over, you won’t miss anything. In case you are wondering how to address the Save The Date invitations, you can refer to Heather’s etiquette list on her site. I have used this numerous times and I’m sure I will continue to use it.

I highly recommend using the Print Shoppe Club for all your printing needs. They can handle much more than invitations. Be sure to check out their site for details. Or call them at 214.702.2416.

xoxo – Tanya

Photo: Mary Hafner

Thank you to Print Shoppe Club for collaborating with me on this post. All selections and opinions are my own.