Tips from the Pros - Discover Southside

With years of experience, these wedding professionals have learned the best ways relieve stress and get the most your wedding vendors. Review these tips and keep them in mind as you prepare for your big event.

Invitations & Other Printed Materials

From Melissa Charles
The Invitation Destination
Danville, VA

-Get Organized!!
Find out how many invitations you plan to send out (not just the number of guests) by creating a spreadsheet with names, addresses, as well as columns for number attending (adults and children), gifts received and thank you notes sent. Some online wedding sites have guides for this, or we can create one for you at The Invitation Destination. A spreadsheet will help you with every aspect of your wedding planning!
-It is never too early to start looking for wedding invitations.they are the first impression you will make on your guests, so please don’t wait until the last minute and jeopardize your selection or incur costly rush charges.
-Make an appointment and let us know what you are looking for. It’s not necessary, but it allows us to make sure we are staffed appropriately and can answer all your questions.
-Make a decision about your budget. We’re not trying to be nosy when we ask, but knowing your expectations will allow us to guide you in finding the perfect wedding invitation ensemble. We specialize in custom invitations, so if you find a design you like, but it’s not in your budget, we can come up with options that will work for your budget and your style.
-Plan to spend one to two hours on your first visit to look for invitations, even if you think you have your mind made up! We have a comfortable seating area with a couch and cozy chairs, so you can take your time and make yourself at home.
-Bring color swatches, samples of motifs or monograms you like, or anything else that fits your personality, especially if you would like a custom invitation.
-Wedding invitations should be sent out six to eight weeks prior to the wedding date. Remember to plan several weeks for addressing envelopes, stuffing and sealing, etc! Custom invitations can take weeks, or even months to prepare, depending on how elaborate they are. Invitations with photos take longer to process, and we always recommend getting a proof, which can add up to a week to even standard invitation orders.
-Always ask for a proof and allow yourself time to look over the proof before giving final approval.
-Don’t buy stamps before you’ve had the post office look at your finalized invitation. It needs to be weighed, measured and the post office staff must make a decision on whether or not your invitations can be put through an automatic feed. If you have bows, accessories, or anything else that keeps your invitation ensemble from being flat, you may require more postage. Don’t forget the stamps for your response cards. It is a major breach of etiquette to expect your guests to provide their own postage.
-The “Respond Date” is a very important part of your invitation ensemble. Allow at least one week to confirm responses before you have to give the final word to your caterer. You will need to follow up with those who haven’t responded, to make sure they received your invitation.
-Do you remember the Seinfeld episode where the bride suffered pretty horrible consequences from licking the envelopes? It’s doubtful that would ever happen, but buy some envelope moisteners to keep sealing a quick, simple, and painless task! We keep plenty in stock at The Invitation Destination.
-If you are trying to save money, and don’t regularly print invitations, hire an expert. It can be a costly mistake to try to print on specialty paper, so leave this to the pros.
-Order a personalized stamper or embosser (or ask for one as an engagement or shower gift). This will cut down on your costs for return addressing and it’s something you can use forever. The Invitation Destination sells a wide variety of stampers from PSA Essentials, and the stamps can be removed and switched if you change your address or if you want more variety. We carry several lines of “switchable middle” wedding designs with traditional and modern and stamp choices. -When placing your napkin order, count on two per guest. Consider ordering even more, especially if your napkins are not dated. You can continue to use these for parties and other special occasions.
-Begin working on your wedding program as soon as your invitation order has been placed. Remember, there is usually much more information on your program than your invitation, so this is certainly not a part of your wedding stationery ensemble that needs to be rushed! You don’t have to wait to order programs until everything is finalized; if we are designing or printing your programs in house, we can begin laying out the program before the ceremony order, music decisions, or even your wedding party is set.
-If you have etiquette questions or questions about wording, please don’t be afraid to ask. We will show you how to assemble your invitations correctly, and even print out a guide for you to take home.

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Melissa Charles is a Wedding Planner and the owner of
The Invitation Destination in Downtown Danville.
For your wedding needs, look to The Invitation Destination where they have "Everything but the Gown and the Groom."

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Floral Design & Planning Tips

From Anastasia C Saunders
Heavenly Creations by Stacey
Danville, VA

I have been in the floral design business for 14 years and offer these few tips to those planning a wedding. When your wedding decor is fabulous, it reflects well on you and your choices, as well as the reputation of the decorator.
-Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life! Floral selections are almost as important as the choice of your gown, and just like your dress, floral selections and design can be kept as a surprise for your guests! You want your guests to be amazed. This is your special day and one to remember for a lifetime.
-Determine a budget just for flowers and decorations. The budgeted amount needs to cover decoration for the wedding site and reception venue. This amount needs to be discussed with your florist/floral designer because not only will it be used for the purchase and arrangement of flowers, but also for the labor costs which may include travel and delivery to several places. This will ensure there won't be any surprises to you or the floral designer/decorator.
-Determine whether you want to use fresh or silk flowers. Keep in mind that if you are having a fall or winter wedding and you prefer fresh flowers, some may not be available out-of-season.
-Discuss with your fiancée whether you both would like to have input on your flower choices, or would rather leave it up to your floral designer based on your color selections. Most designers usually like to help out by adding an accent color or just giving tips, such as if your selection is too dull for the season, are the flower selections too heavy for bouquets and boutennieres, etc.

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Anastasia C Saunders is the owner of
Heavenly Creations by Stacey
You may contact her by phone at: 434-728-0483

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Other Floral Tips and Questions to ask your Vendor

-It's never too early to visit with your florist. Do you wish to have a bouquet when your bridal portrait is made several weeks in advance of the ceremony? Are there, or have there been, special people in your life that you would like to recognize or remember with flowers?
-Make a list of attendants, family members, musicians, and directors, and then have a description of the venues for the ceremony and reception, as well as the place where the rehearsal festivities will take place. Does the church have two aisles? Will a restaurant have a centerpiece or candles for dining tables?
-Besides flowers, will your designer also be providing candleabra, candles, seat markers, bows, matching hair ribbons, the aisle runner, baskets, a throw-away bouquet?