NeotericExpressions Graphic Designs, Website Design and Stationery

E-Commerce 101

2011-01-24T23:11:00.001-05:00

So, you're interested in opening a web based business? I thought it would be beneficial to you to give you a brief lesson that will help you to prepare for the task you're undertaking. Let's begin with some basic terms.

Shopping Cart: This is a form of software used to make a site's product catalog available for online ordering, whereby visitors may select, view, add/delete, and purchase merchandise.

Merchant Agreement: A written agreement between a merchant and a bank containing their respective rights, duties, and warranties with respect
to acceptance of the bankcard and matters related to the bankcard activity.

Merchant Services Provider (MSP): This is a bank or other firm that provides processing for credit card transactions. Most MSP's provide merchant
accounts.

Running an online store is not as difficult as you may think it is, but it is very important to make sure you're doing it safely as a customer's credit card information could become easily available to hackers if not properly protected.

When you build your web store, consider functionality first. One of the first things you should ensure that you have, whether its going to be a custom
built store or a store built through an e-commerce builder, is a shopping cart. The shopping cart is the heart of your site's online buying experience. There are numerous shopping cart software suites available either for free or at a cost. For those of you who may not be as web language savvy, consider pre-made store interfaces or our quick cart store development application. This is a cost efficient alternative for those who are not ready for a fully customized and maintained web store.

Once your shopping cart is in place, be sure to consider your web store's security. It is important that your site has an SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate. This is what encrypts the credit card data that your customer inputs at the time of purchase as it travels through the internet to the banks. Not having an SSL certificate or other form of adequate security makes your customers vulnerable to hackers and identity thieves. This puts you and your business at a huge risk. Save yourself the hassle and problems, ask us about about our SSL certificates.

The final important piece in selling items online is the merchant services provider, or MSP. This is the company that transacts the business between
your company and the customer. There are 101 merchant service providers out there, but make sure you research them carefully. MSPs charge you depending upon the amount of money you transact each month. Charges range from 0-$100 for setup, 0-$35 per month just to have the service, then anywhere from 1.5%-3.5% of the amount for "qualified" Visa and Mastercard transactions. When you have a "non-qualified" transaction, it can range anywhere from a 0-1.5% surcharge to the qualified charges. Use a company that will benefit you and the business that you are trying to conduct. Inquire about our merchant services to see if we work for you.

No matter what e-commerce solution you choose for your business, keep these fundamentals in the forefront of your mind. The security of your customers
should be the most important issue of all. With the proper due diligence, you can ensure that your business is properly equipped to accept payment while still ensuring the security of your customer's information. Compare multiple companies and see just which one serves your needs the best. If you have any other questions or concerns related to e-commerce, please contact one of our designers at 1-888-NEOTERIC or 1-888-636-8374.

What is Website Maintenance?

2011-01-19T23:44:00.003-05:00

Many people, individuals and business owners alike are having websites built. In all the excitement of getting a new website, most folks don’t care to think about the “big picture.” Ask yourself, what is in store for the life of the website? As everyone knows, websites do not maintain themselves.

Site maintenance is a tedious and time consuming task which most people do not want to be bothered with; but it is definitely a necessary evil. The web development industry changes on a regular basis and for the everyday person who owns a site, maintenance falls to the wayside in the midst of marketing, advertising, and production. Maintaining a website could entail everything from coding updates, to changing keywords, meta data, content and pictures. It also means enhancing the site’s search engine placement (known as Search Engine Optimization), which is a rapidly evolving event in itself.

Many design companies will charge hourly for site updates, but one of the benefits to many of the NeotericExpressions packages is that we can include unlimited maintenance for only a fraction of the cost. For a simple informational website, you could have our designers at your beck and call to make any changes to your site for approximately $2 a day. Some companies are charging up to $70 per HOUR, so in reality this is a huge savings for you.

If you decide to have a website created for you or your business, don’t let your site go unmaintained. Whether you keep your site up by yourself or with the help of an outside party, be sure that the site is being kept up to date with the latest coding trends and requirements to make the biggest impact on your marketing audience. For more information regarding website development and maintenance, view our website at www.neotericexpressions.com or call us directly at 1-888-NEOTERIC (1-888-636-8374).

♦ Your Committed Web Professional ♦

Wedding Invitation Wording Help!

2011-01-07T14:14:00.000-05:00

I peruse the Yahoo! Answers questions from time to time to loan some advice and help, and recently came across questions about some funny or entertaining themed-wedding invite wording. Here are a couple examples:

Depending on the theme, invitation wordings can be kept entertaining yet tasteful, like these casual verses:

Verse 1# - Wording perfect for a Ski-themed wedding
Life was all uphill until we met...
now it's a downhill run!

Join us on the slopes
for a wedding in
winter wonderland
at date, time, location...

Verse #2 - perfect for those two fishermen lovebirds (no offense! to the fisherwomen!)
We reeled in true love...
Anna
and
Jonathan
invite you to join them
as they make it O-FISH-AL
at their wedding
at date, time, location...

Verse #3 - golf-themed wedding wording
We've paired up, par for the course
and playing through!

Please join us,
Anna
and
Jonathan
on our wedding day
as we turn a stroke of luck
into a winning streak!
on date, time, location...

Themed wedding wording can be pretty tricky to tie into your wedding invitation but with a little humor and some open-mindedness, you never know what you'll create. If you need some additional verse options, email us for some free wedding wording options with subject line "Free Wedding Wording."

Cheers!

♥

How do I plan my wedding?

2010-12-08T11:17:00.002-05:00

Planning a wedding is the most exciting experience you'll have. It takes you through a range of motions in the name of the Mother of all Emotions - Love! While planning your wedding seems pretty simple when you're in the beginning stages, it can get quite complex pretty quickly. Here are some of our tips on how to stay sane, and to ensure you're not caught up in the commotion of it all.

How to start planning: Invest in a planner, be it a person or a book of information on weddings. There are so many pieces and parts that go into making sure your wedding event bases are covered, no one dare try to remember them all. By getting a wedding planner (or hiring one), you will save yourself time, energy and frustration down the road. The earlier you invest in one of these helpful tools, the better off you’ll be during the course of your planning stages. Your planner will be kept up to date about whom, how and when your other event details will be coming together, handy for referencing specific details that are difficult to remember once you get too far down into the planning process.

Do some “window” shopping: How will you know where to find a great wedding dress? Where do you get ideas on your wedding invitations? How will you score a great photographer? You have to get out and start looking! Pick up a wedding magazine, or ask your friends who had nice weddings if they can refer you somewhere. Even in search engines, you can find information on popular events like bridal shows and trunk shows at formal wear places, which often have great deals on wedding wear and discounts on vendor pricing. Vendors will be available to greet you, so you’re sure to have tons of resources at your fingertips when you visit these events. Who knows, you might even find exactly what you’re looking for during your observations and searching.

Seek out some "married" friends for advice: We understand not everyone had a lavish, elegant, extravagant wedding ceremony, but perhaps they had one that was right for them. How did they go about planning it? What types of elements did they include? Where did they get their inspiration from? These and many more questions will open up doors of opportunity for your imagination, and you can perhaps find some inspiration of your own that will help get your planning off to a great start.

Buy one (or more) wedding magazines: Go ahead, gawk at someone else's wedding dress, listen to someone else's wedding ideas, watch a few wedding shows, read a few magazines on wedding etiquette... it doesn't hurt! Magazines are a great way to be envious in the comfort of your home or when otherwise have some down time. This is a great way to gain insight and inspiration as you read about do it yourself wedding decor ideas, proposal stories, ceremonial bloopers and more. The more you learn about the "do's and don'ts" of others past experiences, the more you'll be able to develop your plan for your big day.

♥ Good Luck and Congrats! ♥

Do I need a Website Design?

2010-12-08T10:17:00.002-05:00

One of the biggest questions for a new business is: will I need a website for my company? There is no doubt that the internet is a powerful marketing tool for any business, but first, there are a few questions you will want to answer to determine whether you'll need a new business website or not.

Q: Are you selling products or services?
A: There is no doubt that selling a product or service takes time, effort and a method of communication. For your business, this could mean knocking on doors and making appointments for consultations. For others, it could mean cold calling or postcard marketing as a means of introducing your business to your target market. The internet is another means of communication and your business could benefit greatly from being exposed to potential customers by way of your website in conjunction with using one of the above mentioned methods of advertising. When a customer receives your postcard, call or visit, they can then check out your website on their own time or when they realize a need for your service, and a professionally designed website can answer their questions quickly and easily on their time or when you're otherwise unavailable.

Q: Will you be accepting orders from locally distant, nationwide or worldwide customers?
A: Perhaps you need a portal for customers that are out of your reach, but are interested in your services. Many companies are interested in starting their business out "going global" and what better way to do that then with a website and hosting services. These customers are often comfortable doing their own research online in order to be sure they are reaching the right company for their needs, and your website could be one of the first and foremost ways for them to learn more about your services. Many website services these days come with email accounts, customizable forms, and shopping carts. Distance does not have to be your burden - open for business on the WWW by checking out a few website design options, find the best match for your needs, and reach those customers today.

Q: Are you interested in adding internet marketing to your business budget?
A: Perhaps you've been marketing your butt off, visiting potential clients, making follow up calls, and in turn waiting for the business to roll in. It seems you're doing all of the right things, yet you still feel like something is missing. Your efforts can only be improved by having a convenient website for them to visit in the event that they need to understand more about what you do. Marketing is about making your service or product convenient and easy for them to use and incorporate into their daily lives - a website is the perfect answer to that dilemma! Perhaps its not always easy to talk on the phone at the very moment you call. Perhaps they don't have enough information from your postcard or letter to make a final decision. Maybe they are not ready at the moment you visit to sit down and research how your service can be of benefit to them. Without a website, these questions can often go unanswered for a period of time, which is detrimental to your company's growth. By investing in a website, you're providing a median way for them to get the information they need when they need it, and your next phone call or visit to them may be a deal maker, not a deal breaker.

By these accounts, a website design can only be a benefit to a new business. Having it professionally designed ensures it's clear, easy to navigate and informative. Adding this asset to your company's list of marketing techniques increases your efforts, the results of those efforts, and is a sure-fire way to reach customers conveniently and easily. If we can answer any questions for you that pertain specifically to your needs, let us know.

Your committed web professional,

How do I show off my child's sports skills?

2010-11-25T00:43:00.006-05:00

It's that time of year again ~ sports season is moving in and moving quickly. Whether your child plays football, basketball, swimming, track, volleyball or softball, perhaps you should consider showcasing their skills and talents on an electronic medium like video or still-motion shots, which is perfect for the internet or a portable thumb / flash drive.

There are ways to share video, photos and featured articles about your kid's athletic ability without compromising their identity. One way is to never mention their name when posting the media about them. If someone were interested in seeing their talent in person after viewing their media, they would automatically have the option to contact you via any method available through the site you posted in. If you're completely anonymous, this would not be an issue in the least - it just simply means you're not interested in being contacted. Posting your child's sports reel is good exposure as they progress in their careers, should that be their long-term goal. Keeping a record of their accomplishments on video, in images or from print articles, then sharing them with friends and loved ones online could serve as a major ego boost for them and help give them motivation to succeed.

If posting a sports movie or photo to a website anonymously is too disconnected for you, perhaps you should consider a sports web design. Done tastefully, sports website designs will not only attract potential professionals who are interested in your child's athletic ability, but the professional can view it on his or her own time and really gain good insight into your child's sports playing history. No length of history is considered too short - if you have any media, clips or articles, consider this as an affordable and viable opportunity to showcase those skills. Many websites offer free hosting in exchange for a non-dedicated link, which may work for you as they are young and until you're sure investing in a dedicated link and design is worthwhile.

Lastly, perhaps you should carry a CD-Rom, cell phone or flash drive containing their most recent accomplishments for quick showing to friends and family on the go. In this new day and age, everyone has access to a laptop, cell phone or other hand-held device with video playback capabilities. Of course they want to see your child in action ~ why wait until later or regret not being able to show it on demand? This is equivalent to showing your key chain photo-album and actually might be more convenient. Major Pros for this option: it's private and you have immediate access to who and why someone is interested before you decide to show off your child's athletic ability to a perfect stranger.

Creative solutions exist for those wanting a quick but professional design for any of these methods, including Flash slide shows and photo montages, or quick-loading video clips complete with intro and music backgrounds. If you're not savvy in any of these methods, consider talking to a web professional about making sure your child's skills look great on screen as they do on the field or court.

Your Committed Web Professional,

Should I Hire a Web Designer?

2010-11-24T23:32:00.002-05:00

Modern web development is a challenge to the majority of the people who enjoy using the internet. There's HTML, XHTML, CSS, PHP, JavaScript, ColdFusion, etc. - What does all of this really mean to you and the site you want for you or your business?

HMTL and XHTML are merely languages used by developers that are read by browsers and recognized across the WWW. These languages are specifically designed to work with browsers of the web to benefit your site's purpose. One major problem is, if not used correctly, a page written in HTML or any other language is NOT going to look and/or behave the same in every browser available.

When working with a designer, ensure they are using the most efficient tools available based on the needs and scope of your business. Complete the web design questionnaire if there is one (and there should be one.) By giving the designer as much information as possible, it helps guide the designer in what tools to use to make the site functional and appealing as efficiently as possible.

Don't forget to think about the long term. It's easy to say you want a site created that you can easily maintain, but the real question is, will you have the time? The possibility of using your site designer as your site maintenance company is a very real consideration, especially for a person who wants their company to grow and expand ~ website maintenance may quickly fall to the bottom of your list.

There are hundreds of hosting companies available on the market; be sure that the hosting company that you're thinking of doing business with can host the type of site that your designer recommends. Not all hosting sites can maintain e-commerce websites. Some hosting companies do not give you enough space on their server to maintain large databases of images or even high quality photo galleries. If this is a requirement of yours, be sure to research these and other options thoroughly with your designer.

Your Committed Web Professional,

Help Me Find a Wedding Dress

2010-11-14T19:23:00.017-05:00

Buying your wedding dress is a huge purchase decision, in more ways than one. Financially, you hope to find a dress that fits within your price range. Aesthetically, you want to get the dress that complements your body type. Emotionally, you want others to say your dress choice was perfect and makes you look stunning. Decisions like these would normally stress a girl out ~ but thankfully, you've taken the right step by doing your preliminary research and stopping by our blog for helpful tips and pointers on finding a dress that makes you look great.

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Browsing for that Perfect Dress
We strongly recommend you check out two to four stores before deciding on your purchase. You can do this easily by checking for local trunk shows in your area, or wine tastings held at bridal salons. The reason we recommend this is many stores don't carry all of the wedding dress styles shown in their catalogs or from their website. These stores will have a few samples for you to view, and then a catalog for your searching pleasure. However, it's hard to determine what wedding gown would complement your personality, body type and wedding theme by looking in a catalog. By checking out a few stores during your wedding dress search, you'll increase the chances of finding your perfect wedding dress.

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Visiting the Bridal Salon
Here comes the hardest part of the wedding dress search - going to the bridal store. Why? Because there are so many beautiful dresses to try on! You'll see wedding gowns with options like ruffles, gathering, beading, and fabrics like chiffon, silk, brocade and faille (pronounced "file"). How will you know which one wedding dress fabric and style makes you look your best? It's easier than you may believe. If you don't know where to start; we'll show you how.

When you're in the store and looking through the wedding dress selections, don't leave any sections of the store out. Each store will have it's own layout to appeal to shoppers but it is your duty to come in ready to look at everything. This way, you don't miss out on an absolutely beautiful wedding gown tucked in the back of a rack somewhere. Maybe the bridal consultants will mistake your thorough search for confusion and offer you help several times. If you don't require assistance, just politely decline and continue looking. The consultants will be happier knowing you found your beautiful wedding dress at their bridal store, than if you let them chase you out with their badgering. Look around carefully.

As you pull potential wedding gowns off the rack to check out the style more closely, look at more than just the price tag. Perhaps the dress is or is not in your price range, but the design of the dress will give you huge hints at what works for you and what doesn't. Look closely at the quality of how the dress is made. Wedding dresses should have quality stitching with no loose threads showing, the beads should not be loose or barely hanging on to their place, and the hems should not be crooked or inconsistent in stitching rhythm. You don't have to be a professional designer or seamstress to ensure you're getting quality clothing. If the wedding dress looks this way on the rack, it came from the designer that way ~ don't be fooled into believing ordering one fresh will make a difference.

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Trying on Dresses
Take about two or three dresses of your choosing, if allowed, to the dressing rooms. You should try to choose sizes that are as close as possible to your natural dress size. This may not always be possible depending on the size of the bridal salon you are visiting and what they have in stock to choose from. By no means should you try on a dress that is significantly larger or smaller than your dress size, because different elements look very different on larger dresses than they do on smaller dresses, and vice-versa. If the bridal salon does not stock a wide range of sizes to cover your needs and this makes you uncomfortable, it may be in your best interest to visit a wedding dress store elsewhere.

Also, use this opportunity to experiment with styles and colors you may have seen online. If you gave more than a few minutes worth of thought to the diamond white wedding dress with the navy blue accent color - try it on! You may find that how you envisioned yourself looking in that internet wedding dress picture is FAR different from how it really looks on you in the store. This is a great time to experiment with different colors and really narrow your choices down.

Once you've tried your wedding dress selections on, note what worked and what didn't work about the dress. "This wedding gown doesn't make me look good" or "This wedding dress makes me look fat" will not suffice - is it the ruffles around the top of the bodice that make you look fat? Is it the full look of chiffon that makes your bottom half so round? Perhaps its the close fit of a straight-line gown that doesn't flatter your hips or thighs. By identifying these elements, you can rule out dresses that have these elements on your next trip visit out to the bridal dress showroom to search again.

It's important to note here that we can all only handle so much stress, and finding a wedding gown can be, and often is, downright stressful. If you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed, take a coffee break and try again later that day, or in a few days, when your head is fresh again. Perhaps take another friend with you for a change in moral support. This not only allows you to gather several perspectives, but your loved ones will appreciate you making them part of the planning process for your special day.

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Finalizing Your Choice of Wedding Dress
You've tried them on, and you're ecstatic! (~ Or, simply just pleased ~)
The dress you found is perfect in size, shape and color and you make your purchase. Remember, you'll see more wedding dresses, themes and styles as your wedding date approaches but there is no need to second guess the awesome wedding gown you've found. By using these guidelines to your best advantage, chances are you'll be more confident about the dress styles you see and how they'll complement your figure without having to try them on, which will only strengthen the choice you've already made.

Happy wedding dress hunting!

Flourish Formal Wedding Invitations

2010-04-27T00:11:00.019-04:00

For the past two days, I have been designing these beautiful floral-like wedding invitations. The feel that I wanted to convey is that, since I am a free-spirit, I want these invitations to reflect a "free"-ness as well. I held
back a bit because I wanted the invitation design to have some sort of order to it. By including the bolder formula of the swirls instead of a thinner, more reserved type, I felt like I had found the balance I was looking for.

What I ended up with was something so nice, I myself wished I was getting married again just so I could use them for my own wedding invitations. Srsly.

XOXO,

Concert Ticket Style Invitations

2010-04-12T08:22:00.018-04:00

I got a call the other day from a dear friend of mine asking for a ticket style invitation for her step-daughter's Sweet 16 birthday party. My first reaction was: I knew this day was coming. Concert ticket style invitations have been all the rage, and I dreamed of making one just because it seemed like the cutest idea ever. I was excited and nervous all at the same time. I had never made them before, except in my daydreams and I really wanted to impress her with a unique style she couldn't find anywhere else.

I didn't really want to go movie ticket style because that would have been a little too small to hand out for a birthday party. I also didn't want to go too playful because with such a limited amount of space to work with, it would have looked too busy. I decided I would start with "Admit One" and go from there.

Well, a couple of days later she replied to the proof I sent, and loved them! I made up some VIP ones for the special people coming to the party and with some revisions, it was time to send them off to be printed and cut.

I sent them off today. Can't wait until they arrive, they should be there in just a couple of days!

XOXO,

**Update**

She loved them! I got a post on my Facebook Page that our soon to be 16 year old received them in the mail and absolutely loved them.

Chocolate Candy Bar Wrappers

2010-04-06T11:14:00.014-04:00

One of my most interesting recent projects was a request I received for a custom candy bar wrapper. I had never done this type of design before, but I've seen custom chocolate candy bars before and drooled over them like anyone else (right?). I mean, chocolate and cute paper, who would say no to that!

Well, I set out to find proper measurements. What better way to do that than to buy one of those lovely chocolate bars from the store! I'll take any excuse to buy chocolate.

After taking the bar's measurements, I set up my design size, and started experimenting with flourishes and borders, trying to find the perfect type of layout for her. My client was planning a surprise birthday party for a long-time friend, and she needed assistance with a party theme, chocolate bar design, favors and the like. She described her friend as caring and fun loving, spiritual but very down to earth as well. Plus, she called her a chocolate connoisseur ~ so I knew that these bars would be the special highlight of the party. The colors requested were dark purple and light blue, with emphasis on the purple.

When all was said and done, I chose a couple different swirl designs to really accent the name box on the wrapper, playing with them in both the blue and purple. It seemed the purple worked best, and I wanted to really go that route but wasn't sure if she'd like an accent color in light purple or dark purple.

In the end, we had these beautiful chocolate bars that were just as awesome as the chocolate inside them. What happened to the test bar, you might ask? Well I ate that. :-)

XOXO,

My Affair With Paper

2010-04-05T12:40:00.004-04:00

Let me just start by saying I absolutely love paper. Paper products will capture my attention in such a way that I could get lost in the number of ideas that come about from looking at a uniquely designed piece of paper.

I am slowly learning that I am not the only one. Women lines the aisles at our local craft stores just pouring over pages and colors of paper. The patterns that are out there are just too many ~ there is no way anyone can like just one piece, design, or color.

More recently, I have discovered the art of scrap-booking. I've seen it called crafting, hand-making, etc. But the real thing that interests me is how a layered set of pages can be combined with other elements to create such a cute card or frame, and it has feeling to it. That's what I love about it, the feeling you get from seeing an awesomely designed piece of paper.

XOXO,

To DIY or not to DIY

2010-04-01T12:00:00.019-04:00

I absolutely believe that planning a wedding is one of the single most important things we will do in our lives. No matter how much emphasis you place on the when, where and how, it's the actual act of doing it that takes time and effort. Very little of that should be wasted. Celia Milton, famed celebrant and wedding officiant, is one of my most favorite people. She wrote our guest blog article on the approach to planning a wedding, and it is a must see.

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Planning and budgeting for your wedding is a LOT like planning and paying for your starter home. The obvious similarities? It is a huge purchase. It is an expression, perhaps, the first, of your couple style. AND you will be spending a lot of money in a situation where you may not feel that you’re informed enough to feel totally comfortable.

So many factors can contribute to your decision, but perhaps the most important (or close) is your budget. Every couple has one, sparse or generous. While it may not be the only thing on your mind, it certainly looms large. No one wants to walk away from such an important purchase with buyers’ remorse, fearing that they have made an expensive purchase that wasn’t the right choice. In the case of your wedding, those multiple expensive purchases contribute to a day that cannot be done over; it truly is a “once in a lifetime” experience.

Decisions based solely on price can cause regrettable (and avoidable) disasters on your wedding day. Like the classic joke, “The food was terrible, and the portions were so small!”, five hours of an obnoxious DJ or an out of tune band will ruin your reception, no matter how many mirrored balls, inflatable guitars or ‘dance motivators’ they throw in for “free”. Five thousand photos that are carelessly shot, amateurishly lit or cropped and delivered late are not going to capture your wedding day in a better way than 500 artistically created pictures that really tell your story. (And there is just no way to know what great shots were missed.) A cake no one eats is well, a cake no one eats……and a ceremony everyone yawns through is a terrible way to start this precious moment in history; yours, your friends’ and your families’.

When you buy a house, a common phrase is, Location location location! Buy the most house you can afford in the best neighborhood, not the most expensive house in a less than desireable neighborhood. How does this translate to your wedding? Easily. Instead of finding the cheapest professional in any category, strive to put together a team of the people that you truly want to create your wedding, and then work with them to see just how that can happen.

Every wedding professional who truly is that, a professional, wants to work with the couples that want to work with us. We want you to understand why we charge what we do, how we are uniquely qualified to be a part of your wedding, and how we might work together to stay within your budget. Your photographer might suggest a shorter period of coverage (maybe just before the ceremony and then part of the reception, rather than spanning the entire day, from makeup to the last crumb of cake). Your invitation artist might deliver your wedding stationary in components, ready for your bridal party to assemble. Your officiant, (that would be me!!), might offer to do a quick run through of your processional before the wedding rather than on a separate day. (I also offer a printable, decorative copy of the ceremony readings that some of my couples have used instead of favors.) All of these are invisible ways to include the vendors who will truly enhance your days.

None of us want our couples leaving their reception thinking that their day was vastly more expensive than they hoped; that is not the memory we are striving to create. Great, experienced, enthusiastic wedding partners are worth every penny that you’ll spend on them, and they’ll help you spend it wisely. That is our wedding gift to you.

Celia Milton
www.celiamilton.com

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'Who will legally marry us?' and other questions about having a Wedding Officiant

2010-04-01T12:00:00.017-04:00

I have had the absolute joy of recently talking with Rev. Judith L. Guasch, M.Div., Wedding Officiant of Lovely & Unique Weddings about the need for, and what exactly is, a wedding officiant. Since I too was confused at what exactly a wedding officiant's role in a wedding was to be, I thought this would be an insightful article for those who have a question mark in that arena too.

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Remember when Monica and Chandler got married on Friends, they had Joey become ordained so he could do their ceremony. Yes, it’s true you could do that. BUT that is the quickest way to de-value your marriage. What would that say about you and your values if you did that? Do you really want Uncle Phil, who is untrained, and knew you in diapers and all your awkward teen years having free reign to say whatever he wants at your wedding, with ALL of your guests focused on him? Or do you want someone who is a trained professional and knows just the right way to make your wedding beautiful and meaningful? After all, would you really want someone who got their medical license from a cracker jack box performing your next surgery? Yes, your wedding ceremony is THAT important!

Instead, ask yourself, what do we want in our ceremony? Do we want the cracker jack box ceremony of Monica and Chandler? If your answer is “Yes,” then anyone will do. BUT for those couples who want something more meaningful, then you want a Professional Wedding Officiant.

By definition, an Officiant is one who is legally enabled to perform a service or ceremony such as weddings, funerals, baptisms, etc. That means the ministers and rabbis, judges and justices of the peace, and of course Professional Wedding Officiants. A Professional Wedding Officiant brings their education and training as well as their skill and experience, all things Joey or Uncle Phil lack.

If you wish to become legally married (as opposed to a renewal of vows for instance) you need to employ an Officiant. As the highlight of the day, you want your ceremony to be more than just a pre-cursor to the party. The right Officiant can and will make the ceremony a truly beautiful and meaningful event, giving you just the right first step in your marriage.

How do you go about finding the right Officiant for you and your fiancé(e)? Some couples use the clergy person from their house of worship. But assuming you do not have a clergy person of your own, the first thing to do is talk to others who have recently married. Find out what they liked or did not like about their Professional Wedding Officiant. If they were pleased, perhaps even contact their Officiant. Next, talk to the coordinator at your venue. Many venues have lists of preferred vendors, and can recommend someone who has worked with some of their other couples. You can also find many listed online.

What do you look for in an Officiant? First, decide if you would like a standard type ceremony or something personalized which reflects the couple you are. You will find both types in your search. If they have a website, look through it carefully. Check if they show pictures of ceremonies they have done. Look at the faces of the couples to see if they look pleased with the service they are receiving.

Also look to see what other people have said about the Officiant. Check to see if they have a website with testimonials, or are listed on any “Third-Party” sites where couples can submit testimonials. Find out if they have any endorsements from other Professionals in the wedding industry on “Third-Party” sites as well. Sometimes those endorsements can hold more weight than the testimonial of a couple. A couple is looking at everything with emotions, while a professional is looking at the work ethic.

Next, talk to the Officiant! When you talk to them, you should feel a connection. This is probably THE single most important thing in looking for an Officiant. You should feel that they are personable, and wish to form a partnership with you in building your ceremony. You don’t really want someone who is cold and grouchy. If you don’t feel comfortable with them, keep looking.

Be sure to ask if they have any requirements prior to marrying the two of you. Do they require pre-marital classes? If you are living together, be sure to let them know, as some may ask that you not live together prior to the wedding. If you are previously divorced, or have children, let them know that as well, as some have restrictions against marrying persons in those situations.

And find out exactly what they will be doing for you, and what your expectations are. What kind of access do you have to them? Some Officiants will say something to the effect “four 15-minute phone consultations included,” while others give you unlimited access to them. Some will make themselves available to you if you would like a blessing or prayer before the reception meal is served. {Just a note here, it is customary to invite the Officiant and a guest to the reception. And if you are providing a meal for other vendors, you should send them an invitation as well. The general rule is, if you may be serving them a meal, you send them an invitation so that you get the RSVP back and have an accurate dinner count for your venue.} Also be sure to find out if they offer a written contract. If you don’t get it in writing, you may just wind up throwing the most expensive party of you life, and not being married at the end of the day!

So, what can you expect to pay? If you are using your own religious clergy person, and they simply ask for an honorarium, some people give as little as possible. But think about the service they are providing for you, and the true value of that service. Then make your gift a true reflection of the value you hold on your wedding ceremony. If you hire a Professional Wedding Officiant you can expect to pay between $500-$1,000 for their entire package of services, including meetings, materials supplied, travel, rehearsal and day-of wedding services.

Give the ceremony the attention it ought to have. After all, it is the ceremony you will be celebrating at that big fancy party, and it is the ceremony that makes your wedding day a marriage for years to come. Be sure to give it the thought and consideration it truly deserves.

Rev. Judith L. Guasch, M.Div.
http://www.lovely-uniqueweddings.com

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2010-04-01T12:00:00.014-04:00

Q: Should my fiancee and I hire a wedding planner, or should we plan our wedding without one?

A: My answer is based on personal experience. When my husband and I were planning our wedding, we were trying to do it all by ourselves. We were both working full time, in addition to keeping up regular obligations to a softball team we volunteered to managed at the time, going to school part time online, and keeping up with our friends and kids. We were thinking we could squeeze wedding planning in between because it didn't seem to be too difficult - make a couple of calls, take a look at some contracts, and then pay and be married.

What we didn't realize is that planning is not and will never be that simple. While we didn't always have somewhere to go or someone to hang out with that took up all of our time, we didn't realize that there would be a following of things for us to contemplate and decide on to complete our wedding details. We quickly realized that contract reading took alot of understanding and time, so we could be in line with what the rights were for a vendor/client relationship. We didn't want our wedding to be displeasing due to contractual obligations, so we had to make sure we understood what we were signing and what was typical for a wedding and what wasn't.

Then, there were the other small things that definitely needed answers to ensure our day ran smoothly: Who is going to be available at the venue for set up, delivery, packing and tear down of all of the items? What do we want as our processional and recessional wedding songs? What are the specific colors for the wedding party's clothing and groomsmen's boutonnieres? How about my (the bride's) dress? Matching shoes - heels or ballet flats? How does this look on me? How about at the venue - What colors are going on the tables, linens? Sweetheart table or no sweetheart table? What other decorations are being brought to the venue? What are the photography styles we like and who do we specifically want posed photos with? Do we need an engagement session? How will we honor our guests at our reception? Do you have time to go over your food list? Who is going to ensure that everyone is in place and on time?... the list goes on and on, and I was taking calls at our softball games to handle alot of it.

Needless to say, it became overwhelming.

When we hired our wedding planner, she was like the right hand to our left hand. She was very open to our ideas and communicative. She would take the answers we had for the questions that were being asked, and she was available to ensure these things were communicated when we couldn't. It finally felt like we were able to enjoy our days again, while planning our wedding during our spare time (instead of working in our spare time and planning full time.) By the time the swing of the final details were coming back to us, we were ready and things were just as we hoped they'd be. Since we were fully involved in all aspects of the wedding, she took the time to get to know our personalities and what we were aiming for, what our likes and dislikes were, and she was always available no matter the time of day, night or weekend. She was a priceless help in trying to get things taken care of when we were otherwise not available or didn't exactly know how to proceed, plus she even helped me choose my dress as most of my family were out of town and unavailable.

For that reason, I would say Yes to a wedding planner. Hold your interviews the same way you would for any cherished event - ask questions, and never be afraid to speak up, even if you come across something that makes you unhappy. Your wedding planner should be an extension of you and your fiance's wishes, almost kin to being your sister or brother. Above all else make sure you're comfortable with who you choose and truly retain the happiness you have about moving forward to your big day.

Tiffany

Q: I am wanting to make my own postcard invitations, but I am having trouble making the layout look right. Any advice?

2010-04-01T12:00:00.003-04:00

A: Making a wonderful invitation seems like the most inexpensive way to cut costs in your wedding budget. After all, wherever you shop, there are invitation kits in really attractive color combinations and often include everything a bride needs to make a gorgeous invitation. It seems so easy! Just create the text, click print, insert paper, and wait for those invitations to come out looking as gorgeous as you imagined them to be. Here are some things to be mindful of when creating your invitations.

One thing to be aware of is called typesetting. While it may seem easy to place text on paper and click print, oftentimes it's not the text that causes the issue, but where the text is placed. Ensure you're using your word processor’s ruler to note where the margins are on your document. It’s also a good idea to use a real ruler for paper measurements before you print. Not all printers print alike; some printers do a "full bleed", allowing text and color to run off the edge of the paper; other printers refuse to print within the last 1/16" of the paper. These measurements could vary from printer to printer. If you're looking for text or color to be printed close to the border of the paper, be careful. The whole design might be a wash if you cannot print onto that small margin of the paper.

Another thing to be watchful of is the symmetry of the invitation contents. This could include making sure text is centered where it needs to be, balance of the text versus the images or colors, and being sure that different fonts complement each other. Everyone knows Times New Roman as a font, but did you know only certain handwriting script types go well with it? There is something to be said about knowing how to pick two good fonts to be used in the same document. One tip is – if the main font has serifs, your script choice should have or appears to have serifs too.

If you’ve ever designed anything to be printed, and once it was on paper it seemed something was off, many times it’s the balance of the images and text, or it’s the way the margins and rulers were considered in relation to the paper. These tips will help you on your way to creating those amazingly beautiful invitations, right at home.

Q: I am having a Hindu Ceremony on a Saturday and a Christian Ceremony the day after. How would the wording on the invitations be if we just sent one invitation?

2010-04-01T12:00:00.002-04:00

Q: I am having a Hindu Ceremony on a Saturday and a Christian Ceremony the day after. My parents are paying for the Hindu ceremomy and my fiance and I are paying for the Christian Ceremony. How would the wording on the invitations be if we just sent one invitation?

A: Your invitation wording should be determined by the formality of the ceremony - for example, will there be a ceremony that has more emphasis than the other? If both have equal importance, then next you should consider the size of the invitation card.

Because the wording on wedding invitations is limited due to the size of the card, standard size being 5"x7" and accommodating about 12 lines, I recommend sending two invitations.

If you still prefer just one card, I then recommend a tea-length card, which is usually about 4" x 8" in measurement. Next, I would list each ceremony on the card in the order the events occur, paying special attention to font size and style. For example:

**************************************
Mr. & Mrs. John Smith
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Angela Marie
to
Mr. Michael Anthony Richards

Please join us for dual ceremonies
celebrating our Hindu faith
Friday, the sixteenth of April
Two thousand ten at 2:00 p.m.
123 Main Street, Atlanta, GA

and celebrating our Christian faith
Saturday, the seventeenth of April
Two thousand ten at 2:00 p.m.
123 Main Street, Atlanta, GA

***************************************

I hope this helps you.