A wedding invitation is the first sneak peak into your big day. It is the prelude before the big performance.

The dictionary states the PRELUDE is:

1. An introductory performance, event, or action preceding a more important one; a preliminary or preface
2. A piece or movement that serves as an introduction to another section or composition and establishes the key, such as one that precedes a fugue, opens a suite, or precedes a church service.

When you look at this way, doesn’t it validate the importance of the invitation? Knowing the role it plays, why would you throw something together, keeping it cheap?

The invitation should do a handful of things. The most important, share all the details of the big day. Your names, dates, times, locations (ceremony & reception), directions, etc. If you work with a professional wedding planner or wedding printer, they will guide you on these selections. Next, it should mimic the style you plan to implement on your wedding day. If your invitation is formal and carries traditional elements, that should be carried through to your ceremony/reception. Look at this way, if your guest opens your invitation and says, “Wow, this is fancy”, then they should have the same response when they arrive at your ceremony/reception. Finally, this one is a must, ask for a proof (or make one if you are doing them yourself) and ask multiple people to read through the invitation to assure all is spelled correctly (as well as dates are correct, locations, etc.). I once received a wedding invitation and the word “love” was spelled “lvoe”. I was mortified for the couple and it made me question their level of commitment to the wedding; if they didn’t care to spell check then do they really care about getting married?
Classic spelling error from the movie MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING. Toula (the bride) has no idea her wedding invitations have been ordered (by her mother without her approval). Not only have then been ordered, they are all printed done and ready to go. Everyone is reading the invitations for the first time and an error is caught.

Ian (Toula’s groom): My parents’ names are Rodney and Harriet.
Toula (bride): [horrified, reading the inviation] Oh God, Rodney and HARRY!
Nick (Toula’s brother): We didn’t notice, so maybe they won’t.

In general, brides look at invitations as a “budget-eater” but instead, they should be allotted a reasonable budget. I have heard brides say, “these invitations are going to cost me an arm and a leg!” Really? You are willing to spend $25 a plate for meals, $23 a bottle for wine and even $1700 for the wedding dress of your dreams…but you won’t estimate $5.00 per invitation? Do the leg work, do the research, and find something that encompasses all the important elements of your wedding day…and remember, keep the words “CHEAP” and “THROW-AWAY” out of your invitation vocabulary!

Happy Planning!

Tina is a South Dakota resident with many ties and years in the SD wedding industry. Tina brings her passion for weddings to South Dakota Wedding Style in her monthly editorials and Do-it-Yourself Project Tutorials.

Supplies:
*Canvas Bag (recommend a light color)
*Fabric Paint (recommend a dark color)
*Foam Paint Brush (1″ Brush)
*Paper Doilies (10″ was used for this project, can be purchased at a baking supply store or craft store)
*Mounting Squares (can be found in scrap-booking section of craft store)
*Ribbon (for decorative purposes)
*Letter Stencils

Working/Cleaning Supplies:
*Scissors
*Disposable Bowl
*Paper Towels
*Cardboard/File Folder (no bigger than canvas bag)

A DIY Monogram Wedding Party Bag is a great gift for your wedding party. Not only is it adorable (and made by you), it is also the perfect way to provide all the wedding day necessities your bridal party will need (fill it with hairspray, tissues, gum, lip gloss, mascara, nail file, etc., etc.). This project is budget friendly and takes about 30 minutes per bag (does not include wash and dry time for bag).

It is important you read the instructions on your fabric paint, it is often recommended the fabric you are painting on be washed in cold water and dried at a low temp (with no dryer sheets) before you begin the fabric paint application.

To begin, take a doilie and fold it in half (do not make a heavy crease, try holding to together without pressing a permanent fold). While doilie is folded in half, take your scissors and snip the center so you can begin to cut out the center of the doilie. Cutting out just the center of the doilie (leaving approx 1/4″ of paper between your cutline and your pattern), be sure to cut slowly to assure you do not cut or damage any of the edges pattern. Once the center has been removed, using mounting squares, place them in 6-8 locations that will not interfere with the pattern.

After you have strategically placed the mounting squares, prepare your canvas bag. Be sure you are working on a hard surface. Place cardboard/file folder into the bag (this is to assure the fabric paint will not seep through to the other side of bag). Lay bag flat and carefully place your doilie (with mounting squares on the backside, facing the bag). Be sure to measure the space on each side, top and bottom to assure you have placed the doilie exactly in the center (press the mounting squares down, this will help keep your doilie in place while you paint).

Now you are ready to paint! Using your disposable bowl, place approx. a half dollar size amount in your bowl. Using your foam brush dip it slowly into the paint (do not fill your foam brush with paint, you will only need a small amount to begin). Using the foam brush, begin dabbing or blotting the paint onto the pattern (be sure to stay in the pattern, don’t go over the lines). Slowly work your way around the entire doilie (it is important you do not use brush strokes, this could damage your doilie and also could seep paint under the pattern making your work look distorted once complete). Once all painting is done, slowly pull the pattern up.

Next, using your letter stencil, prepare it with mounting squares (as you did the doilie). Place the letter stencil exactly in the center of the doilie pattern. Carefully using your foam brush and paint, repeat the same painting process (dabbing and blotting) on your letter. Once complete, slowly remove your letter.

Hard to believe but that is it! A cute hand made DIY Wedding Party Bag! Be sure to let the bag dry (untouched) for at least 48 hours. Add a pretty ribbon, tag or note to gift to your bridal party!

Happy Planning!

To learn more about Tina Beal the contributor of this post please visit our contributors page.

1. Specific—what is it that you want to do and why do you want to do this
2. Measurable—this could be a weight goal, strength goal, certain measurements, etc
3. Achievable—how are you going to do this, ie- diet changes, specific exercises, etc
4. Realistic—be realistic with your goals. Not everyone will be a super model, so set goals realistic to your own body and capabilities. If your goal is to lose weight, we recommend a 1-2 lb weight loss/week, as this is achievable and realistic for our bodies.
5. Timely—you may want to set short and long term goals depending on the length of your engagement.

After setting your goals, assess your current diet and lifestyle, to determine the areas you want to focus on. To assess your diet, you may consider setting up a profile with an online dietary tracking system such as the USDA’s MyPlate Super Tracker.  This site allows you to record your intake and compare it to a recommended intake based on your goals (you can put these into the system). Recording your food intake and activity will not only help you be more accountable, it will also help you stay on track to reach your goals.

You will hear from me every other month as we continue to break down the pre-wedding diet recommendations. Feel free to leave comments and questions here!

Kelsey Raml, MS, RD, LN
Registered Dietitian
Brown Clinic

Kelsey is a registered dietitian with an MS in Nutrition and Food Science from SDSU. She is a Nutritionist at the Brown Clinic in Watertown, SD. She is also a partner in their Strive 2 Survive Program. For more information on Kelsey’s services or the Strive 2 Survive Program head over to their blog. We are happy to have her as a regular contributor to South Dakota Wedding Style.

AJ Production Company is leading the way of a whole new approach. “When I first started, it was just me and there wasn’t a market for what I wanted to do,” says Jungeman. “After a year or so, people started to realize what was possible and started to connect with the stories I was capturing. Now we have more shooters and we are reaching so many more people than I had thought possible.” In fact his staff of three has been busy shooting weddings across the country. It was just recent that AJ Production Company moved into The Bridges building off Western Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.

Jungmean states that his favorite part about capturing weddings are the stories that are so much bigger than the “I do’s”. “There is so much more to a couple and their love than just vows. Finding those smaller facets that are actually huge pieces of our subjects and unveiling that is one of the most rewarding aspects of a wedding.”

You can reach AJ Production Company on their website at www.ajproductionco.com

Or by phone at: 605.354.0364 or e-mail at: info@ajproductionco.com

Celebrities may have the capability of changing or influencing wedding industry trends, but what stands true to the core are weddings are about personality, about the couple and why their love is what it is. We as a bridal nation are setting the tone and trend for what is the next big thing to come! Think about it, all it took was one couple to do a surprise hip-hop dance on their first husband and wife dance and the world went nuts! So where does the personality really fall at a wedding? Everywhere when you really spend sometime observing. It goes into the big things, the small things and everything in between.

Let’s start with the colors. Yes, we have all been to weddings that use the time of year as influence on color and décor; but we have also been to weddings where the color means so much more. I was at a wedding recently where the colors were purple and pink (simple enough), purple was the brides favorite but the pink was to honor her grandmother who had lost her battle with breast cancer (I know, a tear jerker through and through). When you are selecting your wedding colors, by all means, pick what you like! I do encourage you to take the time to really understand the color (maybe even look up their meanings, you might be surprised to find a deeper influence on your wedding décor and plans)!

Next up on the potential “personality” wedding chart, the ceremony. Ceremonies are the perfect time to load up on the couple’s personality! It seems, no matter what, some how some way, something special sneaks into everyone’s ceremony. We have all seen the crazy dances into and out of the church. One of my all time favorites was at a friends wedding ceremony. Traditional in all the sense of traditional, until the couple kissed and walked out, blasting into the speakers was the famous song from Shrek 2, Accidently in Love! Why was it so cute? The couple watched the movie on one of their first dates (and little did they know they were going to fall in love and get hitched)! Perfect for them in every way!

The reception is really the big chance for personality to be busting at the seams! Couples can show their personality in their entrance, in their video, in their thank you or speeches, tons of opportunity. So what really stands out? What makes it noteworthy? When it is about who you are! I had a bride recently tell me they weren’t doing a wedding cake at their reception, they were doing packages of powdered white donuts. Why you ask? It is the couple’s favorite (and who doesn’t love those little what powdered donuts, yummy)! Another couple had shared they weren’t doing what was considered the “normal” wedding video. Instead, they had complied pictures and videos from their grandparents and parents weddings and were surprising everyone with the collage of memories! I hope their favors are packs of tissues (everyone will need one)!

Trends will be trends and what is in “style” will only be in “style” for that time. What really stands out is you (as in the two of you). You make your south dakota wedding day what it is! Take the time to personalize it in a big way or small way (or everything in between)!
Happy Planning!

Tina Beal

Tina is a South Dakota resident with many ties and years in the SD wedding industry. Tina brings her passion for weddings to South Dakota Wedding Style in her monthly editorials and Do-it-Yourself Project Tutorials.