Bridal Shows -- The WHITE Event Diaries

The 2009 wedding season is now in full swing at AJK Papery as the annual WHITE event is now under our belts -- and what a wonderful kick-off it was!

Known as the creme de la creme among Kansas City's bridal show offerings, the 2009 WHITE event surely did not disappoint! Despite the chilly and dreary January weather outside, the bright and cheerful atmosphere at the Ritz Charles was full of energy and excitement of hopeful couples and their families. With the booth all decked-out, the "bellinis and browsing" time was of course my fav segment of the day as it is our opportunity to meet those brides that we hope to one-day know as friends. We met so many lovely brides, couples and moms -- and yes, even a dad or two -- and I left the show so hopeful of the fun projects that lie ahead based upon all of the wonderful new acquaintances we made! If you visited us at the show, thank you so much for stopping by to check us out -- we thoroughly enjoyed meeting each and every one of you and would love nothing more than the opportunity to get to know you better in 2009 -- and for you to take advantage of that 10% WHITE discount!!

During our three breakout sessions we had so many very attentive and eager learners about the world of invitations! If you didn't have a chance to join us, here is a brief synopsis of what we covered -- whether you choose to go custom or order a pre-set design from a book, the following tips are vital to your invitation success:

1....the invitation is intended not just to pass along information, but to SET the TONE for your wedding day. You go to such great lengths planning every little detail - and your invitation should be given NO LESS consideration! It is your opportunity to "MAKE A STATEMENT" -- literally with words, but also visually as you give your special guests a little glimps into what your day will look and feel like. Seize the opportunity to SET the STAGE!!!!

2....to ensure your statement is made, the following steps are careful considerations:
* Do your research! With the mass of invitations available on-line and in bridal magazines -- both custom and book -- your opportunities to research what you like and dislike as well as what it generally costs are endless! Be prepared to not only describe the "look", style and feel of your wedding so that the design can relate to it, but to also describe what you like and dislike about invitations in general. If you can articulate these general points, the design or selection process will run much more smoothly -- and could actually be fun :)

* In your planning, set your budget and prioritize the most important invitation elements that you hope to acheive with that budget. While researching, pay close attention to what things cost so you don't find yourself in a situation where you fall in love with a $10 invitation but you can only afford $3. That is the worst thing for me as a designer because I want to make your dreams come true -- and I can do that if we are both realistic about what those dreams cost! At the same time, keep in your sites what your likes and dislikes are so that within our custom options we can investigate new and creative ways to acheive what you are looking for at a different price point than originally thought.

* Be realistic about postage! I wish that the Post Office was our friend, but their system and equipment are NOT! With today's mailing standards, nearly all wedding invitations demand more postage than the typical $.42 stamp. I know that stinks, but it is just the reality. Additionally, while in the past we have always thought that hand canceling would ensure our invitaions are handled with the greatest of care, in reality that is a very small step in the process and not nearly enough to protect your precious works of art. For invitations with embellishments in particular, we suggest that you request they be hand canceled -- this eliminates the first set of rollers -- but then to also pay the extra $.20 or so to have them mailed as "non-machinable". While it is no guarantee, a non-machinable mailing gives your invitations the best chance possible to never see the likes of a roller and to arrive to your guests in the best condition possible. Also, it is worth the drive-time to mail your invitations at one of the larger "hub" post offices in the city rather than your small, neighborhood office. Due to limited staff resources, most neighborhood po's will not hand cancel anything more than 5 or so pieces of mail.

Last, but certainly not least, I want to say a huge HELLO and CONGRATULATIONS to Jessica Falbe of Overland Park, Amy Pickard of Wichita and Suzanne Pritchard of Roeland Park -- our custom invitation giveaway winners at each of our breakout sessions!!! I cannot wait to get started on each of your projects -- I will be in touch yet this week!

One last little fun note....each year WHITE host, Mr. Michael Nolte, premieres his new line of dresses for the upcoming wedding season. It is one of my fav parts of the show. This year, he has designed a new dressed named "aquamarine" that simply took my breath away -- I gushingly shared with him that seeing that dress alone made me want to get married all over again!! The line is so diverse and lovely....you really must go to Nolte's bridal or a local shop that carries the Michael Nolte line and check it out -- you will fall in love all over again :)