The Finishing Touch — Weddings, Events, Design, Paperie

We were so excited to see that White House|Black Market (a TFT fave) has launched a Bridal collection! Featuring some beautiful Bridal gowns and accessories, the ‘Vow’ collection is truly elegant and classy. They also feature some beautiful Bridesmaids dresses as well as recommendations for wedding guests! Take a look at some designs that caught our eye -

To view the entire ‘Vow’ collection, visit White House|Black Market.

Gorgeous invitations are the perfect introduction to a fabulous event.  They set the tone and formality, create excitement for your guests, and give them an idea of what they can expect from your event.

One of the biggest trends in invitations and day-of stationery is customization.  Custom designed stationery allows for limitless opportunities to be creative and truly reflect your own personal style.  A custom invitation designer, like The Finishing Touch, can help you create the perfect invitation suite that reflects you.

When working with a custom invitation designer, the first step is to discuss themes, colors and motifs.  Issues to address include: What kind of look and feel do you want to convey?  Do you want your wedding to be romantic, modern, whimsical?  You may want to use the season, location or colors of the bridal party’s attire for inspiration.  Is there something special you share as a couple that you want to reflect through your event like a love of the outdoors or a meaningful song or movie?  You also want to be sure that the look of the invitations will match the formality of your event.

Next you will need to consider the materials that will go into creating your stationery.  What size and shape would you like the invitations to be?  Are you interested in a layered invitation or embellishments?  Ribbons, charms, and crystals can be added to give your invitations and day-of stationery a little extra “wow. “ Textured papers and fabric panels are also perfect for creating truly one-of-a-kind pieces.  Pocket invitations continue to be a popular choice as they allow for creative design, while providing your guests with a neat package to hold the enclosure cards. For the ultimate presentation, we have had clients choose a gorgeous silk box invitation that not only made an impression on their guests, but also served as a beautiful gift they can use in the future.

Before finalizing your design, you will also need to consider what information needs to be communicated to your guests.  How would you like the wording to appear on the invitation?   Would you like it to be very formal or a little more casual?  What types of enclosure cards should be included?  Reception, response, directions and accommodations cards are all important to consider so your guests have the information they need.  Don’t be afraid to be creative! We love helping our clients incorporate unique touches such as using a custom town map to provide information on activities for guests.

When considering how many invitations you need to order, remember that you will need one invitation per couple or single guest.  Be sure to order extras in case of any last minute invitees, and to save some as keepsakes for you and your family.

Most importantly, you will need to consider your budget.  Be sure to allocate a proper amount of money for invitations, as they are your guests’ first impression of your wedding.  You want to be sure that they reflect the fantastic wedding you are planning, and that you do not skimp on them.   If your budget is limited, be sure to discuss with your custom invitation designer options to achieve the look you are going for in a more cost effective way.  This can be achieved by changing the printing method, subtracting layers or limiting the amount of enclosure cards.

Your custom invitation designer will help you navigate through all these decisions and help you create a truly unique invitation suite that will reflect your personal style and vision for your wedding.

The Nets salute YOU, the Bride and Groom, as you take on the task of planning your wedding!

The New Jersey Nets are hosting one special day dedicated to Engaged Couples. The Brides and Basketball event offers the best of both worlds for future brides and grooms.  The girls are able to get their guys to take part in the wedding planning process, while the men are able to take their ladies to an exciting major sporting event for no additional cost.

Bride’s Night is one fun- filled night with prizes, games, giveaways and NBA entertainment for you and your fiancé!

The arena opens early to brides and grooms to tip off an exciting night hosted by the area’s top wedding professionals. Visit with Wedding Consultants, Florists, Caterers, DJ’s, Photographers, Videographers, and more!

See the latest in bridal fashion and register to win great prizes including honeymoon vacations.  Our very own Candice Benson will be speaking on the latest Planning tips and trends.  Stay tuned for more exciting news on some featured speakers during the event.

BUT WAIT!  The fun doesn’t stop there!  With your paid admission you get a FREE ticket to watch the game!

It’s a fantastic way to spend a date night out with the love of your life and most likely the only bridal show you will ever get him to attend. Tickets to the Bridal Expo are only $10 and include FREE game entry to watch the NJ Nets against the Dallas Mavericks on Jan 22nd, 2011 at the Prudential Center.

Tickets are available exclusively at BridesandBasketball.com -click here to purchase!

Attention Vendors! Are you interested in participating? Tables are still available!

ABC Members- receive $50 off your table fee and every vendor will receive TWO tickets for the game!

Click here for more information and to register!

Don’t miss out on this amazing event -see you on the court!