The Finishing Touch — Weddings, Events, Design, Paperie

Now along with other stores such as Urban Outfitters, J.Crew, & Costco, the latest mass retailer to jump into the bridal market is…Target! Target has released a budget friendly line by Tevolio featuring four wedding gown styles that range in sizes from 2 to 28. The gowns come in porcelain white or antique ivory and feature cap sleeves, cowl neck and sleeveless necklines. Prices start as low as $99.99- $129.99 and will be available in stores and online!

And don’t forget the bridesmaids! Also in the bridal collection for Target are ten bridesmaid gowns, which sell for under $80.00 and come in a wide variety of colors and are available with long and short hemlines.

What do you think about Target’s new collection? Would you consider finding your gown or bridesmaids gown there if the price/style was right?

We can’t believe a whole year has gone by already and the National Stationery Show 2013 is here! This is one of our favorite events of the year that we actually attend (not plan!) so we are certainly looking forward to checking out all of the latest in the ‘paper’ biz. It’s always great going with Jennifer, our senior lead designer here at TFT, as we can see all of the ideas forming in her mind as we walk throughout the Javits Center – her creativity is endless!! We can’t wait to check out some of the newest trends and share some great new designs with you! In the meantime, check out this summary we put together from last year’s show featuring some of the hottest trends that took off in 2012.

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Laser Cutting- Though it has been around for a long time, it is back and in high demand! Laser cutting is a technology which uses a laser to cut out custom prints and designs in materials such as papers, plastics, wood and more. This allows for a very precise and unique design to be incorporated into invitations and stationery. It also adds a very high fashion element to the invitations and truly takes them to a couture level – think of it as paper lace!  With the resurgence of lace in everyday and bridal fashion, it is no surprise this trend is back on the scene. This can be incorporated with a belly band, sleeve or envelope. An added bonus about laser cutting is that it has now become more affordable! With technology continuing to evolve it has increased capabilities and reduced labor time which in turn has helped to cut costs to the customer. This is one trend TFT absolutely adores!

Unique Colors- With the color of the year as Tangerine Tango, bright and bold colors are popping up everywhere. Some of the current trends in fashion such as neons, color blocking and pastels are now being showcased in paperie. Neons such as electric green, comet blue and even soleil yellow are being incorporated by the bride looking to be anything but traditional. Other trending colors are pastels such as coral and ginger- which are variations of tangerine. A great way to ‘wow’ your guests is by stepping outside the box and using unique color combinations that may have never considered before.

Bold Patterns - With unique colors comes bold patterns! If you are looking for a modern invitation suite, then using a bold pattern is the way to go. Geometric shapes, lines, stripes and graphics are all considered as bold patterns. Whether it is used as a layer, pocket or envelope, there are many ways to incorporate a pattern and still balance it out for a chic, clean look. This is also a fantastic element to carry over to the decor with patterned stationery, linens and even fashion! (Fun socks for the Groomsmen anyone?)

Not Just Paper Anymore- Who said invitations were just meant to be on paper? Now with the help of new technologies, other textiles are being used more frequently for invitations and stationery.With different textiles also being used in fashion for apparel, jewelry and other accessories, it is easy to see how this is reflected in the stationery world.   From steel, wood, leather, lucite and beyond, incorporating these materials adds a different spin on the traditional paper invite. Creating invitations out of these materials can also become a keepsake for guests for years to come!

Interactive- We have seen many love stories, engagement shoots and save the date videos but now invitations are going ‘digital’ too! Even the fashion world has come up with a Digital Fashion Week – which live streams runway shows from all over the globe with the use of online videos and QR codes. With QR Codes on just about every product out there, why not incorporate them on your Save the Date or Invitation? Stkr.it is a company that creates custom QR codes that you can record video, sound or photos to.  The QR codes are then printed onto stickers that can be adhered to your Save the Date or Invitation for your to share a special message with your guests. To view your message, recipients can either scan the QR code on their smart phone or visit the Stkr.itwebsite – how cool is that?! What a great way to add a personal touch to your stationery!

As an affiliate of Rent the Runway, we love to share the latest in style and trends found on RTR!

Whether beach, city or country RTR has a look for every wedding you may venture to this summer.

They also have tons of dresses for every event- engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelorette parties and more.

Check out some of these fabulous looks for summer weddings and beyond!

Who ever thought a bride and groom could combine all their wedding wishes from various merchants into one registry? Well, now it is possible! Wedding registry site NewlyWish.com gives couples the opportunity to select registry items from various merchants on the site.

From items such as Feet Reflexology sessions to cooking lessons to handcrafted home décor, NewlyWish gives couples the opportunity to customize their wedding wish list to reflect their unique styles and personalities. In addition to a personalized registry, NewlyWish also offers a wedding party gift section to help couples select one-of-a-kind gifts for their attendants.

Some of the creative gift items that can be found on NewlyWish~

These chic porcelain dinnerware sets from Ink Dish aren’t your mother’s wedding china. Select from various designs by different artists to find the set that best matches your style. These dishes have a panache all their own, and they are covered with an inglaze decal.  They are both dishwasher and microwave safe. Individual pieces range from $14 to $80.

Gail Monaghan offers cooking lessons on the site which are perfect for the bride and groom, a fun shower idea, or even a great wedding party gift idea. You can learn to cook with Gail in her gourmet Manhattan kitchen. Cooking lesson packages range from $125 to $2,550.

If you choose to go on a an exotic African safari or  an adventurous trip to Asia for your honeymoon, a tour by Immersion Journeys might just be the perfect addition to your wedding wish list. Take a once-in-a-lifetime romantic journey through locations such as South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya or India. Wedding guests have the opportunity to purchase items such as an African Bush Dinner, a hike to Mount Kilimanjaro, or even a Elephant Back Safari for the newlyweds. Gift packages range from around $150 to $1,590.

Be sure to check this great site out to register today!

We are so excited to be a part of this great event once again!

 Spend the day on a self guided tour designed to showcase the distinctive wedding experience available within the Long Beach Island Region of the Jersey Shore. Take this opportunity to explore several of our area’s popular wedding venues filled with sights, sounds and tastes of local wedding professionals as you earn prizes along the way. Stop at fabulous locations such as The Stateroom, The Boat House, Daddy O, Bonnet Island Estate, Mallard Island, Surf City Yacht Club, Brant Beach Yacht Club and more.

Brides and their guests receive complimentary registration as well as a chance to win dozens of fabulous prizes.

TFT will be at The Stateroom so be sure to stop by and say hello!

Don’t miss this fun event -click here to register today!

We can’t believe a whole year has passed since we had the pleasure of working with Domenique & Ryan on their amazing wedding at Mallard Island Yacht Club in LBI. It was a beautiful day and we had such a blast working with them to plan their big day. We wish them a very Happy Anniversary and many, many more!!

Take a look here at this highlight video of Domenique & Ryan -