While it's easy to let a wedding invitation fall into a pile of mail and be forgotten, it is poor guest etiquette to do so. In wedding etiquette, it is proper to r.s.v.p. promptly.

There are many reasons why you should choose to respond quickly. Two stand out above the others. First, responding quickly allows for a more accurate head count. Brides need this information when preparing seating charts, making arrangements with the caterer and dealing with other limited-space matters. Responding quickly is a kind gesture that will allow the bride an easier planning process. Plus you'll have more time to shop for the gift!

It is particularly important to r.s.v.p. to a wedding invitation if you do not plan to attend. Though rare, the bride may wish to send another invite in lieu of your attendance. That is not to say that one guest is preferred over another or that your lack of presence will go unnoticed. She may simply decide to invite her groom's boss's nephew after all.

It's nice and it frees up time for both you and the couple planning a wedding. When etiquette matters, respond to a wedding invitation post haste.

If you missed the first kickoff of the official football season, don’t worry! You can still kick off the next big game with a fun football themed party. Grab your team colors and have a blast. Bring on the face paints and team jerseys. Warm up the foosball table. Practice your dart throwing abilities. Warm up your vocal chords and practice your cheerleading moves. These are some tips for a great game day blowout. Below are some great ideas to match your team colors. Just pick your team, invite your guests with party invitations shaped like footballs, rustle up some snacks and get the party started!

Red, White, Blue (Patriots, Giants, Texans, Titans, Bills)

These are probably the easiest colors with which to decorate for an event. Recycle some of the old Fourth of July decorations for a festive event. Check with the city before setting off any fireworks Read the rest of Score Big With A Football Themed Party »

Wedding Shower Etiquette: Keeping The Love

What could be better than being in love, surrounded by your closest friends and family, and receiving beautiful gifts from those who know you best? A wedding shower is a lovely event full of both tradition and creativity that is only rivaled by the wedding ceremony itself. Just like a wedding, a shower is an intimate celebration of the beginning of a life together. Good food, gifts, and loved ones–what’s not to like?!

Nevertheless, being the honoree at a wedding shower has its responsibilities. Wedding shower etiquette is something many brides-to-be find intimidating and sometimes a little outdated. However, by adhering to a few tried-and-true rules and suggestions you can ensure that everyone (including you) will have a wonderful time at this special event!

The first thing you need to consider is that, although someone else is planning the party, you as the bride need to have a say in a few key areas such as the guest lists. By keeping a master list for yourself no one will be invited to more than one shower and certainly only those on your wedding invitation list will be in attendance at your showers. Programs like Microsoft Excel are ideal for keeping track of your guests, their contact information, and what shower they attended. You can also add what gift they gave you to make writing thank-you cards a breeze!

When it comes to inviting people to your wedding shower they must first be invited to your wedding and Read the rest of Wedding Shower Etiquette »

Invite Excitement With Creative Party Invitations

Of all the responsibilities of throwing a party, the invitation is often the most overlooked—and the most important. The party invitation is the first thing guests will see. It gives them an idea of the theme, atmosphere, and basic information about the party. If you rigorously work to throw a party, you want the invitation to show it!

For every type of party, there are hundreds of invitation possibilities. While creativity at a party is somewhat optional, it is a must for the invitation. It’s the “calling card” for the event. Invitations represent the event in its entirety.

Add A Personal Touch To Party Invitations

Invitations for common events, such as weddings and birthday parties, are opportunities to display some uncommonness and personality. Elaborate invitations are always an option; however, the more personality injected into an invitation, the more effective it will be. For example, with birthday parties, try a snapshot of the guest of honor in his or her youth with information on the back or, for something more formal, place the photo inside of a more intricate invitation.

Find a humorous or endearing photograph from a scrap album, have copies made at any photography development counter, and add the time, date, and location on the back or on the rest of the invitation. Imagine getting a photo in the mail of a friend dressed like a cowboy as a four-year-old and how difficult it Read the rest of Party Invitation Ideas »

Wedding Invitations Tips

Selecting and Sending

Creating the perfect wedding invitation is an exciting part of every ceremony. Brides along with bridesmaids, family, and friends gather together to shop for, select, and send the announcement of the happy couple’s union. It is an experience to be cherished as the bridal party talks and laughs together while addressing envelopes. Special memories are created when mother, daughter, and future son-in-law sit together at the family table to prepare a wedding guest list and number the invitations needed.

There are thousands of styles of wedding invitations from which to choose. Materials, colors, patterns, wording, fonts and more come together to provide a huge array of choices. There is no need to be overwhelmed by choice as it clearly means that your perfect wedding invitation is out there! Discovering and preparing the right wedding invitation is fun and easy with help from these great tips! Read the rest of Sending And Selecting Wedding Invitations Tips »

Modern ceremonies have taken on a vast array of new roles. Traditional weddings are coming into the age of blended families, military weddings, and same-sex unions. Adjusting wedding invitation wording to reflect these changes may seem like a large task but following etiquette guidelines to properly word wedding invitations is as simple as following the guide below and filling in the blanks with your personalized information. Read the rest of Wedding Invitation Wording Tips »

After telling your family and friends about your engagement, the next step is to announce the happy news in your local newspaper. Traditionally announcements are placed in the papers of the bride and groom's hometown, as well as the hometowns of both sets of parents.

Engagement announcement tips

Begin by checking out the paper's announcement section to see Read the rest of Tips For Announcing Your Engagement »