Fun Favor Ideas!

Every bride gets stuck on what favor to hand out to guests. But no need for that, here are some great ideas for any wedding, at any time of the year!

Spring weddings are a great time to hand out flower seeds for your guests’ gardens. These flowers will bloom for years to come and remind your guests of your beautiful day. Choosing a flower that is easy to grow and that will come back year after year on its own, is the way to go here!

Have a sweet tooth but don’t really want to give into having a full candy bar at your wedding? Try these cute miniature boxes filled with your favorite candy. A great candy that everyone will love: customized M&M’s with your names and favorite colors!  Or try colorful Jelly Beans as pictured above!



Christmas tree ornaments, according to some, can be given all year round. Many brides choose to only hand these great mementos out during the holidays, but why not have an ornament for a favor any time of the year? Many people have ornaments on their tree from special occasions during the year including family vacations, high school graduations, and new pets. Your guests will be happy to display these on their tree for years to come!

Having a beach wedding? Fill small bottles with sand from your ceremony site and tie a tag on it with your names, date, and the location, with a coordinating ribbon to match your wedding colors.


Looking for wedding invitations, programs, accessories, or favors?
Go to InvitationSolutions.com or call 713-864-5573

*Photographs and favors pictured are by Invitation Solutions

Wedding Way-Finding

Have you gone to a wedding that is at a huge venue but no signs on where to go or how to get there? How many stories do you hear of guests wandering into the wrong wedding? Wonderful Graffiti Wedding is a company that has all the solutions for you! Not only do they have signs to tell you where to go, but they have great pieces to use in your reception site, along with great sayings that can be adhered to any wall, window, or door!




Wonderful Graffiti Wedding prints signs on a decal material and back it with foamcore, plastic corrogate or any other material that fits the sign purpose. The printed vinyl is even weatherproof!

Here are a few examples of things you can say on Wonderful Graffiti Wedding’s Easel Signs:

“ Please wait here for the shuttle to Wendy and Bob's wedding.”

“Please place your shoes in the basket below before joining Cindy and Brandon's wedding on the beach.”

“ Please join us again tomorrow at 11 am for brunch and another day of celebrating Lynn and Daniel's wedding!”



Often times, brides and their guests need signs! Check out their website at http://www.wonderfulgraffitiwedding.com/

*Information and Photographs provided by Wonderful Graffiti Wedding

A Weddingbook on Facebook!

With modern technology, everyone seems to be on facebook! Whether it’s on a personal computer or your phone, even your parents are getting on facebook! The Knot has a great application on facebook for brides-to-be. It is called “weddingbook” and can be found by simply searching from the facebook home screen.

This application has become extremely popular, allowing you to have a wedding countdown clock shown on your facebook profile, a guest book, a listing of your wedding party and engagement photos, along with links to your wedding website and gift registry! It is a great site with everything you could possibly need to offer friends and family a glimpse of your wedding beforehand. So go ahead, sign up for this wonderful application! It’s a great way to keep wedding details in-the-know and organized!

*The Weddingbook application on Facebook was created and is owned by TheKnot.

Boxy Ideas!

These wedding guestbook boxes are a GREAT idea for any upcoming wedding! Instead of your traditional guest book for guests to sign their name, place one of these boxes in its place and let your guests write personalized notes and messages to you! After your guests file them away alphabetically, you can go through and read their thoughts and best wishes for you as a couple. It is also something that will display beautifully in your new home! This fantastic idea is definitely something that can be a unique memento of your wedding day in the years to come!



These boxes are handcrafted with careful design and care, and can also be custom created to match your wedding color palette or your invitation ensemble!





As shown here, Cut the Cake Designs and Just Wright Boutique, both found on Etsy.com, have beautiful wedding guest book boxes that would be gorgeous at any ceremony.
Check them out at Etsy.com or:

Cut the Cake Designs by Tara Lee – http://cutthecakedesigns.etsy.com contact: cutthecakedesigns@gmail.com

Just Wright Boutique - http://www.etsy.com/shop/justwrightboutique


Images provided by Cut the Cake Designs and Just Wright Boutique

Brooke Schwab Photography

As a photographer, Brooke strives to capture the simplicity of people, and the rawness of one’s life. She says it is beautiful to see people being real, and true to themselves, and thinks that makes the best photos. She is not satisfied just capturing the surface of your day. She wants to capture the true love and beauty in your moments because she believes you have a uniqueness about you that deserves to be captured. Maybe you laugh, cry, or just let yourself go – She is the perfect photographer to capture it all!



Brook is great at capturing a beautiful, unique, vintage look.





The photograph's ornate details are truly gorgeous in this one!

Individually customized wedding packages are available.

Give Brooke Schwab Photography a call today, she looks forward to hearing from you! 713.560.8266

http://www.brookeschwabphotography.com/

*Images and information provided by Brooke Schwab

Vintners Own Winery...a great wedding favor idea!

Vintners Own is a custom crush facility located in the Heights area of Houston. A customized barrel of wine, made specifically to your individual preferences, is a perfect way to celebrate your romance! The personalized label is ideal for wedding favors, bridal gifts, or just something to always remember your special day.



The barrel makes approximately 25 cases of wine, equaling about 300 bottles. Everything about the barrel is personalized to individual taste and preference: the wine itself, the label, the cork, the bottle, and the foil. They have 4 varietals available this year, all from Napa and Sonoma. They are Merlot, Syrah, Rose, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Next year they plan to expand their selection to include white wine as well. After purchasing a bottle, the winery is open to our clients for barrel tastings, bottling parties, wine education, and exclusive member socials.

The venue is also great for a rehearsal dinner or reception in the intimate barrel room!

Visit their website at www.vintnersown.com or contact Samantha Lewis at samantha@vintnersown.com for additional information or questions.

*Information provided by Samantha Lewis, photo provided by Vintners Own.

Why order Save the Dates?? Part 2

It is not essential for Save the Date Cards to match your entire invitation ensemble, but it does set the first impression for your wedding.  Many couples opt to personalize Save the Dates a little more by making them less traditional than their formal wedding invitations. This is your opportunity to add your gorgeous engagement photos, along with anything else you want to use to make them unique.



Located on 19th street in the Heights, we here at Invitation Solutions, do a fantastic job of offering a variety of Save the Date cards. We have a wide selection of individual Save the Dates, along with Save the Dates that can be ordered with corresponding invitations and accessories; not to mention our custom design option! The in-house design services we have to offer allow you to customize your entire ensemble of wedding invitations and accessories to fit the exact colors, theme, and tone of your wedding. Call today to schedule a consultation with us! You’ll love the items we have to offer! 713.864.5573

Take a look at what we have to offer! www.invitationsolutions.com

Why order Save the Dates?? Part 1

Once you have a ring on your finger and a date set, the first step is to start looking at Save the Date cards! People often wonder if Save the Date cards are really that important. In my opinion, if you want to be sure your guests will be available, you must send out a Save the Date! We are in a world of busy people with busy schedules, and you need to make sure your big day is in the calendar of family and friends as soon as possible! If you’re having a summer, holiday or destination wedding, it is extremely important to warn your guests ahead of time so they can plan accordingly. Otherwise, you may have a lot of guests that would love to attend your wedding but have already planned a fabulous vacation! You want all of your family and friends to be able to share in your wedding day joy, don’t you?!

To be continued Friday, December 4.  For more save the date examples, please visit http://www.invitationsolutions.com/

Less is more with Destination Weddings!

A lot of couples are looking at destination weddings for more intimate affairs. When doing a destination wedding, many brides feel the day will be less stressful and more romantic, barefoot next to the gently rolling waves of blue water. This can be a reality, but remember less is more! You already have the atmosphere so don’t stress yourself out over the details. Hire professionals that you can trust and then let them do the worrying and work for you!

Whether your destination wedding is in Galveston, Mexico, or on the Waterway in the Woodlands, your day should be enjoyed. If you pick a place based on its already present, and stunning beauty, remember your guests will be just as “wowed “as you were. Don’t get lost in the details!


*This information courtesy of EnVogue Events. Call to schedule a consultation with a planner who can help make your wedding day truly reflect your style and taste.  281-414-0844   http://www.envogueevents.com/

Photography by Pinkdot Photography

Everything you need from Etsy.com

If you haven’t heard of Etsy.com, you need to check it out! Etsy.com is an online boutique featuring unique handmade gifts, arts and crafts from all over the world. They have everything you’re looking for to make your special day complete!



Whether it’s a gift for your wonderful bridal party, a beautiful hair barrette or veil for your special day, or a favor for your guests, they have everything you could possibly think of! As seen here, YJDeign and Velvet Owl are just two of the creators of these beautiful hair pins and birdcage veils, sure to take everyone’s breath away when you walk into the room.



Vendors from all over the world sell their handcrafted items here, and they are the perfect addition to any ceremony or reception. These handcrafted items are great pieces that are made with quality, value and time, saving you from having any major headaches on your big day! Take a look! There is an entire section for wedding ideas on the Etsy home screen!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/velvetowl
http://www.etsy.com/shop/YJdesign


Photographs from Velvet Owl and YJDesign

The Galveston Strand is back!

The Tremont House, a historic hotel by Wyndham, re-opened June 2009 following Hurricane Ike and has been beautifully renovated to accent the rich history of the Hotel and the Strand Historic District with a few modern twists. Through the storm our two ballrooms retained their charm & beauty!



For something intimate, the Hotel has a unique Rooftop Terrace to host a small ceremony of 100 people with the views of Galveston Harbor and the Historic Downtown District. With a reception to follow in the 2,842 square foot Sam Houston Ballroom, that has the capacity of 150 people, would be perfect for a small, yet trendy and unique wedding.

If you are looking for a chic and elegant wedding, our 7,946 square foot, two-story Tremont Ballroom located in the Historic Davidson Building offers a downstairs annex that can be transformed to a ceremony space with the gorgeous staircase for the most beautiful grand entrance or a beautiful cocktail reception. The upstairs ballroom offers the capacity of 500 people. The building also has an attached balcony that provides an awesome view of The Tremont House and the infamous Galveston Mardi Gras Arch in addition to an area for your guests to enjoy the wonderful Galveston weather.

Check it out at: http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/GLSTH/planawedding/main.wnt

The picture of the hotel is courtesy of Wyndham.com

The Knot + Invitation Solutions

Invitation Solutions is excited to team up with The Knot Network as the guest blogger for their new local wedding planning website http://houston.weddings.com/. Located in the Heights, Invitation Solutions offers boutique-inspired stationery to suit any style. Their friendly and knowledgeable design team creates custom save-the-date and invitation ensembles, or helps couples make selections from their extensive collection of ready-to-order stationery. Kristen Adcock, owner and designer, established Invitation Solutions in 2002 and continues to work alongside Houston's top wedding vendors and venues to create exquisite stationery with details that reflect each couple's individual wedding day.

inspired by tradition . designed for today . created to fit your style

http://www.invitationsolutions.com/

Blogging with The Knot

Super fun news! We were contacted by The Knot to be a guest blogger on their new Houston website! http://houston.weddings.com

It’s a site specifically for brides planning a wedding in the Houston area and we will be posting about all aspects of your wedding planning-- great local venues, chic color palettes, tips from Houston's top wedding planners and industry leaders.

Stay tuned - we will be up and running soon!

Best of Project Wedding

Yea! We have been selected as one of Houston's Best of Project Wedding 2008 businesses!

Fun News!

We excited to share the news! Jan Cancila, owner of The Linen House and writer for examiner.com has written an article about Invitation Solutions and some of the latest trends. Click here and check it out!

wedding tips, trends, & especially treats!

If you missed our wedding workshop, here are some pics of the treats we had out featured in our "candy bar".







If you are wondering where these came from, we can certainly tell you who put them together: US! That's right! We can make favor tags and order boxes, like the ones featured, as well as cute take-out boxes in bright colors + bride and groom shaped favor boxes!

wedding tips, trends, & treats

thank you to all the brides & their families/fiances who made it out to our tips, trends, & treats event on sunday! we enjoyed meeting each and everyone of you, and hope that you learned a lot. please let us know if you have any questions, or comments via e-mail.

thank you also to the vendors who helped with our event! we greatly appreciate your time and effort, and we are glad that you were able to help answer all the questions that the brides had for you! we hope to see you soon!

pictures to come...

happy birthday kristen

-bradie & kate

Keepsake Idea

Invite President Barack Obama to your wedding!

Did you know you can formally invite our new president to your wedding?
If you send an invite to the White House you’ll get a personal response
signed by the president and first lady. Hopefully he wont be busy that day :)
What a cheap and easy keepsake!

Mail to:

The Honorable Barack Obama and Mrs. Obama
The White House
Greetings Office Room 39
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

*Allow at last 6 weeks for your response to arrive and be sure to
include both your new and old mailing address.

Recently Engaged Contest!

This summer, WeddingChannel.com is teaming up again with Us Weekly to award one lucky couple the ultimate celebrity-inspired dream wedding! The search for the bride and groom begins May 14th on the "Dream Wedding" website, where engaged couples throughout the country are invited to enter the "Dream Wedding" contest. The winning couple will be announced June 25th. WeddingChannel.com will be planning the Hollywood-style nuptials from start to finish, while the entire process is profiled on UsMagazine.com. As if that weren't enough star treatment, the wedding will also be featured in the pages of Us Weekly and televised nationally with the contest's exclusive TV partner, Inside Edition. For more information, click here.

Music Requests

A fun idea for your reception...
Music Request Cards for your guests to fill out and hand to the DJ.

We can create a fun music request card for your guests to conveniently have placed at each table, so that way you can include your guests a little bit more!

This is a really great design opportunity for your table setting, incorporating design elements from your wedding ensemble!

The Perfect Sale

Stop by or call to schedule an appointment to take advantage of THE PERFECT SALE! Perfect because it lasts the entire month of May! We figured if we just made the sale last the entire month you would be able to fit us in your busy schedule!

For the entire month of May, we will be offering a 10% discount on everything in our studio! This includes invitations, save the dates, napkins, programs & reception items! So, now is the perfect time to get in touch with the decision-makers, pick the date that fits your schedule and call us at 713.864.5573 to schedule a complimentary consultation.

This posting must be presented at the time of initial purchase. Offer valid only on orders placed between May 1, 2009 and May 30, 2009. Offer valid on NEW in-store purchases only. Not valid with any other offer. Offer excludes shipping/handling and proof charges. Past and existing orders do NOT qualify. Expires May 30, 2009.

CUTE DYI IDEA

We are in love with the posts on style me pretty and found a great idea for any do-it-yourself-inspired wedding projects! The following link has some top dyi project ideas, including our favorite, the custom patterned coasters, that can match any design elements from your invitations, and reception print-items! The bride won prize for this idea, and I am sure won tons of smiles from her guests as well! You have got to check these creative ideas out:

http://www.stylemepretty.com/2009/03/30/diy-coasters/

invitation workshop: dealers, tips & trends

We are planning an event at our studio in the Heights on June 14th from 1 to 3pm. This event will be lots of fun and help you with invitation etiquette, general wedding questions, picking a photographer and more. You will also want to make sure you grab one of our gift bags on your way out as there will be several great discounts and gifts you don't want to miss!

We will be sending out invitations for this event soon, so make sure you are on the list by calling us at 713.864.5573, or sending us an e-mail at info@invitationsolutions.com

June Wedding?

Summer weddings are coming up quick! Don't forget that in addition to invitations, we offer programs, menu/place cards, favor tags, and a variety of other reception items for your special day!

We can even order glassware with monograms & napkins!

Hurry in to view the selection of items we have, and receive the friendly, customer service that you will not get anywhere else.

autumn weddings

here's a peek at what will be included in our new fall collection! browns, reds, and golds are a popular, yet classic color combination, especially for fall weddings. we can create this kind of look with all different price ranges.

Houston Wedding Showcase

Thanks everyone for coming out and participating in the Wedding Showcase on Saturday, 2/28/2009! We had a great turn-out! We saw lots of new faces! For those of you who saw us there, please let us know if we can answer any questions about invitations or save the dates! We're here to make it easy on you, so schedule a consultation today and get those things ordered! Have fun at all the rodeo events and be safe!

Etiquette Tips

We all know that wedding invitation etiquette can be a bit over-whelming. Here are a few pointers for you to consider when going over your wording with your fiancé, family, or friends:

When wording your invitation, keep in mind the setting of your ceremony. If you’re tying the knot in a place of worship, church or synagogue, you would use the wording:
“request the hono(u)r of your presence”
If your ceremony is outside of a church, like an island resort, ballroom or mansion, then use the wording:
“request the pleasure of your company”
Of course, these are very traditional styles of wording. Ultimately, it is your decision on how you will invite your guests, so feel free to be creative about how to word your invitation, it’s your day!

A touchy subject for most brides is who to mention on the invitation. Traditionally, you would only put whomever is hosting the wedding (the bride’s parents, or groom’s parents, or even yourselves), but it has become popular to mention parents other than those hosting the wedding. So if you feel like the groom’s parents should be recognized, mention them after your names using “son of Mr. and Mrs. John Dough”. This usually resolves issues of the mother of the groom feeling a little left out.

It is not proper to address your envelopes using a printer or labels. Instead, we recommend addressing the envelopes yourselves to show each guest you have taken the time to personally invite them to your wedding, or search for a local calligrapher to pen the names for you. There are many styles to choose from, and we strongly suggest taking the time to look at the calligraphers samples in person prior to hiring in order to see their unique style and quality. This is also an opportune time to see the setting your envelopes will be temporarily living in. A lot of brides have found family members or friends of the family practice calligraphy as a hobby. This could be a less-expensive solution to addressing your envelopes and what a great wedding gift from Aunt Sue!

A lot of brides mention that they want guests to R.S.V.P. online, through a website. This could cut costs initially, but what about all the uncles and aunts that don’t frequent the computer as much as you do? Ordering response cards and envelopes can be beneficial in the long run, so don’t skimp out on major details like your guest list. It is not good etiquette and could lead to being a giant pain in the long run.

Of course, you can have your wedding anyway you’d like, we just like to mention the little things that keep tradition going. Etiquette can be stressful, but if tradition is a big value for you, you might want to consider some of the things listed above to help you along in the process.
When placing your order with us, we will be by your side every step of the way, making suggestions and helping write out your wording. Don’t be afraid of proper-etiquette. It can help add a classic memory to your wedding day!

Don't forget about thank you notes!

A lot of people come in to order wedding invitations not thinking about thank you cards. It is one of the most important things included in your wedding plans. People take the time to come from out of town, state, or country to enjoy your day! The last thing you want to do is leave your guests with the impression that you didn't appreciate their company and/or gifts.



Not ordering them with your invitation ensemble makes it easy to forget about them, and a hassle later on in the future. Here, at Invitation Solutions, we offer thank you cards with envelopes at competitive prices, with your personalized monogram or design to match with your invitations!



I found a great article at theknot.com with great tips and advice about thank you notes.

http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-invitations/articles/a-complete-guide-to-sending-thank-you-notes.aspx

"Bohemian Rhapsody"

We are excited to share that we are once again featured in "Houston Brides" magazine!

Check out the article "Bohemian Rhapsody" in the current issue (Spring/Summer 2009) and call us today for your complimentary consultation with us. 713.864.5573

"Houston Brides" magazine does it again! What a fabulous issue! Great articles, and spectacular photographs! Pick it up on newstands today!

Invitation Solutions gets noticed!

Pick up the current version of Brides Houston magazine (Fall/Winter 2008) and check out the article "What will it cost?" to help you better budget for your wedding invitations.

Or, go online to http://www.brides.com/blog/weddedbits/102/2008/12/4127/wedding_invitation_solutions_houston.html and check out some of our recent creations.

"When you're having a destination wedding, or even a wedding where most of your guests will have to travel, it's nice when your invitation gets them excited for their upcoming trip. I'm a big fan of this passport invitation by Houston-based Invitation Solutions—the neutral colors give it a classic feel that's subtle, not cheesy." —Kim Forrest, Assistant Editor, Brides.com