Archive of ‘San Antonio Wedding Planner’ category

Printed Personalized Items For Weddings – San Antonio Invitation Services

NYSS-Booth_20x20_4-2014.indd As an invitation specialist, I am seeing most of my couples ordering Save The Dates approximately 8-12 months prior to the wedding date. They love to put their engagement picture on them and magnets, I would say, are the most popular style. Then, around 4-5 months prior, they are starting the invitation ordering process. I always tell my couple to order early so you don’t feel rushed to get them addressed, especially if you are hiring a calligrapher to address them. They usually require 2-3 weeks for this. So, what else should the couple start thinking about around this time, too? Adding personalization and special touches to your wedding really does get noticed and guests love it! Here’s a list of ideas you can incorporate for your wedding.

Personalized Napkins

I would say this is the most popular add-on to a reception that I see my couples ordering. I recommend you order 1 napkin per guest for the cake and 2 per guest for the bar drinks. Carlson Craft offers so many colors and styles. You can add your names, wedding date, special artwork and even a picture of the two of you. Napkins are pretty inexpensive and a great way to add a touch of personalization. Here are some examples. ZB_ZBN1014820zm 1080_WRPN10L1Ozm SDCCS_SDN1033383Uzm

Programs

Programs are very popular as well. I would say 70% of my couples are ordering programs for the ceremony. There are so many unique and creative ways to display your programs now. If you are having an outdoor ceremony when it is a little hot, the fan is perfect! A great keepsake is the bookmark program. On the Carlson Craft website, they have a huge selection of programs with lots of great ideas. Programs give the couple a chance to list all those in the wedding party, details about the ceremony, tell their guests thank you for coming, or even tell about a special memory or moment.

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Menu Cards

For a more formal look to the table, couples are adding menu cards. This is also helpful if the guests will be choosing from a selection of menu items. The guest can simply circle his/her choice and hand it to the caterer. From my own past experiences as a guest, I always enjoy knowing what I will be served, especially if the dinner consists of multiple courses. You can add a special personalization by creating a monogram and even placing it on the menu card along with all your other printed items.

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Coasters/Koozies

A popular party favor I have seen a lot lately is coasters and koozies. This is a very economical way of providing your guests with a keepsake they can keep and use again and again. Guests love them!

View More: http://elegantbeautyphoto.pass.us/laura-and-tim-sawicki-wedding IMG_7818

Place Cards & Table Numbers

About 50% of the weddings I have coordinated, I have seen assigned tables/seats. When a bride asks me if she should do this or not, I always say, “Yes.” I think this is a great opportunity to have two families meet and get to know each other. When would you ever have all these people together again? Most likely, never. To make it easier on everyone, I always recommend just assigned tables, not the seat. I love to see creative couples with their table assignments. Instead of using numbers, they might use locations of where they have traveled together, special names/animals/phrases/people that are important to them, themed names (ex. famous people, favorite foods/beers, music, etc.). I say the more you can be creative the better!

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Other Personalized Items

There are so many ideas when it comes to personalizing. Here’s a list of more items in this category:

  • Personalized Ribbon – to tie around boxes, make streamers, tie your programs, wrap party favors with, etc.

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  • Small picture holder for your bouquet to honor a deceased family member

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  • Personalized stickers, stamps, seals, tags or labels for your invitations, thank you cards, party favors, or other correspondence

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  • Personalized note cards and thank you notes
  • Personalized banners and signs – this is fun for the reception area (ex. the sign in table, directing guests where to go)

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  • Small notecards for writing well wishes to the couple (usually placed at the sign in table)

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  • Personalized Matchbooks, party favor boxes, bags (for candy or cookie bars)…get creative!

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As you can see, there are so many options when it comes to personalizing your wedding. You can find everything I mentioned above at my 2 online storefronts with Carlson Craft and Printswell. Please go there to shop and order. If you would like my assistance with ordering please contact me and I would be more than happy to walk you through over the phone or we can meet one-on-one to order as well. I am here to help!

You will currently receive 10% off your entire order by ordering through Royalty Events Planning!! That includes your invitations as well. Please contact Trudy Scott at 210-595-9263 or Trudy@RoyaltyEventsPlanning.com to order.

Vintage Wedding Decor Ideas – San Antonio Wedding Consultant

View More: http://elegantbeautyphoto.pass.us/laura-and-tim-sawicki-weddingIn San Antonio, the vintage look is still in when it comes to weddings. I don’t think it will ever go out of style for some couples. The most important part in having your vintage-inspired wedding look perfect is the location. Either having it in an old historic building with antiques, wood floors & intricate details or outside with beautiful surroundings of trees and flowers is essential for everything to tie together. Here are some ideas in San Antonio and the surrounding area for a great venue to accomplish the vintage look.

View More: http://elegantbeautyphoto.pass.us/laura-and-tim-sawicki-wedding

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The next step is to purchase or rent vintage furniture and décor. I have had several brides go to thrift stores and antique stores and make some great finds! Antique vases, books, trinkets, jewelry, luggage, containers, etc. are perfect for adding to the charm and ambiance of the venue space. A past couple of mine got lots of old library books and tied them together with ribbon and had them on each table for part of the centerpiece. They added in old gloves, lace, tea pots and trinkets to really give the table a vintage feel.

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Here is another example from a past couple of mine where she had shopped around for vintage vases and then added beautiful creams and shades of pink colored flowers. The bride actually made the exquisite birdcages hanging from the ceiling to incorporate a vintage yet glamorous look to them.

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If you really want to have your guests feel they have gone back into time, it’s all about how you design your tables with the vintage items, the flowers you choose, the furniture style used and even the dress attire of the wedding party. All the small details will be noticed, I promise you, so have fun with it! Here are some furniture rental companies in the San Antonio area:

If you need help planning your vintage-styled wedding please contact Trudy Scott of Royalty Events Planning at 210-595-9263 or Trudy@RoyaltyEventsPlanning.com.

Engagement Picture Locations & Ideas In San Antonio

San Antonio Engagement Picture Locations &
Ideas For Your Save The Dates

As a wedding consultant in San Antonio who also offers invitation services, I have worked with all types of couples in ordering their save the dates. This is one of the hottest trends today and most couples are sending them out. Save the dates are normally sent out anywhere from 1 year to 6 months prior to the actual wedding date. Couples want to give their guests plenty of time to plan and prepare, especially those that will be traveling. View More: http://limelightsa.pass.us/sonterra   save_the_date_chalkboard I must confess that I enjoy looking at the couple’s pictures for the save the dates the most. They are so creative and beautiful. Nothing like what it used to be when you went to a studio and got a posed picture taken…SO BORING! I get asked a lot from my couples where they should take their pictures and I always mention the traditional places of San Antonio, the Riverwalk, downtown San Antonio, The San Antonio Missions, the McNay Art Museum, and the San Antonio Botanical Gardens but I usually tell them to refer to their photographer for more unique locations. Most of the venues will allow their couples to have their engagement pictures taken there at no additional charge. Some couples choose this option too. I always remind my couples that they are going to get so many pictures there on the day of their wedding that it might be better to choose another location for a different look.

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An actual Save The Date ordered through Royalty Events Planning

Local photographers know the special and unique places, the hidden gems of San Antonio and the surrounding area! Based on what their theme is, style or interests of the couple, the photographer will use that to make recommendations of where they could go to take the pictures.

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Pictures taken by Ardore Photography

And then the fun begins! Normally, couples will take a change of clothes and have 2 different looks for their pictures…a casual and more formal look. Some will incorporate their pets or something that is special to the both of them or even just one. I have seen many a time the fiancé getting his car, motorcycle or other special “toy” in the picture. So funny! Their cars are like a child to them, they have to include them, right!

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Daniel W. Torres Photography

The way the picture is taken and edited is also important to the couple. I have seen many photojournalist photographers create beautiful images with bold color, using black and white with a touch of color, tilting the camera, using unique angles, using props, etc.

candice_exonDaniel W. Torres Photography 

  save the date_courtneyphoto Here’s a list of great engagement photo locations in the San Antonio/Hill Country (not listed from above):

Favorites of Ara Photography

(click on the name to see engagement pictures)

Bracken Village

Adkins, Texas

South Town and Blue Star

Vista West Ranch

 Other Ideas

A field of bluebonnets

A ranch

Lambermont

Westin (large staircase)

Landa Library

Gruene (Gruene Mansion Inn and Gruene Hall)

Sunset Station

Pearl Brewery

Canyon Springs (waterfall)

La Escondida Celebration Center

I hope some of these locations give you a starting place on where you can have your engagement pictures taken. Ask your photographer, too. If you need help planning your wedding please contact me. I am here for you! Trudy Scott, Royalty Events Planning, 210-595-9263 or Trudy@RoyaltyEventsPlanning.com

How much should I budget for invitations? – San Antonio Wedding Consultant

View More: http://limelightsa.pass.us/sonterraWedding Invitations & Printed Budget For San Antonio, Texas

For many brides, they consider the invitation selection to be a very crucial part of tying the entire look, feel and formality into the wedding. The more formal the event, the more formal your invitation should be. This encompasses the type of paper, the way it is printed (thermography, foil, letterpress, engraving, etc.), the size of it, the included items (pocket envelope, ribbon, brooch, enclosure cards, etc.) and the way it is worded (spelling of honour, favour, spelling out dates, etc.).

Invitations are works of art and are a memento of the special occasion that sometimes are framed and kept forever as a remembrance of the day. A lot of time should be spent deciding on the perfect one for you! So, how much should you spend on your invitations? With most, if not all of them, the price depends on how many you purchase. The more you purchase, the less you will spend per invitation. What I mentioned above is also determining factors on the price.

View More: http://limelightsa.pass.us/sonterra View More: http://limelightsa.pass.us/sonterra

Option 1: Let’s go with a wedding of 200 guests and an average budget of $25,000-$30,000. I have found that the bride has a smaller budget for invitations and wants to normally stay within a $400 budget. This includes everything: the invitation, RSVP card with return addresses on envelopes and shipping/tax. This bride usually will not have a separate reception card but rather include it on the invitation to save money. She might make it a little more formal by the type of wording she uses on it (a free option).

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Option 2: For the more extravagant wedding with a budget over $40,000 for 200 guests, the bride is wanting to spend a little more for her invitations. I have seen some spend over $2,500. The invitations are very important to this bride and everything from the type of paper and printing process is looked at very carefully. An average amount for invitations would be closer to $800-$1000. She might order the pocket and additional inserts such as the reception and accommodations cards.

So, what about all the other printed items? Here’s a list of what else you could order:

  • Save The Dates
  • Programs
  • Menu Cards
  • Place Cards
  • Thank You Cards
  • Party Invitations – Engagement/Bridal Shower/Bachelorette/Bachelor/Rehearsal Dinner
  • Party Favors – customized boxes, bags, coasters, koozies, matchboxes, & other containers
  • Napkins, banners, tags, stickers, labels, ribbon, etc.

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In the 2015 Wedding Report, the average amount that couples spent on these other items ranged from $83-$119. However, it didn’t list for how many guests. From my own experience with ordering these type of items for my brides, I would say that cost is a little higher in the San Antonio market. Programs, for example, start around $180 for 200.

View More: http://limelightsa.pass.us/sonterra

I’m sure you’re asking yourself, “Are all these other printed items necessary?” It really is based on your preference. Save the dates have become very popular recently and almost all brides are doing them. They want to ensure their guests know way in advance of their special day so they can plan accordingly. Programs are about 50% – half of the brides I have helped have used them. I see either menu cards, place cards or other personalized favors at almost every wedding. Personalized napkins and koozies are very popular as well.

If you have questions about your budget and what you can afford please contact me. If you need help ordering all your printed items I hope you will give me the opportunity to assist you. You can schedule a one-on-one appointment to view invitations in person or you can go to my two online stores and look around there or even purchase them online. When you are ready to order contact me and I can order them for you too! You will receive 10% off your order by going through me! If you use my consulting services as well you will receive 15% off your entire order!  Call me at 210-595-9263 or email at Trudy@RoyaltyEventsPlanning.com. Here’s a link to my invitation page on my website with links to my stores: http://royaltyeventparties.com/services/invitations/

 

Planning Tips For A Stress-Free Wedding – San Antonio Wedding Consultant

inspiration board_kimAs a wedding consultant, I have worked with all types of brides when it comes to planning their wedding. At that initial consultation, I really get a sense of what they are like by how organized they seem to be, how much they have already planned before even meeting with me, how many Pinterest photos they have on their phone to show me, and how much they talk while I listen. The #1 reason why they have contacted me and considered hiring a wedding consultant is TO BE STRESS-FREE ON THEIR WEDDING DAY! They are the ones that get it and I LOVE IT!

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I’m going to walk you through tips on how to stay calm during the wedding planning process.

1. Make lists and keep organized

Make lists of what you need to do and keep organized by having a large binder where you can keep all your photos, contracts, notes, and receipts. Just be sure to not forget it when going to vendor appointments. I have seen this happen all too many times. As far as the lists…make them small, maybe a list of 4-5 items at a time so you do feel so overwhelmed. Also, feel free to delegate tasks to family members and friends. They would probably love to help you, just ask! The great thing about the internet, magazines and PLANNERS is that they all can provide you with a detailed monthly to-do-list during the wedding planning process. It will keep you on track on where you should be at which month and in what order you should plan everything. If you would like this list please contact me and I would be more than happy to email you one!

2. Hire great vendors

Attend bridal shows, open houses, ask friends that have already gotten married and read reviews on the internet to find great wedding vendors. Also, be sure to interview vendors before choosing one. In some of my past blogs I included lots of questions to ask different type of vendors. Please go back and read some of those blogs to get those questions. By choosing established vendors with good reputations you are in a win-win situation and you ensure a stress-free wedding day.

3. Take a break

If you are planning everything yourself you need to take some time off to get your mind off of it, occasionally. Please do this! Just relax for a weekend enjoying other things with your fiancé or friends. You will feel refreshed after a relaxing weekend with them. I have found that more often couples are planning their weddings more than 1 year in advance – you have plenty of time! There is no reason to rush through it all. After you have locked in the venue, the most important piece to the wedding, then just relax for a bit and get refreshed before tackling the to-do-lists.

4. Wedding issues can be resolved

If something doesn’t feel right or doesn’t quite go your way then step back from the situation and discuss it calmly with your fiancé or parents first and then with the vendors. A solution can happen. Most vendors will go over and beyond to ensure the couple is happy and will help to resolve the issue in any way. If they don’t, then maybe they aren’t the right fit for you. Hopefully, they will return your deposit and you can move on to another vendor that is a better fit.

5. Don’t sweat the small stuff

This is where I have seen brides across all spectrums…the laid back, easy going, happy about anything bride to the very detailed, organized, uptight bride that can’t relax on her wedding day. I feel so sorry for those 2nd type of brides. My job as a planner is to ensure a stress-free day for the bride but sometimes there is nothing I can say or do to change this. I work so hard behind the scenes to make sure everything is set up, vendors have arrived, the wedding party has what they need, and so much more. The bride has to trust me that I will take care of everything so she CAN relax. If something does go wrong (ex. starting late, someone in the wedding party doesn’t show, a vendor messes up in some way, etc.) please, please, please just try and brush it off and don’t worry about. Most of the time no one even knows what went wrong. Think about all the great things that went right that day…you’re getting married!

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6. Hire a wedding coordinator

I have mentioned several times in this blog just how valuable a wedding coordinator can be to having a stress-free day. I hope you seriously think about the advantages to having one! Not only can we help for the day of but we can help throughout the entire process. We can recommend vendors that are trust-worthy, help with décor ideas, tell you ways to save money, guide you in when/what you should be planning, help with hotel blocks, create timelines, ceremony lineup sheets, diagrams of the venue, assist at the rehearsal, and so much more! We can make your life and WEDDING…STRESS-FREE!

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If you are interested in hiring a wedding coordinator for the San Antonio area please contact me. I offer a FREE consultation and would love to hear all about your wedding and what your needs are. I also offer invitation and honeymoon services. Please learn more about my services at my website. Trudy Scott, http://www.royaltyeventsplanning.com, 210-595-9263 or Trudy@RoyaltyEventsPlanning.com

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