My Blog - Royalty Planning and Travel, LLC

Printed Personalized Items For Weddings – San Antonio Invitation Services

September 30, 2015

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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

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

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)

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

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

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

September 15, 2015

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

card hold vintage luggage birdcage_gift_table

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.

head table 100_5067

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.

vintage car send off cake_table_photos

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

September 2, 2015

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.

save the date

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.

T&N_14

T&N_12

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!

engage 3

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_exon Daniel W. Torres Photography

save the date_courtney 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

August 27, 2015

Wedding 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

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).

NYSS-Booth_20x20_4-2014.indd

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.

NYSS-Booth_20x20_4-2014.indd

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/

How To Start Your Own Children’s Party Planning Business

August 7, 2015

My inspiration, my princess…my daughter, Meredith

I’m going to talk a little off topic of wedding planning because I am so proud to have launched my very first e-book just this week! The Secrets To Starting a Profitable and Successful Children’s Party Planning Business was a logic choice for me when I originally decided on the topic of this e-book. The number one question customers and friends always asked was, “How did you start this business?” Back in 2006, I was renting space in a children’s boutique in the Texas hill country where I sold baby items and dancewear for kids. I was a stay-at-home mom, but I have always had that entrepreneurial spirit all my life. After my daughter was born and there were complications at birth, I eventually quit my full-time job so I could spend more time with her doing therapies, teaching her, taking her to doctor visits, music classes, gym time, and whatever else I could do for her. I had to learn everything I could in the special needs field and become her advocate. I bought a monogramming machine and started making baby items which led me into that boutique.

One day, I noticed there was an empty space in the boutique and I asked the owner what she was going to do with that space. She told me that she was thinking of having girls come into the store and have tea parties and celebrate birthdays there. That is what gave me the idea initially, but my idea was to go to the customer’s party location and host parties there myself. I started searching online and found a company in California that was selling their business and I ended up purchasing it from them. It didn’t have everything I needed but a nice portion. I did learn that I needed so much more and started researching extensively trying to find the best deals at the highest quality. I wanted to set myself apart from the competition and have my parties very detailed and upscale, but at an affordable price to the customer.

This way of thinking along with my excellent customer service were essential for the success of my business year after year. I became the top provider for princess parties in my area and as my business grew my party options did as well. I first launched the princess party theme, which has always been my number one party option. Shortly after, I added glamour parties, spa parties, fairy parties, stuff-a-bear parties, Girl Scout program parties, Mops’ teas, baby showers, and lastly, the Glam-To-Go Mobile party option.

It was so rewarding to see all these girls so excited to meet a princess and when they said to their mom, “Can I have a party just like his?” It put a smile on my face. I truly loved my job!

You won’t believe this, but I actually hosted the parties all by myself when I first started. That entailed packing for the party, setting it up, hosting it, cleaning it up and then cleaning it more when I got home. When I finally did hire an assistant I told myself, “Why didn’t I do this long ago!” You need help! Trust me.

So, getting back to my daughter. This job was perfect for my needs at the time. I was with her working from home during the week and then went to the parties on the weekends while my husband was home. It started off as a great part-time job. As she got older and most everything I could do for her was in place, I had more time that I could spend in the business so I expanded. I hired more employees and I had enough party items where I could do two parties at one time. Doing the princess visits worked well, too. I just had to purchase more costumes. I was doing anywhere from 3-5 parties a weekend then. This job really is what you put into it. At the end, I had hosted over 850 parties!

You can make a lot of money and in my e-book I go into detail about all my secrets that I learned as I started and grew my business. All the hardwork is done for you and I tell you step-by-step what you need to do with the minimal amount of money to start and run this business. I give you money making ideas that I implemented and also ideas for your marketing plan. I knew exactly where I needed to advertise for the least amount of money to get the leads you want.

If you have been thinking of starting your own children’s party planning business this is the e-book for you. I focused on general business practices you need to know and then went into detail on my princess party option. In my next e-book I will go into detail on my other party options I had. I am working on it right now and can’t wait to share it with you.

If you would like to purchase this e-book please go to my e-book page on my website and click on the buy button. If you need a one-on-one consultation about your business please feel free to contact me for more information. I would love to help you! Trudy Scott, 210-595-9263 or Trudy@RoyaltyEventsPlanning.com.

1 2 3 … 15 Next