Traditional Announcements

While people are increasingly using the Internet to share the news about their babies, sending notification through the mail often feels more personal and classy. A hand-written note is always a great way to go, but if you don’t have the time, see if you can order your baby announcements with a message already printed on them. Adding your signature or a brief personal message by hand with add that intimate feel.

Send an Email

Announcing the arrival of your baby via email can be a great way to save money and help the environment. However, the downside is that emails can feel informal, impersonal and rushed. But this doesn’t rule out sending an email as a baby announcement.

Consider signing up for an email marketing account where you can choose from a variety of baby design templates for your emails that sets the tone for your announcement. Sending a professionally designed email will not only make you look hip and tech-savvy, but you will be able to customize it however you see fit. Add pictures, fun facts like the baby’s weight and length, and more. With an email marketing account, you can send out multiple emails to anyone on your contact list with updates on the latest about your baby.

Create a Baby Website

There are so many great reasons to use a website to announce your baby. You may wonder why you should go through all the effort to make a one-time announcement, but a baby website is a great way to keep friends and family in the loop.  From the first sonogram to baby’s first birthday and beyond, everyone will get to participate in the fun. Baby websites are especially useful when you have a lot of family and friends who live far away or who you don’t get to see often. By posting pictures and writing about milestones in your pregnancy and in your child’s first year, everyone can feel included in your joys. As your family grows, you may even choose to turn your baby website into a family website.

You can even link an email account to your website, allowing you to send out updates and announcements to friends and family. Direct them to your website to see new photos and read new stories.

No matter how you choose to announce your little one, remember to have fun and get creative. You’ll be sure to show your happiness and get all of friends and family excited with you.

Though party favors are traditionally candy for kids’ birthday parties, it’s not unusual to give out different types of favors for other events. You might hand out T-shirts for a family reunion, photo albums or mouse pads at a bar or bat mitzvah or hats at a graduation party. And if you can give away useful goodies instead of sugar at those events, why not give them out at a birthday party? Here’s a list of some affordable, practical and sugar-free party favors you can give out at birthdays:

T-Shirts
T-shirts make great party favors for kids of all ages. You can coordinate them with the party theme or customize with a line of text like “I was at Suzy’s 8th birthday!” T-shirts can also be given out before the end of the party. They’re especially useful if you’re going on an excursion such as to the zoo or the movies. Dressing everyone in the same T-shirt will help you keep track of them and might make some of the more nervous parents relax.

Mouse Pads
Nowadays kids are whizzes with the computer. That simple thing that took you hours to learn takes them just minutes. Like T-shirts, you can get customizable mouse pads that can be designed to suit your party theme and personalized with a message. These party favors are a fun, practical gift that kids will definitely put to use.

Notebooks
Better for a slightly older crowd, notebooks make a great party favor that can be both practical and fun. Customize the front and back covers and include a funky pen to make them original and special.

With so many options out there, you’ll be sure to find a party favor that pleases everyone. Not only will you keep the kids from rampaging on a sugar high, non-candy party favors can become a memorable keepsake for when your kids get older, and they’ll be sure to make you a favorite amongst other parents.

1. Designate Tasks

While you should be designating tasks throughout your wedding preparations, it’s especially important to do for your wedding day. Do you have someone to carry your wrap or purse while you take pictures? Who has your water bottle? Will there be someone to escort Grandma to her chair? Before the rehearsal, make a list of everything that will need to happen on your special day. At the rehearsal, ask for volunteers among the bridal party to take on different tasks.

2. Create a Schedule

You definitely want to avoid having to rush on your wedding day. You also want to make sure everyone from the best man to the flower girl is in the right place at the right time. Creating a schedule will help alleviate confusion, prepare people for their roles and help keep things running smoothly and on time throughout the day. Test out your schedule during your rehearsal to make sure there really is enough time for everything you want to cover. Make adjustments as necessary and email the most recent version to your bridal party that evening. Remember to leave a little wiggle room as incidents will inevitably come up that you didn’t anticipate.

3. Eat, Drink & Be Merry (and make sure your family does, too!)

We’ve all heard the horror stories about the bride or groom’s mother or father who has to be rushed to the hospital because of dehydration just minutes before the ceremony. Don’t let that happen on your wedding day. Drinking enough water is essential, especially if your wedding is in the summer. Keep a cooler stocked with a few bottles of water for the bridal party nearby at all times. You should also make sure to have a complete breakfast even if you’ve got a bad case of stomach butterflies. Breakfast might be the only meal you have until dinner. Eating a healthy meal such as oatmeal, fruit or eggs will give you energy for the day as well as keep your head clear and your mind focused. If possible have a light snack like a protein bar or an apple in the afternoon to stay energized.

4. Take Pictures First

Maximize the amount of time you spend with guests during the reception by taking most of your photos before the ceremony. If you can’t take your photos before the ceremony, make arrangements ahead of time with your bridal party, family and friends who will be in your formal pictures. Tell people where they need to be and when to reduce confusion and the amount of time you spend looking for those people. This means you won’t have to spend your entire cocktail hour in front of the camera and will leave more time for mingling with your guests.

Your wedding day is one of the most important events of your life, so don’t let all of the details cause you anxiety. Make the most of your day, have fun and remember that the wedding isn’t about the party, the guests or the flowers – it’s about creating a special bond between you and the person you love. Use these four tips to help keep the stress at bay so that you can have a wonderful time.

First of all – don’t panic! There are thousands of gift options out there that will make anyone happy. If you’re still having a mental block, here are a few things from Vistaprint that are sure to make meaningful gifts without breaking the bank.

Tote Bags
Perfect for the environmentally conscious friend, students or busy moms, tote bags can substitute for shopping bags, book bags and giant purses. They’re also great for anyone who needs to lug a lot of stuff around like beach towels or exercise clothes. Personalize a tote bag by adding a photograph, image or design. Make it extra special by including a short message such as “Happy Holidays” or a caption to your photo. If you don’t think the tote bag is enough, consider stuffing it with other items like pens, notebooks, stationery, keychains, T-shirts, candy and more.

Photo Books
Everyone loves looking at photos, so why not compile a collection of your favorite memories and incorporate them in a beautiful photo book? Lay out your photos however you’d like and add captions or funny anecdotes. You can even choose from a variety of covers including linen and leather. Photo books are sure to make meaningful and unique gifts.

Mugs
Know any coffee, tea or hot chocolate lovers? Then a mug is the right gift to give! Make your mug personal by adding a photo and caption, or choose a professional design. Add a little flair to your gift by including a bag of the recipient’s favorite hot drink. Or fill the mug with chocolates and other candy. Small gifts like these also make great presents for teachers, hair dressers and other people you interact with regularly on a professional level.

Holiday Cards
Sometimes there are just too many people on your list. Don’t feel bad. You can still show your gratitude and appreciation with a personalized holiday card. Choose from thousands of design options, add your photo and customize with your text to create a special card to spread the holiday cheer. Sending holiday cards is a great way to cut back on your spending while letting people know you care.

Turn these budget-savvy items into thoughtful presents for the people you care about. Just add a photo and some personal text and you’re done! Gifts come in all shapes, sizes and prices, but as long as you have your recipient in mind, your gift is sure to bring out a smile.

Having a green wedding does not mean that all the food you serve has to be locally grown and organic or that you can’t choose a venue that has air conditioning. But it does mean making an effort to cut back on unnecessary waste, choosing eco-friendly products when possible and informing your guests about why having a green wedding is important to you. Even if you don’t want to go all-out-green on your special day, here are a few simple – and cost effective – ways to make a positive environmental impact as you plan.

Cheap and Chic!

Why spend thousands of dollars on a dress that has to be chemically bleached and uses a ton of materials that will only be worn once? Check out a discount wedding dress shop that sells used and sample dresses. Or, if you’ve fallen in love with a new dress, consider donating or reselling your dress after the big day. You’ll help cut down on material and help someone else to celebrate her special day in style.

Reduce Paper

Using paper is unavoidable when planning a wedding. From the invitations to thank you cards to the place cards, paper is a necessary commodity. But for the eco-conscious, alternatives to using more paper than necessary abound. Get really creative and unique by creating a wedding website where you can post hotel information, directions, menu options, photos and more. Not only will a wedding website eliminate the need to include additional cards with your invitation, but it will bring guests together in a centralized place to help you celebrate. If you’ve got a young or tech-savvy crowd, sign up for an Email Marketing account and send out email invitations for showers, engagement parties and more. Ask guests to RSVP by email as well.

Reusable Party Favors

What better way to make an impact than to leave your guests with a party favor that helps them to lead eco-friendly lives, too. Instead of handing out physical favors, tell guests you will be making a donation in their honor to a charity or environmental organization. If you’d rather hand out something for guests to keep, consider giving away customizable tote bags or reusable grocery bags.

When it comes to being eco-friendly, every effort counts. You can decide to go all out or just make a few environmentally conscious decisions, but the impact will be felt. Make your special day extra special by not only celebrating the love you share with your future spouse, but by celebrating our planet, too.

Wedding Website Essentials

1. 1. A photo of you and your spouse-to-be on the home page. When someone visits your website, you want to make sure they immediately know it’s about you. Include a favorite picture that reflects your personalities.

1. 2. A story. Though your family and best friends will be invited to the wedding, often there will also be guests you’re not so familiar with like your future in-laws’ friends or great aunt Petunia twice-removed who you haven’t seen since your 5^th birthday. To get everyone excited about the wedding and familiar with the guests of honor, add a short story about how you met and about the proposal. However, don’t go on too long, or you’ll lose your audience.

1. 3. Important dates. Even if you are sending out a save-the-date notice, it doesn’t hurt to have a constant reminder of when the wedding is going to be. If you are having an engagement party and if the shower, bachelor party and bachelorette party are not a surprise, include the dates for those as well.

1. 4. List of registries. As you register for gifts, provide a list of stores for your guests. If any of the stores you’ve registered at have websites, consider including links so guests can browse or shop online.

1. 5. Contact information. As the wedding draws closer, your guests might have questions for you. If your maid of honor, best man or parents are tackling any of the planning, you might want to add their contact information as well (with their permission!).

1. 6. Directions. Save money and paper by forgoing directions cards and simply post the necessary information online. Help out-of-town guests by adding a list of transportation services.

1. 7. Hotels. If you anticipate having more than a few out-of-town guests, provide a list of local hotels with price and contact info.

Though you don’t need to include much more than the seven items listed above, there’s nothing stopping you from creating an even more unique website. Consider adding a song, YouTube videos, a photo gallery or links to the reception location. Furthermore, your wedding website won’t only be helpful in the months leading up to the wedding, but it can also be a place for guests to reconvene afterwards, to share and look at pictures of the wedding and honeymoon and post comments. You can also post a general appreciation message to tide them over while you write all your thank you notes.

If you’re planning on a budget, you might be worried that a website is an extravagance you can’t afford. This is not the case – you can get an affordable, professionally designed website for a reasonable price. So get ready to impress your guests!

1) Put Her First. Let’s be honest here, this is her Big Day. She’s probably been dreaming about her wedding day since she was a little girl. Make it evident that you understand her needs and you value her opinions on flowers, place settings, even the color of the invitations. Do whatever it takes to communicate that your bride is the one in control. Nod, smile and exude graciousness and when she feels the urge to go off the deep-end, your calm example and deference will save the day.

2) Be Patient. Whatever you do, resist the desire to let your emotions get the better of you. Even if the bride-to-be is ranting, raving and being entirely unreasonable, you should remain calm. If you take the bait, that little discussion about seating arrangements and party favors might devolve into a full-blown screaming match. Be the bigger person and the entire family will rejoice silently and pat you on the back.

3) Make Her Feel like a Queen. This one’s a no-brainer. Surprise your bride with an impromptu day of pampering and you’ll have her in the palm of your hands. After  a hard day’s work filling gift bags, coordinating hotel rooms for guests or designing save the dates, lavish the lady of the hour with a pedicure, dinner in the park or her favorite movie. You’ll both be happier for it.

4) Flattery Will Get You Everywhere. Tell her how beautiful her hair is today, compliment her new shade of lip gloss or tell her why you love her. And put it all down on paper. Jotting a quick letter in a gorgeous note card will win you major points. She’ll remember your sweet sentiments and it’ll calm her fears and relieve her anxiety. But be careful not to lie – an anxious bride will be able to sense your dishonesty and may lash out.

You’re now armed with the secrets to success. Your bride is making an important life step and you’ll want to be on hand to defuse any situation before the tensions rise. Good luck; disarming a Bridezilla isn’t easy!

Resources

1. The Bridezilla Quiz
2. Beware the Bridezilla

Checklist 1: Two Weeks to Go

You’ve gotten most of the major worries out of the way but there are still some considerations:

• Are my goody bags or eco-friendly tote bags stocked with party favors like candy, keychains, magnets and other mementos?
• Have I printed out an itinerary on letterhead for the big day?
• Have I sent a copy of the invitation or save-the-date to the local paper so they can make an announcement?
• Have I had one final check-in with the photographer, band and caterer?
• Has my groom had his hair appointment?
• Have I had one last gown fitting?

Checklist 2: The 24-Hour Countdown

You’re almost there, but it’s not time to relax just yet! After months and months of preparation you may feel that you’ve done everything that needs to be done. But have you made sure the following essentials are in order?

• Have I picked up my gown and veil?
• Has the groom secured his tux?
• Have I indulged in a pedi-mani?
• Are my party favors and other important items at the reception hall?

Checklist 3: The Big Day

If you think you’re going to relax all day, forget about it. You’ve been planning for this day a long time, but there are still some last minute must-do’s you’ll have to squeeze in.

• Do I have comfortable shoes to put on after the ceremony?
• Does my Maid of Honor have my groom’s wedding band? Does the Best Man have the bride’s wedding ring?
• Has my right hand man or woman double checked that everything’s in order?

Phew. Your special day is sure to go more smoothly with this easy checklist. Wishing you a life full of love and happiness!

Resources

1. Your Wedding Day

Do it right. Start with the invitations! Instead of picking up a generic set, splurge on a few custom upgrades with linen finish, matching envelopes and be sure that both sides are in full color. You’ll impress guests and set the tone for party – garish balloons and goofy clowns will be nowhere in sight!

Think twice about a theme party. Resist the urge to throw a cheesy party. If you elect for a theme, make sure elegance and class are the names of the game. Instead of printing silly pictures and images on décor like banners and table cloths, try to take a more subtle approach. Opt for soft colors, muted palettes and an overarching theme – not a heavy-handed one.

Delight their sensibilities. Instead of chips and dips and cake and coke, why not wow the birthday man or woman with hors d’oeuvres and canapés? And don’t bother visiting the local store for generic cake, lay out a sampling of posh desserts instead – everyone will ooh and ahh with pleasure! Still searching for the perfect party favor? Fill an eco-friendly tote bag with samplings of adult beverages, a customized T-shirt or beautiful note cards.

You’re now ready to throw a wonderful bash – get to it!

Also, events for children are great for business.  Local newspapers and new stations love these events, too.  They are fun and present tons of great photo opportunities.  Have a “Make your own cupcake” day at your bakery or a “dress as your favorite character” day at your bookstore. 

Whatever type of small business you own, open it up to the community and inform the local media.  This is an inexpensive and fun way to advertise.