you’ve have had a chance to ponder the considerations for your wedding invitation, we’re breaking down our earlier article into more detail. Ready to move forward? Ponder this…
Choosing the Writing Style for your Invitation
The first important consideration in creating your invitation is to select the best writing style. There are three major options:
Third-Person Formal – Use this for formal dinners, fundraisers, balls, galas, black tie affairs, and formal weddings.
Semiformal – Use this for cocktail parties, dinner parties, big birthdays bashes, graduation invitations, bridal or baby showers, cool theme parties, and less formal weddings.
Handwritten Notes – A great choice for very intimate or casual affairs including small birthday dinners, back yard barbeques, mothers day get togethers and housewarming parties.
Composing the Right Wording for your Invitation
The right wording can make or break your invitation. It will also set the event’s tone and formality for your guests even before the event begins. Remember that your invitation is the first glimpse your guests will receive into the type affair you wish for it to be. Consider this:
Formal – On the invitation, the hostess usually “requests the honor of your presence”, followed by the day of the week, date and the month spelled out, and the time and the place (i.e. “Sunday, the first of January/ two thousand and ten/ at half after six o’clock/ Sundy House, Delray Beach, Florida”). Engraved or raised print is the best choice with the formal invitation, typically written in an antique typeface. Consider, though, that laser printing and the myriad of computer fonts now available makes the formal invitation even more affordable for those on a budget. If you wish to go with the engraving but find it a little too pricey, consider the more affordable raised-print option of Thermography.
Semiformal – Semiformal invitations do not have to adhere to the etiquette of a strict writing style. You may choose a variety of ways to create your invitation, from bordered, textured or patterned paper, and size of the paper can vary as well. Many brides and party planners are moving away from the traditional 5 x 7 style and going with fun square or tall shapes so their invitations stand out. When creating a semiformal invitation, incorporate the event’s theme to get guests on board and excited. Use ink and fonts that match the party’s theme and stationery such as pumpkins for a Halloween party, fireworks for July Fourth, engagement rings for a bridal shower, a baby stroller for the baby shower, grill utensils for a BBQ…you get the idea.
Handwritten – The most important elements with handwritten invitations are the stationery and the legibility of the lettering. Make sure to choose beautiful stationary that really stands out, and either write very neatly or hire someone with excellent penmanship to write the text you’ve chosen. A calligrapher is a great idea for a truly beautiful and unique handwritten invitation.
Getting Your Wording Started
One of our favorite sites for invitation wording ideas is http://www.verseit.com/. You can browse by event type and get the idea juices flowing. And while you work on getting just the perfect wording, tune back into Part Two of our Elements Post coming soon, which will walk you through the tricky subject of working with a guest list and addressing your invitations.
Don’t forget to check out the galleries at http://www.atlasdesigns.org/ for additional wording ideas.
WHAT ABOUT YOU? Share your ideas for wording with our other brides.
Archive for December, 2009
Elements of a Perfect Wedding Invitation – Part One
A Children’s Tea Party – The Best Way To Teach Your Kids Manners And Etiquette
etter way to teach children proper etiquette than at a young age? We all know how proper manners are so important in becoming socially acceptable in our society. So how is the best way to teach this to children you ask? Research shows that kids learn the fastest when you make it a fun learning process, and children between the age of 2 and 5 are extremely receptive in learning manners and etiquette.
The most fun and efficient way I’ve found is to have children’s tea parties with my own kids. It allows me to teach my children of the proper place setting positions that even we as adults sometimes get confused. This in turn will give our kids more confidence and better social behavior when they mature and become adults.
Before the tea party starts, allow the kids to be seated then show them the proper placements for the utensils. As an example, the tea cups and saucers should be placed on the right of the dining plate and forks and napkins belong to the left side. Show them how to properly place a napkin on their laps and get them to check their posture and seating position by making an example of yourself. No slouching!
Now on to the next step. Using yourself as an example again, pick up your tea cup and introduce yourself formally and politely to the children at the table, and have them follow your example in turns. Also teach them that the words thank-you, please, and excuse me should be used and when they should be used. This will be the time when you can point out to them that they should not be talking with their mouths full or slurping their tea etc..
Display courtesy and show them how passing food around the table should be done. Explain to the kids that they should only take one scone for example instead of many. This will be also a good time to teach them the importance of saying “No thank-you” when when offered food they don’t want.
Children all respond very well to compliments and praise, so let them know and encourage them when they show good manner at the table. Constant but gentle reminders will help greatly in the teaching process. You should also show them by example on how to thank the host of the party for a great meal, and how to greet, take coats, and also serve appetizers to their guests. Remember that good manners and proper etiquette applies on and also off the dining table.
After the tea party, award each child with a little certificate that you’ve created for completing the etiquette course successfully, as this just helps remind them on what they’ve learned on the day. As mentioned before, kids love compliments ( and so do adults )!
Entertainment for Your Little Mermaid Party: Creative Games and Activities for Your Princess Party
Planning a Little Mermaid birthday party can be fun, but challenging at the same time. Once you have your Little Mermaid invitations, decorations and cake, it is time to start thinking about the party entertainment. Planning games and activities around the Little Mermaid theme requires some creativity, but coming up with the perfect entertainment can make the party unforgettable.
One popular activity is Under the Sea Instrument Play. Gather any play instruments you have such as a recorder, drum, harmonica or xylophone. Turn on music from Disney’s The Little Mermaid and let the orchestra play. If you do not have instruments, use items around the house that can make noise. Suggestions include plastic bowls and wooden spoons, half-filled water bottle or plastic container filled with dry rice or beans. Use what you have. Very young guests really like this game.
Another successful Little Mermaid party game is the Ursula Freeze Dance. This is a twist on the regular freeze dance game. One player is designated Ursula. Ursula turns off the music and the dancers freeze. Then Ursula moves around the guests trying to catch one of them moving. The one that moves takes a turn being Ursula. There is usually a lot of giggling when the dancers are frozen as they try to keep still.
Water games can be a fun change to a Little Mermaid party. After all, mermaids love the water. Water games are especially appropriate for a party held in the hot summer. If you throw a pool party, try some mermaid races in the pool. You could also try to collect mermaid treasures. Find objects that Ariel would like (and that are not harmed when wet) and put them at the bottom of the pool. Suggestions are diving rings and other pool toys. Let the players retrieve as many objects as they can.
Your Little Mermaid birthday party will be a big success with good planning and fun Ariel games and activities. Be creative and remember to choose games the party girl will enjoy and adapt them to the Little Mermaid theme.