Don't Panic Design

Whether planning a simple wedding, or an elaborate one, one thing remains the same: it's not easy.  There are tons of things you won't consider until you are in the middle of it, and as many are frustrating as they are fun. If you are going the DIY route, you want to have a hand in the design and execution of your wedding.  Choosing or designing your invitation is a fun way to exercise creativity in your planning, and set the stage for your reception decor.  It is also one of the first ways you share your style with your guests. While it can be very fun, it can also be overwhelming: where to start? A couple weeks ago, Andrea reached out about a design in my shop . She loved elements already included in the design, and even the colors were close. But she had designed a wedding logo, and wanted to know if I could, or would, include it on the design. I never mind adjusted designs to make it work - whether it's color, wording, or adding a special touch, so I ...

The anatomy of any invitation is usually the same, and this will hold true for your Rehearsal Dinner invitations. The main difference is that you may include 2 sets of times and locations. Remember that you can have a theme for your dinner, and it doesn't need to match the wedding. It can formal or casual - see Rehearsal Dinner Basics for some tips and easy theme ideas to throw a great party. When drafting the wording for your invitation, be sure to include: • THE HOSTS' NAMES A wedding rehearsal dinner is usually hosted by the groom’s parents, but it doesn’t have to be. • THE COUPLE'S NAMES Of course! Use first and last names for more formal invitations, use first names only for a very small, intimate party, or us the phrase “the soon to be INSERT NAME HERE” if the happy couple are sharing a name after their marriage. • THE DATE It is customary to spell out the day, month and year for formal dinners, but for more casual parties, using the numerals is fi...

Whether you are having a small intimate wedding, an elegant soiree, a large raucous party, or a destination wedding, the wedding rehearsal dinner is a wonderful time to connect with the people closest to you - family and friends who have given their support and are likely to be involved in planning and the events of the day itself. This pre-celebration is a time to mingle, chat, say thank you, and spend a little real time together, as the wedding day is likely to be busy, and the reception a whirlwind.  Rehearsal dinners are often hosted by the parents of the groom, but whether it is the groom's parents, the bride's parents, the couple themselves, or some combination,  it is up to the hosts to choose what kind of dinner to have and who to invite. The hosts and the couple can discuss before planning to decide how involved each wants to be, and work together to create the right event.  Both the host and the couple should try to stay flexible - it's meant to be fun!...

What is I.C.E.?  I.C.E. stands for In Case of Emergency.  Hopefully you already know this, and you may already have I.C.E. contacts marked in your phone. As a back up, you should also have a physical card with names and phone numbers.  Carry one in your wallet, and keep one with your car registration, if you drive. For kids, consider pinning on in their backpack. Emergencies are by definition unpredictable. By taking a few minutes today, you can prepare yourself, or those caring for you to be able to identify you and contact family members or friends in a time of trouble of need. My mom has been a nurse for 40 years.  She loves her job, but she has seen a lot of things - and had a lot of bad days as witness and caregiver to terrible disease and destructive accidents.  Her job doesn't stop when the patient has been admitted. As a professional care giver, she is also responsible for contacting emergency contacts or relatives. Not only does it mak...

When I was in college, I was lucky enough to live with the best cook I know, my best friend Christina.  I would walk home from class, crossing my fingers that she was home, because if she was, the most magical thing would happen.  While I would look around the kitchen and see nothing to eat, Christina would open the fridge and say things like, I think I am going to make a quiche, would you like some? The answer, of course, was always, "yes, please." She has an intuitive sense for flavors I've always admired, and I finally smartened up enough a few years ago to start asking questions. After watching her cook, and getting her to tell me some of her secrets, I slowly started experimenting.  This is a fritatta I made last year, and that comment is from Christina - which is high praise! I knew that part of what I was lacking was an understanding spices and how they work together.  I started testing recipes with random spices I had to see how they tasted.  I ...

In the spirit of Halloween, add these printable posters to your decorations. Click on each link below to download the Free 8" x 10"posters.  Classic & Beautiful Fun & Modern:  These are each a pdf file with 1 page set up on a U.S. Letter size page.  Print on regular paper or card stock and hang it up as it is, or trim off the edges  (1/4" from the left and right, and 1/2" from the top and bottom) to fit an 8" x 10" frame.   It will also be easily printed onto an A4 page.   Throwing a party? Download some or all of these posters to decorate, then check out the some halloween invitations  here. •  •  • Happy Halloween!

It's that time of year again: the season of all things pumpkin flavored.  I live in the northwest U.S., and so it's also the time of year of changing colors in the trees. There is a chill in the air, which makes the afternoon sun feel even better.  It's time to start breaking out my sweaters... I don't love winter, but I do love sweaters. (This love contradicts my dislike of wearing socks, but that's a different conversation.) That means it's almost Halloween! Halloween around here is an often secularly observed, fun, time of year. It's a 'holiday' because we do it every year, we have parties and rituals for it, and there is an air of excitement around it.  I still have to work on Tuesday, but that doesn't make Halloween feel less to me. It's also a time of reflection; while Halloween and it's associated observances have long and varied histories, it's generally accepted as a time to reflect on the dead - those in our fami...

Here are five fun ideas to inspire your adventure themed baby shower! Know an outdoors couple having a baby? A world traveler? Maybe a couple of beach bums? I think parties with themes are more fun to plan, and attend, even if the theme is a simple one. One of my favorite date nights is Spaghetti Western night.  So simple, and so silly. If you don't know about spaghetti westerns, I highly recommend looking into them. Anyway, just make some spaghetti, set out the garlic bread, and put on The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Voila! Theme date night done. Plus, it's fun to say: Spaghetti Western. Anyway, a fun baby shower theme is adventure - as having a baby really is one.   Check out these fun themed baby shower invitations to inspire your celebration. * * * This is an adorable travel and mountain inspired invitation with a Seussian flair. Rounded mountains and an arrow compass rose with the date, this invitation is cute in blue and green, or any set...

As happens from time to time, I received a request to make a few small changes to one of my Baby on Board baby shower invitations.  The customer wanted a beach invitation that included swamp elements for a custom theme.  Because she asked, I was able to determine that I had access to appropriate clipart and that there was room to easily add it in to the invitation she wanted.  She ordered, I did it, and now she has a custom invitation that is amazing (if I do say so myself).  Thanks for asking Nicole, what a fun invitation! The  Original Design The Custom Version

Are you going to DIY your wedding invitations? Whether or not you are going to DIY your whole wedding, doing it yourself invitation is a great way to be involved, use your creativity, and get just what you want. This is a guide of tips, tricks, and things you won't think about until after you've done your invitations. Unless you read this first. Also, get a FREE PRINTABLE PLANNER to help you get started on your invitations. Link at the end. To Do: PLAN AHEAD: Choose your design and order your invitations at least 4-6 months before your date, and plan to mail them 6-8 weeks before the wedding. And incorporate your colors and theme into the design - it will set the tone and tells your guests the level of formality. DO INCLUDE: Contact Info & a Map Be sure to include all dates, times, addresses, dress codes, and add any necessary contact information. For example, hotel information to make reservations. Include a map or directions for an out of the way venue, or for yo...

Phewww, it feels like 2017 just started! Valentine's Day just happened, I swear! Now, here we are, and it's March! I stopped wearing socks last week in celebration of better weather, and also I hate socks.  Yes, I do live in Montana.  Yes, I jumped the gun a bit.  Yes, it snowed the day before yesterday, and probably will next week too.  Yes, I have socks on right now.  Wool socks.  With stripes. {Sigh...} (UPDATE: It snowed like 4" last night. I spent 15 minutes cleaning of my car this morning; I didn't put on socks since I was going to yoga, but I did wear boots.) But still, it is March.  And with March comes the hope of spring, my birthday, and St. Patrick's Day. Celebrated on March 17, it's kind of a specific holiday.  These days, it is often a secular celebration of Irish heritage, all over the world. Historically it is a religious holiday which honors the death day of Saint Patrick (385-461 a.d.) , and celebrates him as the best known pa...

I don't believe in a black and white view of the world.  I think most every issue is shaded with gray, and that makes dealing with life hard and complicated and messy.  Valentine's Day isn't really a gray a issue; it's a black and white one; people love it or hate it.  What I'll say about Valentine's Day, this year especially, is that we can't have too much love in the world.  And a day set aside to celebrating love is not misplaced. To that end, here are two different Valentine's Day posters, free to download, to help celebrate and spread love. Each one is an art inspired  design, using color and drawn fonts for a bright and fun poster. Click on each image above to download the poster.  These are each a pdf file with 1 page set up on a U.S. Letter size page.  Print on regular paper or card stock and hang it up as it is, or trim off the edges  (1/4" from the left and right, and 1/2" from the top and bottom) to fit an 8" x 1...