Invitation Ettiqutte

Is emailing your wedding invitations acceptable?


In these times of economic hardships, you may find yourself scaling back your budget. One area that could be scaled back on is your stationery budget. Many of the trendy invitations that are appealing to brides can cost upwards of $5-$8 apiece. Pair that with the rising cost of stamps in a few months, and you could spend well over $1000 just on something guests are going to eventually throw away!

Some brides may feel compelled to cut costs and email their wedding invitations. After all, everyone is “plugged in” nowadays, even Grandma and Grandpa!

Don’t do it.

It is (almost) never okay to email your wedding invitation. There are other ways to keep your stationery costs low – but this is not one of them.

Instead, you could create your own wedding invitations. There are many options available at Hobby Lobby, Target, and even Wal-Mart. All you need is your own printer.

You can also cut costs by creating an RSVP postcard. It only costs $0.27 to mail a postcard sized RSVP compared to $0.42 to mail a letter sized RSVP. *Just make sure your postcard measurements are in accordance with the post office standards.

You could also request that your guests RSVP via telephone or website.

Please remember: Just because technology exists doesn’t mean it’s always a proper substitute.

Personalized Activity Books

Little kids are cute and fun. Because of this, you may feel compelled to invite them to your wedding reception. They will all have a blast dancing with the other kids and consuming sugar all night long. However, if you give them the opportunity to get bored (before they can show off their dance moves) you may have some cranky and unruly kids on your hands.

Remedy: A Kids Table.

Cover a table at the reception with butcher block paper, and stock the table with lots of crayons, (washable) markers, and activity/coloring books. For the younger kids who would rather eat crayons - have available books, blocks, and puzzles. Bribe one of your younger cousins into watching over the kids table to ensure no one starts drawing on the walls.

If you would like to personalize an activity book for your little guests, shoot My Girl Friday an email. We will send you a Word document containing the activity book. You can email us at: sara@my-girl-friday.com. Please put activity book in the subject line.

Happy Personalizing!

A Sound Impression - Meet Cali Hlavac

Your name (and title/position): Cali Hlavac - President
Business Name: A Sound Impression
Location: 3601 Calvert St., #27 Lincoln, NE 68506
Service or Product Offered: DJ/Hosting, Wedding Videography, Photo
Slideshow Videos, Video Invitations, Save the Date Videos, Love Story Videos
How long in business: 18 years
How did you get started in the wedding industry? Did you always
plan on someday helping brides achieve their “dream” wedding?
I majored in Advertising at UNL and when I graduated, I got a job as the marketing
director for A Sound Impression (the previous owner had an advertising company as
well). After 2 months of working for him, he got offered a job at the Bellevue Med
Center as head of fundraising and decided to take it. Instead of moving the business
to Omaha (since most of his brides were in Lincoln), he approached me and asked if I
was interested in taking over as owner. I agreed, and here we are today ☺ I never
dreamed of being in the wedding industry before then, but I am so happy I did – I love
every minute of it!
What personality traits do you possess that allow you to effectively
interact with brides on their wedding day?
It’s important to me that a bride is completely at ease around you before and during
her wedding day. I’m young (in my 20s), female, and I live and breathe weddings (trends,
colors, décor, ideas, etc.). I can relate to the bride on every level and I think it gives
me an edge over older vendors. I’m constantly reading magazines and doing research
from weddings all across the US to keep myself updated on the most cutting edge
trends. Not only that, but I’m passionate about what I do. Weddings are very exciting;
a once in a lifetime experience that should be treated as such!
How are brides and their weddings different than when you first
started in this industry?
I’ve been working in the industry for 2 years and in my area, I notice brides are
beginning to see the importance of having videography of their wedding. I’m seeing
more and more brides putting a majority of their budget in photo and video. That’s
important because photography is something to be treasured and hung on your wall;
however, you may never be able to hear your vows, toasts, or your grandmother’s voice
ever again. Not to mention, if your parents had a wedding video, wouldn’t you love to
watch it? Imagine the fun your kids will have with it ☺
Are there any changes for your business in the near future you
would like to share?
We are consistently growing – we’ve hired 2 new people in the last week and will add at
least 2 more over the course of the summer. We’ve moved into a larger, more
accommodating space and will continue to have a presence all over town at shows,
events, weddings, etc.
From your experience in working with brides and grooms, is there
any piece of advice you would like to offer?
Always ask for referrals – the best referrals come from brides and vendors. Vendors
often time have a great insight about other vendors because they’ve worked with them
on multiple occasions. The wedding industry in Nebraska is extremely small and most
people know or know of everyone and can give a great referral based on experience. I
would still ask former brides for referrals as well, since they have a different
perspective than a vendor. But always ask – it will save you SO much time and energy
in the end!
Please provide a quick description of the services or products you
offer to brides:
A Sound Impression has been helping couples create, capture, and preserve the
memories of their wedding day for 18 years. We provide DJ/Hosting services, Wedding
Videography Services, Photo Slideshow Videos, Save the Date Videos, Love Story
Videos, Video Invitations, and Trash the Dress Videos. Our prices are very standard
and will be the same every time you call.

If you have additional questions for Cali, feel free to contact her at:
cali@asoundimpression.net or 464-2274.

Sullivan Photography - Meet Jamy Sullivan

Your name (and title/position): Jamy Sullivan, Owner & Photographer


Business Name: Sullivan Photography

Location: 1301 Mockingbird Lane South, Lincoln, NE 68512

How long in business: 6 years

How did you get started in the wedding industry? Did you always plan on someday helping brides achieve their “dream” wedding?

I studied photography in the Art & photojournalism departments at UNL; after I received my degree friends and family kept asking me to photograph their wedding day and family portraits…after turning down people because I didn’t have back up equipment, I finally took out a business loan and started doing what I love-Artistically capturing people



What personality traits do you possess that allow you to effectively interact with brides on their wedding day? I am outgoing, organized, creative &helpful and friendly



How are brides and their weddings different than when you first started in this industry? I have never thought about this, as each one of my brides and couples are unique and each prefer different styles and set up for their wedding day so I customize my approach for each couple.



Are there any changes for your business in the near future you would like to share? Sullivan Photography now has 2 associate photographers that are available-so brides don’t have to miss out on creative photos and products just because I am booked. If a bride books with one of them, the bride gets all her digital wedding day images FREE. I am also running a promotion from Feb 2009-Feb 2010 that my brides are entered in a drawing for a chance to win a trip to VEGAS! (restrictions apply)

From your experience in working with brides and grooms, is there any piece of advice you would like to offer? I think they need to remember that in the end, what matters is their love for each other and they are getting married. And for Brides, this is your one day to be a princess and let everyone to everything else…make sure that those you ask and hire to help will bring out the best in you and be pleasant to work with.
Please provide a short description of the services or products you offer to brides: Sullivan Photography will artistically capture all your wedding day moments, from traditional to impressionist we will professionally make sure your wedding album is as unique and special as you.
If you have additional questions for Sullivan Photography, feel free to contact Jamy at 402-570-5298 or www.jamysullivanphotography.com

Gift Registries

Wedding Gift Registries


One of the many exciting parts of getting married is registering for gifts at your favorite store. You and your fiancé (armed with the “gun”) will go down each aisle and pick out your favorite things, hoping someone will purchase them so you can stock your new lives full of everything you may need, from towels to BBQ sets.

Now that you have registered you may wonder how to tell your guests where to shop.

You don’t.

While it is nice to know exactly what the couple needs (from a guests’ standpoint), the purpose of a registry is not to tell guests where to shop or what to purchase. This is also not the time to stuff your wedding invitation envelope with one more piece of paper, detailing exactly where you have registered. Even though receiving a wedding invitation DOES demand a wedding gift (there are only a few exceptions) it is in poor taste to tell the guests what to buy.

However, there are still a few ways to alert to guests that you have a wedding registry.

When Aunt Annie calls you mother wondering what she should purchase you for your wedding, your mother can take this opportunity to tell her where you have registered for gifts. Let it be known though, that whatever Aunt Annie decides to purchase for you will be gratefully appreciated.

Also, you should list your wedding registries on your wedding website. Wedding websites are a fun and efficient way to share with your guests the pertinent information surrounding your wedding. You can include your wedding website address on the travel or map portion of your wedding invitation. Be sure NOT to include your wedding website address on the ACTUAL invitation.

Have faith that people will figure out where you are registered IF they want to purchase you something off a registry. Whenever I receive a wedding invitation in the mail and am pondering what to purchase for the couple, I immediately search for possible wedding registries on-line at all the popular places to register (Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, Younkers, etc.). Your guests will, too.

WOW Guest Book Idea

WOW (words of wisdom) Guest Book Idea:

If you are looking for a unique way to showcase your guest book (instead of throwing it on the bookshelf and never picking it up again) – here is a unique idea.

More than likely there will be an abundance of guests that attend your wedding who are married (or have been). They would be happy to share what has (or has not) worked for them in their own marriage. Let them offer their advice or words of wisdom in lieu of signing a traditional guest book.

What you’ll need:

Blank 3X5 index cards (enough for each invitation you send out – a family of five would not need 5 index cards – just one)

An assortment of pens

An instruction sheet explaining the scrapbook guest book

A scrapbook

What to do:

At the reception in a conspicuous place that everyone passes by, set out the index cards, pens, and instruction sheet. You could even have a friend or a door greeter help guide guests with what to do.

On the instruction sheet – explain to guests that you would like them to offer any words of wisdom or advice – and sign the bottom of the index card. If your cousin Bob shows up who will forever be a bachelor and doesn’t have any good advice to offer – you can ask him to offer a well wish instead.

Be sure your guests only write on one side of the index card – if you end up attaching these cards onto sheets of cardstock in your scrapbook – you will be unable to read both sides.

You will definitely see people’s personalities shine through! Someday you will enjoy looking back at your guest book – and you will find what pieces of advice worked – and which ones didn’t.

(Be sure to have a basket around to put the index cards in that have been written on - you won’t want to lose them!)

If you aren’t the scrapbooking type – you can slide the 3X5 index cards into a 4X6 wedding photo album.

Blog Launch!

Today kicks off the start of My Girl Friday's Blog!

We want to encourage brides to make this blog interactive - don't hesitate to leave comments or questions in the comment section of the posts. We will refer to our team of experts to get the most current advice - so ask away!

Since it's Monday - It's Meet the people Mondays. We will start this Monday by introducing everyone to the owner of My Girl Friday, Sara Brown.

Your name (and title/position): Sara Brown, Owner
Business Name: My Girl Friday
Location: Lincoln, NE
Service or Product Offered: Wedding Planning/Consultation/Coordination
How long in business: 9 months

How did you get started in the wedding industry? Did you always plan on someday helping brides achieve their "dream" wedding?: I graduated from UNL with a degree in Psychology – but wasn’t too interested in getting a 9 to 5 desk job. I had an idea to start an errand running/concierge company in Lincoln – and that would include helping brides out on their wedding weekends. A close friend of mine worked for a local wedding magazine – and I realized there weren’t any wedding planners in town, but lots of brides planning weddings. I knew I possessed the skills and experience it took to be a valuable wedding planner (I planned my first party when I was 10 years old!), so after careful consideration and a whole lot of reading – I began studying to become a wedding planner and business owner.
I have always dreamed of counseling people, and making their lives better. That’s why a degree in Psychology made the most sense. However, I am pleased to be counseling people on one of the biggest and best days of their lives!

What personality traits do you possess that allow you to effectively interact with brides on their wedding day?: I have a type A personality – no doubt. There aren’t any details that go unnoticed (which sometimes drives others around me bonkers) – and I am the queen of list making. I have always been a perfectionist, and I have a knack for hospitality. I also believe if you’re going to invest yourself into something you need to #1 Do it Right #2 Commit yourself 110% #3 or Go Home. Most brides only dream of one wedding, so I won’t be offered any second chances.

How are brides and their weddings different than when you first started in this industry?: Since I have just started out, I can only hypothesize what the future will hold. I believe the notion of "bigger is better" is becoming a thing of the past. Gone will be the days where people had a 500 guest affair. Smaller, simpler, and more intimate weddings are becoming more common. Quality over quantity.

Are there any changes for your business in the near future you would like to share? I would love to incorporate more design into wedding planning. It is too easy to have a "cookie cutter" wedding, especially when resources are limited. I think every bride and groom deserves to have a wedding that reflects them as an individual and as a couple.

From your experience in working with brides and grooms, is there any piece of advice you would like to offer? Make a list of your priorities. Certain elements of a wedding are necessary – but I would suggest allocating more of your funds to what is really important to you. Just because your budget spreadsheet says you should spend $500 on entertainment, it doesn’t mean you have to stick to that. If you have always dreamed of having a live band (that costs well over $500) and want everyone to be dancing and raving about the musicians by the end of night – cut back on another section of your budget.

Another piece of advice – Remember to be a gracious host. While it may be true that a wedding day is really about the bride and groom – don’t forget about all the people that it took to make you who you are today – and who want to celebrate in your happiness. You’re inviting people to YOUR party, make sure they feel welcomed.

Please provide a quick description of the services or products you offer to brides: We offer Complete Wedding Planning/Coordination and Day of Coordination. If you have the time and desire to plan your own wedding – call on us to orchestrate things for the big day. If you are too busy to worry about the invitations complimenting the style of your wedding, and have no idea who to call for the best photos, call on us to plan AND orchestrate your big day. For a complete description of our services and the packages we offer, visit our website.

If you have additional questions for Sara Brown, feel free to contact her at:
My Girl Friday
www.my-girl-friday.net
402.486.3793

Fantasy Wedding Show 2009

My Girl Friday would like to thank all the brides (and grooms, and mothers, and sisters and bestfriends) who attended the Fantasy Wedding Show at the Lancaster Event Center on Sunday. It was a huge success and we loved having the opportunity to speak with everyone!