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For all the tools of technology that we use to improve our daily lives, there's a wedding trend that is causing a technological stir: The Unplugged Wedding. For some, it's a sigh of relief and for others, they. just. can't. Here are some things to consider when it comes to 'guest photographers' at your wedding.  (Oh Snap!) Often, with the best of intentions, wedding guests aim to capture each precious moment for their loved ones, but in turn, miss the mark. You heard of too many cooks in the kitchen-- it can be something like that! Much like choosing the invitation suite, the photographer was hand selected to capture the wedding. Guest photographers can inadvertently compromise professional photos and subtle details at the event. Here are a just a few examples. Guest photographers can: use their camera flashes and alter the lighting. actually be in the way of a professional shot be disruptive with ring tone and text messages. post and reveal the first photo of the bride. appear on their phones in all the photographs. become distracted. Of course, there are two sides to every story and I want to EXPOSE all sides! (Had to!) There is an upside to everything so if you're not nervous about the craziness that can follow, here are some great things your guest photographer can provide: Guest photographers can offer: candid photos. a new angle. a private moment. inside jokes or stories. a photo of the photographer! Your style and #weddinggoals will dictate whether you'll encourage your guests to snap away or holster their lenses for the big day. Either way, the guests are always on your side. Should you decided to have an unplugged event, I suggest this beautiful, fun and kindly worded message for your guests.  What side do you stand in this snap happy debate? Inquiring minds want to know! Reach out, I would love to help you design your wedding day stationery!  Wedding Etiquette has an expansive range and the language that you use when communicating with your guests sets the tone for your event. What was once a set of rules based on tradition and formality has shifted in the best possible way. It's your event and your day-- so whether your style is formal and fancy, or your tan toes will be settled in the sand, invitation etiquette and the wording has whittled down to one simple truth-- what is best for you is best for your guests. You set the tone! Here are some guidelines to get you started... Wedding invitations should include the following elements: -Who will be hosting -The request to come to the wedding -The names of bride and groom/couple -The date and time -The location of the ceremony -Reception (the mention of this to follow) -Dress code (if applicable)  Who Will Be Hosting There are a few options for the host that have become more popular: -The married couple on their own -Hosting together with parents -Parents of bride or groom who host the event Also, including the names of both sets of parents whether as hosts or the mention of the groom’s parents below the groom’s name, is an inclusive option regardless of who is paying. The Request Line There are many ways to ask for your guests to attend! “request the honor of your presence” “request the pleasure of your company" "invite you to celebrate/attend” "would love for you to join them in celebrating" are just a few. The Names of The Couple Traditionally the name of the bride comes before the groom. In a more formal invitation, middle names are often used. In some fun, casual settings even just first names can be used. For a same-sex marriage, you can choose to go in alphabetical order or choose what sounds better. The Date and Time Everything is written out in full for more formal and most weddings. Time of day is spelled out using "o'clock" or "half after five o’clock in the evening” For casual weddings, using numbers is perfectly fine, and adds a fun flare. The Location The street address of the church/ceremony is what is listed directly on your invitation. The city and state should be written out in full in either case. Reception Information If the ceremony and reception are held in the same location, you can just note "reception immediately following,” or “reception to follow”. Formal invitations generally include this information on a separate card with the full address and time of the cocktail hour/reception, especially if the reception is at a different location from the ceremony. Dress Code If you choose to specify a dress code on your invitation, it is often placed on the lower righthand corner. As a guideline, if your invitation is very formal, guests will anticipate a formal or black-tie event. Conversely, if the invitation is on the simple side, that lets people know it's a more casual dress code   No matter which style or phrasing you choose, your wedding should be an event to remember. I look forward to guiding you through the process and creating the perfect Wedding Invitation for your wedding! Cheers, Mary Photography Credit: Shannon Cronin Photography Venue: The Beauport Hotel  setting the tone for your weddingI have no doubt that most brides-to-be have been planning their stroll down the aisle since forever! Planning an event, a style, a lifetime together-- and the possibilities are endless! Of all of the choices to make from engagement to happily-ever-after, the wedding invitation suite has a critical role. It sets the tone for your once-in-a-lifetime event and conveys important information to ensure that you and your guests have the most seamless and spectacular experience. Allow me to walk you down the aisle of a well-detailed Invitation Suite...  Wedding Invitation Wedding invitations should be sent approximately 8-12 weeks prior to your wedding date and include key details such as time, date, ceremony location and/or reception location. It's also a fine place to include information about attire and/or an adult only reception.
Outer Envelope This gets addressed to the guests (be sure to address it specifically, but that’s a whole other blog post!) Double envelopes are intended to protect the invitation in the mail from weather and damage. Inner Envelope This acts as a decorative inner "shell" to the invitation and may often involve a gorgeous, custom envelope liner. As another layer, this also helps protect the invitation and it's components from potentially being damaged in transit. Envelopes cropped, original photos by: Freebird Photography The components you select within your wedding suite greatly assist your guests on your big day. These along with the colors, style, formal flare or casual vibe…all set the tone for your guests to get a clear sense of the experience you're planning for this most important day! I'd love to walk you through the process and design your perfect wedding invitation suite. Please contact me at mary@simplybprints.com to book your complimentary personal consultation. Cheers! Mary
1. Spreading Christmas Cheer ("The best way to spread Christmas Cheer is singing loud for all to hear!"-Elf) Ok, so you don't have to stand in the middle of your city and sing Christmas carols, if that's not your thing, but sending a Christmas card, snail mail style, will most definitely brighten up anyone's day. And trust me, MORE than any text message or Insta DM will. 2. Stay Connected: Believe it or not, NOT everyone is on some form of social media. Your grandmother, your great aunt Sally, OR my husband (he refuses to get on Facebook, refuses) could be a few of the people who are not seeing your daily posts and/or photos, These are the people who most appreciate and love opening your holiday mail and reading a thought felt card. It's an easy way to make them smile, and feel connected.
Spread some Christmas cheer, decorate your home, and stay connected. After all, that's what the holidays are all about! For more info on ordering holiday cards, check out a few of our Simply b pre-printed samples, or contact us for a custom, personalized design! Special thanks to Ivory & Bone Interiors for sharing their design photo with us. For more details on her services visit: www.ivoryandboneinteriors.com
Hi! We might not know each other yet, but I'm hoping we do soon, and we spend the next year or so, sending emails back and forth to each other making design decisions and final edits, and getting your invitations absolutely perfect to send to your guests! Our initial contact will most likely begin over email, hopefully transition into an in-person consultation (if you're local enough or willing to make the drive), we'll talk all things wedding, and I'll enjoy hearing about the details you hope to transpire on wedding day. During our consultation, you'll view design samples I've pulled specifically for you. We'll look through countless color samples, you'll get to touch and you'll feel the textures and weight of the card stock. We'll discuss what styles you like, and especially what you do not like, types of fonts, and embellishments options available if you want to enhance your suite. Your consult is a fully interactive experience.  After we meet in person, we might not know anymore about each other than what we discussed during your consultation. And yet, our emails and phone calls will become more frequent, and comfortable, and the feel of a "relationship" will evolve. And after you're wedding day has arrived, I will truly MISS working with you!
I want my couples to understand that I'm on this journey with them, and I'll be taking care of them, and they have nothing to worry about! My top priority is making sure you get the design you want, the most impressive quality and the most premium product, but I do also want you to enjoy this process as well. And I hope that I can put your mind at ease about the MANY details that are not only involved with the invitation, but with the whole day itself. I am so excited to meet you, work with you, and design for you exactly what you envision for your perfect wedding day. Cheers to you! Photo credit: Sarah Jayne Photography Studio location:Simply b resides within Salt & Grove Last month, I had the privilege of participating in The Big Fake Wedding, New England. The challenge was to design a romantic fête with deep plum and gold accents, while creating a whimsical, wild and magical evening! Challenge accepted! I designed the wedding invitation suite, using 240# cover stock. The edges and border were embellished with gold leaf (hand painted). The burgundy envelope liner was lined with a sapphire textured liner and coated with a layer of gold leaf. The invitation itself has a "water color" effect, which is actually a stretched flower ;) Tricked ya! The whole suite was bundled together with a green felt ribbon. This suite was truly a texture lovers dream! The night was a perfect blend of gorgeous flowers, a dreamy cake, and of course the beautiful couple and their family! If you're not familiar with "The Big Fake Wedding", they base the evening around a real couple who are renewing their vows, which absolutely makes this event so special! Below are a few of my favorite shots by the super talented Catherine Threlkeld Photography,
The combination of florals with bits of gold accents, the stunning lace wedding gown and gorgeously flowing bridesmaids' dresses, mixed with the setting and wonderful people, truly made for a wonderful evening full of love and happiness!
Credits: (View full blog and complete list of credits on Ruffled Blog )
Photography: Catherine Threlkeld Photography Wedding Invitations: Simply B Floral and Event Design – Ceremony Backdrop: 33 Munroe Floral and Event Design – Bouquets and Boutonnieres, Tables 1, 2, 3: Paeonia Designs Floral and Event Design – Tables 4, 5, 6: Tammy Golson Events Day-Of Coordination: Kate Murtaugh Events and Design Venue: Colonial Hall at Rockafellas Bridal Store: Jacqueline’s Bridal Jewelry: E. Scott Originals Jewelry Hair and Makeup: Making You Glow Lipstick: LipSense by SeneGence Bridesmaid Dresses: Pure Bliss Bridals Menswear: Blank Label Wedding Cake: Flour(ish) Bake Shoppe Gift Boxes: LUX BOX company   Earlier this season I was approached by Devin Brown, owner of Fleur + Stitch, to participate in a styled shoot being held at The Commons in Topsfield, Massachusetts. When Devin described the color palette and design concept to me, I thought participating in this shoot was a no-brainer! Brides this season are very attracted to marble tones, rich burgundy colors, and gorgeous venues. But who isn't really?! When designing the invitation suite for this shoot, I wanted to incorporate a backdrop layer of marble onto a luxurious 240# cover stock (the weight and thickness of a coaster) and hand paint the edges in a copper finish. I finished the look with stunning hand-dyed silk ribbon from FrouFrou Chic and a beautiful cipria color inner envelope, complete with a coordinating copper envelope liner, and lush burgundy RSVP envelope. With whimsical fonts, this invitation suite has elegance and sophistication written all over it! The day was filled with absolutely impressive floral arrangements, and a hand cut/assembled paper floral arch way. The bride modeled the most perfect gown with lace back, and finishing touches were not left undone. All was captured by the incredibly talented, Catherine Threlkeld Photography. The shoot came together perfectly with a very talented team of vendors, and the end results of this gorgeous shoot landed itself a feature on the blog, Borrow and Blue. Very honored to be a part of this gorgeous production! View full feature on Borrowed and Blue: https://www.borrowedandblue.com/us/weddings/romantic-pink-wine-styled-shoot Team Credits: (Instagram handles) photography: @catherinethrelkeldphotography Venue: @thecommons1854 Styling & Flowers: @fleurandsitch model: @prepofboston invitations: @simplybnbpt hair: @madreas_hair makeup: @makeupbysarah.lord dress: @the_blushingbride cake: @kgpurepastry rentals: @peakeventservices  Bridal showers- surprise or no surprise, choosing the perfect outfit, will someone have the outfit in advance, and bring it, if the shower is a surprise? Ugh, seems like a lot of high expectations, maybe even too many. And. why? Why does a bridal shower have to be so stressful, and so "stuffy"? It's called a SHOWER for crying out loud. As far as I know, when I take an actual shower it's relaxing (as long as my kids are already asleep, but that's a whole other story), a time to think/reflect, (maybe sing a little), and ultimately I finish my shower feeling motivated to tackle (at least one) of the many things I thought about during my shower. So how is this not translatable to a wedding shower? One would think it should be a relaxing event, a time to let loose a little (maybe by enjoying a mimosa or glass of champs), and amp you up to celebrate your big day! When planning a shower, consider some relaxing, more personal components. First of all, what's more relaxing than a nice glass of champagne or mimosa?! And not for nothing, a little champagne can easily "take the edge off" if you're feeling a little nervous about the shower (why though, really? Just enjoy it!) Check out these Mimosa and Bellini recipes for some fun ways to spice up the traditional OJ and champs combo! And then there's the venue. Don't shy away from a place that feels comfortable. If you're hosting a smaller, more intimate group, investigate restaurant options that offer private rooms, to provide you with that more cozy, relaxing vibe. And if the opportunity is there, opt for a family member or close friend's home. Finally, now for what REALLY matters. The invitations. Ha! No but really, this is a perfect place to have fun! Wedding invitations set the tone for the event, and may hold a little more of a formal feel, but the shower invitations can be fun, bright, and why not even a little sparkly!? Credits:
Photography: Freebird Photography Invitations: Simply b Calligraphy: Janis Snell Flowers: Free Range Floral Back in the Fall, I had the honor of collaborating with some of my favorite wedding industry "friends" on a Boho "Romo" (romantic) Barn Wedding styled shoot. Knowing the team that would be involved, it was a no-brainer, that I wanted to be a part of this! The day of the shoot, was cold and raining, but no one would ever know the behind the scenes conditions, because the final "product" was bright, light, and stunning! From the impressive barn, to the stunning florals, and gorgeous calligraphed signage and stationery, our team produced a "Boho-Romo" wedding for the books (or the blogs!) AND just last week, our beautiful shoot was picked up and shared by the incredibly amazing blog, "The Perfect Palette"! Such an exciting feature, and we were thrilled and honored to have them love our shoot as much as we did! Check out the full blog with TONS of gorgeous photos from our "Boho-Romo Barn Wedding" on the The Perfect Palette Collaborative Credits:
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Mary BarnhartOwner/designer + Sole Proprietor of Simply b. Lover of ice-coffee, pretty packages, coastal living & of course all things paper! Mom to Ellie & Henry & wife to best friend, Jeff <3 
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