Unique Wedding Invitations from Basic Invite

When it comes to wedding planning, a lot of thought goes into the overall look, feel and theme of the wedding. Couples spend a ton of time picking their wedding colors and making sure everything matches up perfectly so that when guests arrive, they are immediately wowed by the aesthetic. However, the wedding isn't the first time your guests should see what you've got planned. Your wedding invitation is the very first thing that people will see regarding your wedding, so it should paint the perfect picture for your guests about what to expect on the big day. You not only want it to be gorgeous and theme appropriate but, most definitely, match the overall color scheme. Many websites offer a few generic colors that will be sorta close to what you're doing, but not exactly right. You're forced to settle on an invitation that's close to what you need, but not exactly what you wanted. 

What if there was a website where you could have the exact colors you wanted, the wedding sets you needed, and the ability to see it all BEFORE you purchased it? Does such a dreamy unicorn company exist?! 

Enter: Basic Invite. I was so excited when I was approached by Basic Invite to write a sponsored post and spread the word about ther AMAZING services! They have hundreds of unique wedding invitations, custom sample kits, and everything you'll need for the big day. Oh, and bonus? There's 15% off with the code 15FF51! Here are some of my favorite things about Basic Invite (along with some gorgeous imagery!).

Almost Unlimited Colors - Basic Invite is one of the few websites that has almost unlimited color options (with instant previews online too). Once you select a design, you can change the color of each element on the card to over 180 different color options. So, you can make sure the card is exactly how you want it - down to the littlest detail. This is what sets them apart from almost any other online stationery company.

Custom Samples - Basic Invite is one of the few websites that allows customers the ability to order a printed sample of their actual invitation so they can see exactly how it will print as well as the paper quality before they ever have to place their final order. Most companies only offer generic samples, and if you choose to go with a custom color, you're outta luck. Why should you be left to imagine what your wedding invite will look like?! With Basic Invite, you'll know exactly what you're getting, reducing the worry over "Did I make the right decision?" We have enough of that already in wedding planning ;)

Over 40 Different Colors of Envelopes - Basic Invite is just as colorful with their envelopes as they are with their invitations. You can choose from over 40 different colors when it comes to their envelopes so that you can make your invitation stand out even before it is opened. All of their envelopes are peel and seal, so the envelopes can be quickly and securely closed. This is amazing when you need to seal 80+ envelopes and don't want to use a messy adhesive sealer or worse, your tongue! These colorful envelopes will allow you to pick your dreamiest color options, instead of whatever the card vendor decides to have available for your invitation choice.

Over 200 Wedding Invitation Sets - Each of their wedding invitations is part of a set. You can find everything from classic save the dates to wedding invitations and enclosure cards, wedding menus, wedding programs and even matching thank you cards! No more hacking together slightly-matching pieces or being forced to pick your second choice invitation because it's the only one that comes with a matching wedding program. With Basic Invite, you'll get exactly what you want and need, every time. Plus, they've even got matching place cards!

Free Address Collection Service - Use their free address collection service to request your addresses with just three simple steps. Share a link, collect addresses, and get free envelope printing. It literally couldn't be easier! No more texting people for their addresses, copying it to an excel sheet and uploading it to a website. You won't be hoping you didn't make any typos or misformatted the sheet and jumbled up the names and addresses. Plus, some websites won't print addresses on your custom envelope choices. What's the point of that?! Basic Invite's address collection service makes everything seamless and gorgeous, every bride's 2 favorite words (Besides "I do").

If you're dying to see more (or if you're not in the market for invites right now, but want to stay in the loop) be sure to follow along on Basic Invite's Instagram and Pinterest pages so you never miss a post. It's seriously dreamy!

I was so bummed that I didn't find Basic Invite in time for my wedding invites, but I wanted to spread the news here so that you guys don't miss out like I did! Can I go back in time, please?! Luckily, Basic Invite also has tons of options for your other major milestones, like birthdays, graduations and baby announcements, so I'll get another chance in the future ;)

So, head on over to Basic Invite to create your dream wedding invitation set today! And, don't forget to use the code 15FF51 for 15% off!

Note: although I was approached by Basic Invite to write this post, all opinions are my own. I am dedicated to only talking about and using products that I love and will be useful to my readers. You can read more about my policies here.

DIY Watermelon Napkins

Hey guys! I am so excited to announce that I am now a contributor on Giggles Galore! For those of you that haven't heard about Giggles Galore, it's a blog that focuses on making the ordinary EXTRAORDINARY one creative idea at a time. There, you will find holiday crafts, DIY projects, recipes and party tips. Most of the projects can be recreated in less than an hour, and on a budget, so you have more time to create memorable occasions filled with giggles galore. Sounds like a perfect place for me to be!

My first project? DIY Watermelon Napkins! Besides watermelon being the absolute best summer fruit, August 3 is National Watermelon Day. I foresee a whooooole lot of watermelon flavored drinks being consumed that day! And everyone will need some of these napkins to go along with them. In case you haven't noticed, I'm a sucker for a theme.

For the full tutorial, as well as some tips on using RIT dye, head over to Giggles Galore! You can find the post here. Be sure to show Mariah some love by leaving comments and following her on instagram so you never miss a post!

Will these napkins be making their debut at your next BBQ? I think they should- they're one in a MELON. Get it?! 

DIY Pineapple Summer Shoes

Happy Summer, everyone! I'm not sure what the weather has been like where you live, but here in NYC we've had muggy, spring-like weather for most of May and June. It's finally starting to get warm and sunny and summer-like! While warm weather and beach days are clearly the best part about summer (especially after a long NYC winter!) my other FAVORITE part is getting to switch up my wardrobe! I love adding in some of my summer staples, and kicking off my winter boots/rain boots and popping on some summer shoes, like flats and sandals. When it comes to summer shoes, I think the quirkier, the better. That's why I am head over heels in love with these pineapple shoes I made! They're the cutest and possibly most fun shoes I own (and I currently own a pair of sneakers covered in Barbie shoes!) I seriously cannot wait to wear them out and about. They're actually really easy to DIY yourself with a few craft supplies!

You will need:

Yellow Fabric Shoes (here or similar here)
Green Vinyl Fabric (I got mine from Joann Fabric)
Tailor's Chalk (here)
Gold 3D Fabric Paint (here)
Stiff Adhesive Felt (here)
Glue Gun
Scissors
Ruler

How to:

1. Using your tailor's chalk and ruler, create a grid pattern on your shoes. I used the top center of my shoe as the main point. 

2. Using your 3-d fabric paint, go over your chalk lines. I went section by section, since the paint would create gaps if the line was too long. Also, be careful of it spitting out a big glob of paint. If that happens, gently guide the paint away with the clean tip of the nozzle. Wipe the nozzle clean, and keep going.

3. Once your paint has dried for at least 24 hours, it's time to add the top! Draw a few pineapple tops on white paper and pick your favorite one. If you're not a good artist, find one online and print it out. 

4. Cut your pineapple top out and trace it onto your green vinyl (the back side). I wanted mine to mirror each other since they weren't exactly the same, so I flipped the paper stencil and traced it the other way. 

5. Cut out the pineapples from your vinyl, being as careful as you can. 

6. Cut out a small piece of felt.  Peel the adhesive lining off, put your pineapple top on it, and cut out. 

7. Using a glue gun, glue your pineapple topper to the shoe. Wear and enjoy! 

Related: Easy Pineapple Garland DIY

Oh, and if you're wearing a brand-spankin new pair of summer shoes, be sure to bring a backup pair in this handy Barbie Shoes Tote Bag! 

Ahh! Are you LOVING these shoes as much as I am?! What fruit would you want to wear on your feet? I'm thinking strawberry shoes could be another fun one! 

Wedding Planning Update- Just 2 More Months!

Wow guys… I am now at 59 days until my wedding!! I am so so soooo excited about everything and I’m so ready to marry my fiancé. As my wedding day approaches, I can see it more and more vividly as all the moving pieces come together. Here’s a little bit more about what happened recently.

Hair and Makeup Trial- Scheduled! 

In about 2 weeks I’m heading over to my venue, which is about 3 hours away, for my hair and makeup trial. I’m bringing my girls with me and we are spending the weekend there. I’m excited for them to see the venue for the first time! I already have an idea of how I want my hair to look, but I don’t usually wear makeup so I’m a little nervous I’ll look kinda… clowny. I trust the makeup artists, but I know my fiancé likes my au naturale look, so I hope he likes my made up look too. 

Bridal Shower- Amazing! 

I had my surprise bridal shower a few weeks ago, and it was amazing!!! My mom and sister threw it for me, with help from my sister in law and my friends. They did SUCH an amazing job! I need to get some photos back from the ladies so I can do a blog post, but all we have is cell pics. Ha! I wish wish wiiiiish I had brought my camera with me that day. The shower was held at a local sweet shop, which has a really cute backyard garden. The party theme was a Disney Garden Tea Party. I loved the vintage accents my sister in law found at thrift stores, along with the teapot vases she painted. My mom made me a really cute lace umbrella, and I heard she was searching everywhere for the perfect one, which was really really cute. My sister made such cute invitations and signs, and they strung up pictures of me and John everywhere that made me cry! My dad even joined in and made a funny face-hole frame for us to take pics with. My friends got some really cute teacup tea light favors which were just perfect. The party flew by, and I was pouting at the end because I didn’t want it to be over! I can’t image how fast my wedding is going to go, but at least the quick bridal shower taught me to savor every moment.

Dress- Arrived!!!!

I was so excited to find out that my dress arrived about a month early! I went to pick it up and I made an appointment with a seamstress to have it altered. I’m really nervous about getting the alterations done, since it needs quite a few. I’m excited to see it on me nice and fitted, since the ones at the stores were all several sizes too big and had to be clipped like crazy. I’m going to attempt making my own veil, and may even do a blog post about it! And if it doesn’t work out…. then I gotta order one fast!

Suits- Purchased

Since our wedding venue isn’t too fancy, we decided a suit would probably fit the occasion better than a tuxedo. My fiance and his brother purchased their suits from Men’s Warehouse, where they were having a buy one- get one sale. Thank goodness for that, because the suits weren’t cheap!  We also picked up a belt & shoes for my fiancé, as well as a tie. I’m not sure I like the tie, but he does so I’m trying to be open minded. How much does a tie really need to match the theme? We shall see…

Car- Rented 

Since we have a whooooole lotta stuff to carry to our venue, and our car is on its last legs, we decided to rent a larger vehicle for the weekend. We have to take at least 2 people with us too, so we need to have room for them, all our luggage, and my giant wedding dress bag. Even though we didn’t want to spend the extra money, it really seemed like a good investment so we would have the space and peace of mind. 

Emotions- Running High

Um, yea things are just a liiiitle bit emotional lately! I find myself crying over things really easily (mostly happy tears, thank goodness!) and I’m getting a bit overwhelmed about getting everything done in time. Blogging & working & wedding planning all alone is pretty darn stressful. But, planning is something I enjoy so I’m going to get this done! I’m also trying to remember that although the wedding is the end goal, I need to enjoy the last few months of planning, since it’ll (probably) never happen again. At least until someone else gets married, or I decide I want a vow renewal ceremony :p

Need to do:

Follow up on RSVP's- There's only about 10 days left to RSVP and we got about 15 cards back haha! So, we need to follow up with everyone to get their RSVP, and to make sure that they booked their rooms at our special wedding rate. I don't think people realize that the rooms will cost twice as much if they don't book before the deadline, which is in just a couple of weeks! 

Finalize all purchases- We spent this past weekend ordering a whole bunch of things, so I want to go through the list and make sure we ordered everything else we need for the wedding. Amazon Prime has been by BFF through all this, but for anything that isn’t coming from there, we need to order it soon.

Crafting Party- I want to host a crafting party with my besties so we can get some projects done for the wedding. I did a blog post about it, so this time I want to do an actual one! It’ll be fun to get together and get stuff DONE.

Create Day-of Schedules- Since the day before and day of the wedding are going to be hectic, I wanted to create a schedule and a plan for everyone with where they need to be and when, and exactly what’s going on. I tend to get stressed and the thought of everyone texting me for locations or asking me what’s happening when is a bit terrifying. I really want to hand off my phone on the wedding day and know that everything will be taken care of.

Bachelorette Party- WOOHOO! My sister is finalizing the date and plans for my bridal shower, and I’m really excited to see what we do! I can’t believe everything is flying by so quickly and we are already at this point, but at the same time that means the wedding day is nearly here, and that’s the very best part. Y’know, besides the whole happily ever after thing!

If you want to learn more about planning a Pinterest worthy party, be sure to sign up to get your FREE Anatomy of a Pinterest Worthy Party guide! It's full of helpful hints on how to pick a theme, the little details that will make your event unique, and tips to take great photos of your event. And, there's even a checklist so you don't forget anything! So what are you waiting for? Get yours now!

Overall, I think things are moving at a steady pace and going well. But, that could all change very quickly! Do you guys have any tips for making sure nothing falls through the cracks? How did you wrap everything up at the last minute? Anything to add that I might forget until the last minute? Let me know in the comments below!

Bridesmaid Brunch Craft Party Ideas

Let's get real here: wedding planning isn't exactly as glamorous as you imaged it to be. There are a lot of moving parts, tons of decisions to be made, and a whole lot of DIYs you want to try. Planning a wedding kind of becomes a part time job, except you're spending money instead of making it. So, rather than spending your weeknights filled with tears crafting 100+ favors, why not invite your friends or bridesmaids over for a fun crafternoon?! You can pop a bottle of rose, have some finger foods, and take bets on who's going to cry during the ceremony (like your Aunt Bertha, who cries over everything). 

Since you're already spending a ton on wedding related things, I know what you're thinking. You don’t need one extra thing to spend a ton of cash on. Well, fear not my friends! Oriental Trading is your party headquarters, and everything is SO affordable! With their new Marry Me section, you'll find all their wedding-worthy supplies in one place, for a great low price. They've got everything you need for the bridal shower, the ceremony, reception, and more! The options are seriously limitless, and there are tons of ideas under many of their products, showing you how to use them.

*Note: This post is a collaboration with Oriental Trading, but all opinions are my own. My love affair with them started way back when I first got their catalogs as a kid!

Think about how much time you’ll save by having your friends join you in crafting, and how much fun it’ll be! During a time of intense stress and worry, you need a break to hang with your girls and laugh. Plus, it'll be a nice way to say "thank you" if you've been a little bit of a grumpy bridezilla lately. 

Table Setup

To set up the table, I stuck with a simple white (disposable) tablecloth. Since crafting can get messy, I added a table runner using easel paper to catch any spills. I gave each person a place setting for snacking, which was cute and colorful! I started with a square gold dot plastic dessert plate as sort of a charger, topped with a hot pink plate for a pop of color. Each person gets a set of gorgeous gold utensils and a hot pink napkin to keep things tidy, as well as a paint palette for their watercolors.

Everything is more fun with a glass of wine, so each gal gets a really cute purple wine glass for her rose with a gold striped straw. Clear cupcake stands put the jordan almonds on a pedestal, making it easier for everyone to reach them. 

I kept the rest of the decorations simple by propping up my Pop Fizz Clink sign from my Disney-Themed Backyard Engagement Party. Finger foods and small desserts finish up the fun. P.S.- the white easel paper would be the perfect backdrop for using colorful sharpies to label what's what!

 The Crafts

A few weeks ago, I showed you 3 fun projects you can make using Oriental Trading products to add a pop of color to your wedding. These projects are perfect to make with your besties or bridesmaids!

Jordan Almonds

Place all your almonds in decorative bowls with a spoon for easy scooping. Keep your tulle, ribbon, and charms nearby so that it's easy for everyone to assemble. I also recommend pre-cutting the ribbon to ensure that it's all uniform and to prevent waste. The full DIY is here.

 

Table Numbers

Have your friends help out by painting the table numbers. I did about 3 coats on each one, so it's definitely time consuming! I recommend enlisting an especially crafty friend for the glitter and/or gold foil. It can get complicated and messy, so you definitely want someone precise to handle it! The full DIY is here.

 

Watercolor Escort Cards

When you get all your friends together, you've got to do this super fun project! It's seriously easy and best of all, really fun!

You will need:

Watercolor Paints (here)
Paintbrushes (similar here)
Paint Palette (here)
White Place Cards (here)
Gold Sharpie (here)

Each gal will get a set of watercolor paintbrushes, as well as a paint palette. Grab your watercolor paints and your white place cards and give each card a unique look. I added layers of complimentary colors for variation, but it still looks cohesive.

Once they're all dry, use a gold sharpie to add a name and a table number to guide people to their seats in style. Write the names in script, or make it fancy with some faux calligraphy!

I did the script freehand, but I think if you either got someone to do calligraphy, picked a friend with fancy handwriting, or printed the names on the cards, it would look even better! Be sure to make some extras, as you're bound to mess up a few of them while writing.

Woo! I'm not sure about you guys, but a bridesmaid crafternoon brunch party seems like exactly what I need to get over these pre-wedding blues! A few laughs does everyone a world of good. Be sure to check out Oriental Trading's new Marry Me section for everything you'll need for this party, the bridal shower, the wedding, and beyond! 

What's been the hardest part of wedding planning for you? For me, it's been the fact that my mom, sister, and friends live kinda far away, so I've been doing it (cue Eric Carmen) all by myyyseeelllfff. I wish I had them to help/laugh/decide on things. How about you? Let me know in the comments below!