Ceremony Programs - To Do or Not To Do

Are wedding programs necessary? I get this question all the time. My answer is always the same- it’s entirely up to you! Tell help you decide if you need them or not, let’s look at a few reasons why you might want to consider them.

You have a very long wedding.  If you are having a longer Catholic wedding or any type of religious wedding where guests from different faiths will be present, you might want to have a program letting them know what is happening. They may not understand some of the customs and it’s helpful to have a guide for them to follow along. This is especially important if you are having an interfaith or multi-cultural ceremony.

You have family members and friends you would like to acknowledge for their dedication, hard work and love.  Perhaps it’s the friend that introduced the two of you, or you have endearing friends and family that have been your rock in hard times. In addition, listing your bridal party on a program is a nice way to say, “Hey thank you for being an integral part of my wedding!” Whatever the case, the program card is a great way to let those important to you know that you care about them.

You have a special song or poem that has significant meaning. Printing the lyrics to your favorite song or the prose from a lovely poem can help set the tone of your ceremony. It’s cute and sweet and a nice souvenir as well.

If you are anticipating a very hot and humid wedding, in say, Atlanta in August, or planning on a major dance floor boogie fest, you can go with an old-fashioned hand fan. Your sweaty Aunt May can fan herself after she gets down with her bad self. Fans are great because you can print your bridal party members, a small thank you, or just a lovely quote on the back and they are actually very useful, not to mention, pretty cute for photo opportunities.

And you can ditch all of the above if you have a small budget and a simple wedding where everyone knows each other. My motto— it’s entirely up to you and your vision for your special day.

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Wedding program hand fans by Gilded Swan Paperie

#weddingadvice #weddingetiquette #weddingprograms, #weddinghandfans #weddingstationery

Save the Date Etiquette

Whilst reading my Emily Post etiquette books, I routinely like to ponder why some traditions are not around anymore. Announcing that somebody just got engaged used to be a very formal affair. Days before the formal "announcement" the Bride and Groom wrote to their intimate friends and relatives telling them of said engagement and to not tell anyone else until a specified date. Upon completing that task, these intimate friends and relative entertained the Bride and Groom privately.

The formal announcement would have been made by the parents. This is done intimately by note, word of mouth and in the local newspaper or social register. Telephoning the Society Editor was a given. If you were a prominent citizen, then they would post your photographs. Engraved announcements were not correct and never done. If permitted, this would be our modern Save the Date as we know it today.

Today, with our bustling society and full work schedules, a Save the Date is a must. Guests need to know if they should take off work, and if so, for how long. Travel arrangements must be made if you are having any out of town guests. Send out Save the Dates 8 - 12 months in advance of your wedding day. Earlier is better if it is a destination wedding. All you need are your names, date, city and state and a "formal invitation to follow". You may put your wedding website on your Save the Date. It does not, however, go on your formal invitation.

Although it may not be the 1880's or even the 1920s', our parents do not routinely call the Society Editors at our local papers to inform the world of your engagement. But you can still relax knowing you are not breaking any tradition by sending out a Save the Date. It's just a "must" for today's Bride and Groom. So have fun, get colorful and let your friends know to SAVE YOUR DATE!

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Art Deco Save the Date Card by Gilded Swan Paperie

#savethedate #weddingstationery #gildedswan #gildedswanpaperie #vintageweddinginvitations #artdecosavethedate

Celestial Weddings are Stellar!

Alysha and Cody’s ‘celestial neon’ wedding was a day made of stellar dreams. Their glamorous ceremony, held in the coolest industrial warehouse space in Brooklyn, New York, was bedecked with sparkly, starry wonder and neon lights as dazzling as the couples themselves. They started it all by choosing my vintage inspired "Paper Moon" celestial wedding invitations to set the tone. Their wedding was featured on Rock & Roll Bride and photographed by the fabulous David Pearlman. Mixing modern with vintage never looked so cool!

Photography: David Perlman Photography // Planner: Jason Mitchell Kahn & Co. // Officiant: Jeff Blumenkrantz // Venue: The Green Building, New York // Bride's Dress: Hayley Paige via Kleinfeld // Bride's Shoes: Chiara Ferragni // Bride's Nails: Paintbox // Bride's Jewellery & Groom's Ring: Catbird // Bride's Wedding Ring: Sofia Zakia // Cake: Zac YoungFlowers: Kukka // Vintage Wedding Stationery by Gilded Swan Paperie formerly GoGoSnap! Stationery // Catering: Korilla // Glamorous Celestial New York Wedding: Chick'n Cone // DJ: 21st Century Sounds // Decor: The Color Condition // Neons: Name Glo // Rentals: Broadway Party Rentals

#papermoonwedding #weddingstationery #papermoon #artdecoweddinginvitations #vintagestyle #vintagewedding #vintageweddingstationery #brooklynbride #celestialwedding #gildedswanpaperie #gildedswan #celestialwedding