Don't let it happen to you....

So, I was hoping this could be a very helpful thread for all brides to be...

Kind of like a 'It happened to me, (or I heard so and so happened before) don't let it happen to you' thread.

Let me explain... I am DIY my invitations and as I was half way through printing my invitations I was wondering, if someone maybe ever relied on the wonderful 'Spell Check' and it NOT pick something up and have to wind up spending $$$$$ to redo, etc.. I have been so paranoid printing them, that this is the kind of stuff that has crossed my mind..

Figured, in all aspects of your wedding planning, have you come across something to share to help another bride avoid that mistake...

Another i.e: having something specific left off a vendor contract that may have come to bite you in the behind after, etc...

Come on ladies...what do ya got?!

thank you for the heads...and for me actually a reminder

i had my son's christening in April ordered the invitations which were not cheap caused i had them personalized and they finally come for my FH and i to see that we neglected to put an RSVP date nor contact

so i ended up printing out the infor on a business card and attaching them to the invitations, what a pain in the butt that was

I had all my STD envelopes addressed, by hand, and as I was stuffing the envelopes, I realized my guests are going to open an envelope and see just a little magnet. BORING!
So I first tried to DIY and bought 100 blank cards from Michaels. I could not figure out how to get them printed on, so I returned them.
I posted a question on LIW about a STD card with a cute poem, thankfully someone posted a response. woo-hoo!
I had to order more cards and envelopes AND address those envelopes. They're in my album(I think) In the end they came out great.

RSVP Cards

Problem:

Some people just check off the box and forget to put there names on the RSVP card. You get the card back in the mail and you have NO idea who it's from.

Solution:

Write down the names of the guests on a spreadsheet or piece of paper and number them.

Take the number from the spreadsheet and add it to the back of the RSVP card before you mail it out.

When the RSVP card comes back to you, you can check the number on the back of the card and match it to the name and number on the spread sheet

Don't leave all the little details until the last minute...you don't want to be like me tying 100 bows around 100 fans 5 days before your wedding

Problem:

I got personalized response cards from 'her' they say something like

Mr. & Mrs. Bob Smith
2 seats have been resrved for you at our wedding and reception

Yes,___ of us will attend
___ Unfortunately we are unable to attend

beautiful and no need for the invisible pen or numbering them. UNLESS Mr.& Mrs. Bob Smith decide that only one of them are coming. I don't know who it is. Is it the wife or hubby?

I had a few couples repond they are coming alone and I have to call to find out who will actually be there to complete by escort cards.

Have someone else look over your invites, programs, etc... here is almost always some tiny mistake you don't pick up on because you've been staring at it too long. Use a fresh set of eyes.

Every time you include other people (parents, relatives) in your wedding details, be prepared for them to voice opinions over what should be changed. You may think you're doing a nice thing by keeping them in the loop, but then when they start complaining you will quickly regret it.

Most important IMO - be very careful with who you include in your bridal party. Sometimes you may think it's nice to include so-and-so, and you have low expectations and demands so nothing bad will happen... you don't want to be four days before your wedding wanting to kick someone out. If you are on the fence about it and have a valid reason to question whether you should put them in... don't.

Went to AC More and picked up 18inch eiffel tower vases 10 of them for like $10 each. Then took all the stickers off.
When I brought them to my florist he said they were not going to work with an arrangement b/c it would be top heavy and fall over or crack....
Now I'm stuck with them.

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Posted by bella_bride

RSVP Cards

Problem:

Some people just check off the box and forget to put there names on the RSVP card. You get the card back in the mail and you have NO idea who it's from.

Solution:

Write down the names of the guests on a spreadsheet or piece of paper and number them.

Take the number from the spreadsheet and add it to the back of the RSVP card before you mail it out.

When the RSVP card comes back to you, you can check the number on the back of the card and match it to the name and number on the spread sheet

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This is what i did. What an amazing idea. One of my co-workers told me about doing this...

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Posted by AngnShaun

Let other people help... i kept rejecting the offers for help until a few days before and i should have just been relaxing instead of doing programs and tying ribbons on bubbles...

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Agreed. I had my hand in every single one of those DIY projects and I spent the Tuesday night before the wedding crying my eyes out to DH putting tear tracks in my spray tan. It wasn't pretty.

be careful when opening shower presents.

i threw out half the gift receipts, because i didn't seem them in the tissue paper.

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Posted by bella_bride

RSVP Cards

Problem:

Some people just check off the box and forget to put there names on the RSVP card. You get the card back in the mail and you have NO idea who it's from.

Solution:

Write down the names of the guests on a spreadsheet or piece of paper and number them.

Take the number from the spreadsheet and add it to the back of the RSVP card before you mail it out.

When the RSVP card comes back to you, you can check the number on the back of the card and match it to the name and number on the spread sheet

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I just bought an invisible pen and wrote out the names on the back of the card so I wouldn't have to refer to a spreadsheet and knew right away which guest couldn't figure out how to write their name on a line.

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Posted by jilliibabii

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Posted by AngnShaun

Let other people help... i kept rejecting the offers for help until a few days before and i should have just been relaxing instead of doing programs and tying ribbons on bubbles...

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Agreed. I had my hand in every single one of those DIY projects and I spent the Tuesday night before the wedding crying my eyes out to DH putting tear tracks in my spray tan. It wasn't pretty.

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Definitely accept the help!!! I am so happy my sister is a little pushy and annoying sometimes b/c she made me accept her help and I am sooooo thankful for it! Wish I had recruited her and others in the process earlier on. Maybe then the 10923480987 DIY projects I never finished would have gotten done, like programs. Oh well, nobody missed them.

Have someone proof read everything...

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Posted by queensbride2010

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Posted by jilliibabii

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Posted by AngnShaun

Let other people help... i kept rejecting the offers for help until a few days before and i should have just been relaxing instead of doing programs and tying ribbons on bubbles...

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Agreed. I had my hand in every single one of those DIY projects and I spent the Tuesday night before the wedding crying my eyes out to DH putting tear tracks in my spray tan. It wasn't pretty.

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Definitely accept the help!!! I am so happy my sister is a little pushy and annoying sometimes b/c she made me accept her help and I am sooooo thankful for it! Wish I had recruited her and others in the process earlier on. Maybe then the 10923480987 DIY projects I never finished would have gotten done, like programs. Oh well, nobody missed them.

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Great ideas!!!

Yeah, definitely have someone look over all of your stationery. I was very paranoid about this since my cousin's wedding invitations arrived and his name was spelled wrong I mean horribly wrong!!!!

I would say be conservative about sending STDs. A lot can change. Now I feel 'stuck' inviting people I was so excited to send STDs to. keep it to only the closest people. Family and BP only if possible.