This sweet couple stopped into The Wedding Cottage the other day needing a Bride Hankie for their niece who is getting married, and mentioned to me that they bought their cake topper and unity candle from The Wedding Cottage in December of 1988!!!  They are still happily married after 23 years, and for a newlywed like myself, what a wonderful inspiration these two are.  A story like this always make me proud to own a store that has been open for over 25 years!

Jan and Mike Irwin on their wedding day…

Jan and Mike at The Wedding Cottage!

Happy Holidays to Jan and Mike!

I wish you many more happily married years, and congratulations to your niece!

One of my best friends proposed to his girlfriend last weekend, and I could not be more happy for the two of them!  I remember that feeling of being newly engaged – it is just such a special time for a couple to start envisioning their happily ever after.  Since my friends do not live in Portland I am putting together a little “happy engagement” gift to send to them.  I think the best engagement presents are ones that get the couple excited about starting to plan the wedding – not to overwhelm them with a to-do list, but to get excited about being a Bride and Groom-to-be!

Here is what I am sending them – hopefully they wait to read this post until it arrives :)

If you know someone who is about to be engaged, pop into the store and we will be happy to show you some other fun engagement gifts!

I know next summer seems very far away, and honestly it is strange to think about the summer when I am drinking a big cup of hot coffee while wearing boots and a scarf.  But for all you newly engaged couples starting to plan your 2012 summer nuptials, it is time to imagine those warm months and start thinking about your save the dates!

The best time of year to send out your save the dates, if you are getting married in the summer, is right after the holidays in January or February.  This is the time that people begin to plan their upcoming year and the trips they will take.  If you send them during the holidays, there is a good chance your save the date could get lost within the piles of holiday cards or forgotten during the hustle and bustle of the holidays (and that would be sad!)

Why send out save the dates you might ask?  Because you want people to attend your wedding!  If you are getting married, let’s say on a Saturday in August (which is a fantastic time to get married in Oregon), then there is a good chance that many of your guests will get other save the dates for the same weekend.  And you want make sure all those wonderful people come to your wedding!

The other important reason to send a save the date is to give your guests enough time to be able to book hotels, make travel arrangements, and get excited about your big day.  As wedding invitations get sent out 6-8 weeks prior to your wedding, this doesn’t give your out of town guests a lot of time if there was no save the date.

We have a lot of great options for Save the Dates at The Wedding Cottage and we are happy to help you pick out the perfect one!  We are also here to help answer any questions you might have, and get excited with you about all your wedding plans!

This coming Sunday The Wedding Cottage will be at the Bravo! Wedding Affair at The Embassy Suites Downtown.  This show is a favorite of ours, and one not to be missed!  You can get wonderful ideas and inspiration for your big day all while enjoying some delicious treats, and champagne!

Think it is too early to think about Holiday Cards?  Au contraire!  The holidays are right around the corner and we are debuting a new line of holiday photo cards here at The Wedding Cottage!  Now I know you are probably thinking that shutterfly is calling your name for your holiday cards (and I understand that it is a bit hard to compete with their prices) however, I have the top 5 Reasons why I hope you will shop for your holiday cards this year at The Wedding Cottage!

TOP 5 REASONS

1. We want to see you!
2. Your amazing wedding photos or family photos deserve an equally amazing holiday card
3. All the colors, text, font can be customized for no extra cost
4. 10% off your order if you place it in October or November!
5. Free shipping on your order!

Bonus reason – you are shopping local :)

~

We hope you will stop into the store and let our friendly staff help you pick the perfect holiday card!

(Please note… these photos were taken on my iphone and the colors on these holiday cards look MUCH better in person, trust me!)

The leaves are changing, there is a nip in the air, and the aisles are filled with Halloween candy, and that means it is time for our FALL SALE!

October 20th-23rd (Thursday through Sunday) – this weekend!

Everything in the store will be at least 10% off* and many items will be 50% off or more!

(*excludes save the dates, invitations and shipping costs)

…plus on Saturday we will be serving some yummy fall treats so stop on by!

We’re getting all packed up and excited for the Rose City Bridal Show that is taking place this weekend at the Convention Center.  The show is great every year but this year there are some exciting little additions – The first is that Randy Fenoli (from Say Yes to the Dress) will be coming on Sunday, and you can have the chance to have breakfast with him and hear him talk.  I’m not gonna lie, I pretty much watch every episode of Say Yes to the Dress and so I hope I get the chance for a little photo op with Mr. Fenoli.  To get tickets to this event click here!

The next new addition to the show is there will be a Dream Wedding Cake Challenge!  Four bakeries will battle it out from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, beginning with a blank cake and creating a full wedding cake throughout the day right there on the show floor. Attendees and a panel of judges will choose the winners.   Anyone watch Cupcake Wars?  I am hoping for a little drama with this event.

The last new addition to the show are the “Scoop Sessions”.   Throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday, wedding vendors will be sitting down to answer your questions and give advice about the topics below.  I will be there for The Wedding Cottage at the Stationery and Accessories portion from 10:30-11:00am each day so stop by and ask away!

1. 10:00–10:30: Attire & Beauty
2. 10:30–11:00: Stationary & Accessories
3. 11:00–11:30: Food & Beverage
4. 12:30–1:00: Photography & Videography
5. 1:00–1:30: What does a Day-Of Coordinator Do?
6. 2:30–3:00: Entertainment

Anyways, it is shaping up to be a great show – We hope you will stop by our booth and say hello!

When you picture kids at your wedding, do you picture this…

(from bride.net)

(from Ken Cravillion)

Or this?

(from Hitched Studios)

(from Mark Adams Photography)

One of the most commonly asked questions we get when helping couples with their invitations is – how do I politely tell people that we don’t want kids at our wedding?  Not an easy one for sure.  On one hand you don’t want kiddos at the wedding, but then again you don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings (and when it comes to kids and weddings, people seem to have a lot of feelings, or opinions for that matter).  So what is a Bride and Groom to do?

Let’s see what Emily Post has to say…

• Do not print “no children” or “adults only” on an invitation. The way an invitation is addressed, whether on the inner or outer envelope, indicates exactly who is invited, and, by omission, who is not invited to the wedding.  If the envelope is addressed to “Mr. and Mrs. Hayward,” then Mr. and Mrs. Hayward should not assume that their children are included. If the envelope is addressed to “The Hayward Family” or “Mr. and Mrs. Hayward, Sarah and Elliott Hayward” then it can be assumed that all mentioned are invited.

Here at The Wedding Cottage we do agree with Ms. Post.  However, I am sure you are thinking that what Emily Post has to say is all well and good, but are guests even going to pay attention and notice that the kids weren’t on the invitation?

(from Premier Wedding Planners Scotland)

What we also suggest in addition to addressing your envelopes sans the kids is to speak to your parents and bridal party about your wishes to keep it an adult affair.  Let them know that while you love the kids dearly, you feel the venue and occasion is best for adults.  Your bridal party and family can then help to spread the word for you and answer any questions people might have.

When it comes down to it you should be able to decide whether or not you want kids at your wedding.  However, just be realistic and know that if you are going to have a kids-free wedding, this will prohibit some of your guests from coming.

If you have other wording or etiquette questions stop by The Wedding Cottage – that’s what we are here for!

Have you seen that back to school Target ad with the school teacher who talks about needing “Glitter, So much Glitter…” ? I’m in love with that commercial, and in love with glitter.  If I see something that is glittered it’s pretty much a done deal that I will buy it.  Case in point, when I saw the glittered Toms shoes, I couldn’t resist.  But c’mon, how cute are these…

Why oh why weren’t these available when I got married!?

Glitter + Weddings are like a match made in heaven.  Below are some ideas of how to incorporate a little glitter into your big day (aside from wearing awesome glittered Toms to dance the night away).

For the Flower Girls (J.Crew)

The Decor

The Cake and Knife Server (available at The Wedding Cottage!)

The Clutch (J.Crew)

The Nail Polish

It’s your wedding, why not wear glittered nail polish?  Plus the name of this polish by Deborah Lippmann is called “Today was a Fairytale”

The Cupcakes

The Dress (From Style Me Pretty)

Glitter…So Much Glitter

The Wedding Cottage is excited to be apart of the Very Engaging Bridal Event that is happening this Sunday at Bridgeport Village!  This wedding show is pretty fantastic because you can meet with wedding vendors, get great ideas and inspiration for your event, and of course do a little shopping!

The show is on Sunday, September 25th from 11am-4pm and the great thing is, admission is FREE!

There is also a fabulous VIP event from 9am-11am at Saks Off Fifth that includes a light brunch, fashion show, tips from professionals and a gift bag. The VIP event is $25.00 and you can get your tickets online.

We hope you will come by and say hi – we’ll be in Dosha Salon Spa!