Warner Press is the leading printer of inspirational wedding programs, and their programs are some of the best selling items we carry.  Here are some of the most common questions we are asked about these programs, and our answers:

Q: How large is the paper?
A: All wedding programs are 8.5” x 11”, the size of a standard sheet of printer paper.

Q: How thick is the paper?
A: For standard and chapel-fold programs, the paper is slightly heavier than standard printer paper.  Standard printer paper is 20# bond; these papers are 24#-28# bond, so they are slightly thicker and have a better feel to them.  Tea length programs are printed on a slightly thicker paper that has a linen texture to it.

Q: Can I print these on my inkjet/laser printer?
A: Yes, absolutely!  All of these papers can pass through a home laser or inkjet printer just fine, as well as copy machines.  Because the tea-length program paper has a slight texture to it, we recommend using a laser printer or copier, rather than an inkjet printer.

Q: What is the difference between the standard programs, chapel fold, and tea-length?
A: All of the papers are the same length, the difference is the way the programs are folded.  All the programs are designed to be printed in landscape (wide) orientation.  Standard programs are folded in half, so they open like a book.  Chapel fold programs are folded into three panels, two of which are the same width and one is much wider, so the program opens kind of like the doors to a church (we talk about the folding in our blog post at http://www.bloomeryweddings.com/blog/PermaLink,guid,595dfb21-2cf0-49e0-b15c-1d2207481786.aspx).  Tea length programs are also folded into three panels, two of which are the same width and one ism uch narrower.  This narrower panel is sometimes perfortaed so it can be removed by the guest and used as a book mark or kept in a memory book.  We talk a little more about tea-length programs in our blog post at http://www.bloomeryweddings.com/blog/PermaLink,guid,906f5645-058c-4bac-b89c-5e7888df4a0d.aspx.

Q: How many programs come in a pack?
A: There are 100 programs per pack.

Q: Can I order 150 programs?  Can I have a sample sent to me?
A: Unfortunately, no.  We receive the programs from Warner Press in sealed packages, and we don’t split packages.  If you’re close by, you can see the programs in our store any time we’re open.

Q: Can I get the program printed in the colors of my wedding?
A: No, these programs come as they are.  When you print the wording, you can use ink color to match your wedding, but the designs cannot be changed.

Q: How long does shipping take?  How much does shipping cost?
A: Most orders are shipped in 1–2 business days after they are placed, and are shipped USPS Priority Mail, DHL or UPS.  When your order ships, you’ll receive an e-mail from the carrier with tracking information.  During the busy wedding season, popular designs may be sold out, and may take a week to be replenished.  Also, if you ordered other accessories with personalization (such as server sets or flutes), your order may take up to a week to ship while these items are personalized.  We have a full breakdown of shipping rates and time-in-transit at http://www.bloomeryweddings.com/shipping.asp.  We recommend ordering your programs several weeks before your wedding to allow for any shipping delays and to give you time to print and fold the programs.  We will let you know if there is a delay in shipping your order; you are not charged until your order ships.

Q: Do you have any templates for printing these programs?
A: Yes, click the links below to download the proper template; when prompted, choose to SAVE the template:

• template for standard programs
• template for chapel fold programs
• template for tea length programs

 You can view our full selection of Warner Press wedding programs at http://www.bloomeryweddings.com/search_results.asp?txtsearchParamCat=24.

We're pleased to announce our new on-line ordering for Regency wedding invitations, programs and other accessories.  You'll find our site at http://bloomeryweddings.regency.ac/, and as in the store, you'll receive a 30% discount off the retail price.  You can order your complete set of invitations and reply cards, and envelopes, with wording help from Verse It.

In addition to on-line ordering for Regency, you can also order Carlson Craft online at http://bloomery.cceasy.com, and Birchcraft at http://www.yourinvitationplace.com/Default.aspx?WebName=bloomeryweddings.  These sites also offer our 30% discount.

When you order your invitations on-line, you'll be able to see your invitation, with your wording, in your ink color and type face before you place your order.

We want to congratulate all the newly-engaged couples out there.  We are very glad a number of you called us on Tuesday to inquire if we were available for your wedding day, and to discuss your wedding flowers.  But here’s a little hint—Valentine’s Day is a really, really bad day to call a florist for anything other than a dozen roses.  For your wedding, we want to give you our full attention, and we just can’t do that on such a busy day.  Call us the 15th, but please don’t be disappointed if we seem like we’re rushing around on thr 14th—we are.

Now that Valentine’s has past, and we can give you the attention you deserve, come see us this weekend at the Butler Days Inn Bridal Extravaganza.  You’ll know us—we’re the cool florist with the beautiful bouquets.

Also, if your initials are B.H., and your reception and ceremony are in Wexford, we lost your phone number (you spoke to the one guy who works here).  Please call us back!

Instead of the ring finger, engagement rings are now placed on the thumb…

Go Steelers!  “Big Game” XL Champs!

A little relationship humor from Scott Adams’ The Dilbert Blog:

So far I’ve taught you how to dance, how to be funny, and how to seem less boring to other people.  Today I will teach you the most important rule about getting along with your mate.

And what is that rule?

WCM stands for Who Cares Most.  If you want your relationship to have a chance, defer all decisions and interpretations of fact to the person who cares the most.

Find the full post at http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/the_dilbert_blog/2006/02/the_wcm_method_.html.  It’s a short read and a good laugh, but a little un-PC.

The 2006 issue of The Knot Weddings: Pittsburgh has hit the stands, and if you pick up a copy, check out the Trend Alert on page 21.  That’s a real bouquet we made for a bridal show.  The bouqurt features lavender double-tulips, green viburnum and Vendella roses.  You can see the original photo at http://www.bloomeryweddings.com/portfolio_detail.asp?product_id=BW321.

Speaking of real bouquets in The Knot, our ad on page 82 is a real bouquet, and that’s the real bride holding it.  There were three dozen cream roses in that bouquet, and the bouquet was stunning.  It was nearly 100 degrees on the day of this wedding, in the non-air conditioned Harbison Chapel at Grove City College.  The poor bride was practically melting, and was trying to keep cool for a few minutes between wedding photos.  We took a quick photo of the bouquet for the portfolio in our store, and our graphic designer turned that moment into our ad.

Why all the emphasis on real in this post (and in previous ones)?  As you plan your wedding, you’ll get a lot of information from every direction, and it may be hard to filter out the useful from the otherwise.  Our experience and creativity can help you make the best floral choices for your wedding day, pleasing both your eye for beauty and your budget.

We know that planning a wedding can require a tremendous amount of organization, especially if your wedding party is spread out across the country.  Email helps a lot, but can’t solve all your problems.

There is one solution, available for free or low cost (depending on your needs and usage) that can help eliminate many of the problems you have with sharing information such as dress photos, to-do lists, reminders, etc.  BackPack from 37 Signals is a highly regarded collaboration tool, noted for its simplicity and flexibility.  You can post and share to-do lists, photos, and have reminders sent via e-mail or to your cell phone.  You can keep your planning private, share it with your party, or make it public for every one to see.  They even feature wedding planning as one of their examples:

Keep your wedding planning simple and organized by listing all your tasks and tracking your accomplishments. As the big day draws near, you'll have a to-do list to be your guide, photos to reference when making decisions, and reminders that can be sent to you via email. Let your whole wedding party be a part of the planning by sharing your tasks and notes. No more need to stress over all the little details. With Backpack at your side, you can get back to looking forward to the happiest day of your life.

For their example, visit http://backpackit.com/examples/archives/personal/plan_and_organize_a_wedding_or_special_event.php.  Real-life wedding plans made public include http://lisabliss.backpackit.com/pub/211154; others show up as you refresh their examples page.

We remember when chocolate fountains first hit the wedding scene a few years ago—what a stir they created!  Luscious chocolate cascading down several pools, filling the halls with their fragrance.  People couldn’t get enough of them—us included!  It wasn’t very long before it seemed like everyone and their brother had fountains to rent, in several sizes, and offering several chocolates (you can dye the white to match your wedding), caramel, even nacho cheese (not just for weddings anymore—think Super Bowl party).  Tiny fountains for your home were all over the place this past Christmas season.

From talking with our fountain friends, chocolate fountains are still a hot item at weddings.  We did see a lot of fountains this past year, and probably will again this year.  The first year or two, with only a few fountains and high demand, it was all our friends could do to keep up, and they were telling a lot of brides they were booked.  The rental business has calmed down a little, in part because so many people offer the rental service (including many reception sites).  Most reception sites aren’t shy about mentioning they have a fountain, but ask if you’re interested in one and don’t see any information.  They can probably point you to people you can trust if their is booked, of it they don’t have one.

Some rental halls do not allow chocolate fountains at all.  Early on, some rental outfits would dump the leftover chocolate down the hall’s sinks.  The chocolate cooled and hardened on its way to the sewer, clogging the lines and causing thousands of dollars in plumbing bills.  Most people have that figured out now, and dispose of the leftover chocolate in buckets or bags and take it with them.  You definatelty need to ask the hall if you can have a fountain at all.

If you’re including a chocolate fountain in your plans, remember to have your hall designate a table for it—its location will factor in to your overall seating arrangement.  Much like your wedding cake, the table should be out of a major traffic area (e.g., keep it away from the dance floor), but should also be very accessible since it will attract a crowd.

Some tips, if you’re planning on renting a fountain:

• Ask who provides the food to be dipped—sometimes you’re responsible
• Ask what your options are, and if you can substitute
• Ask who provides the skewers, plates and napkins (you’ll need both—plates for the dipped foods, and napkins for the dribbles)
• Ask about what types of chocolate are available (milk, dark, white) and what dips the best in each
• Ask who is responsible for setup and cleanup—some lower cost packages are “self service”.  Trust us—we’ve seen this process many times, and pay the extra to have someone else do it for you.  A big white dress and five pounds of melted chocolate are not a good combination.

A lot of the chocolate in these fountains is thinned with vegetable oil (especially peanut oil), but higher grades of chocolate are usually thinned with cocoa butter.  If you have guests with peanut sensitivities, be aware of this (unfortunately, you may not know until a guest has a reaction).  Ask around as to what is added to the chocolate—you may need to base your decision on whom to rent from by the chocolate additives.

If you’re looking for chocolate fountains in your area, one resource you can try is Chocolate Fountain Network (http://www.chocolatefountainnetwork.com/), which is a national listing of chocolate fountain vendors.  If you’re in the North Pittsburgh/Cranberry/Butler area, check out our friends at Chocolate Fountain Enterprises (http://www.chocolatefountainenterprises.com/).  CFE usually uses a higher grade of chocolate that is thinned with cocoa butter, not peanut oil.  Double bonus—this service is run by Arnella’s Bridal Salon (http://www.arnellas.com/), so you can shop for dresses at the same time.