Our couple met two years ago at a St. Pattick’s Day party, hosted by mutual friends.  They re-met a year ago at a party hosted by the same friends, and began dating.  They were married yesterday, and the reception was imbued with a St.Patrick’s Day theme.

Since both have travelled to the Emerald Isle, they decided to name their tables after some of their favorite cities.  Instead of seating cards, our couple made shamrock lollipops, and directed guests to their proper tables with labels on the lollipops.

Fortunately, lollipops (sugar or chocoalte) are very easy to make, and molds are available in almost every imaginable theme.  Your local bake shop will have a decent selection, and can probably provide you with recipes to use.

Today's USA Today has an article about bridal fashion, but not the usual dresses.  Instead, more designers are including pantsuits in their collections, and more brides are wearing pants on their wedding day:

Telegraphing a vibe that's either sophisticated or sexy, casual or chic, trouser suits have turned up on the bridal runways of Richard Tyler, Saison Blanche and Pronovias. And non-bridal designers are offering suits that could translate into altar attire, such as the icy silk pantsuit unveiled two weeks ago at Rochas' Paris fashion show.

Read the full article at http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2006-03-13-wedding-pants_x.htm.

Mini calla lily bouquets are always popular at a wedding show, but especially when we use the Black Schwarzwalder variety.  Their deep purple color looks almost black when fresh (the color lightens toward purple as the flowers age), and is striking.  Our bouquet was a simple hand-tied arrangement held together with a small wrap of silver ribbon and black-headed pins.

The long stems of mini calla lilies make for a sleek, elegant bouquet, and also allow us to make some very contemporary centerpieces.  In the second photo below, we've used the same Schwarzwalder mini calla lilies with bear grass and curly willow in an elliptical vase, for a very modern look.

Dear Polly,

We would like to personally thank you for doing such a beautiful job with the flowers for our wedding.  They totally exceeded our expectations and were the talk of the wedding.  Thank you for all you did to make our day perfect!

Thank you,

E. & M. W.

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!