Sunday, August 02, 2009

Through October 31, 2009, printed envelopes are free with all Birchcraft invitation orders.  Not just wedding invitations, either--the free printed envelopes offer is good on anniversary and Bat/Bar Mitzvah invitations, too!

Normally, blank envelopes are included with your invitation order, and having your return address printed on the envelopes is an extra charge.  Until Oct 31, having your return address printed is free.

There are two ways to receive the free return address:

Come visit us in person, and order from a Birchcraft album.  We'll automatically apply the discount when we calculate your total.

or

Order your invitations online from http://www.yourinvitationplace.com/Default.aspx?WebName=bloomeryweddings, and enter "FREE Printed Envelopes" in the Special Instructions field.  It's important you enter "FREE Printed Envelopes" in Special Instructions, or you won't receive the discount.

For additional information, read Birchcraft's information at http://www.birchcraft.com/Social/FreeEnvelopePromotion/BirchcraftStudios-Promotion.pdf.

No matter which way you order, you will also receive our everyday 30% discount in addition to the free return address printing.

Sunday, August 02, 2009 11:58:01 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  | 
 Thursday, July 30, 2009

This weekend, July 31 to Aug 2, 2009, Lydia's Place will be holding a benefit bridal dress and gown sale:

Lydia's Place, a nonprofit agency Downtown that helps incarcerated women and their children rebuild their lives, is collecting for its bridal and formal dresses sale, a fundraiser that will take place at The Mall at Robinson from Friday through Sunday. The sale is aimed at brides and their families who are looking to reduce costs or who want an environmentally sensitive wedding.

"People are very generous," said Ms. Sirockman. So far her organization has received about 800 items, including bridal gowns, flower girl dresses, mother-of-the-bride dresses, bridesmaid dresses and prom dresses.

source: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09210/987019-53.stm

Thursday, July 30, 2009 9:59:20 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  | 
 Saturday, July 04, 2009

As we set up a wedding, we can tell when we've done a good job by the comments from the serving staff and others in the venue.  While we were setting up a recent wedding at The Edgeworth Club, a little girl walked onto the balcony overlooking the dining area and exclaimed "Wow!"  That made our day, and pretty much summed up what people thought about the flowers.

As guests passed through the foyer, they were greeted by a large arrangement of hydrangea, dendrobium orchids, pink peonies, pink garden roses, hot pink roses, peach spray roses, curly willow and mixed greenery placed in the curve of the club's beautiful spiral staircase.

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Guests found their seating cards under a lush arrangement of white hydrangea, pink peonies, hot pink roses, orange spray roses, curly willow and mixed greenery in a cut crystal vase.

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Prior to the reception, guests enjoyed cocktails in two rooms outside the banquet hall.  The living room was decorated with a centerpiece of pink stock, hot pink roses, white hydrangea, orange spray roses and pink peonies in a crystal vase.

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The bar area was decorated with arrangements of white hydrangea, pink peonies, hot pink roses and orange spray roses in crystal bowls.

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Guest tables were adorned with either high or low centerpiece.  High centerpieces were made of white hydrangea, pink peonies, pink garden roses, hot pink roses, orange spray roses and pink stock.  The entire arrangement was placed on top of a pilsner vase, with a single hot pink rose inside.

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Low centerpieces were comprised of white hydrangea, pink peonies, pink roses, hot pink roses, orange spray roses and pink stock in a crystal bowl.

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Designs for this wedding were created by Polly Berginc, AIFD.

Saturday, July 04, 2009 10:33:36 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [2]  | 
 Friday, July 03, 2009

For some time now, couples have put disposable cameras on their guests' tables, the guests would take photos, and leave the cameras behind.  Couples would develop the cameras and have candid photos and memories from their receptions.

Recently, fewer and fewer couples have been doing this, partly as a move to save expenses, and partly because so many guests are bringing higher quality digital cameras and giving photos to the couple on a CD.

Enter The Wedding Lens.  As they describe themselves:

The Wedding Lens allows you to create a customized online wedding album filled with photos from you and your guests. Everyone uploads their photos into one online album that is only accessible by you and your friends. From there, you can download and print whichever photos you like – regardless of who uploaded them to the album.

It's a cost-effective and eco-friendly way to have the equivalent of disposable cameras on each table. But it’s even better because you don’t have to print blurry photos and everyone (not just the bride and groom) get to see all of the fabulous photos from the event.

When you register, you get a customized domain name, which you email to your guests.  Your guests then upload their photos to your album.  The Wedding Lens stresses your guests do not need to register, all they need is the web address, their email address and password.  You and your guests can then upload as many photos as you want, and all guests can see and comment on photos in your album.  You and your guests can download the photos you want to keep, or have them all burned to DVD.

If you're trying to decide to place cameras on your guest tables or not, maybe you should consider The Wedding Lens.

P.S.  If you're the lovely bride planning her wedding we talked to at the Airport Doubletree today, this is the blog post we promised you.

Friday, July 03, 2009 4:30:52 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  | 
 Saturday, June 20, 2009

One wedding industry tracking group calculates the average wedding cost in 2009 was slightly under $22,000, not including the honeymoon or rings.

In a recent Post-Gazette article reporting how brides are planning smaller and less expensive weddings, our pal Herman Heyl helps make a point we've wanted to for a while:

Brides are opting to use more greenery and less expensive flowers, such as daisies and carnations. Smaller bouquets might save a little on price because fewer flowers are used, but the charge for labor is nearly the same as for a larger bouquet.

One great way to save money on your wedding centerpieces is to buy your own glassware and apply your own elbow grease.  If you're lucky enough to live near an Ikea, that's a great place to get inexpensive glassware, such as the rectangular vase below (much of their glassware is also available online at http://ikea.com):

One of our recent brides did just that--she purchased her own glassware, and some ribbon, and decorated the vases herself.  We then made simple arrangements of white hydrangea, orange spray roses and green hypericum berries, and delivered the final piece to the reception site, Greystone Fields.

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Working together, we were able to create an elegant centerpiece that fill well within her budget.

Not every florist is cool with the idea of brides supplying glassware, so you may have to ask a couple to find one willing to work with you.  Remember to buy and decorate a few extra vases, just in case.

Saturday, June 20, 2009 9:33:38 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  | 
 Tuesday, May 12, 2009

If you're a fan of hydrangea, you need to check out Hydrangea World, a site dedicated to hydrangea.  Hydrangea World is filled with photos of stunning arrangements, information about the different varieties, and photos of the different colors of hydrangea.  You and your florist can use this information as a guide when planning your wedding or event.

Hydrangea World is produced by the Flower Council of Holland, and has more of a European vibe than South American, where a great deal of hydrangea are also produced.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:01:49 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  | 
 Saturday, May 02, 2009

You know you don't live in Louisville anymore when people get married on Derby Day.  Fortunately, our part was done in time for the race.

The bride's bouquet was a hand tied mix of pink peonies, ivory garden roses, light pink roses and ivory spray roses.  Approx. cost, $170-$185.

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The couple was married under the gazebo at The Atrium, and we decorated with a lush fern garland and overhead spray roses, snapdragons and larkspur in shades of pink and cream.  Approx. price for floral spray, $95-$110.

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The aisle was adorned with pomander balls made from pink carnations, and hung from the chairs.  Approx. price, $20-$30 each.

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Saturday, May 02, 2009 3:04:34 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  | 
 Friday, May 01, 2009

This is a sample we made for the Butler Country Club's bridal open house.  There were about eight white garden roses and about six stems of purple lilacs.  It may be the most beautifully fragrant bouquet we've ever made.

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Friday, May 01, 2009 9:41:55 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  | 
 Thursday, April 23, 2009
This weekend is the beginning of wedding season, and the end of wedding open house season.  Our final public appearance this spring will be at the Butler Country Club, April 26 from 10am to 1pm.

Today is the last day to RSVP for the Butler Country Club's 2009 Wedding Open House.  This is a public open house, and is a great chance for you to see BCC's beautiful facilities, as well as meet some of their preferred vendors.

You do not need to be a member to have your wedding at the Butler Country Club--for full details, ask one of their event coordinator on Sunday.

Thursday, April 23, 2009 5:28:55 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |