This is an awesome visual tool to help with wedding planning, especially if you are going custom. Of course if you don’t have the luxury of a year, don’t fret— it can be smushed down. But this would certainly be the ideal, with the “oh crap!” time that I always like to build in, just in case. {via Crafty Pie Press}
It’s been a awhile since we’ve had the Ask-A-Planner question, so it is exciting to back in the saddle! This one comes from Asia, and is a question I dealt with for my own wedding.
Dear Sara,
My fiance and I are currently living overseas, but are moving back to the US soon. After we are settled, we will have a small wedding there with mostly family.
We want to have an engagement party while we are still overseas with our friends here, but I read on many web-sites you MUST invite everyone to the wedding that you invited to your engagement party.
Do you think that holds true if you live in one country and will get married in another? We want to celebrate with our friends overseas while we are here, knowing that many of them wouldn’t be able to come to the wedding in the US anyway, nor do we want that large of a wedding.
Thank you!
Newly Engaged in Asia
Dear Newly Engaged,
First of all, congratulations!! This is such an exciting time!
You are already diving head long into one of the first challenges of planning a wedding– the guest list. This effects so much of the planning process (including additional parties!), and it one of the hardest parts. Additionally, there is not a lot of info out there for people in your situation (I know, because I looked for us too!) of living and planning in different cities, especially overseas.
Honestly, I think the rule of only inviting guests to parties that will be invited to the wedding is kind of a pain; It can fatigues your guests (I was a bridesmaid in a wedding that had different kinds of bridal showers every month leading up to the wedding. I was in college at the time— it was so expensive!!). And really— even people not in your situation ask this same question, so I’m kind of waiting for the day when this rule is abandoned.
But–even though I am all about bucking the norm, I think there will still be some traditionalist out there who might expect an invite to the wedding if they are invited to the other festivities. And you’d risk hurt their feelings– and no one wants that to happen.
In order to celebrate with your overseas friends and not confuse people, I’m wondering if you can get around “the rule” by calling the party something else. Like ”A Celebration of our Union” (ok, the name needs work) or something that implies what it is, without saying the traditional term “engagement party” that will lead people to expect a wedding invitation Since you won’t be having another party here after you are married there should be some way to convey to people that this is their chance to party it up wedding style with you and it’s all in the wording of the invite. (And maybe you can even wear a white sundress to the party!).
Readers, what do you think? What is the best way for dealing with this oppressive rule of invites?
You guys know how I am inspired by color, from parties to art, clothes to decorating. Here are some of my favorite combinations this month. I love the mix of bright and muted, dark and light. Perfect for this mixed weather month.
I don’t wear a lot of studs {dangling or hoops are much more my style} but I’m crushing on these heart earrings. They look sweet, but not too sweet, like you know the wearer of this jewelry has more going on than just niceness. Wouldn’t they make a great gift for your sassy bridesmaids?
Just as things are starting to heat up in Hong Kong we are finally ready to start hosting. I mentioned my potential half birthday party, I’m co-hosting an art event this coming weekend, and I’m trying to get a dinner party on the calendar.
I’m not a huge pasta eater {I usually reserve it for nights we are tired and cold and don’t want to cook} but after seeing these adorable take aways, I’m really tempted to have an Italian night. Especially here, where sauce prices are higher due to import, people would adore and cherish a jar of homemade marinara.
Cute, right? Working on my guest list…
I hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day, either giving love to your mom or getting love from your kids– or both if you are lucky!
I saw this waffle wedding cake– and was intrigued! What a fun idea for a brunch wedding– or any kind of brunch party. 
It could be followed with a waffle bar for guests to customize their own– which is awesome any time of day or night. 
Yum! Waffles! I could have one right now…
I love this modern take on the magnet save the dates. I can’t say that we have a paper version, but wouldn’t a sticker to affix on your special day be the BEST way to get family and friends to mark the calendar?
See more from this adorable invitation suite here.
I think I might need this for summer picnics and outdoor parties. Ok, maybe want it, but it’s beautiful, right? {source}
I don’t usually wear lipstick. It may be because I am not good at putting it on, and often feel I look like a clown. But I’d love a little bit of pop for events and special occasions, you know?
When I saw this tutorial for creating bigger lips, I actually gasped. I will be trying this in the near future, for sure.
STEPS:
See suggested tools here.
As my birthday is poorly located 2 days before Christmas and celebrating anything else is just too much, I’ve been thinking of changing my birthday to June instead. Since I am not ready to be 6 months older {ahem} I’m thinking of having a half birthday party next month. That way most of my friends should be in town and I won’t be competing with all of the holiday parties.
What do you think? {image source}
P.S. I might need to have this drink, too.
