REGISTRY ETIQUETTE

Registry Etiquette

Getting married is exciting, and your loved ones want to help you celebrate by brining gifts to your bridal shower and wedding ceremony. Registering for gifts can be very fun. Finally a chance to get that mixer or drill you’ve been wanting. But how to you tactfully make a list and let your guests know? Below are some tips to help you and your fiancé.

MAKING THE REGISTRY:

As much fun as it may be to add a giant screen TV and $200 mixer to your registry keep in mind your guests will have a wide variety in budget. They may all love you, but your old college roommate may be tight on cash and can’t spend more than $25 on your wedding.

Mix it up, you should have a mix of budget items around $20-$25 on your registry, some $50-80 items and only a few items over $100 for those close parents and loved ones that want to splurge on you.

Register at minimum 2 places. Not everyone can make it to Macy’s or Crate and Barrel. Diversify your choices to make it easier for guests to purchase your gifts. Make sure gifts can be purchased online too. Many of your guests work 9-5 jobs while juggling children, purchasing a pre-wrapped gift from Target.com makes their life easier.

Check your lists after your bridal shower and as the wedding approaches.  If all your lower end items have been purchased leaving only $75 and up, go back and add in some budget items for those last minute shoppers.

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE ONLY NEED CASH?

Maybe you’ve been living together for a while, you’ve set up a wonderful home and you don’t really need anything new. But the roof really needs replacing? Or you want everyone to pitch in for a wonderful honeymoon.

Asking for cash directly can appear rude to some of your guests. But there are some tactful ways to go about it.

The www.honeyfund.com website allows your guests to easily contribute to your Honeymoon fund. It’s fun for your guests and they feel like they’re contributing to something big for you two.

If you want just cash for home improvement or to pay off the car it gets a little tricky. Yes you need the cash, but people want to celebrate by getting you something fun. Car payments and roof repairs are not (but necessary in life- more than a new set of knives sometime). Don’t just ask “Instead of gifts we really need the cash to pay off the auto insurance this month” but set up an online account and on a small card state “We’re honored for your presence at your w

edding and that’s all we ask. If you wish to contribute to our future wishing well we’ve set up an account at: _________________” .

Two sites to check out registering for cash : www.myregistry.com ; www.ourwishingwell.com

WAYS TO ASK FOR CASH:

“MAKE A WISH: Your presence at our wedding is present enough. But if you want to help add to our future we’ve set up a wishing well fund at  www.__________.com please write us a wish along with your gift. ”

“We’re honored for your presence at your wedding and that’s all we ask. If you wish to contribute to our future Wishing Well we’ve set up an account at: _________________”  .

“You’re love and support at our wedding is all we ask. We’re honored to have you in our lives.  If you wish to contribute to our future we’ve set up a Wishing Well at  www.______.com .”

“Our life together has already begun, we have almost everything under the sun.  We’re honored for your presence at your wedding day, but if you want to send a wish our way. We’ve set up a wishing well together at www.________.com . We’re excited to start our life-long adventure.”

Remember asking for cash contributions will seem rude to some guests, no matter how polite you are about wording it. But you can’t please everyone. You know your guests better than anyone. Maybe for those that would be offended leave out mentioning the cash.

LETTING YOUR GUESTS KNOW:

You’ve made your registry, Great! Now to let everyone know. If you’re having a bridal shower it’s appropriate to include the registry info on the Bridal Shower invitation. Or you can add in a separate insert card with the shower invitations. Gifts at a bridal shower are expected so don’t be shy here.

If you’ve made a wedding website you’ll need to have a page dedicated to your registry information.  Here is also a great place to add info if you want everyone to pitch in for a honeymoon or future wishing well fund.

DO NOT put the registry info along with the wedding invitation. Even in 2016 it’s considered inappropriate by most people to suggest anything about gifts on the wedding invitation. It is definitely encourages to add on your wedding website at the bottom of your invitation, and guests can find their own way to your registry page there.  Simply add on your website at the very bottom “For more information please visit: www.ourwedding2016.com”

If you’re wedding invitation package includes a map, information card, hotel info and 5 other insert cards you can sneak in the registry on one of the info cards, but DO NOT put it on the invitation itself.

 If you wedding envelope ONLY includes the invitation and RSVP skip the registry information.

REMEMBER: Even though you’ve got a website with your registry information, your mother telling everyone where you’re registered and it went out with the bridal shower invitations. People are still going to ask where you’ve registered.

How to word your registry:

For the bridal shower invitations keep it simple.

“BRIDES NAME is registered at Macy’s Home an Amazon.com”

For the insert card or website, keep it simple too:

“Your presence and support is all ask. However for those seeking gift suggestions, we have registered at Macy’s Home an Amazon.com . Your gift will help make our new house a home!”

“A registry has been set up at Macy’s Home an Amazon.com”

“BRIDE NAME and GROOM NAME have set up registries at Macy’s Home an Amazon.com”

“The Happy Couple is registered at Macy’s Home an Amazon.com”

GETTING THE GIFTS:

At your bridal shower and post-wedding gift opening have a friend or relative write down the gifts and the name of gift-giver to help you remember later who gave you what so you can write your thank you notes.  Stay on top of your thank you notes, send them out no longer than 60 days after your wedding. Write them right away when you get back from your wedding or honeymoon.

SURPRISE GIFTS:

No matter how clear you were about the registry or the real need for cash some guests will give you a gift they wanted to give you. And no amount of reasoning can stop them. Your loved ones want to celebrate your marriage, and sometimes they feel a painting of monkeys or a sterling silver wine bucket (even though you both don’t drink) is exactly what you two need.

Take the gifts smiling, a wedding isn’t about getting money or all your dream housewares. It’s about spending the rest of your lives together and celebrating with the people you love.

RETURNING GIFTS:

If you’ve gotten two of the same items simply return one to the store and purchase one of the items you didn’t get off your registry.  Don’t mention it to your guests, simple thank both of them for the item they originally gave you.

If you’re given a gift you didn’t want- say that awful monkey oil painting from Uncle Fred.  Keep it, while the painting may be hideous, it was given to you with love. If you try to return it to Uncle Fred he’ll be hurt. Simply tuck it away in the back closet and pull it out when he visits. The joys of family.

It happens rarely, but if your marriage turned out not to be what you thought and it dissolves in under 6 months, you should return the gifts to your guests. 

Buy wedding invitations now: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CottontailPress

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Use coupon code MAYDIGITALDEAL at checkout to receive your discount. Valid through May 31st, 2016. Offer only good on Custom Digital Invitations. 

Back in Business for the Holidays!!!

After a long time off, Cottontail Digital Press is back in Business!!! To celebrate all Save the Dates are 15% off this month!!

Enjoy 15% off all Save the Dates 

in December! 

Use coupon code HOLIDAY2014

at check out!

Coupon code good through December 31st, 2014

Offer good on digital and physically printed orders. For Save the Dates ONLY.

Not Good on Wedding Initiations, Maps, Insert Cards, Menus or other Non-Save The Date Items.

Payment must be made by December 31st, 11:59pm to redeem discount

Impress your future in laws with these easy holiday recipes.

Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes]

·         6 lbs yukon gold potatoes

·         8 ounces cream cheese

·         1 sour cream packet

·         1/2 cup milk

Boil Mashed Potatoes

In a separate bowl mix cream cheese and sour cream packet

Mix potatoes and cream cheese potatoes together

Bake covered with foil at 350 for 45 min's.

Baked Brie

Ingredients

•          1/2 (17.5 ounce) package frozen puff pastry, thawed
•          1 (8 ounce) wheel Brie cheese
•          1/4 cup sliced almonds

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degree C). Lightly grease a 9 inch pie pan.

Slice the wheel of Brie in half, horizontally, so that the halves are two, flatter wheels of Brie. Lay the puff pastry in the pie pan. Place half of the Brie (rind-side down) onto the pastry dough. Sprinkle almonds evenly over the top. Place the other half of the Brie (rind-side up) over the almonds. Bundle the pastry dough around the Brie.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Pumpkin Brownies

Filling

• 1 package (3 oz) cream cheese, softened
• ½  cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
• 1  egg
• 3  tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Brownies

• 1  box Betty Crocker® Premium Brownies Ultimate Fudge
• ¼  cup vegetable oil
• 2  tablespoons water
• 1 egg

Instructions

Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease bottom only of 9-inch square pan with shortening or cooking spray. In small bowl, beat all filling ingredients with electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Set aside.

Make brownie batter as directed on box, using 1/4 cup oil, 2 tablespoons water and the egg. Spread 3/4 of the batter in pan. Spoon filling by tablespoonfuls evenly over batter. Spoon remaining brownie batter over filling. Cut through batter several times with knife for marbled design.

Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted 1 inch from side of pan comes out almost clean. Cool completely. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

Kona - CDP's mascot- is almost full grown!!

Kona is now about 1 year old. She's the official mascot for Cottontail Digital Press. She is a rescue puppy. Her are a few pictures of her from this year.  Because we all love puppy pics! Wedding planning is stressful, enjoy adorable animal pictures. 

  

   

  

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Who's name to put first on the wedding invitation? The bride or groom?

Who's name goes first?

You've been working on the wedding invitations and your soon-to-be husband sees the bride's name first. He exclaims- "Wait! I want my name first".

Well, I'll start by saying it's 2013 and you can put the names in any order that suits the two of you. Every couple is different, and you should do what is comfortable for both of you.

Traditionally the bride's name goes first. A long time ago, in a pre-millennial age, the bride's family was the host and would word it "Mr. and Mrs. O'Connoly invite you to celebrate the marriage of their daughter Anne O'Connolly to ..... Michael Shannon.... son of...." so this started the tradition of the Bride's name first.

So if you find yourself to be more traditional and want to be classic, put the bride's name first. If your wedding invitations are more modern, you're a modern couple and it's really important to the groom that his name is first, go for it. The only wedding invitation etiquette police that will be at your wedding might be your grandparents.

Free Love Quotes

I've made some of my favorite Love Quotes into images for everyone to share online.

A guide to buying your wedding items on Etsy!

Etsy has so many amazing hand-made wonders that can make your wedding a unique event. However, take a turn on some wedding planning blogs and you'll quickly see comments from a few bride and grooms who've had bad experiences. Here are a few tips to help you navigate Etsy.

1) Remember Etsy does not select who can sell on their site and who can't. Anyone can sign up and with 20 cents per listing open up a store. So when you find a store you love, check them out. Google the store name and the owner's name and look up their online presence. Are there lots of blogs mentioning this store and problems? You might want to use caution.

2) Look where the store is located. There are Etsy sellers from all over the world! It's a wonderful global community. Be aware of sellers from China. Many factories in China will open up an Etsy store and sell their "handmade" goods there. Also note, completely wonderful sellers may reside in countries outside of yours, so add on extra for international shipping times and costs.

3) Read the reviews both on Etsy and Google to find reviews elsewhere. Know who you're buying from.

4) Ask about the turn around time BEFORE ordering. Many of the hand made wedding items are custom made when ordered. If you are ordering from a more popular store it may be 6-8 weeks before your product arrives. A good seller will make their timelines very clear.

5) Ask lost of questions. Convo the seller and ask questions about the product. They should respond within 1 business day. Beware any seller that takes 3-4 business days to respond.

6) Read the listing description thoroughly and read their shop policies as well.

I also belong to a hand-picked group of Etsy sellers that specialize in wedding items. 

"THE ETSY WEDDING TEAM" check them out here

Etsy is a fantastic place and most of the sellers are honest artists that are happy to do business with you. You can find items on there that are unique and one of a kind.

Purple Fall Wedding Inspirations

Wedding Invitation Wording Templates with Divorced Parents

Planning a wedding can be stressful, and it can be more stressful when your parents are divorced. I've worked with numerous clients who have stressed over who's names to put first on the invitation. While every family dynamic is different here is a guide to help:


Traditionally who ever is paying is listed first. So if you mom and step-dad are paying for most of the wedding, their names should go first. To make the most room on the invitation combine names into families, like Mr. and Mrs. _______ instead of writing out both of their full names.

The family for my examples:

Bride's Mom- Sally Holt
Bride's Step-Dad:  Jonathan Holt
Brides Dad- Jim Maple
Bride's Step-Mom- Martha Maple

Groom's Mom- Whitney Wallis
Groom'sStep-Dad:  Patrick Wallis
Groom's Dad- Kenneth Rothenburg
Groom's Step-Mom- Jenna Rothenburg


Wording Example: Bride's Mom and Step Dad hosting, along with Groom's Dad and Step-Mom
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Holt & Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Rothenburg
Invite you to celebrate the marriage of their children

Wording Example: Brides Mom and Step Dad hosting, along with both sets of Groom's parents
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Holt & Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Rothenburg along with Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Wallis.
Invite you to the marriage of their children.....

Wording Example: Brides Dad and Step-Mom hosting, along with Grooms Mom and Step-Dad as well as his Dad
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Maple & Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Wallis along with Kenneth Rothenburg

If you parents are insistent on listing their first names try this...

Wording Example: Brides Dad and Step-Mom hosting, along with Grooms Mom and Step-Dad as well as his Dad
Jim and Martha Maple & Whitney and Patrick Wallis along with Kenneth Rothenburg
Invite you to celebrate the marriage of their children. 

Molly and James - Vegas Wedding

Another wedding complete! This one is for James and Molly's Family-Fantastic Las Vegas Wedding

Check out that Fabulous Vegas wedding cake!!!

As Hot as Red- Red Wedding Picks from the Etsy Wedding Team

The Mail and your Wedding...

If you're planning a wedding, odds are you've become more familiar with your local mail carrier than you were when you were single. Lots of mail happens when planning a wedding, favor packages start arriving, contracts and  in the mail, RSVP cards stuffed in your mailbox, and expensive gift packages left on your porch.

One of the first steps you should take when planning a wedding is knowing a safe address where you packages and mail can be sent. If packages left on your doorstep are vulnerable to being stolen consider an alternative place for your wedding items to be shipped to:

• Your Office (Be careful that your building mail room is responsible and will process packages and mail on time)
• A Relatives House- If a relative is always home, or has a safe place for their mail to be left consider asking if your RSVP cards, wedding gifts and invitation return address can be their address.
• Get a P.O. Box- While going to the Post Office can be a major pain, it's a safe place for your mail to be delivered.

You've called off your wedding, now what?

Sometimes it happens, during the wedding planning you realizes it's just not going to work out. It can be a very difficult decision to halt everything. But in the end, it's better to know it's time to end, than to go forward with the wedding knowing you'll end if afterwards. Just remember it's OK to end the relationship if it's not working. You may receive a backlash from some family members, but remember, it's your life and if it's not feeling right, you have the power to call off the wedding.

No one wants to tell their wedding guests it's off, but you have to. Here is a guide for how to call off the wedding with as much grace as possible.

If you've sent out Invitations or Save the Dates.
You'll want to send out an email or small cards to all your invited guests-

Dear _______,
We write to regrettably inform you that the wedding of Sally May Smith and Johnathan Richardson will no longer be taken place. 

If the wedding is only a few weeks away and there is no time to mail a card to your guests.
You'll  still want to send an email out to all your guests, however you'll need to call everyone to make sure they know. Break up the phone list and ask for help from your family and/or friends. The call does not have to be long, just a simple "I'm calling to let you know, regrettably the wedding of  Sally and Jonathan has been called off. We sent out an email but we wanted to make sure you were aware"

If it's the day of the wedding
Take a deep breath. If you have your wedding dress on, take it off, put on comfortable clothes. You're going to need your family/friends today. Ask them to go to the ceremony site and let guests know the wedding will not be taking place today and that it has been cancelled. If all your family is in town, have a designated restaurant or cafe for them to meet at instead of the ceremony/reception location. They will still want to visit with each other.

A few days after the wedding you'll want to send out an email and or cards stating:

Dear _______,
We write to regrettably inform you that the wedding of Sally May Smith and Johnathan Richardson was called off last Saturday. We apologizes for the last minute change and all gifts that were sent early will be returned. We thank you for your support.

If you've called it off soon after the wedding takes place.
This one can be hard. You've come down from the wedding mania only to discover a mistake has been made. You two are not compatible and it's not going to work out.  You don't need to send out an email to every single guest, but it you've been married for under 3 months you should return your wedding gifts.
With a note attached to the gift:

Dear _______,
We thank you so much for attending the weeding of of Sally and Jonathan. Regrettably it has not worked out and we are returning the lovely gift you sent us. We thank you for your love and support.

Remember, calling off a wedding can be one of the most difficult decisions you'll ever have to make. It takes a strong person to realized it's not working and it's not going to get better. Reach out to your family and friends for support during this time.

Pink Wedding Bells - Wedding Picks

Black and White Inspirations from the Etsy Wedding Team

'Black white and shades of gray wedding' by MondeDesign

Black, white, and gray wedding details from Etsy Wedding Team.

Black lace Wedding Garter / ... NatalieBriggs $49	Wedding Black Shoe Clips, B... MikiyeCreation... $89	Custom Hawaiian Wedding Cake... dandelionland $125	Bridal brooch ORIGINAL bouqu... hairbowswonder... $595
SWAROVSKI Cake Knife And Ser... Beadz2Pleaz $129.99	SAMPLE SALE 50% Off: Tuxedo ... AmandaArcher $94.5	Handmade Wedding Card Box LaceyClaireDes... $67	Black Bridal Hair Flowers -... MikiyeCreation... $89
EMMA Lace Wedding Invitation... LavenderPaperi... $712.5	Veronica Silver Grey Silk Sh... EmpressBride $75	Bride to Be Paper Drink Stra... GoAgainstTheGr... $12	Ring Bearer Pillow - Ivory S... YANDEBRIDAL $55
ANGEE W. L'innocente - S... ANGEEW $60	Wedding Garter Ivory White R... bellesandcryst... $79	French Alencon Lace Wedding ... AlisaBenay $250	Bridesmaid Gift - White Dogw... parsi $35

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

Pocket Knives for Groomsmen

Pocket knives are a big hit for groomsmen gifts. While attending a wedding last month my husband - the Best Man- received one. With delight the groomsmen started playing with their newly acquired weapons. I was told it only took 3 minutes for my husband to cut himself.  Lesson learned grooms- give the knives AFTER the wedding.

My husband can be seen in the back holding his friend hostage.

Photo by: https://www.facebook.com/Zpodell

Do I HAVE to invite her to my wedding?

Every family has their own landmines and complex political structures. Every couple has a different relationship with their family and chooses to go along with the politics or not. But sometimes all this causes stress when you feel pressured to invite someone to your wedding that you REALLY don't want to be there.

For my wedding a certain relative always talked down to me, was verbally abusive and just plain mean. I knew if I saw her on my wedding day she'd just say something snarky like "You could have lost more weight to fit into that dress". But NOT inviting her would make it into this big dramatic thing, so full of wrath that it would become bigger than my wedding. I wish I had the strength no not care, but I did.

Almost every friend who has gotten married has confided in me there was someone at their wedding they felt pressured to invite but loathed to see. The advice I always give it- It's you wedding and in the end you can invite or not invite whom ever you want. But remember, NOT inviting someone can make your wedding all about the exclusion of that relative. For years to come it will be the wedding where "So-and-So" was no invited. If you are fine with that, but all means don't invite them.

However, if you don't want to deal with the drama overshadowing your big day here are a few tips and tricks:
1) Seat them in the back where you will have minimal contact with them.
2) Assign another family member or friend to keep them occupied and away from you
3) Give the unwanted guest a task to keep the busy
4) If you are worried about the guest drinking too much try and limit their intake- limit 2 glasses per guest, or have a dry wedding. Or point them in the direction on the nearest hotel bar and make sure they have a sober designated driver to get home.

What to do when RSVPs are NOT returned on time

You've diligently send out your invitations on time and clearly marked the RSVP due date. As that date nears RSVPs are still not returned. What to do? Don't panic, wait until the weekend after the RSVP Due date has passed to take action. Sometimes people put RSVP's off to the side with good intentions of sending them back, but as the weeks go on it gets buried under bills and memos.

Start by looking at your guests list and see who's RSVP card is still missing.
Break up the list into two parts- bride's guests and groom's guests. Make an email/call list and contact the guests directly.

You can send them email below:

Dear _______,

I hope all is well. {Fiances name} and I are looking forward to our wedding in a few weeks and we are hoping that you and  {Guest/Family name} can make it. We did not receive an RSVP card from you so I wanted to touch base and see if you are able to attend and what your meal choices are. {Or insert any other requested information}. We can't wait to celebrate with everyone.

If you have an illusive guest try another email, or contacting someone who is close with them.

Dear _______,

I hope all is well. I wanted to check to see if you received my email on  {Insert date}. {Finance name} and I are very excited for our wedding day and we need to have a final count to our caterer by {Insert date}. Please let us know if you can make it, as we would love to see you.

If the guest still is unable to respond, consider your options- are they likely to attend? Do they not check their email or phone? If they live close by can someone stop by their home after work hours one evening? Stop by with some baked goods. Maybe they are unsure if they can attend and are not getting back to you because they don't have an answer themselves.

Remember, people who RSVP'd might not make it at the last minute, and a few who thought they could not make it will turn up at the last minute. Hopefully it evens out, but have a contingency plan in case 1 or 2 extra people show up.