Sunrise Creations Blog

There is nothing like receiving an extraordinary envelope in the letter box, knowing that it will be something exciting and fun and not a request for money.

In today’s modern and more relaxed times engaged couples are less hesitant to let their personalities and love of life shine through, and this starts with the invitation to your special day.  This is a teaser of the theme and should reflect the mood you hope to create.

Gone are the days when wedding invitations were white, ivory, ecru, cream, alabaster etc. You get the message! Weddings and therefore invitations tended to be formal and traditional. Not anymore!  You are restricted only by your imagination, and wedding invitations can be any colour of the rainbow to tie in with your personal theme, the colour of the attendants, or even the season or the location.  Gold and Silver are always in fashion, and can be combined with just about any colour you like.

For example, show your love of the orient by selecting an oriental inspired invitation and then follow the theme with your catering, decoration and even your choice of wedding gown.

Wording and font is another design feature that allows couples to individualise, moving away from traditional phrasing. Invitations often come from the couple themselves, instead of the parents as was the case in a generation or so ago.

The ultimate personalisation is the inclusion of photographs. Maybe you invested time and money in your engagement photos, or you want another excuse for a casual photo shoot to record the early days of your relationship.  Using these special images in your wedding invitation is a special touch.

The trend is to individualism with the creation of unique and very personalised wedding invitations and stationery.  It makes your special day even more perfect because your personality shines through every part of the day.

Nothing can beat the feeling of quality paper between your fingers, and the anticipation created by pinning a gorgeous invitation to your fridge for 6 weeks.  Everyone loves a wedding!

It can be very awkward when it comes time to choose a wedding gift. Typically, the situations that trip most people up are those when there is no gift registry to pick from and when the couple ask for money rather than gifts.

Both of those sound simple, really, but there are a lot of unwritten rules of etiquette that you might not be aware of.

This clip is an interview with an American wedding expert and I know you will pick up some tips.



How to buy a wedding gift

Some of the most beautiful weddings and events that I have ever seen have had one thing in common.  They used a colour as their theme.  It began with the invitation and went through to the decoration and even to the thank you card.

Don't think it works?

Have a look at this collection and it will change your mind.   Wouldn't this be a stunning occasion?

Suppliers:

Wedding and bridesmaid gowns by I Do Gowns
Calla Lily invitations bySunrsise Creations
Calla Lily Bouquet from Tie The Knot
Stunning green and calla lily Spring Wedding Bouquet from Lily and Rose
Green themed cake from The Party Dress
Green party decor from The Underfunded Heiress
Peridot green earrings from The Style Hive
Green ring from Wedding By Color
Green shoes from Bridal Buds

I am very pleased to see that one of our lovely wedding invitations has been featured in "The Bride's Diary- Canberra".

They said  "We just love this gorgeous yellow and black wedding invitation by Sunrise Creations. The bold yellow stripes coupled with the black motif work together to create a daring and striking design, perfect for your yellow and black themed wedding!"

The Bride's Diary is an online site full of bright ideas and discoveries for weddings.  If you are looking for inspiration for your own wedding why noy drop in and see what you find.

As I mentioned in my last post, wishing wells have become a popular way for marrying couples to ask for money instead of a gift.   So how can you get the message across without offending someone?  The answer seems to be with poetry!

The wishing well poem can be a way of alerting your guests to the fact you are going to having a wishing well. You can print your wishing well poem on the rear of your invitation, on a separate insert to include with your invitation or inside the cover if you are using a standard card format.
 
How you phrase the poem is up to you but there are many examples floating around the internet that will help you get started.  Here are a couple that might help.

Example One
We’ve been together a long while now;
We’ve gathered pots and pans and linen a’plenty;
We have glasses and electrical appliances;
So respectfully we ask of you, if you would like to make a gift to us on this our special day
A certain amount of “pay” would help us along the way;
To buying our first home. 

Example Two
We know how hard it is to find the time.
To run around and shop with something in mind
So, here’s an idea we’d like you to try;
Come to our wedding to wish us well.
 
Here’s a pouch to fill with silver.
In this way you’ll earn your dinner
And help us along the way
With that down pay on the house we want to play home in!

I hope that gets your poetic juices flowing beautifully. 

In my last post we looked at the top 10 mistakes that people make with their wedding invitations.  It's only when you stop and look at these that you realise how important an invitation can be.  The invitation sets the tone for your whole wedding so it is important that you get it right. 

Most brides have a clear idea about the look and style they want for their wedding.  There are brides who like the antique look and those that prefer modern and minimal.  To have the most impact, everything about the wedding should stick closely to the theme.  Your wedding invitation is the very first clue that your guests will have about the feel of your wedding so make sure that it suits your theme.

Weddings with a vintage or antique feel to them need to use matching vintage-style invitations.  The look is elegant, lacy and soft with perhaps a touch of art deco.   Think about your wedding dress and the flowers in your bouquet and find an invitation that looks as though it belongs with them.

Modern weddings are very different.  Think crisp and clean, with strong definition and clean lines.  Ask yourself whether you prefer bright and bold or minimalistic styles and choose your invitation to suit.  An minimalistic invitation will look dull if the rest of your wedding is bold and colourful, but it will look elegant when matched with a wedding that is crisp and simple.  The great thing about modern invitations is that you can use a vintage look and update it by adding colours from todays palette,

 Floral invitations are elegant and beautiful.  If you know the flowers that you will be using in your bouquet and decorations you can tie the look together by using invitations and stationary that features the main flower.  Roses are ever-popular but fresh blossoms and classic lilies look stunning, too.

No matter what style you choose, there will be an invitation that will match your theme.  Be sure to start off properly with a carefully chosed wedding invitation.

It seems so easy to write an invitation but these simple little things can often trip up the bride who isn't paying attention.  Here are the top 10 wedding invitation mistakes that we have seen.

1.       Errors in Spelling
Ask a friend, or someone who is quite particular with their grammar to proof read your wedding invitation for you. A great tip is to read your wording from right to left, this way you are not assuming what is there, but actually reading the words.

2.       Date
Date, you say? Yes, particularly if your wedding is in the first couple of months of the following year, or if the RSVP date is in a different year to the wedding. You will be surprised at how often this does happen!

3.       Too much colour
The colour in your wedding invitations can be used to depict the theme of your wedding; stylish, elegant, relaxed or fun. That said, using too many colours can spoil the effect, with the invitation then looking a little busy and messy. We recommend a palette of 3 to 5 colours, where a couple of the colours are neutral.

4.       Not ordering enough invitations
Order more than what you need, thus allowing for keepsakes, additional guests or wedding invitations that were lost. It is expensive to go back and order just a few more wedding invitations, especially, if you need to also order the RSVP card, wishing well and information cards.

5.       Ordering too many
Whilst it is nice to have extra wedding invitations, there is also a limit to what you need.

6.       Setting the RSVP date to far in advance
Leave 3-4 weeks for your guests to RSVP to you wedding. Any longer than that they will forget they had something to reply to.

7.       Forgetting to put a stamp on the RSVP Card
If you would like your guests to respond to your wedding invitation quickly, the less they need to do the better. By having a stamp on the card, means that it is ready to send as soon as they have ticked the box.

8.       Trying to include all details of the wedding into your invitation design
It is great to have a personal touch to your wedding invitations, however, quite often less is more. Try to feature one detail of the wedding, be it your colour theme, style of wedding, detail on your dress etc, rather than a combination of them all.

9.     Ordering the invitations too late.
It's a good idea to order your invitations six months before the wedding.  That gives you plenty of time to check them and even reprint if there is an error in them. Some printers will accept a rush order but of course you will have to pay extra. 

10.    Not ordering extra envelopes.
When you are addressing a lot of envelopes there ia a high probability that you will make a mistake.  You might spell a name incorrectly or include the wrong address.  Having a few extra envelopes can come in very handy and make the difference in the way your invitation looks when it arrives in your guests mailbox.

I hope these tips help you to manage the invitation ordering and posting process.  Remember, though, that is it supposed to be fun so go on and enjoy it.

You've received a wedding invitation or birthday invitation, and it just sits on your kitchen bench. Did you know that the person sending it out is awaiting your reply? Not only to confirm the guest list, but also in recognition of their wedding, event, or invitation. If you have received a wedding invitation, and cannot make it, the bride and groom may have others on their reserve list - it is only polite to let them know straight away.

1. RSVP as soon as you know you can or cannot make a wedding or party - just as you would want others to do. As mentioned previously, there may be others they will invite, as a result.
   
   
2. Respond by the date specified or preferably beforehand. The RSVP date is there for the hosts to prepare, particularly if it is a more formal function like a wedding, where catering and seating arrangements need to be made. It reduces the stress on the bride and groom immensely if they don't need to chase after rsvp's.
   
   
3. If you have previously said you are able to attend an event, and now can't - pick up the phone and let them know. Your call will be appreciated.
   
   
4. A wedding invitation that has been addressed to you and does not have 'partner', 'guest' or your children written on it, means that it is only you that has been invited. That said, if it is a kids party or christening invitation, and your children aren't on it, this may have been an oversight, so ask.
   
   
5. If there is no name on the wedding invitation, look on the envelope, this may indicate who is invited, e.g. family, or just yourself. Still unsure? Just ask!

Me, I love nature, camping, being away where you can see the trees, smell the fresh country air, so when I came across this country wedding, I couldn’t help but get excited. Chelsea Gray and Roberto Ugarte from Blushing Bride Studios, have captured the essence of this fun filled, romantic and relaxed day perfectly. Their wedding was held at the beautiful Grand Isle Lake House.

I love the idea of using props to a wedding for photos –hats, oversized glasses, feather bowers, moustaches, hair pieces, really add personality and character to the photos of the guests. Especially when they are as outgoing and fun loving as this party was. Wouldn’t this work fabulously at a 40^th birthday party?!

One of my favourite wedding trends is when the couple fills the day with details that truly represents them as a couple and their personality. This is exactly what todays charismatic couple have done for their wedding vow renewals that screams trend and glamour. Having been married on 15th August 2009 in the States, they decided to also celebrate with family and friends in Australia.

The bride looked elegant and chic in her wedding dress - I love the black sash and peacock feather in her hair! Just stunning.

One of my favourite Sydney photographers, Tanya from Tindale Images, has captured the day beautifully.


The bride had a love for vintage cameras - my kind of girl!


Their service was at the charming Nurse Chapel at Little Bay.


Their reception was held at the Winery, a funky and quirky little restaurant in Surry Hills. Aren't the colours just gorgeous!