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When we launched Scissor Paper Stone here in the states I spent a lot of time looking at what other companies were offering. I wanted to see if I could find anything similar to our booklet style invitations, which I think are one of our most unique and well priced items. I did find a few but they were three to five times more expensive. We have not raised our prices and our booklets remain a great value. They are also really handy.
I know I have received my fair share of wedding invites where I opened the large envelope and five pieces of paper spilled out. This can be hard to keep track of. With our booklets, all of your wedding information is contained in one easy to carry piece. They are put together by hand and you are able to add as many pages to the booklet as you need. You can have accommodation choices, menu options, directions to the venue or even a map. They are really perfect if you are thinking of having a destination wedding. As with everything we do you can tailor the booklet by choosing the ribbon color, paper, design, font or you can even add a personal photograph. The best part about the booklets is that you can have your guest names printed onto the booklets so each guest has a truly one of a kind invitation. Thought I would save that best bit for last!
The booklets are available in all of our designs. To take a look just go to www.scissorpaperstone.com, click on the design you like and scroll down until you see the booklet style. Here are a few examples for you.
Your wedding jewelry may be one of the priciest items you ever buy. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that you didn’t purchase a blood diamond or “dirty gold”? Thanks to Leonardo Di Caprio and his movie Blood Diamond I know a little bit about the subject but not nearly enough. So I started doing research into environmentally safe jewelry and asking lots of questions! What makes a diamond a “blood diamond” and why is “dirty gold”…dirty? How do you know where your diamond was sourced and what countries are currently in conflict over the jewels? Well, the information I found online was all over the place and confusing and really, who wants to be digging all over the internet when you’re shopping for your wedding jewels?…It is meant to be fun after all.
Pearl pendant with diamond accent by Brilliant Earth
Well, look no further than Brilliant Earth to answer all of the above questions and much much more. Brilliant Earth makes beautiful eco-friendly engagement rings and jewelry. They’re kinda like the Tiffany’s of the eco-movement for brides with a conscience. The pictures you see here are from their Reflections collection and are all ethically sourced gems. They also have a wide range of options for engagement rings to fit most budgets.(see below, wow)
This exquisite three stone ring features a 2.0 carat round center diamond nestled between two brilliant 1.0 carat round diamonds, each embraced by a glamorous halo of pavé-set diamond accents.
The really cool thing about Brilliant Earth is their website, which is one of the best resources online for information about diamond, gold, and gem mining. I know you might be thinking that learning about the ethical and environmental hazards caused by the jewelry industry might sound a bit boring but Brilliant Earth’s Education center is really a fascinating source of shocking facts. Try these on for size: Gold miners in Africa and South America work 6 to 8 WEEK-long shifts, gold mining causes cyanide and mercury to bleed into our water supply and contaminate the fish we eat, commercial sex workers are brought into gold mining villages resulting in the spread of HIV! And sadly gold is just part of the story. Children all over the world are exploited for labor in diamond mines and money from the diamond trade funds multiple civil wars on the African continent. To put it simply, the lucrative jewelry industry has a dark side. Thanks to Brilliant Earth and other companies you can know that your hard-earned money is funding sustainable businesses and not oppressive regimes?
Silver Grape Garnet pendant by Brilliant Earth
So head over to Brilliant Earth now and take a few minutes to get informed. All of the information on the site is unbiased and well-sourced and their articles are easy to digest and designed to help consumers make responsible choices. Lastly, 5 percent of their profits are donated to a fund to benefit local African communities harmed by the diamond industry.
Gold Fair Trade pendant from Brilliant Earth
I have to thank Tracy DiNunzio from Recycled Bride for this fascinating and really useful post. If you haven’t read her blog take a look at http://www.recycledbride.com.
Tell us a bit about yourself…
I’ve been working for Scissor Paper Stone for just over a year. My role is to expand the company in the US as well as take orders and work with clients. It is a challenge as we are new to the US and there is a lot of competition but I am confident it will be a success.
What’s your favorite part of the job?
I like the challenge of getting the word out about the company. It is always a thrill to see us get press or a blog mention. I also enjoy working with the clients and helping them with their orders. It’s always a pleasure to hear from satisfied clients.
What made you want to work with wedding stationery?
The wedding industry is great to work in as you get the opportunity to meet people as they are going through one of the most exciting times of their lives. Also, I really enjoy working with my family in this business.
What advice would you give to brides ordering their invitations?
Pick a design and style that you like. Lots of people get lots of input on their invitations but at the end of the day it is your day so go with a choice that makes you happy.
What do you think will be a popular invitation design next year?
Here in the US I am finding that our snapshot range is really popular. Having a personal photograph on your stationery really gives your invites a nice personal touch.
What are your plans for the future?
I want to grow the US side of the business so that it becomes as well known here as we are in the UK. It is an exciting prospect and very attainable.
Apart from Scissor Paper Stone, what do you do?
Well I live in New York city so there is always something to do but my favorite thing is going to the greenmarket with my girlfriend and taking it all in. I also love to travel and walking my dog Olive. I think she is a prime candidate to become the Scissor Paper Stone mascot:)
Traditionally, brides and grooms present their friends and family with a gift on the wedding day. Gifts for page boys, bridesmaids, mothers, best man and ushers should be a personal keepsake of the wedding and say thankyou for all the help they have provided. These personlaised engraved stones by Letterfest come in either a grey or white pebble, with your choice of wording (max of 8 letters). You can even have them with an engraving on the reverse such as the wedding date. A perfect memento for them to remember the dat forever.
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Vendor Spotlight: Josh Freiwald Photography
0 Comments | Posted by Robin in Cool vendors and products
I am really happy to have the chance to introduce you to a wonderful artist who just happens to be a wedding photographer. His name is Josh Freiwald and his work speaks for itself. I love the candid moments he is able to capture. When it comes to wedding photography there are lots of choices out there. Some people charge an exorbitant amount of money for mediocre work. Josh is that rare find who delivers amazing work at a fair price. I sat down with Josh and asked him to talk about his process and I have included some photos from a recent wedding he shot for Rina and Ian at the Wölffer Estate Vineyards and Stables in Sagaponack, N.Y… Enjoy!
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your process?
I’m a very go-with-the-flow kind of photographer, meaning that I interfere and direct as little as possible, but at the same time, I have very high standards for production quality. I pride myself on getting real, candid moments that have the aesthetic value normally associated with high-end commercial or editorial productions.
At some point I started realizing that there’s a difference between having a vision and imposing my vision (whether it’s for a particular shot or the overall feel I think my client wants). Photographers strive to have a distinctive style, largely in an effort to stand out from the crowd and attract clients. Understandable. But I think this can come at a cost–maybe too much of your work starts to look the same, or that cool technique you use starts to be a gimmick and look cheesy. It’s more important to maintain your openness and sensitivity to the reality on the ground.
Your client hired you because they like your style, but your approach has to flexible enough to accommodate and appreciate–and actively seek out–what is unique about their particular wedding. The difficulty inherent in shooting a lot of weddings is to avoid becoming formulaic, which can happen for a number of reasons. It’s easy to start thinking that we know what “clients” want and don’t want–and pay less attention to what this particular client is signaling.
When I was working as a second shooter, I was often offered advice on what to shoot and what not to shoot: oh, the client will never buy a picture like that, you might as well not waste the effort and film. I think photographers can end up underestimating the taste of their clients. I’ve found that my couples so often pick out those less obvious photos that I’m really hoping they’ll love.
Do you have any advice for choosing a wedding photographer?
It’s very important to like and feel comfortable with your photographer; you’re not necessarily going to hang out with them later on, but the idea of that shouldn’t seem totally bizarre or unpleasant. Of all the people you are hiring to make your wedding day happen, the photographer is the person who will be around you the most, by far.
You want to feel like you at least could be friends. That’s why I think it’s a mistake to regard the photographer as merely a “vendor”. The best results (i.e., pictures) are had when the photographer is treated like, and feels almost like, a guest. So it’s important to choose someone you can imagine doing that with. And for my part, as a photographer, it’s important not to overstep and make people think I’m a little too comfortable. That’s a line that you have to find anew with each couple.
As I said earlier, I prefer to watch and capture the action rather than orchestrate it, to be a fly on the wall rather than the elephant in the room. But with some clients, the relationship is so comfortable that it actually becomes a collaboration at moments, and in those moments I find myself going beyond my role as an observer/documentarian and becoming a participant of sorts.
I think that’s great when it happens, and I think it’s ideal if you can find a photographer with whom you get the feeling this might be possible. But no matter what your preferences are, no matter what you want and expect from your photographer, what’s most important is that you choose carefully so that when the big day comes, you can have that level of comfort and trust. It really makes a difference in the pictures you get back.
a few more tips to consider:
• social skills do not make up for mediocre photographic skills.
•if there are specific shots that you want to be sure get covered, it’s a good idea to mention them beforehand or even print a list. Despite what you see on The Knot and other sites, that list does not need to specify items such as “the dress” or “father-daughter dance”–unless your photographer has never been to a wedding before.
Thanks again to Josh! here is his contact info:
Joshua Freiwald
josh@joshuafreiwaldphoto.com
http://www.joshuafreiwaldphoto.com
tel: 646.729.7444
Since launching in 2004, our goal at Scissor Paper Stone has been to design and produce contemporary and modern invitations for fabulous weddings. We want to provide our customers with bespoke quality that fits their budget. We print everything to order so colors, typefaces, paper, images and layout can all be tweaked to the bride and groom’s taste. That said, we have just designed the invitations and stationery for our 4000th wedding – quite an achievement!
We are happy and proud to have been in business so long but we won’t rest on our laurels! We will be pushing forward plans in 2010 to create a budget range, printing on fully recycled paper and creating some new designs. We would like to thank everyone who has made the last 6 years so enjoyable, both our staff and customers….And here’s to another 6 years!
What could be more romantic than getting married on or around Valentines Day? Think Deep Red roses, a classic wedding dress and candy hearts as wedding favors. Indulge your guests with chocolate covered strawberries or a chocolate fountain accompanied by pink champagne cocktails at the reception. Be serenaded as you walk down the aisle by a harpist or while guests are enjoying pre-dinner drinks. To top it off jet to a romantic location such as Paris or the pink sands of Bermuda for a perfect Valentines Honeymoon.
Timing is always a concern when it comes to planning a wedding. I thought I would put together a handy little guide that will give you an outline of what needs to be done and when. This is certainly not an exact science so feel free to adjust as you like. I hope it helps!
Bride and Groom Timetable.
12 Months to go
• Select a wedding date
• Discuss budget with family
• Put together a master guest list
• Choose a tone for the wedding; Formal, Semi-formal, Informal
• Hire a wedding planner
• Pick the ceremony and reception venues and come up with a plan for rain
• Select the wedding party
• Register for gifts
9 months and counting
• Hire the three biggies: the band/DJ, photographer and florist
• Pick accommodation options for guests on the wedding night
• Order and mail save-the-dates
• Shop for the wedding dress
• Select an officiant
6 months to go
• Line up additional vendors: Caterer, videographer, musicians for the ceremony
• Book venue for the rehearsal dinner and decide on guest list
• Choose Grooms attire
• Buy gifts for bridesmaids, groomsman and parents
5 months and Counting
• Meet with florist and decide upon flowers and colors
• Reserve rentals, linens and lighting
• Discuss with friends and family: invitation wording, who will make the toasts and the ceremony
• Order bridesmaid dresses
• Buy wedding rings
4 months to go
• Order invitations, the wedding Cake (reference your flowers and dress) and grooms cake
• Take dance lessons and think about songs you like
• Go over the ceremony with officiant and musicians
• Experiment with hairstyles and make-up
• Make Honeymoon plans
3 months
• Go over music with the wedding band/DJ
• Book transportation if needed
• Mail your invitations
2 months, yes that is 60 days;)
• Have a tasting with the caterer and decide on the menu
• Send out wedding announcements to local newspaper/magazines
• Order reception items; place cards, table numbers,
30 days to go
• Arrange bridesmaids’ brunch or luncheon details
• Buy marriage license
• Call those who have not RSVP’d
20 days left
• Assign tables
• Final dress fitting
• Finalize vendor payments and gratuities
• Create a schedule for the day for all vendors
7 to 14 days to go
• Confirm wedding party transportation and arrival times
• Record gifts as you receive them and write thank you notes
• Arrange for gown cleaning and bouquet preservation after the ceremony
• Pick up wedding rings: check engravings and sizes
• Remind men to pick up formal wear and shoes. Check for fit
The week before
• Three musts: Manicure, pedicure and massage
• Luncheon with your girls
• Finish honeymoon packing
• Relax the day before!
The Wedding day
• Have a healthy breakfast
• Try to zen out with yoga, a jog, or massage
• Promise yourself to enjoy every moment and let go
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Vendor Spotlight: Places Everyone
0 Comments | Posted by Robin in Cool vendors and products
One off the great things about this blog is the chance to talk about vendors and products I truly like and that will be helpful to brides-to-be out there. I recently had the pleasure of meeting Adam Wolf at a get together thrown by Courtney Kern, wedding planner extroadinaire and a good friend. Adam is the president of Places Everyone and I think his product is beautiful in it’s simplicity and usefulness. I know that when most people are thinking about their reception and where to seat their guests they go through reams of post it notes and tape!
So in a nutshell here it is: This easy-to-use “seating planner” kit contains a large board that represents your reception space, plus a bunch of pieces that designate tables and guests, A marker to label the pieces with guests’ names and table numbers and a nifty eraser pen to make changes are also included. Arrange and rearrange the pieces as you’d move pawns on a board game. Sounds like fun, huh? Make the right moves and your guests will thank you. Do yourself a favor and check this product out.
Finally, I thought a little Q & A would be good so here goes:
Tell us a little bit about Places Everyone and how you got started?
Adam: We started about 10 years ago. It took 1 year for Research and Development and then we launched. It all started when my wife was planning our wedding and couldn’t find an easy (or even decent) way to plan the seating!
How does your product help make the wedding process easier for your customers?
Adam: Well, first let me say it’s NOT software. When you’re using software you need to either zoom in to see the table details (and then not see the floor plan) or zoom out (and not see who is at which table). With Places Everyone, you can see all the details all the time. There’s no training needed and anyone can use it. It’s completely reusable and will work for any event at any location.
Do you see any new wedding trends for 2010?
Adam: Lots More “green” weddings.
What are some do’s and don’t for putting together your guest list?
Adam: Don’t assign SEATS (just tables). Let your guests have some say (by choosing their seat at the table). Don’t be afraid to “mix and match” (his side/her side) if you think people have things in common!
A big thanks to Adam and you can find Places Everyone at Http://www.placeseveryone.com or call them (877) PLACES-1
If you want to live like royalty for a day, get married in a stunning, country house setting. Formal gardens, stone pillars, gorgeous flower arrangements all create a sophisticated and elegant atmosphere. Treat your guests to champagne and canapes on the lawn before a traditional wedding breakfast under crystal chandeliers with tables decorated with touches of silver and gold.
Our Crystal Wedding Invitations are contemporary yet elegant and lend any event a touch of class. Printed on gorgeous shimmery paper they can be hand finished with silver or gold ribbons.
