Event Planning

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So you’ve said ‘Yes', squealed with delight, practiced your new signature and set the date; what’s next? Of course, it’s time to tell the world by inviting all of your nearest and dearest to the big day! Invitations Naturally, your wedding invitations are very important as they will be the first glimpse your guests have of your wedding day. As well as letting them know the all-important details of the day such as date, time and location, your invites will also give your guests an idea of the tone and theme of your wedding and convey your own personal taste. Choosing wedding stationery which matches the colour scheme or theme of your big day will give your wedding a more coherent feel, whilst selecting stationery in complementary colours and styles will help to ensure your guests are suitably ‘wowed’. As well as being the ideal way to extol a theme and ascertain accurate guest numbers, invitations are also great for asking guests about any special dietary requirements they may have (essential for the wedding breakfast) and for giving gentle ‘hints’ about your gift preferences. Whilst this may once have been regarded as being something of a taboo, it is now quite acceptable to include details of the gift list with invitations (as long as they are not done in a ‘diva’ type way!). ‘Save the Date’ It is fair to say that we all lead busy lives these days. Indeed, the phrase ‘There just aren’t enough hours in the day’ could actually be the national motto of 21st century Britain! Therefore, it is clear to see that sending out invitations to your wedding a month or two before the event is not likely to yield the best results in terms of attendance. People are just too busy these days and a ‘head’s up’ of a couple of months is sometimes just not enough. If you want to be sure that all your friends and family members will be present and correct on your big day, you need to send out Save the Date cards around six months before the wedding. These handy little cards really can be invaluable as they will enable your prospective guests to plan ahead and ensure they will be available to join you on your special day. If you are planning a wedding abroad or during busy holiday times like Summer or Christmas, then you would do well to send them out even earlier than six months beforehand is this will make sure nobody is double-booked. The Card Gallery Here at The Card Gallery, we have a wide range of wedding invites and associated stationery options to suit all tastes and budgets, from professionally printed stationery, to DIY options where you can make your very own personalised invites. We even offer wedding invitation samples so you can see just how your wedding stationery will look before you buy. To find out more, simply take a few moments to browse our pages further.

Don't miss out on our Wedding Sale, we have lots of products reduce so now is your chance to grab a bargain! Here are some of the featured sale items: Take a look online now and see how much you could save!

We currently have a sale in our Occasions section of the website! Take a look and see what bargains you can pick up for all of the special occasions in your family. Here are a few examples of what is currently on sale... Take a look online now and see for yourself the great items in our occasions sale!

Like many other betrothed couples these days, you may well be keen to have your wedding abroad rather than in the UK. There are a great many benefits in doing this; however, arguably the most pressing reason for choosing to get wed overseas is that you can be pretty sure the weather will be a lot more reliable! Of course, having a wedding overseas brings with it a number of logistical problems i.e. transport and accommodation for your guests. Unlike a wedding in the UK, your guests won’t be able to drive to and from the venue in the same day – they’ll have to fly to your chosen destination before the ceremony, pre-book a hotel for a at least a few days and then fly back again once the celebrations are over. Naturally, this will need to be sorted out as far in advance as possible, otherwise your guests may well find it difficult to find flights and accommodation within their price range. Unsurprisingly, sending your guests a wedding invitation four to six weeks before the date of the big day will not be overly helpful as it will not give them the time they need to sort everything out. Indeed, it may even transpire that your chosen guests will not be able to make it at all if you give them such little notice. No, if you’re going to invite people to share your matrimonials abroad, you need to give them plenty of notice in advance – and the best way to do that is to send out save-the-date cards. These simple measures (available in printed notice, postcard and fridge magnet form) are ideal for this purpose as they are able to provide your nearest and dearest with a very effective ‘heads-up’ about where your wedding will be and when they are invited to join you. These wonderful cards require no response from your recipients nor do they ‘lock’ your guests into any kind of commitment to attend - they simply act as a friendly alert to your far off special day and highlight your enthusiasm for those invited to join you. Like any other form of wedding stationery, these cards can be as simple or elaborate as your taste (or budget) dictates. For example, a save-the-date fridge magnet can feature a very simple message and include an image which is in keeping with the theme of the day. Similarly, a save-the-date postcard could include something like a calendar of the wedding month (with the date circled by a heart) on one side of the card, with all of the particulars printed on the other side. Without doubt, asking your friends and family members to ‘save the date’ in this way will be thoughtful, helpful, and much appreciated. To find out more about save-the-date stationary and view our exemplary range of cards and magnets in greater detail, simply take a few moments to explore our pages further.

Take a look at some of our fabulous Thank You Card designs: We really do have something for every occasion, so take a look online now!

The annual BAFTA Awards Season Tea Party reached new heights of glitz and glamour this year, with a capacity crowd of Hollywood's biggest names filling the ballroom of the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills for the poshest tea party of all time! The BAFTA Tea Party has a long tradition of recognizing the very best film-making talent and is hugely popular with nominees seeking a respite from the hectic and demanding awards season. This year, the likes of Ben Affleck, Hugh Jackman, Kathryn Bigelow, Christoph Waltz, Daniel Day Lewis, Sally Field, Tim Burton, Marion Cotillard, Helena Bonham Carter, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Jon Bon Jovi, Amanda Seyfried, Sienna Miller, Michelle Dockery, Julian Fellowes and a host of other peers were seen mingling in a room of brimming with BAFTA members and guests. There was a noticeably relaxed atmosphere in the room, perhaps thanks to the six different types of teas on hand to calm any pre-award nerves and a constant flow of Tattinger to toast the nominees. As well as honoring the year's nominees and winners, the Tea Party also included a silent auction to raise funds and awareness of BAFTA's Community Outreach and Philanthropic programs including the Heritage Archive and Inner City Cinema programs. If the BAFTA tea party has got you in the mood to throw your own lavish affair, then take a look at our fabulous tea party invitations - we've got something for everyone!

Happy New Year!!! Wow - what a year last year was...especially with our end of year plan to update the website to keep it looking fresh for all of you - our loyal customers. Then there were all of the lovely new products that we just had to shout about...the Christmas break was a chance to take a breath before starting up again in 2013! And here we are. A brand new year and lots of exciting new products to share with you. From getting engaged to having a baby and everything in between (and not necessarily in that order!) we cover all of your Special Occasion stationery in one place. We're always happy to talk to you too, so give us a call if you need advice on any aspect of your stationery. From choosing the right design for you, through to bespoke alterations, quantity queries and delivery dilemmas - we're here to help! Keep an eye on out Help and Advice section throughout the year as it is updated every week with a whole host of helpful tips, useful templates and a frequently asked questions section chock full of everything you always wanted to ask. In the meantime, why not become a liker of our Facebook page - it's often the first place that we advertise all of our special offers and discounts, so don't miss out!

Christenings are not just a very special moment in your child’s life; they are also a deep and meaningful time for your entire family, as they signify your child’s readiness to become part of your family’s chosen religion. Naturally, this is a big step so you may well choose to share the occasion with your closest friends and family.

Invitations

The most common way of inviting close friends and family members to this kind of event is to send out christening invitations. As with many other special events however, there are a number of things which need to be considered before sending out invites. For example, the gender of the baby will naturally play a large part in determining the types of invites which will need to be chosen. Moreover, any theme or symbolic element which is likely to be a big feature of the occasion will also need to be present on the Christening invites.

Themes & Symbolism

There are a great many wonderful themes which can be incorporated into a christening. Of course, a cross is always an important element as this marks the holiness of the event through the washing away of sins and the profession of faith. Hearts are also a great theme as they symbolise new life, as well as the unconditional love that parents and children share. Baby feet are also a very charming theme. Indeed, the tiny feet of a child represent the many steps they will take with their family to reach adulthood. Flowers and floral designs are another great thematic feature for a Christening as they symbolise new life, growth and development.

Colours & Accessories

Bright white has long been associated with Christenings as babies are usually dressed in bright white christening gowns to symbolise their purity. Ergo, incorporating white into your invitations and decorations will help you to reinforce the purity (as well as the sanctity) of the occasion. In addition to appropriate themes and colours, you may also need to think about having a few suitable accessories on hand for the big day. For example, some matching party accessories and favours such as napkins with your baby’s name and christening date on can help to make any post-Christening gathering look suitably smart and celebratory.

Conclusions

Quite simply, a Christening is a truly special and memorable event for everyone involved. Indeed, this occasion marks that special moment when your child truly becomes a party of your faith’s religious family, so it really is important to ensure it is celebrated in a suitable way. Fortunately, sending out appealing invitations, choosing appropriate themes and colours, and complimenting the day itself with a few well chosen accessories will help to ensure your family’s special day will be remembered for all the right reasons. To find out more and view our extensive range of high-quality yet reassuringly cheap Christening invitations in greater detail, simply take a few moments to browse our pages further here at dottyaboutpaper.co.uk.

Kelly Clarkson was the big star of last night’s VH1 Divas show… or rather her huge engagement ring was!!!

Clarkson’s partner, Brandon Blackstock, proposed to her last week and the American Idol starlet was looking radiantly happy as she took to the stage for the VH1 show. The Daily Mail have published snaps of the star, in her multi-fabric, figure hugging gown, with her yellow diamond engagement ring taking centre stage as she clutches the microphone stand in front of her. Kelly joined a number of other female stars for the VH1 show, which was held in aid of the Save the Music foundation, which funds music programmes and has done so for the last decade. Kelly Rowland, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato and Jordin Sparks were amongst the performers. The event paid tribute to Whitney Houston and Donna Summer, both of whom passed away this year. Kelly Rowland duetted with Adam Lambert for her performance, dressed in a cream and black striped catsuit. She arrived onstage in front of a wheel of disco balls, in tribute to Donna Summer. Rowland sang ‘I Feel Love’ and ‘Bad Girls’ before being joined onstage by Keri Hilson, who performed ‘She Works Hard For The Money’ with her. Hilson was sporting a particularly daring outfit, which seemed to consist of a drape of silver material, covering her breasts purely using willpower and possibly a hint of magic! We'd like to say congratulations to Kelly on her engagement, and look forward to the wedding!

A new baby is a cause for celebration. When you become a parent, you embark on a journey filled with new and rewarding experiences. A Christening is the perfect way to mark this new beginning. It gives all your friends and family a chance to meet your new addition and celebrate the beginning of their life. Christenings are usually held in places of worship, with an informal party held at the hosts’ home afterwards. A christening is something that’s only happens once in a lifetime, so you’ll want to make sure that everything is exactly as you want it. Everything from your Christening invites, to the decorations, to the food you serve should be planned meticulously. It will help to create wonderful memories for you, your guests and your child.

Christening Theme Ideas

Your christening theme should reflect your tastes and personality. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Animals – Everyone loves animals. This makes them the perfect theme for a Christening. Choose some favourite animals and base your party decorations on them. Send Christening invitations decorated with cartoon animals or cuddly toys. You could even ask your guests to bring your baby gifts based on the theme.
• Photographs – Prior to the Christening ceremony, you could take your new baby for a professional photo shoot. Not only will it give you something to commemorate this magical time, the photos can also be used as christening party decorations. You can create personalised Christening invitations packs using a photograph of your baby to send to your guests. They will love having a memento of the special occasion! You can then blow up some of the photos and use them to decorate your home or party venue.
• Gender Specific – There are a number of gender specific themes you can use to celebrate the birth of your baby boy or girl. You can send invitations and use invitations adorned with fairies, cute teddy bears or pink cupcakes to commemorate your new baby girl. Rockets and trains provide great themes for a baby boy’s Christening.

Colour Themes

For many new parents, choosing a specific theme for the Christening can be incredibly time consuming. Choosing a colour scheme is often a simpler option, and will still create a beautiful theme for your baby’s Christening party.

Colour Themes for Baby Girls

• Pink – Pink is the obvious choice for a baby girl’s Christening. Decorate with a number of different shades of pink to avoid your party venue looking too over the top!
• Purple – If you think a pink theme for a baby girl is too cliché, why not choose a purple theme for your Christening party? Beautiful shades of purple are still ‘female friendly’, without conforming to the stereotype.

Colour Themes for Baby Boys

• Baby Blue – Baby blue is a classic theme for a boy’s Christening. There are hundreds of baby blue invitations and decorations that you can use for your party.
• Black and White – A ‘black and white’ theme can create an incredibly unique and classy christening. Send invitations decorated with a beautiful black and white baby photograph, then extend the theme throughout your party.