Forever entwined

It has been a busy day. Before 9AM this morning, I had already attended a wedding – well, I was virtually there, along with millions of other people, watching as Leigh and Nick became the 10th couple to be married on the Today Show. As Meredith Viera said during her toast to the couple, Leigh and Nick “exemplify what these events are all about – that’s love, joy and grace.” Of course, that’s what we hope for every couple and for every wedding.

For the ceremony, the plaza at Rockefeller Center was decorated to look like a vineyard. Why a vineyard? There’s something about a vineyard that puts people into a romantic mood. We explored this idea just about one year ago when we had the opportunity to create a framed keepsake collage of a vineyard-themed invitation. Take a look at the finished product and note the happy comments of both the gift giver and the bride.

So Mr. and Mrs. Nick Cordes, if you’re listening, we know you had a fabulous time today, and you have the videotape (and internet slideshow) to prove it. But wouldn’t you like something to help preserve your memories that doesn’t involve technology? We think you would, so we would like to offer you a wedding gift: Purple Raincoat will be happy to create a one-of-a-kind framed keepsake for you. It can be an invitation, a photograph, the passage that the minister read from the Bible - you select the focal point, and we will build a work of art around it that will stir your emotions and bring back cherished memories of your special day. It’s the perfect way to make sure you don’t forget about your memories.

Give us a call when you get back from your honeymoon in Australia and we’ll get started making something beautiful for you. Because we believe that 2009 is a “vintage” year for you, and that like a good wine, you will get better with age.

Invitation keepsakes start with great invitations, Part IIIa: Be ready to answer your dealer's questions

A good dealer (see Invitation keepsakes start with great invitations, part II; selecting a dealer) will ask you lots of questions before you start – and you should be prepared to answer them. Key questions include the following:

• What is the occasion - for example, is it a wedding, engagement, bar/bat mitzvah, or milestone anniversary, baptism, retirement ceremony, or surprise birthday?

• What kind of party (or parties) you are having – for example, a country club reception following a church or synagogue wedding ceremony, a luncheon following a bar/bat mitzvah and a separate party for children?

• Is everyone invited to all parts of the event? For example, only out-of-town guests may be invited to a special brunch or dinner, and some children may not be invited to a rehearsal dinner.

• Is there a caterer who needs to know your guests’ choices of entrees? If so, you may want to include this information on your response card.

• Are there out-of-town guests who need to make hotel reservations and let you know what parts of an “event weekend” they will be attending?

• How are you going to address your invitations – for example, do you plan to do them yourself, hire a calligrapher, or have the invitation company print the guest addresses?

• Do you have any budget constraints when it comes to selecting your invitation? Most good dealers carry a wide variety of invitations at a wide range of prices. A dealer should have invitations available in your price range – if not, it’s time to find another dealer. Browse the invitations available through eInvite (get there from the Purple Raincoat homepage) to get ideas of what is available in various price ranges.

Your dealer also should be able to suggest ways to save money without compromising the quality of your invitation. For example, some invitations allow for more text than others, and so may eliminate the need for a reception card. Others may have room only for the essential information about a wedding ceremony or a bar/bat mitzvah service, making it necessary to include a reception card with the information about the celebration.

Working with your dealer, you should be able to create an invitation that is as unique and special as the people and occasion being celebrated. So don't hide that invitation in a drawer - display it proudly with a one-of-a-kind Purple Raincoat keepsake. You put a lot of thought into the invitation; we put a lot of thought into showcasing it as a unique work of art in a framed invitation keepsake. Great for any special occasion. No question about it!