Creating the Perfect Program - Choosing the Design {Ideas and Inspiration}

Wedding programs are one of the small details that add that extra special something to your big day. Programs are the first things your guests will see when they arrive at your ceremony so make them spectacular! Your wedding program will help guide your guests throughout the ceremony, as well as being a memento of your wedding.

Personalized with your picture, custom monogram or graphics matching the theme of your event, your wedding program makes a great favor, and your guests will appreciate the help in identifying "who's who" during the service and in following along with the proceedings.

A wedding program can be exactly what you want it to be, whether it’s a thick booklet, or a single sheet of paper with only the most important details. We realize that this is your wedding, which is why we offer a variety of Do It Yourself and custom wedding programs.

Here is a breakdown of a few different varieties of programs we offer to help you pick out the perfect one for your event. If you don't see something you love below check out our whole selection of programs on our website. All wedding programs are custom made to suit our clients needs. If you have a specific idea or theme in mind feel free to call us at 877-300-5290 or email us at info@cherishpaperie.com for any of your wedding program needs.

Choosing the Design

The style of program and the amount of information you include is completely up to you. If you feel it’s important to list all the people included in your ceremony, all the prayers and songs, and even a thank you message to guests, go with a program format that allows you plenty of room to print all that news.

Fan Programs

There are a few different design options when it comes to Fan Programs. And they aren't all the same size and shape. These great fans offer you a choice of not only personalization but also the flexibility of 3, 4 or 5 panels - a size for every need! This style program is not only a unique favor for your guests but also functional as well. Bound with a gold or silver eyelet. You can also add ribbon tassels to create a unique and personalized touch.

The best part about our fan programs is that there is a DIY option! You can purchase the Perfect Petals DIY fan kit from us and print out your programs at home. You design the look and feel of your programs and assemble them with the eyelets and accessories you choose.

Classic Booklet
Our classic custom printed program includes a folded cover page for the printing of the ceremony information. Insert pages can also be enclosed inside the cover for additional wedding details . This wedding program is bound at the side with saddle stitching (staples) or ribbon as an option. There is also a small booklet program that is perfect if you want a smaller size, but need more space than a single card for your information. This wedding program is bound at the side with saddle stitching (staples) or ribbon as an option.

The column booklet program is similar to the classic booklet but in a long skinny tea length design. An insert page can also be enclosed inside the cover for the ceremony and wedding party information. This wedding program is bound at the side with saddle stitching (staples) or ribbon as an option.

You can also go with the petite and square program. This type of booklet is unique on the outside and opens up to reveal inner content pages. This wedding program is bound at the side with saddle stitching (staples) or ribbon as an option.

Layered Style
This unique style program is created with 4 pages of paper that are stacked in layered increments and tied with a ribbon topper. Similar to the layered program, the stacked column program includes tea length pages that are stacked together and tied with a ribbon topper.

Tea Length
The tea length program is a one page flat panel cardstock. The ceremony and wedding party information can be printed on both front and back of cardstock. Options are available for embellishing this program.

Are you looking for help on designing your programs? Contact us and we'll be more than happy to design something for you! 

Sweets and Desserts Tables {Ideas and Inspiration}

Photo by Aaron Shintaku

Now I'm sure you've seen a few of the dessert tablescapes we've done stationery for. And while the sweets table at weddings is a pretty popular thing to do, they aren't just for weddings. You can also use a desserts table at your next birthday party, baby shower or other special event. Below are a few ideas on what type of sweets to offer as well as the pros and cons of each sweet:


Cupcake Bar
Now with a cupcake bar you can go two ways. You can have a cupcake tower or display of different already decorated cupcakes that your guests can grab and eat right away. Or you can create a true dessert station by setting out plain, unfrosted cupcakes for your guests to frost and top with whatever flavors and treats you've set out for them to use. 

For help with choosing what decorations to use for your cupcakes should you choose to go the decorated route we've found many different sources of inspiration. One simple "ideas for cupcake bar" search lead me to Cupcake Ideas for You's gallery of different cupcakes they've done in the past. They include everything from Super Mario cupcakes to Moulin Rouge inspired cupcakes. A great duo of books to check out if you're really interested in creative cupcake ideas are Hello Cupcake and the newest What's New, Cupcake. There's even a blog that also has inspiring pictures not featured in the books. And, of course, Martha is always a great resource.

Candy Bar
Another very popular favorite sweet to put out for your guests after cupcakes is candy. All sorts of candy. You can use wrapped candy to fill up bags and buckets or you can use unwrapped goodies as well. You could even offer personalized candy bars to guests as a take home gift like the ones Rachel Ray has on her magazine's website. She even lets you download and personalize a few for free!

If you use unwrapped candy (or wrapped candy as well) be sure to include scoops, tongs, spoons or other utensils to help your guests get the candy from the bowl or serving dish to their bag or plate. Some guests might not like to see others put their hands all over the candy they were just about to enjoy. Although we know that it's more than inevitable at a children's party.

Cookie Bar
Cookies are a great sweet treat. They're portable, tasty and very versatile. Choosing 3-4 different recipes and displaying them on different trays and plates will easily attract guests over for a nibble. A few great, hearty cookie recipes that won't fall apart in your guests hands are:

Chocolate Chip Cookies - or any variation (including oatmeal, raisins, macadamia nuts etc)
Sugar Cookies - with or without frosting
Peanut Butter cookies - but label clearly in case of allergies

A few more ideas can be found at Delish.com or MarthaStewart.com

Assorted Sweet Treats
And if you want to combine a few different sweets at one table please feel free to do so! I don't think I've ever heard a party guest complain about too many desserts!  

You can utilize the sweets tables in two ways, first to serve as dessert for your guests and second to serve as favors for your guests to take home. I like giving the option to do both by having packaging available for each guest to choose their option. Include a small bag or box for your guests to take a few treats home with them. If you'd like you can already package them up and include a favor tag with ribbon to tie the packages shut. Place them close to the entrance or exit of the party so guests don't forget to take them! 

And remember to order stationery from Cherish Paperie so that your guests know their dessert and sweets options. Your table will look beautiful with this added touch and the guests will appreciate being able to see exactly what they're eating instead of guessing based on the look of the dessert.

Playing with Envelopes {Ideas and Inspiration}

Now I know that Miss Manners and etiquette say that you should always hand address your invitation envelopes but if you don't mind going against the grain there are a few things you can do to spice up your envelope. Using different fonts, colors and even a picture or two can take your envelope, and invitation, to a new level.

You can stick with simply using a calligraphy type font to go with a classic, elegant look. Having us print the names and addresses of your guests directly on the envelope will save you time and money (if you were going to invest in a calligrapher).

Another great idea that some brides are doing is to have a calligrapher write the return name and address out and turn that calligraphy into a stamp. This not only is perfect for your invitations but will also be something that you can use for years to come!  You can find many stamp makers who do this but a few we like are Emilie Friday, Fawnsburg and eDanae.

Using a different font can lighten up an invitation envelope. And playing with different font sizes can also make your invitation envelope stand out and stay unique.

Adding a simple picture that ties your envelope in with your wedding theme can give the guests a glimpse of whats to come. By adding color to the envelope, whether that color is the envelope itself or the font and picture on the envelope, you can also change the look and feel of this important piece of stationery.

And remember if you are using a black or very dark envelope color you will need to use calligraphy in either white or silver ink or you can use our custom wrap around labels. The labels would also work well with other envelope colors as well.

The True Cost of a Wedding {Ideas and Inspiration}

Want to see where your wedding falls in the national scope of things? Check out this comprehensive chart we saw over at Divine Caroline. It's really interesting to see the breakdown of costs by item as well as by city. Where do you fall?

Photo Source: Divine Caroline and Credit Sesame

A Sip & See for Baby {Ideas & Inspiration}

A Sip and See is a great way to show off the new baby to friends and family. Having everyone over to see the baby over a couple of hours instead of having multiple groups of guests over a period of a few weeks can be easier on the new parents as well as the new baby.  It is also a great alternative for mamas who don't like a lot of attention that a shower brings to them since the new baby is the center of attention.

Most Sip and See's are a casual "open house" type shower held after the baby is born. Unlike a typical shower with a full meal, light appetizer-type foods and drinks are offered to guests. They can also be held for visiting relatives and house warming parties. They're basically a great excuse to get together, drink and eat and enjoy each others company.

If you're planning on hosting a Sip and See soon contact us to help in creating the perfect invitation for this special occasion.

Bridal Shower Celebrations {Ideas and Inspiration}

 

Looking to host the perfect bridal shower? Here are a few tips and tricks to help you choose the perfect invitation: 

Choose a Theme

You do not need a theme but some prefer to have one. Themed doesn't have to mean extravagant. The theme could be as simple as certain colors (like the wedding colors) or a certain type of food or ethnicity or you can really play it up and do a Breakfast at Tiffanys brunch or an afternoon tea.

Decide on the Decor

Check out different sites and blogs for decoration inspiration. The Knot and Martha Stewart both have wonderful ideas from simple DIY decorations to more upscale decor. These inspirational blogs and websites might help you decide everything else.

Also, don't forget about where you are hosting the shower when it comes to decor. If the shower is being held at a restaurant you may want to incorporate the restaurant's decor and style with your invitation.

Pick an Invitation

And when choosing the decor think about how you want that interpreted on the invitations. Both of these can play upon each other to tie the theme together. And remember that Cherish Paperie can personalize and customize any invitation you may find or be interested in! I especially love the design pictured above for a brunch shower or if you're planning a tea, our new tea bag invitation will definitely add the perfect touch. 

Mail out the Invitations

Talk with the bride (or her mother) to see if any close relatives or friends live out of state. A good time to send out the invitations is 4-6 weeks in advance of the shower; closer to 6 weeks if there are guests who need to make travel arrangements or if it is during a busy social season such as the winter or summer holidays.

Custom Baptism Invitations {Ideas & Inspiration}

As you may know from my bio I have a new little girl in my life. She's just shy of 5 months and now that the Easter season has passed we are in full planning mode for her baptism. What you might not know is that I not only work with Cherish Paperie as their Social Media Consultant, I'm also a repeat customer. Starting with planning my own wedding in 2007 I've used Cherish Paperie for everything from invitations to announcements to Christmas cards.

So when I began envisioning my daughter's baptism I quickly turned to Adrienne and Diane for help. Not only did we create the perfect invitation together, I was also able to plan the whole reception decor from the invitation design. That's whats so great about working with Cherish Paperie. They not only create a beautiful product, the team is with you every step of the way as you design your perfect piece of stationery.

Stay tuned for pictures of the reception with great ideas for your next celebration!

Royal Wedding Programme {Ideas & Inspiration}

Have you checked out the royal wedding program yet? The 28 page royal wedding program was released to the public on Friday. There is a PDF copy available for you to download and browse through if you haven't yet seen it. I not only love reading the layout of the ceremony but also the history of the different aspects of the ceremony. The wedding was so beautifully traditional and the program just added to it. I also love that Prince William and Prince Harry are donating all profit from the sale of the programs to the Foundations of Prince William & Prince Harry.

Wrap Around Labels {Ideas and Inspiration}

I love when a new design idea comes out and it makes the whole look and feel of a product even better. This definitely is the case with wrap around labels. They're so versatile and customizable, not to mention functional! You can not only put your recipients address on the label but your return address as well. And the label can serve as a second seal to the back of the envelope. Plus, doesn't it just look good?

Now I know that wedding invitations are supposed to be handwritten (ya know, as per Miss Manners herself) but if you aren't going that route and are planning on printing the addresses on labels or right on the envelopes then this is a great alternative!

These would also be great for party invitations, thank you cards or just your every day stationery to write to friends and loved ones.

Cherish Paperie not only offers custom stationery but the accessories that make that stationery one of a kind. From custom stamps to custom wrap around labels, we're your one stop shop for all stationery needs!

Alway a Bridesmaid - Custom Bridesmaid Cards {Ideas and Inspiration}

So you significant other has asked the big question and you said yes! Now what do you do? Why not start at the beginning and think about who you want standing by your side on your big day? A special way to ask your best friends to join you and stand up for you is a custom card made just for them. Personalize it with their name(s) and the role you are asking them to play (maid/matron/man of honor, bridesmaid, attendant, etc).

You can get fun and creative in how you present it as well. You don't need to just mail it out. Plan a special tea or luncheon at a nice restaurant or ask them to join you for a spa day to celebrate the occasion. 

Once they've agreed and you start moving on with your planning process, keep them up to date on all of the happenings. Let them know when you need them. Use a cute card that states when the dress fittings are, when the hair appointments are scheduled and any other event is scheduled for.

These special cards can be customized to match your wedding invitations and reception stationery. 

And if your friend(s) hasn't attended a wedding or been a bridesmaid before your wedding make sure they know what you are asking of them. You could even get them a bridesmaid's guide. Don't assume that every person knows exactly what a bridesmaid's role is in the wedding.

If you're a bridesmaid in an upcoming wedding here are a few guides I have found from various wedding websites:

• 10 Ways the Bridesmaid Can Help The Bride
• Ultimate Bridesmaid Guide
• 11 Tips to Giving a Terrific Toast

You can find many other tips and tricks from TheKnot.com if you can't find it in the articles above!

Paper Scraps and Crafts {Party Ideas and Decoration Inspiration}

We always have tons of paper and ribbon scraps leftover from all out jobs, so I have often tried to think of project for getting rid of them in an effort to stay green and recycle or upcycle... here are a few ideas I thought I could share with you!

These potted paper flowers we found at Hostess with the Mostess would make the perfect centerpiece for your next birthday party. I'm actually considering using a similar design for my daughter's baptism reception. They're so eye catching and beautiful. And you can really make the design match any theme or color combination you choose.

I love the idea of homemade wrapping paper. It's just so much more personalized than the stuff you buy at the store. So when I saw these adorable map bows on How About Orange I knew I could try my hand at them with the paper scraps we have laying around as well. Wouldn't this look amazing on top of that perfect gift?

And how gorgeous are these flowers we found at lushlee? They'd be great just laid out on a tablescape like confetti. Or used to accent a napkin ring at a table setting.

These cute hearts also found at lushlee could serve as Valentine's Day decorations or you could use them at another event celebrating love.

Paper garland is so simple and easy to make. And there are so many different variations (as shown on Oh Baby!'s blog). These would be great for a bridal or baby shower. You could even use them for a children or adult's birthday party. They'd work well for themed parties such as Cinco De Mayo festivities and St. Patrick's Day celebrations. You just match the colors to the theme and start stapling, taping or gluing away!

DIY ribbon pomanders are a fabulous idea we found at Project Wedding for the DIY bride. They're a great alternative to flower pomanders for your flower girls to carry down the aisle. They'd also make great aisle or pew decorations as well and you would be able to make them ahead of time.

We found inspiration in paper flowers from Pepper Design Blog. Paper flowers are always a great alternative to real flowers and bridal and baby showers. And they're great for more than one reason. You don't have to buy them within a certain time frame since they keep forever and you don't have to water them! You can find DIY instructions on how to make your own flowers here on the Martha Stewart website.

If you're interested in more paper flower ideas check out these whimsical paper flowers by Emmaline Bride. They are all so very cute and really inspire us to think outside the box the next time we see those bits of scraps left over from our next project. What are your favorite ways to reuse scraps?

Whimsical Fun - Greens and Browns {Featured Invitation}

I was going to wait and feature these for a future color board but I couldn't help myself... how cute are these invitations?? I love the fun, whimsical feel to it all. And the two cute love birds in the tree? Adorable! I also like the swirls in the tree branches that almost make hearts the way they're positioned. Don't you just love it?

I can't wait to see what the wedding is like!

Baptism and First Communion Invitations {Ideas and Inspiration}

A baptism is a very special moment in a new child's life. It is something to be celebrated and shared with friends and family. What better way to share this celebration than by designing the perfect invitation!

With Easter right around the corner I have started looking into designing an invitation for my daughter's baptism. Many who know me know that I LOVE the little details. When I throw a party I want everything to be perfect and that includes the invitations. I also want to make sure that the colors and embellishments match the decor I plan on using. That way I can tie in the theme of the event. Now a theme doesn't have to be elaborate. It can be as simple as using the same color palate for the decorations and paper goods. And this doesn't mean matchy matchy.

I think the best part about designing my invitation is that I don't have to stick to the standard baptism invitations. I can really use just about any invitation and customize it to fit my occasion. So don't let the names of the invitations stop you if they say "wedding" or "baby". Any of these can be used for other events!

I am thinking of using pinks and silver as the base for my daughter's baptism and love this invitation. The best part is that I can DIY it and add my own personal touch to it. Now, if you aren't that into DIY you can always have Custom Programs print and assemble for you! Then they can ship them to your door ready to be sent out to your guests.

First Communion invitations are also something to start thinking about. If your child is planning on completing their first communion this year than you may want to start thinking about this announcement as well even if you aren't going to have a reception afterward. Acknowledging this joyous event in your child's life will not only make others aware of your child's accomplishments but will also let your child know how special it is to you that they are taking this next step into their relationship with God.

New Wedding Program Designs {Ideas and Inspiration}

Of course everything we do is custom, tailored for each bride we work with. But we often seem to do the same designs over and over again, customers have trouble envisioning exactly what they want since they can't "see" it. Or they see things on our gallery and want exactly that, which is great too, but I wanted to show off some of the new things we have been doing to inspire all the new brides this year. We can do so much to liven up programs, adding just some black and white graphics, it doesn't add anything to the cost but it sure makes it pretty!