Wedding Help me decide on STD please

[meresal]

Ok, so never realized that STD''s would be the same prices as invitations...

Anyway, we found one that we like, but I can tell I''m not getting serious feedback from my family. We like this one, but without the (!) after Save the Date at the top. Is there something that I''m missing that isn''t attractive about these?

Here''s the link to my other thread if you need to see the theme/feel of my wedding.
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/another-decision-down-colors.97634/

FYI, I would like HONEST opinions, and open to any other options you may have as well.

 

[bensbride]

I think they are lovely and simple and classic...which really goes with what your theme ideas are for your wedding! I''d order them if you love them...who cares what other people think. Some people just don''t understand save the dates. My fiancee really doesn''t understand them at all...he thinks they don''t make sense because we''ve already told people the date and we''ll be sending invitations. Was your family excited about the STD idea and not these in particular, or just not into the idea as a whole? Either way, I would just pick ones that you both like and go ahead and send them out.

 

[CDNinNYC]

I agree with bensbride in that they''re simple and classic.

However, they might be a tiny bit boring too. (Don''t hate me!) I think STDs are a great way to showcase your personality/relationship; you should have fun with them, make them a little more unique. It might help create anticipation and excitement amongst your guests. Save the simple and classic for the invites.

Just my $.02

 

[Sha]

Nice....but I think they're also a bit plain. Not sure what your wedding theme/colours are...but I think it would like nicer with a little colour or creative design in the background.

ETA: I just read in the other thread that your wedding colours are black, champagne, and platinum/silver. I wonder if you could you have some silver touches on the STD...maybe the font could be dark silver? or perhaps the border?

By the way, is your wedding really in 2012? That's a long engagement! If so, wouldn't be sending these out a bit early if you do send them out in the next few weeks/months? I don't think most people have 2012 calendars as yet....?

 

[Lanie]

Hey Meresal! I love the look of these, but I agree with the others...STDs I''ve seen in the past have been more fun and colorful. We had a lot of fun with ours and we are saving the formality for the real invites. Our STDs were actually a mixture of classy/simple and fun, so you can find a happy medium! I don''t have pics posted of ours...a long time ago I posted possibilities, but we never went with those.

 

[sunnyd]

Can you spice up the colors a bit? Then I would love them.

 

[Lanie]

P.S. Print your own if you can. You can design one on Photoshop like the one you posted, and even with color copies, it is way cheaper than ordering from a company. I couldn''t justify the cost of expensive STD''s personally.

 

[CDNinNYC]

OK, this option might be too far out there in comparison to what you are currently considering but it''s so darn cute! You can have someone take a photo of you and your fiance somehere distinctly local or in front of your venue, then photoshop in the details. Printing should be affordable.

 

[kittybean]

Date: 11/5/2008 12:23:36 PM
Author: CDNinNYC
OK, this option might be too far out there in comparison to what you are currently considering but it''s so darn cute! You can have someone take a photo of you and your fiance somehere distinctly local or in front of your venue, then photoshop in the details. Printing should be affordable.

I have to say, CDNinNYC, that this idea is SO CUTE. I love it! I wish I had thought of something so sweet and clever.

Meresal, I would go for something a little more fun and modern for the Save the Dates. You can save the more formal stationery for the invitation, which will also cut down the cost. Most STD''s I''ve received have been postcards or magnets; the fancy, invitation-quality paper and printing is not really necessary. Your Save the Date definitely doesn''t have to cost as much as your invite! I would check out Wedding Paper Divas or Carlson Craft''s Something Different line. I got my Save the Dates from the latter (they are these in "kiwi"), and they were very cute and reasonable. The paper quality of Carlson Craft''s STD''s and WPD''s line in general isn''t what I would choose for invites, but I thought it was just right for the STD''s.

 

[kama_s]

To be absolutely honest, I LOVE your STDs. You said the feel you''re going for is elegant, and doing anything more fun or bold wouldn''t fit the bill. The one thing I suggest is to change the colours a tad. The cards would look beautiful if you add in a touch of the champagne-gold along around the corner between the black. And even maybe a bit of brushed gold ribbon.

 

[blondebunny]

I have to agree with some of the other posters... its a tad plain/boring...but that is my taste... if u dont think it is.. then go for it... But i agree..maybe play with the colors a bit?? I definitely think if you add a pretty ribbon it would spice it up some and make it more elegant in my opinion.

 

[kama_s]

I tried to paint it a bit to show you what I mean. I couldn''t find an accurate champagne-gold colour you are using, but this is just to give you an idea

 

[kama_s]

And here''s one with a ribbon

 

[Clairitek]

Date: 11/5/2008 11:39:24 AM
Author: Sha
By the way, is your wedding really in 2012? That''s a long engagement! If so, wouldn''t be sending these out a bit early if you do send them out in the next few weeks/months? I don''t think most people have 2012 calendars as yet....?

I believe that is just a sample image from the website- not their actual proof.

I think that there isn''t anything wrong at all with this STD. I really like the idea of the photo one with the details photoshopped in but if your wedding is more simple and classic then I would go with what you posted with a silver or pale champagne gold border like someone mentioned in a previous response.

I bet you can find them printed somewhere cheaper than using the website this image came from. I don''t see why they should cost as much as your invites. I could be terribly naive though considering I''ve never hosted a wedding before.

 

[kama_s]

Blahh...I had another version without the ''!'', but I posted the wrong one for you. If you want me to post it again without exclamation mark, let me know.

 

[lovesparklies]

I love your STD, too. It''s hard to find a jazzy one that will match your wedding themes and colors (or at least that''s been my experience)! The pattern isn''t right or the flowers are cutesy or the colors are wrong... I think the one you posted is classic and pretty and totally gets the job done. I''m probably doing something similar, though, but with a gold border and pink writing to match my wedding colors so I might be biased...

Definitely look at weddingpaperdivas.com''s save the dates -- most of them are about $1.30 each which is a lot less than most wedding invites.

finestationery.com also has some nice but relatively inexpensive ones, all the way up to really expensive ones.

 

[meresal]

I totally see where you all are coming from. I was under the impression that they needed to match the feel of my invitations, which will obviously be formal. The wedding is going to be as close to Black Tie as you can get, and I was worried about confusing people with something "whimsical". (Wow, that sounds horrible... formal wedding = no fun... not quite what I'm going for either. LOL) We really like these, but maybe they would be better for the invitations. With the ribbon of color around the edge like you all suggested(Thanks!!). FYI: The inside border is gold, and the outer border is black... I couldn't tell either.

I would love to use a photo and some editing, but FI and I just have no time to do any engagement photos until late Dec or early Jan, and I would like to have my STD's out by early to mid January... so that won't work. (I'll look thru some photos to have and see if there is anything I can use.) I have a great photo from NYC, but there is a GLOWING stroller in the corner, any one want to see what they can do?? Everyone is really excited about the wedding and I don't want people to think it is going to be a stuffy dinner, which is what I kind of worry with these. I'll post the picture and another STD I found.

(The wedding is July 25, 2009... those are the generic names and wedding date that the site has on all of their invites/STD's/everything else.)

 

[CDNinNYC]

Hey meresal,

if you don''t have time to take any photos, maybe you might want to consider doing a timeline like SarahLovesJS and I did. The idea is to tell YOUR relationship story. If you like this option, the colours and font you choose can make it look more formal without being stuffy.

Here''s the initial proof of our STD. We''ve since made some changes but it gives you an idea...

 

[meresal]

CD- I LOVE this idea. Did you do them yourselves?? Where did you design the format?

 

[CDNinNYC]

I'm glad you like it! Both Sarah and I went with Kristy Rice at Monumental Designs. She was great to work with and does everything from listening to your ideas, producing the design, and printing the final product.

Another option might be to contact one of the Etsy vendors out there to design the STD for you; they'll email you the JPEG and you're responsible for choosing the paper, printing, and assembly.

 

[CDNinNYC]

Here''s another sample of the timeline STD and my inspiration.

 

[Haven]

I love this save-the-date! BUT, I'm a purist when it comes to formal invitations and such, so I tend to dislike the less formal items with pictures and all that. I really think the invites and save-the-dates set the tone for the event, and if it's a formal event, then I prefer formal stationery.

I'm not sure if you're planning on using this wording, but in case you are, I would change the first bit.
It currently reads: Please make plans to join us for the upcoming wedding of . . .
I dislike the shift in POV. It begins in the first person, and shifts immediately to the third person, which just isn't right.

You could use:

Please make plans to join us for
our wedding
on Saturday, July 8, 2012
Lake Forest, Illinois
(And then you could include your full names at the top or the bottom of the card)

OR

Please make plans to join us for
the upcoming wedding of
Miss Bethany Marie Halliday and Mr. Stanford Curtis Blingalot
Saturday, July 8, 2012
Lake Forest, Illinois

 

[Sparkalicious]

Date: 11/5/2008 1:41:22 PM
Author: meresal
I totally see where you all are coming from. I was under the impression that they needed to match the feel of my invitations, which will obviously be formal. The wedding is going to be as close to Black Tie as you can get, and I was worried about confusing people with something ''whimsical''. (Wow, that sounds horrible... formal wedding = no fun... not quite what I''m going for either. LOL)

Meresal - If it helps any, I was under the same impression. Our wedding is going to be formal and I understood that wedding stationery needed to set the tone, therefore, we were looking for save the dates that were quite formal. When sitting down to discuss design ideas with our designer, they suggested that we maintain our formal invite but make our STD a little more fun, if somewhat less formal. FWIW, I don''t think that you will confuse your guests if you send out an STD that has a little bit more personality to it ... If you keep it classy and elegant and follow up with a formal invite, they will get the picture.

Based on your ideas so far, I can tell that whatever you decide to go with will be beautiful and be a delight for your guests!

Also - I ditto Haven''s suggestions about the wording ... She is just so incredible with that stuff! Haven - I think that you should provide wedding wording assistance professionally. You''re terrific with it.

 

[Dreamgirl]

Hey meresal!!! I'm happy to see you!!

I think with your colors, it would be perfect. The first thing I thought of when looking at your STD is simple, classic and timeless. (without reading the other reactions here so I don't know what they think) I mean, they don't JUMP out at you. Like "LOOK AT ME!!!!!! LOOK AT ME!!!!" But they are very elegant. It all depends on what you are going for.......

Just for the heck of it though, I am going to think of a similar look but somehow different for you......(give me a while to think about it)

 

[meresal]

Haven I tihnk we are on the same page. I don't want to confuse people with 2 different themes, and I'm not very pleased with many of the "scrolling" type of STD's I have seen. However, it seems that many people use the STD to be whimsical and fun. I'm so confused. I like simple and elegant, but I don't like boring... FYI: I may be skipping over it, but I don't see the difference in your second option? Is it beacuse you added the Miss and Mr.? Thanks for your help!


Sparkal- Thanks for your input. Did your designer happen to give you any ideas of how to attain this "idea" but still not lose the formal feel. I'm having a hard time joining the two concepts.

Hey Dreamgirl!!- The look that I am going for is to show that even though we are in our mid 20's, this is NOT a fraternity party. i want pople to know that it is a fun but elegant event. I'd really appreciate your ideas!!

 

[Dreamgirl]

So your colors are black, champagne, platinum and ivory. BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!

So you probably don''t want white in the STD. Right? Have you thought of invites yet? I''m sure you have been looking and looking. Sometimes the STD''s match the invites which are nice too. I do really like the look of this card you have in mind. But while I''m (working) on the computer I will browse around! lol

 

[meresal]

Any opinions on this one... minus the (!) again. My mom likes this one better than the first, but I would change the wording. Honestly, I think this one is too plain, even for me.

 

[Loves Vintage]

Let me preface my post by saying that I am by no means an expert at this sort of thing, but I wanted to chime in nevertheless. Isn''t something like this still very formal, yet more interesting? From http://www.whiteaisle.com/damask_save_the_date.html

 

[Dreamgirl]

Well I thought these were simple and clean as well. A very similar look with a slight twist. But its white and not ivory here. They do however, cost less. They also happen to have coordinating invites and such as well. But with the look you are going for with the STDs, almost anything for invites could coordinate anyway.

 

[Dreamgirl]

Also meresal, another thing you can consider is buying small rhinestones or crystals, little things like that or even little bows to glue onto the STDs (maybe in the corners or something like that) to give it a little more interest but keep the simpicity. Obviously not overdoing it but just a couple......