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Invite in a Bottle

Wedding guest-lists and invitations

31/8/2016

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So you’re sitting down with your partner with a bottle of wine for an evening of wedding planning and then you hit the difficult subject of guest lists and invitations. Your guest list is paramount to a lot of areas of the wedding and play a vital part in your budget, seating plans, venue, location and general organisation. I’ve popped down a few pointers you may want to consider before sending out your invites, this may prove crucial to the success of your wedding day- and your bank balance! 
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"Who do I invite?"
Working out who to include on your guest list is always tricky and there are lots of factors to consider.  Firstly think about your numbers. If your dream wedding venue is £100 per head for the wedding breakfast then fit this into your budget - come up with an acceptable and affordable number and this should make whittling down the list easier.

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Consider and family members or close family friends that your parents would intend to include in the wedding day - this could come as an unexpected surprise and bump the number up otherwise.
​Generally the number of invites is split between a couple to keep it all fair but take into account family size as it may be weighted on one side!
​If you have lost contact with people then don’t feel compelled to invite them to the wedding, even if you did go to theirs!
 

“Should I include a plus one?”  

It is generally expected that anyone who has been in a long term relationship should be invited with their significant other. Other than that, think about scrapping the “and guest” off the invite.
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"What about co-workers?"
​If you work in an environment with 10 or so people it is more than likely that they all know everything there is to know about the wedding! If this is the case, it is probably etiquette to invite them all (to the evening at least!). And in regards to the boss, that entirely depends on your relationship, if it a formal establishment the invitation is not necessary.​

"When should I send my invitations?"

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Traditionally invitations are sent out 2-3 months before the wedding day. However prior to this you may want to send your guests a "Save-the-Date" so they know when your big day is. These are often sent 6 months before your wedding and are especially useful for any guests who may be travelling from afar and may need to book accommodation in advance or even book time off work! this will give your guests plenty of time to make the necessary arrangements in relation to travel and accommodation.
​If you are planning a destination wedding you will want to get the invites out a couple of months before as booking a last minute holiday from work could prove tricky. 
Also consider the date of your wedding - if you are getting married in the summer holidays you may want to give your guest more advanced notice to ensure they do not make other plans. 

"Should we have an RSVP cut off date?"

Definitely. You may find that your wedding venue will give you a final date for numbers and then you will not be able to get your money back. 2-3 weeks before the wedding may be ok for you and give your guests plenty of time to reply but check with your venue before finalising your cut off. 

"What if we don’t want children at the wedding!?"

Remember, this is completely fine! This is your day so don’t feel pressured to invite a load of kids if this isn’t your wish as it can prove very costly with some venues charging as much for a child’s menu as they do for an adult. If this is your wish you will want to put it on the invitation itself, saying something like
“In order to allow all guests, including parents, a day of relaxation we have chosen for our wedding day to be an adult only occasion. We hope this advance notice means you are still able to share our big day and will enjoy having the day off!”
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So there you go, much to ponder over that glass of wine! We at inviteinabottle are happy to provide a bespoke invitation that stands out from the conventional wedding invite. Be sure to check out our full range of our Save The Date Bottles and our Message In A Bottle Invitations
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Until later….

Pete
Inviteinabottle.


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Mini Moons - Our 10 favourite destinations!

23/8/2016

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Mini Moon Ideas

​A Mini Moon is a perfect way to begin life as husband and wife, allowing you both to unwind and relax after your big-day.  So much time and planning goes into organising your wedding and arranging a honeymoon to an exotic location can seem like one thing too many to do.  Mini Moons allow you to take a well-deserved romantic break together as newly-weds and also offer a practical solution for couples who want have a dream honeymoon destination picked out but find themselves out of season!

People on average plan their Mini Moon for between 3-7 days as not to take over the importance of the main honeymoon but to continue their celebrations straight after the wedding.  I’ve put together a top 10 of mini moon destinations which I thought were pretty cool for you to peruse.

1. Paris
​Paris is literally the blueprint for romantic cities. Plenty of sightseeing, loads of culture, good food and wine- definitely rates highly with me. Make a journey to the Island of the Temple Of Love, have a "Lady and the Tramp" style dinner down by Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine or tango on the Seine, this is the place of dreams.

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Amsterdam mini moon

2. Amsterdam
​For a mini-moon not too far away, Amsterdam is a popular destination- take a canal cruise, visit the open-air markets, the legendary coffee shops or just take in all of the culture. Why not catch a show at the  Koninklijk Theater Carré or if you are a wine lover take a trip to Vyne, one of Amsterdam's only bars dedicated to wine. 

3. Tuscany
​​A beautiful, beautiful place. On researching this blog I couldn't help but fall head over heels for Tuscany. Book your accommodation in a castle to take in the full view and take a walk along a beautiful beach or bathe in the natural hot springs. You can even book Champagne Balloon Rides - weather permitting of course)! And when it comes to sightseeing and dining out the cities of Florence and Siena have all you could need. Tuscany screams romance!

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4. The UK.
You don’t have to spend a fortune and jet yourselves off somewhere super exotic - there are so many great places in the UK to choose from. Hiring a Log Cabin in Devon or Cornwall with a Jacuzzi and Steam Room would certainly be a winner, or maybe get the bridal suite in a Castle in Scotland or a Stately Home in the countryside. I’m sure if you mention you are newlyweds you will be able to get a few added perks! 

5. Lapland
​Is there anything more romantic than a night under the stars and the Northern Lights in your very own Glass Igloo? Lapland has much to offer- try an old fashioned reindeer safari and visit the Fjell Cottages at Iso-Syote, or, if you go in the summertime, witness the majestic Midnight Sun.  Lapland is a wonderland for couples. 

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6. Santorini
The small volcanic Island of Santorini in Greece is an ideal setting for the perfect mini moon. You can go swimming at Red Beach or sunbathe at the super hot Black Beach, if you are feeling adventurous and want to get around you can hire a moped to see the sights. or similarly you can book in a wine tasting session to relax and watch the world go by. You can also unwind with a mud bath by the volcano- perfect!  

​7. Rome
Aside from the awesome Colosseum there are plenty of romantic things to do whilst in Rome. There are lots of sightseeing trips- why not look to see the fragrant orange blossoms in the Garden of the Oranges, walk around the Pincio Gardens or make a wish at the Trevi Fountain. The magic of Rome is everywhere whether it be at one of the famous landmarks or in one of their many hiddens cafe's and hotel rooftops.

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8. Ireland
Ireland is full of charm and character and fairly local!  Book in to dine at the Cliff House in Ardmore– Ireland’s only one star Hotel Michelin Restaurant or why not book a stay in Gregans Castle Hotel in the Burren. You could also treat your other half to a stay at the amazing Spa at the Europe Hotel in Killarney, overlooking Ireland’s highest mountains

9. Barcelona
​You can't help but love Barcelona. Enjoy a sunny day at Parc de la Ciutadella with your beloved in the charming gardens, the zoo or the Museu d’Art Modern. Barcelona is jam packed with romantic restaurants. A stroll through the old town and adventures down its narrow streets will nearly always reap the reward of a charming little restaurant.

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10. Venice
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Book a trip to Venice and be swept away with romance. With its gondola rides, opera and lavish baroque buildings, Venice oozes romance from every piazza, bridge and canal. Wonder at the sheer scale of the domes of the Basilica San Marco and the ornate Doge’s Palace on Venice’s romantic central square or Look out over the maze of red rooftops and the endless lagoon from St Mark’s Campanile bell tower.

Happy planning!
​Pete
inviteinabottle

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Romantic Proposals

15/8/2016

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You may have heard today that Qin Kai, China’s Olympic Bronze Medalist in the 3m Synchronised Springboard, has put us all to shame by proposing in front of millions to his girlfriend, He Zi, who herself picked up an Olympic silver medal. It got me thinking that this is potentially one of the most daunting tasks for any potential groom to do, so I thought I would give you all the benefit of my experience. Well, I’ve only done it once, but once is certainly enough

Speaking as a guy who had an inherent fear of commitment, the pressure of “popping the question” was a mountainous task. The better half had seen her fair share of chick flicks (a thing I desperately tried to avoid) and hopes were high from her to make this occasion monumental. Even sweets were doing a better job than me, when we touched down on our holidays (when I had planned to propose) she opened a packet of love hearts and the first two sweets out the packets were “Will You?” and “I Do”. Gutted. 

​I’ll conclude my story of my own personal struggle shortly but I thought it may be beneficial to put down a list of top ten ideas for any guy out there who was indeed in my situation and is thinking of popping the question but does not have a clue how to make it special. Hope this helps lads!

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1. The Great Outdoors
Marvellous place to do many things, especially pop the question! Choose your favourite picnic spot, the first place you went on your first date, your home town or hike up a mountain range (don’t forget the crampons)
2. Photobooks
If you’re not the outdoorsy type, you may want to make a photo book or album of your journey together. Fairly simple to do, in fact there are a lot of companies who will provide this service (for a fee of course). Very personal.
3.Get the family involved!
If you are close to your prospective in laws, you may want to get a party organised and get them involved in the engagement. You will, of course, need to be fairly certain she will say yes or this could be sort of awkward.

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​4. Flash mob
Flash mobs seem to be becoming popular for all sorts of event so why not a proposal? Check out videos of other people's proposals online -there are literally thousands of them.
5. Have it written!
Put the words “will you marry me?” on the beach outside your resort, on a mirror in the bathroom, in petals on the bed etc you get the idea. At least you won’t have to utter the words yourself which will save your nerves!
6. Treasure Hunt
This takes a lot of planning but if you’re up to the task it would definitely be a very memorable and exciting way to propose. 

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7. Food
A traditional proposal idea but no less romantic - especially if you’ve got the cook books out and attempted something yourself. Cook a big meal, lots of wine (to loosen you up) and go for it!
8 Christmas
A survey showed that 33% of brides and grooms to be think Christmas Eve is the ultimate time to pop the question, which takes over Valentine’s Day at 22%. Put something special in her stocking this Christmas ;)
9. Skywriting.
She wanted a big gesture right? Why not put it out there for all to see.
10. Build a Bear
If she’s into cuddly toys, a handy trick is to record yourself saying the four magic words and put it in a Build A Bear. Wish I’d have thought of this beforehand…

So there you go, there are literally thousands of ideas out there but it’s important not to over complicate things and remember why you are doing it.

​Oh and if you stayed to the end of the blog to hear how I proposed, here it is. We climbed 1000 steps up a mountain to a temple in Yamadera, Japan. Each step represented a personal thought and you were meant to have a revelation at the top - me and the missus discussed our relationship and life so far together. The handy thing was that after 1000 steps I was already on my knees, I slipped out the self decorated pirate ship treasure chest which contained the ring (we had a pirate themed wedding) and she said yes whilst we overlooked the beautiful Japanese countryside. Fair to say, I think I nailed it :)

Proposal, engagement ring

​Pete
​Inviteinabottle

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Top 10 Wedding Favour Ideas

8/8/2016

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I love a wedding favour and if you browse the internet you will find an endless supply of ideas, I’ve seen a great many and I hand crafted our favours when we had our wedding last year. More than just gesture of thanks, they are interesting little conversation starters for your guests, they don’t have to break the bank and they can be a fabulous decorative addition to your tables.  Here's my top 10 favourite ideas.

1. Mini chests.
Perfect for Pirate or Alternative themed weddings or indeed just someone who fancies something a little quirky. They come in all styles from beautiful white lace to full on treasure chest- and be filled with anything from sweets and chocolate coins to temporary tattoos and games!
2. Mini Plant Pots
I saw these a while back and thought they a tremendous idea which would not look out of place at a garden or outdoor wedding.  You could even decorate the plant pots with lace or paint them to give them a boho/rustic glow. You may need to felt the bottom though if you are going to fill them! 
3. Alcohol miniatures
Another great idea I have seen customising small bottles and filling them with liquor for your guests to enjoy. I’d have loved to have done this only the venue we had would not allow us to bring any alcohol to the day- still it’s a great idea and loosens everyone up a bit! Think Alice In Wonderland style drinks.

pirate wedding favour
Plant pot wedding favour
alcohol wedding favour

4. Mini Buckets
Again, these are another perfect idea to complement a garden/outdoor wedding and can be decorated to match your theme perfectly. You can buy mini buckets of varying sizes to customise and fill with sweets, games or whatever you fancy.
5. Candles
Who doesn't like candles? Yankee candles make a special "Wedding Day" scented candles available in various sizes. Alternatively you could have personalised tea light holders or if you're feeling really creative why not try making your own?
6. 
Fans
My mum loves a fan, when we came back from Japan she marvelled at the present we gave her. I didn’t realise people gave them as favours but why not? There seems to be a trend and they may be a blessing in the summertime! 

Wedding favour mini bucket
Wedding Candle Yankee
Fan wedding favour

7. Personalised chocolates/sweeties
From love hearts to m&m's these are great ideas as wedding favours and always appreciated by your guests. 
8. Photo Frames
Nothing quite like a keepsake than a mini photo frame! Fill it with a favourite photograph of yourselves or indeed put a little message in there to thank them for coming. 
9. Scented Bags
Fill with a seasonal scent (I can imagine spiced apple at Christmas would be great) and put them on the table for the guests to enjoy and take home. Guaranteed they’ll put them in the home as a keepsake. 
10. Lottery Tickets/Scratchcards
They might not be the most romantic sounding ideas for a wedding favour, but they definitely add a bit of extra excitement for your guests!  You could also buy/design little envelopes to hold the ticket in.

Wedding love heart favour
wedding scented bag
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I spent a lot of time painting, re-painting and then re-decorating our favours, though the finished product was great you don’t have to do what I did- there's plenty of good ideas out there! I love a random design so let me know what you come up with!
 
Pete
Inviteinabottle 

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Why send Save the Dates?

1/8/2016

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Save the date blog
In this modern world we are all busy people - seriously, in order to organise a get together with close friends I often have to plan 2-3 months in advance, especially in the popular holiday months. With this in mind, you may want to consider “Saving The Date” with your guests early on in your wedding preparations. After all the last thing you want is friends being unable to make your big day because they have unknowingly double-booked themselves!
With people booking their wedding 2 years or more in advance it is imperative that you book that date out with your closest and dearest. Travel plans, babysitters, accommodation and wedding attire will all need to be sorted well before the big day so the earlier you let your guests know the date the better for you and them!
beach wedding
​Save the dates are particularly important if you're planning a long weekend wedding or a wedding abroad as your guests may have to arrange time off work or put aside some extra money in order to attend.  It's never too early to send out your save the dates - often couples send them as soon as they have booked their wedding and it's probably wise to give as much notice as possible if you have a destination wedding or guests travelling from out of town. Remember, your don't have to put in as much detail as you would your full wedding invitation, so don't worry too much about timetables at this stage - the date is what matters.
Save the date message in bottle
Some people use email, text message or even Facebook to save the date with their guests and whilst these are an easy hassle-free option they may not be ideal - I'm sure I'm not the only one guilty of failing to remember something important in a text I've read or accepting a Facebook event invite only to forget to put the event in my diary. A physical save the date is a much better way of making your guests aware of when your big day is.
Save the date cards can be kept on people's fridge doors or notice boards so your guests will notice them regularly. Our save the date message bottles take this a step further as their unique, decorative design really stands out and creates a lasting impression. You'll probably find that a lot of your guests will keep them on display as a trinket in their house acting as a constant reminder of your special day!

Check out our full range of Save the Dates by following our link. 
Speak soon
Pete​

Inviteinabottle

Save the Date - Message in a Bottle
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    Invite in a bottle.
    Message in a bottle style invitations, perfect for weddings, parties and corporate events

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