Friday, June 16, 2017
Starting to Look Like the Holidays Around Here
June is here! That means summer has definitely arrived at Paper Style. While the Georgia heat keeps things cookin’ outside, our designers are busy cooking up lots of great new designs for your holiday season. We also have brand new paper napkin and paper plate designs. From Halloween and Thanksgiving to Christmas and New Year’s, Paper Style is working hard through the summer to make sure your 2017 holidays are spectacular! There is already a little jingle in the air around here; check out this small sample of our new holiday inventory to see why!
Friday, October 23, 2015
Press Release: Custom “Uniquely Yours” Envelope Personalization
At PaperStyle, we're proud to offer constantly evolving and innovative ways to add distinction to your stationery and invitations. One of our newest and most exciting ways to add flavor to your stationery is with our printed envelopes! While we have always offered standard, black ink address printing on our envelopes for a flat rate, we are now able to print logos, motifs, and pictures and any wording in any color on the outside of your envelopes, all for a much lower price!
Read the full press release for our Custom "Uniquely Yours" Envelope Personalization.
See some examples of envelopes that really stand out in the mailbox!
Read the full press release for our Custom "Uniquely Yours" Envelope Personalization.
See some examples of envelopes that really stand out in the mailbox!
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Wedding Registries & The Modern Bride
Hello there, lovely readers! My name is Aimee and I’m the Social Media
Coordinator for PaperStyle.com. I’m also a bride-to-be! So, who better to talk
about this topic than someone who’s planning a wedding?
One of the first snags that my fiancé and I hit during wedding planning
was figuring out our registry situation. We’re not particularly conventional
people, our wedding will be anything but traditional, and we also already live
together. So the idea of registering for tableware or stemware or coffee makers
or bedding seemed a little pointless to us. We already have those things.
The reality is that most women cohabit with their significant others
before marriage, which means that there’s plenty of time to “feather the nest”
before being engaged or married. When I moved in with my boyfriend, we crammed
all of our stuff into his one bedroom apartment and if we happened to be
missing some necessity between the two of us, we purchased it. With that said,
the last thing we need is more stuff. While wedding registries are a great
opportunity to upgrade your belongings, the tradition is a little outdated, to
say the least. We have a toaster and a high speed blender. We’re not exactly
fine china kind of people, and we’re practically drowning in bedding. My fiancé
and I have the added concern of possibly needing to move out of state once he
is accepted to a PhD program. When we move, we plan on donating most of our
furniture to reduce the cost of moving and only once we’ve settled in our new
place do we plan to upgrade our things.
As you can see, from a practicality standpoint, registering for
physical gifts is not a good move for us. And that reality is becoming a trend
with modern brides, especially as many women wait to marry until they’re older
and more financially secure. If you’ve had over a decade of living on your own
to realize that you need real plates, or how much of a necessity a coffee maker
is to your sanity, then you likely already have those things. If upgrades are
something you want, by all means, register! Of if you don’t have all those
things, a registry is definitely the way to go!
A wedding registry certainly has its perks. You’re making it super easy
for your guests to buy you something you actually
want. Guests appreciate the ease of going online, picking something,
knowing you’ll love it, and paying for it.
But what do you do if, like my
fiancé and me, you’re abstaining from a traditional wedding registry?
For wedding guests, my first piece of advice is: be understanding and
accepting of the couple’s choice. I’ve heard from lots of people (mostly an
older generation of women) who think that it’s inappropriate to essentially ask
for money as a wedding present. I’ve heard this choice called tasteless and
impolite, but I have to disagree. The reality is that the wedding is about the
couple. And it’s up to them to determine how guests’ offerings can be most
helpful to them. How awful is it if I register for a ton of expensive gifts,
knowing full well that I don’t need them or that I’ll have to get rid of them
at some point? Additionally, planning a wedding is hard, and it’s likely that
there are already going to be some hard feelings about plenty of things. Don’t
add to the stress. You don’t have to agree with it, but if you love the couple,
suck it up, shell out whatever you would have spent on a toaster and move on.
Consider it a good deed!
As a bride, there are plenty of nontraditional options to look at!
Honeymoon registries, housing funds, charitable causes, etc. Honeymoon
registries are particularly popular now, as it becomes increasingly difficult
to cover the costs of a wedding and a
honeymoon. If a couple is looking to buy a house after the wedding and they
know they’ll need some help, housing funds are a great way to ensure that every
wedding guests’ generosity goes towards the very best cause for that
couple. If you don’t need any money or
gifts at all, but you know that your guests will insist, you can always ask
them to make donations to your favorite charities in your honor!
My fiancé and I decided to create an online “Starting Our Life
Together” fund, which our guests can donate to through our wedding website.
This way, our guests know that their generosity is helping us to build our life
and home together the same way a traditional gift might, but just a little
later!
We chose to mention our fund on our wedding website, because our
website will be a hub of information for our out-of-town wedding. If you don’t
have a wedding website, you can include information about registries (or lack
thereof) on your wedding invitations, although it’s not recommended because it
tends to take away from the importance of the other info on there. If you’re
sending save the dates, you can include it there. Or, put the information on a
small insert card that you can send in the envelope with the invitation.
Monday, July 13, 2015
The Sorority Stationery Line Gets Featured!
It's always exciting when the hard work of a member of the PaperStyle team gains some recognition out in the world!
Cara Markham is a longtime PS team member who is responsible, in large part, for our wonderful line of sorority stationery! While Cara worked towards her Bachelor's Degree at the University of West Georgia, she was also an active member of Kappa Delta sorority. She is featured in the most recent issue of Kappa Delta's magazine, ANGELOS, for her work with PaperStyle in implementing the sorority line! Check out her fabulous feature on page 12!
We're so very proud of Cara and all the work she put in to help research and design the notepads, stationery, and grad announcements in our Greek stationery line. Way to go, Cara!
Cara Markham is a longtime PS team member who is responsible, in large part, for our wonderful line of sorority stationery! While Cara worked towards her Bachelor's Degree at the University of West Georgia, she was also an active member of Kappa Delta sorority. She is featured in the most recent issue of Kappa Delta's magazine, ANGELOS, for her work with PaperStyle in implementing the sorority line! Check out her fabulous feature on page 12!
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| L to R: 817-57-KDCHALK, 817-57NP-KDSYM, and 817-49NP-KDPHOTO |
We're so very proud of Cara and all the work she put in to help research and design the notepads, stationery, and grad announcements in our Greek stationery line. Way to go, Cara!
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Summer Gatherings!
With summer just around the corner (though, it sure doesn't seem like it in some places, weather-wise), it's the perfect time to start planning all those outdoor gatherings! Pool parties! Garden parties! BBQs!
Whether you're hosting your tenth annual summer extravaganza, or you're feeling a little nervous about your first big BBQ, we want to help you feel as prepared as you can!
The easiest place to start planning is with the invitation. All you need to know before getting your invitations is a time, date, and location! With the absolute plethora of designs available to you across the web (though, we're pretty fond of our own!), it's easy to pick one that is beautiful, fun, or funny. It can be anything you want! Picking the right invitation, and picking it first, helps make clear to your guests what kind of party this is, and the level of formality they should expect.
Once you've picked your invitations, you can use them as a jumping-off point for decorations. So many invitation designs come with decor ideas built right in! Red checkered tablecloths for BBQs, beach balls floaties for your beach and pool parties. Garden parties are pretty simple to decorate for, because the garden itself is the best decoration! Add some strings of bistro lights and crisp tablecloths, and you're all set. If your invitation is more typographically heavy, take the decorations in any direction you'd like!
Not to toot our own horn, but Paper Style's got you covered in the tableware section, too. Our huge selection of Caspari napkins and plates means you'll be sure to find a design that you love, that also meets up with the ambiance you're developing for your party, and possibly even matches your invitations! You can get your invitations, plates, tablecloths, napkins, and cups all in one go.
How early to send out your invites depends on the size of the party, whether you're requesting a mailed RSVP, and how much individual planning you have left to do. Traditionally, though, it's best to send out invites between 2 to 4 weeks before the party (though with informal party invitations, the time frame is less set in stone). Giving your guests a couple of weeks' notice should also give you plenty of time to hear back from them, and then you'll have your final head count!
If you need some more help figuring out what you want to do for a summer gathering, we've got some other great resources for you:
Whether you're hosting your tenth annual summer extravaganza, or you're feeling a little nervous about your first big BBQ, we want to help you feel as prepared as you can!
The easiest place to start planning is with the invitation. All you need to know before getting your invitations is a time, date, and location! With the absolute plethora of designs available to you across the web (though, we're pretty fond of our own!), it's easy to pick one that is beautiful, fun, or funny. It can be anything you want! Picking the right invitation, and picking it first, helps make clear to your guests what kind of party this is, and the level of formality they should expect.
Once you've picked your invitations, you can use them as a jumping-off point for decorations. So many invitation designs come with decor ideas built right in! Red checkered tablecloths for BBQs, beach balls floaties for your beach and pool parties. Garden parties are pretty simple to decorate for, because the garden itself is the best decoration! Add some strings of bistro lights and crisp tablecloths, and you're all set. If your invitation is more typographically heavy, take the decorations in any direction you'd like!
Not to toot our own horn, but Paper Style's got you covered in the tableware section, too. Our huge selection of Caspari napkins and plates means you'll be sure to find a design that you love, that also meets up with the ambiance you're developing for your party, and possibly even matches your invitations! You can get your invitations, plates, tablecloths, napkins, and cups all in one go.
How early to send out your invites depends on the size of the party, whether you're requesting a mailed RSVP, and how much individual planning you have left to do. Traditionally, though, it's best to send out invites between 2 to 4 weeks before the party (though with informal party invitations, the time frame is less set in stone). Giving your guests a couple of weeks' notice should also give you plenty of time to hear back from them, and then you'll have your final head count!
If you need some more help figuring out what you want to do for a summer gathering, we've got some other great resources for you:
- Our Invitation Etiquette page has some great little tidbits about traditional invitation etiquette for both formal and informal gatherings!
- Our Tips and Advice page has a sidebar full of all kinds of useful articles to help with the planning process!
- Paper Style's Pinterest page is a great place to find ideas for a cohesive, visually appealing party (we've got boards for all kinds of events)!
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Tuesday Team Pick {David}
Another Tuesday is upon us, which means it's time for another Tuesday Team Pick! And we're happy to be sharing the pick of Paper Style prez, David! From the beginning, David's been really excited about our line of The Wizard of Oz invitations & stationery, so of course, his pick would be from that line!
We asked David why he chose this invitation, and here was his response:
"Who doesn’t like The Wizard of Oz? This image is very engaging to capture the attention of the recipient. It’s very versatile in that it can be used for almost any type of party or even as a Save the Date card (which is how I used it for my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah). With the scarecrow and Dorothy talking about your event, the invite will connote it’s one not to be missed."
Well said, David.
Have you purchased any invitations or stationery from our Wizard of Oz line? We'd love to hear what kind of response you got from your invitees!
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| 809-75-029 |
"Who doesn’t like The Wizard of Oz? This image is very engaging to capture the attention of the recipient. It’s very versatile in that it can be used for almost any type of party or even as a Save the Date card (which is how I used it for my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah). With the scarecrow and Dorothy talking about your event, the invite will connote it’s one not to be missed."
Well said, David.
Have you purchased any invitations or stationery from our Wizard of Oz line? We'd love to hear what kind of response you got from your invitees!
Monday, February 2, 2015
A Very Paper Style Valentine's Day!
With Valentine's Day right around the corner, we asked our Paper Style team to share with us Valentine's Day highlights to get us all into the spirit! Love in the air, and all that!
And we had some SUPER sweet submissions from our team:
Andrea in Web Content (whose birthday is actually ON Valentine's Day!!) sent in a story about her family's sweet Valentine's Day tradition:
Since I was born on Valentine’s Day, my dad ALWAYS made that day so very special for me and all the girls in his life. My mom would always get the biggest Valentine filled with Russell Stover candy. I would get the next biggest, and then my sisters' were a bit smaller… as time passed, and we all had daughters, my dad made sure to include them as well!
Below is a picture of Andrea's daughters and the Valentines that her dad sent to them the first year they were living in GA! (SO. CUTE.)
Paper Stylist Karen submitted this photo of her sweet dog Millie as her favorite Valentine "because she always loves me no matter what!" And we think Millie makes a great Valentine; it's always an extra special day around here when she comes to visit!
On the other hand, we also had some pretty comical submissions, illustrating the ridiculousness of trying to eat out on the 14th of February:
Our founder, Chris, submitted a great Valentine's Day story from back in his college days:
In college at UGA, my sweet girlfriend wanted to go to a ‘nice’ dinner but there was only one problem. I didn’t make a reservation anywhere. We both dressed up, she in a pretty dress and I wore a tie… drove all over Athens and after 2 hours of finding nothing but booked restaurants, we gave up and dined at Long John Silver's… not what she had in mind. Moral of story… make a freaking reservation on the busiest dining evening of the year if you want anything other than fast food!
Our Graphic Specialist, Michael, had a similar story:
One year I decided to go big and take my wife out for dinner on Valentine's Day. We got all dressed up and went to a Houston's restaurant. Apparently you needed a reservation, and the hostess wouldn't even let us in without one. We drove to Outback Steakhouse and there was a line of probably 12 couples waiting to be called. We waited for almost an hour and left. Then, I took her to a small Cuban diner... and it was closed for issues with their license. We ended up at a Taco Bell at 11 p.m. that looked like a trip to the 70's, eating burritos under white fluorescent lights. We have not gone out to dinner on a Valentine's night ever since then. We find a recipe that we both like and we prepare it at home.
Definitely lessons well learned.
Have any spectacular (or spectacularly unfortunate) Valentine's Day stories you'd like to share? We'd love to hear them!
And we had some SUPER sweet submissions from our team:
Andrea in Web Content (whose birthday is actually ON Valentine's Day!!) sent in a story about her family's sweet Valentine's Day tradition:
Since I was born on Valentine’s Day, my dad ALWAYS made that day so very special for me and all the girls in his life. My mom would always get the biggest Valentine filled with Russell Stover candy. I would get the next biggest, and then my sisters' were a bit smaller… as time passed, and we all had daughters, my dad made sure to include them as well!
Below is a picture of Andrea's daughters and the Valentines that her dad sent to them the first year they were living in GA! (SO. CUTE.)
Paper Stylist Karen submitted this photo of her sweet dog Millie as her favorite Valentine "because she always loves me no matter what!" And we think Millie makes a great Valentine; it's always an extra special day around here when she comes to visit!
Type Stylist Debbie submitted some pictures of a beautiful tablescape she put together for a Valentine's Day party she hosted! Isn't that "Love" confetti absolutely perfect?
Our founder, Chris, submitted a great Valentine's Day story from back in his college days:
In college at UGA, my sweet girlfriend wanted to go to a ‘nice’ dinner but there was only one problem. I didn’t make a reservation anywhere. We both dressed up, she in a pretty dress and I wore a tie… drove all over Athens and after 2 hours of finding nothing but booked restaurants, we gave up and dined at Long John Silver's… not what she had in mind. Moral of story… make a freaking reservation on the busiest dining evening of the year if you want anything other than fast food!
Our Graphic Specialist, Michael, had a similar story:
One year I decided to go big and take my wife out for dinner on Valentine's Day. We got all dressed up and went to a Houston's restaurant. Apparently you needed a reservation, and the hostess wouldn't even let us in without one. We drove to Outback Steakhouse and there was a line of probably 12 couples waiting to be called. We waited for almost an hour and left. Then, I took her to a small Cuban diner... and it was closed for issues with their license. We ended up at a Taco Bell at 11 p.m. that looked like a trip to the 70's, eating burritos under white fluorescent lights. We have not gone out to dinner on a Valentine's night ever since then. We find a recipe that we both like and we prepare it at home.
Definitely lessons well learned.
Have any spectacular (or spectacularly unfortunate) Valentine's Day stories you'd like to share? We'd love to hear them!
Friday, January 16, 2015
Big Welcome for a Little Guy!
We're so excited to welcome a new member to our Paper Style Team!
Last month, Shikha, a member of our Web Team, welcomed this little guy into the world! Say hello to Shourya!
Isn't he just the cutest?! Can't wait til her comes for a visit!
Last month, Shikha, a member of our Web Team, welcomed this little guy into the world! Say hello to Shourya!
Isn't he just the cutest?! Can't wait til her comes for a visit!
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
A Trophy & A Farewell
Yesterday was a big day for Paper Style! We had some laughs and shed some tears, celebrated one employee and said farewell to another as she begins a new journey.
Oh, we gave out a trophy, too! Our Merchandising Manager, Terri, was nominated as the Q4 MVP! Terri wears a lot of different hats around Paper Style HQ and she works very hard, so it's very exciting to see her take home the gold (and by gold, we mean an old swim trophy won by the founder of the company that gets passed from MVP to MVP). A trophy's a trophy, right? Doesn't matter who's name is on it. ...right?
Congrats, Terri!
And now on to the sadder news.
Paper Stylist Stacey has worked for Paper Style for over 10 years, and has been working with the owners even longer than that. She is the definition of a sweetheart, and a favorite to many of our regular customers. Yesterday, we bid her farewell in proper Paper Style fashion (with a ton of food) as she embarks a new journey in her life as a health coach! It was hard to say goodbye, especially for those members of the Paper Style Team whom she coached in their journeys towards health. We wish her the very best of luck in all her endeavors and she will be sorely missed. We love you, Stacey!
Oh, we gave out a trophy, too! Our Merchandising Manager, Terri, was nominated as the Q4 MVP! Terri wears a lot of different hats around Paper Style HQ and she works very hard, so it's very exciting to see her take home the gold (and by gold, we mean an old swim trophy won by the founder of the company that gets passed from MVP to MVP). A trophy's a trophy, right? Doesn't matter who's name is on it. ...right?
Congrats, Terri!
And now on to the sadder news.
Paper Stylist Stacey has worked for Paper Style for over 10 years, and has been working with the owners even longer than that. She is the definition of a sweetheart, and a favorite to many of our regular customers. Yesterday, we bid her farewell in proper Paper Style fashion (with a ton of food) as she embarks a new journey in her life as a health coach! It was hard to say goodbye, especially for those members of the Paper Style Team whom she coached in their journeys towards health. We wish her the very best of luck in all her endeavors and she will be sorely missed. We love you, Stacey!
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Tuesday Team Pick {Carla}
This week we're celebrating birthdays! Not any of our own, sadly, but the excitement and festivity of birthdays and birthday parties is unbeatable (in our humble opinion), so we want to spend the week talking about celebrating people and the fact that they're here on this funny little planet with us.
This week's pick comes from Carla, one of our lovely Paper Stylists. She chose this funky fresh birthday invitation:
We asked her why she chose this invitation.
"This is one of my favorites, I just think it is a great concept, especially with all the food trucks that are around now. I do have a customer that used it and she emailed me to say that she got amazing feedback on the invitations. It was for a dentist office that was having a Open House and they had a couple of food trucks there, so it really tied in and set the tone for the event."
Of course, we love getting positive customer feedback, but we especially love hearing feedback that tells us that our designs are trendy and spot-on. This is a great invite, really colorful and fun, perfect for a birthday boy or girl of any age!
This week's pick comes from Carla, one of our lovely Paper Stylists. She chose this funky fresh birthday invitation:
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| 643-75-1342 |
We asked her why she chose this invitation.
"This is one of my favorites, I just think it is a great concept, especially with all the food trucks that are around now. I do have a customer that used it and she emailed me to say that she got amazing feedback on the invitations. It was for a dentist office that was having a Open House and they had a couple of food trucks there, so it really tied in and set the tone for the event."
Of course, we love getting positive customer feedback, but we especially love hearing feedback that tells us that our designs are trendy and spot-on. This is a great invite, really colorful and fun, perfect for a birthday boy or girl of any age!
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Tuesday Team Pick {Aimee}
This week's Tuesday Team Pick comes from Social Media Coordinator Aimee, in honor of our week celebrating fall weddings! (Because barns! Pumpkins! Hay bales! Fall leaves! Pumpkin spice! Right?)
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| 818-57-0063WD |
This is one of our newest wedding designs, and it's Laura Ashley, so what's not to love? The colors are so bright and the design perfectly captures the essence of fall. This invitation would be perfect for any fall wedding, especially one outside, with all the changing leaves! There's also a variation of this card in which the band with the text in it is orange, which would be bright and cheery, whereas the green is a bit more subdued.
We'd love to hear what you think!
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Tuesday Team Pick {Terri}
This week's Tuesday Team Pick comes from our resident merchandising guru, Terri! Terri knows all our designs backward and forward, so if she's picking a card, it's probably a good choice!
Terri chose this design from Paper So Pretty, saying, "I love Halloween!!! Every time I see this card it makes me laugh and makes me want to have a Halloween Party. This invitation sets the tone for a fun Halloween Party Evening!!!"
This is one of our newer Halloween designs and we think it'll be popular this year!
Because, you know, what's better than spending Halloween fawning over a hunky bartender and enjoying some great cocktails? Right?
What do you think? Does this invite make you want to start decorating for Halloween already?
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| 643-57-1346 |
This is one of our newer Halloween designs and we think it'll be popular this year!
Because, you know, what's better than spending Halloween fawning over a hunky bartender and enjoying some great cocktails? Right?
What do you think? Does this invite make you want to start decorating for Halloween already?
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Beach Wedding Invitation Roundup
So, we don't know about you guys, but we're not ready for summer to end quite yet. Especially with dreams of Labor Day weekend still dancing in our heads.
So, to keep the summer vibes going, we've got a roundup of our most popular beach-y wedding invitations!
Invitations for beach weddings are the most common type of invites that we see at Paper Style. Our customers love them some sand and surf, you know?
Of all our beach-themed invitations, this is one of our most popular. The sandy background is the perfect beach element, and the aqua accents also come in a pretty coral color. It's simple and colorful, perfectly reminiscent of time at the beach!
This last invite is not quite as popular, but is the most obvious of choices for a beach wedding, so what the heck, we'll throw it in here.
What do you think about these wedding invitations? Love 'em or hate 'em? Do you think wedding invitations should have a direct correlation to the theme of a wedding?
If you're feeling the summery beach wedding vibes, be sure to check out our Beach Weddings board on Pinterest for tons of inspiration!
So, to keep the summer vibes going, we've got a roundup of our most popular beach-y wedding invitations!
Invitations for beach weddings are the most common type of invites that we see at Paper Style. Our customers love them some sand and surf, you know?
Of all our beach-themed invitations, this is one of our most popular. The sandy background is the perfect beach element, and the aqua accents also come in a pretty coral color. It's simple and colorful, perfectly reminiscent of time at the beach!
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| 615-55-230 |
Speaking of colorful, this is another popular choice at PS. We see this invitation used often for smaller, tropical destination weddings. It's got a little more fun than elegance, but beach weddings are supposed to be fun, right? Right.
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| 643-85-ISN1259 |
This third invitation comes in a few different colors, which makes it very popular. The two best choices for seaside weddings are this aqua color (the back of the invitation is a sandy color, with the faint outlines of starfish) for beach weddings and the navy blue variation for nautical weddings. Either way, it's simple and elegant, and a subtle tribute to the sea.
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| 609-57-058-W-A |
This last invite is not quite as popular, but is the most obvious of choices for a beach wedding, so what the heck, we'll throw it in here.
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| 643-57-IV1009 |
What do you think about these wedding invitations? Love 'em or hate 'em? Do you think wedding invitations should have a direct correlation to the theme of a wedding?
If you're feeling the summery beach wedding vibes, be sure to check out our Beach Weddings board on Pinterest for tons of inspiration!
Friday, August 29, 2014
Employee Spotlight: Meet Terri! (...TAKE 2?)
The Paper Style Blog doesn't often feature articles using the first person. Most articles are written using the "editorial we" because The PaperStyle Blog is a representation of Paper Style as a whole. The author of any given article is merely a spokesperson on the blog, on behalf of the company.
But I have a funny story, so I'm going to write this blog post as myself. Allow me to introduce me: Aimee, Social Media Coordinator for Paperstyle.com.
I've worked for Paper Style for a little over two years now, and as you can all see on our sidebar on the right side of your screen, The PaperStyle Blog has been around longer than that. Before I came along, the blog was run by another member of the Paper Style team. About a week ago, I decided I wanted to write a blog post for this week featuring an employee who wears, like, a billion different hats and does some really cool stuff here at PS HQ. I had it all figured it out. I was going to have her chronicle all the things that she did in a day and blog about it for our interested readers. I was even going to call it Employee Spotlight: Meet Terri!
Turns out, someone beat me to it. As I wrote out the title to the post, I thought to myself, huh, that sounds familiar.
Now, when I took on the role of Social Media Coordinator and we really stepped up our blog game in 2013, I made sure to read our entire blog. You know, five years worth of blog posts. No big deal. So since the title sounded familiar, I figured there must have already been a post with that title. Not for Terri, surely, but for someone.
As it would turn out, three years ago (almost to the day!) The PaperStyle Blog featured a blog post about our Merchandising Manager, Terri. It was called Employee Spotlight - Meet Terri!
...I would like to emphasize the difference between using a colon and a dash, because I refuse to believe that I thought I had this cute and original title and then it ALREADY EXISTED.
To sum up the coincidence: same person, same title, almost same day, three years later. Craziness, no?
Anyway, I decided to combine the old post with this new one to preserve my pride and make an even better blog post. It's impressive to see the difference between the first article and all the things that Paper Style is involved in now. The craziest thing, though, is that Terri looks practically identical. Good genes, that one.
Anyway, here's the original Employee Spotlight - Meet Terri!
And here's what Terri's up to these days!
On an average day, Terri comes in early in the morning. Like, real early. Stock orders have usually piled up overnight, so Terri pulls all of the stock to fill the orders, takes them to the shipping department to be boxed up and then places orders (usually for Caspari paper products) for whatever items we're running low on. Terri is in charge of maintaining relationships and orders with many of the brands that we carry on our website. So, basically, she's got lots of friends.
Periodically, Terri picks specific designs from our website to be used in emails that go out to all of our customers. Because Terri has a close relationship with all of our designers and ultimately chooses which designs we'll sell, she definitely has a great sense of what's popular and what people will most want to see. And because of that skill set, a large part of her job is merchandising and re-merchandising the content on our site. She'll make sure that the most popular invitations are right where people will be able to find them, and that products that aren't selling are removed, to keep the process of choosing your invitation convenient.
But I have a funny story, so I'm going to write this blog post as myself. Allow me to introduce me: Aimee, Social Media Coordinator for Paperstyle.com.
I've worked for Paper Style for a little over two years now, and as you can all see on our sidebar on the right side of your screen, The PaperStyle Blog has been around longer than that. Before I came along, the blog was run by another member of the Paper Style team. About a week ago, I decided I wanted to write a blog post for this week featuring an employee who wears, like, a billion different hats and does some really cool stuff here at PS HQ. I had it all figured it out. I was going to have her chronicle all the things that she did in a day and blog about it for our interested readers. I was even going to call it Employee Spotlight: Meet Terri!
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| TK! |
Now, when I took on the role of Social Media Coordinator and we really stepped up our blog game in 2013, I made sure to read our entire blog. You know, five years worth of blog posts. No big deal. So since the title sounded familiar, I figured there must have already been a post with that title. Not for Terri, surely, but for someone.
As it would turn out, three years ago (almost to the day!) The PaperStyle Blog featured a blog post about our Merchandising Manager, Terri. It was called Employee Spotlight - Meet Terri!
...I would like to emphasize the difference between using a colon and a dash, because I refuse to believe that I thought I had this cute and original title and then it ALREADY EXISTED.
To sum up the coincidence: same person, same title, almost same day, three years later. Craziness, no?
Anyway, I decided to combine the old post with this new one to preserve my pride and make an even better blog post. It's impressive to see the difference between the first article and all the things that Paper Style is involved in now. The craziest thing, though, is that Terri looks practically identical. Good genes, that one.
Anyway, here's the original Employee Spotlight - Meet Terri!
And here's what Terri's up to these days!
On an average day, Terri comes in early in the morning. Like, real early. Stock orders have usually piled up overnight, so Terri pulls all of the stock to fill the orders, takes them to the shipping department to be boxed up and then places orders (usually for Caspari paper products) for whatever items we're running low on. Terri is in charge of maintaining relationships and orders with many of the brands that we carry on our website. So, basically, she's got lots of friends.
Periodically, Terri picks specific designs from our website to be used in emails that go out to all of our customers. Because Terri has a close relationship with all of our designers and ultimately chooses which designs we'll sell, she definitely has a great sense of what's popular and what people will most want to see. And because of that skill set, a large part of her job is merchandising and re-merchandising the content on our site. She'll make sure that the most popular invitations are right where people will be able to find them, and that products that aren't selling are removed, to keep the process of choosing your invitation convenient.
Also because of those relationships with our designers, if a customer calls with special requests pertaining to an invitation, Terri will email the specific designer to see if the request can be addressed. She also sends out weekly emails to the designers with calls for specific types of stationery or invitations, for particular events or holidays. Essentially, anything having to do with our designers and/or designs is right in Terri's wheelhouse. In our current partnership with Laura Ashley, for example, Terri works with Michael, our Graphics Specialist, to develop designs and get approvals.
But even all of these things don't encapsulate Terri's job. Though some of her responsibilities aren't every day things, it's important to note that she also helps put stock shipments away when the shipping department is too busy. She coordinates the process of receiving, organizing and stocking large shipments of holiday products (literal Christmas in July, no joke). And these are just the things that we see her do. She's got a lot of hats. Fortunately, she looks good in hats, so her job is a perfect fit for her.
If you have a question for Terri, or you just want to tell her how awesome she is, you can email her at terrik@paperstyle.com, or comment below!
Happy Friday!
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Paper Style Says Goodbye to Andrew!
Yesterday, we all had to say goodbye to our Director of Content Management, Andrew, as he prepares for a big move with his fiancé to Peoria, Illinois. Andrew has been with Paper Style for 10.5 years, almost since the beginning, and certainly longer than most of us.
So, we felt it necessary to celebrate Andrew and all his hard work for Paper Style with some roasting and toasting! (And a feast fit for a king!)
Then came the stories and teary moments.
At Paper Style HQ, we have a wall in the very front of our office space that is covered with caricatures of every member of the team. That wall is a great representation of who we are as individuals, and as part of a larger unit. We sent Andrew off with his caricature and the "invitation" we had posted around the building for this "roast & toast".
You've got big things coming your way, Andrew. Best of luck with everything. We love you and we'll surely miss you!
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| This guy. |
So, we felt it necessary to celebrate Andrew and all his hard work for Paper Style with some roasting and toasting! (And a feast fit for a king!)
 |
| Potluck style. If there's one thing we all know how to do at Paper Style, it's eat. Samosas, green beans, chips and dip, tomato basil bake, pita and hummus, pasta salad, fresh fruit, cheesecake, banana pudding, gooey bars, brownies, hot pineapple casserole (and probably a few other things, too). |
So we all gathered together in Type Stylist Land to eat and talk about how great Andrew is.
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| #paperstylefam |
Then came the stories and teary moments.
 |
| There are some members of the Paper Style team who have worked with Andrew long enough to remember him as a youngin'. |
At Paper Style HQ, we have a wall in the very front of our office space that is covered with caricatures of every member of the team. That wall is a great representation of who we are as individuals, and as part of a larger unit. We sent Andrew off with his caricature and the "invitation" we had posted around the building for this "roast & toast".
You've got big things coming your way, Andrew. Best of luck with everything. We love you and we'll surely miss you!
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Introducing: Our New Laura Ashley Vellum Wrap Invitations!
We're so excited to finally talk about a project that we've been working on for a while now! As many of you know, Paper Style has teamed up with Laura Ashley to design some truly beautiful invitations using some of their wonderful patterns! The new line of vellum wrap invitations features our awesome gatefold-style invitations which come complete with pre-assembled ribbon; the side flaps open to reveal the card inside. It's like opening a present and an invitation all in one!
Our classic gatefolds are made from our signature cardstock and then folded. But these new wrap invitations are special. Your invitation information will be printed on a 5x7 piece of designed cardstock (and you can choose from various stocks), which will then be placed inside a gatefolded sheet of patterned vellum, which is translucent, and gives little glimpses of the invitation inside. The whole package is finished off with a coordinating double faced satin ribbon!
Currently, our line houses holiday invitations as well as wedding invitations. We think they're breathtaking. What do you think?
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| 818-57-0058 |
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| Laura Ashley Holiday Invitations |
And don't forget about the wedding line! (I mean, who could forget about the wedding stuff?!)
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| 818-57-0060 |
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| 818-57-0057WD |
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Sorority Note Pad Design Contest Winner Announced!
A few months ago, we launched our line of official Greek stationery products, creating custom invitations, note pads, and folded notes for 12 different sororities!
We also thought that this new line would be a great opportunity to reach out to some of the great ladies living the Greek life and get some feedback. We even held a note pad design contest at the University of West Georgia, headed up by Kappa Delta Cara Markham, who also happens to be a member of the Paper Style Team! The contest was open to all UWG women belonging to sororities. All they had to do was come up with a note pad design for their sorority, sketch it out and turn it in! The winning design would be chosen by the Paper Style Team and featured on paperstyle.com. The designer would also receive a full set of personalized sorority stationery, plus a note pad for each of her sisters! Sounds great, no?
Last Friday, the winning design was placed on our site and our lucky winner was senior Avery Peterson of Chi Omega! Congrats, Avery! (Love the owl!)
For all you Chi Os, her design is available right here, and you can customize it with all your info.
Love the design, but not a Chi O? Feel free to browse the rest of our notepad offerings to find your letters!
We also thought that this new line would be a great opportunity to reach out to some of the great ladies living the Greek life and get some feedback. We even held a note pad design contest at the University of West Georgia, headed up by Kappa Delta Cara Markham, who also happens to be a member of the Paper Style Team! The contest was open to all UWG women belonging to sororities. All they had to do was come up with a note pad design for their sorority, sketch it out and turn it in! The winning design would be chosen by the Paper Style Team and featured on paperstyle.com. The designer would also receive a full set of personalized sorority stationery, plus a note pad for each of her sisters! Sounds great, no?
Last Friday, the winning design was placed on our site and our lucky winner was senior Avery Peterson of Chi Omega! Congrats, Avery! (Love the owl!)
For all you Chi Os, her design is available right here, and you can customize it with all your info.
Love the design, but not a Chi O? Feel free to browse the rest of our notepad offerings to find your letters!
Friday, July 18, 2014
Wedding Stationery: The Trend Above All Trends
While trends of any sort pertaining to weddings are abundant, fleeting,
and often contradictory, there are some trends, existing just below the radar
(somewhere in between explosions of burlap and Gatsby-esque bejeweling), that
will make it past the more transitory fads.
The important part of every wedding (and pretty much every wedding
website in existence will remind you of this) is that your wedding be
reflective of you and your partner. Today, weddings are becoming increasingly
personalized, and we think that’s a very, very good thing. This is the trend
above all trends.
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| Choose Your Color Infinity Wedding Invitations |
When it comes to wedding invites, this inclination towards customization
over tradition has even made its way to our doorstep. We find that fewer
couples choose “traditional” wedding invitations, and we recognize that there
are a whole host of reasons for this. Looking back at past wedding trends,
companies like Crane and Anna Griffin (brands we carry ourselves) specialized
in “traditional” wedding invitations with traditional wording, on thick cardstock,
with either embossed, thermography, or letterpress type. There was little room
for design (see also: personality) on the paper, so invitations began being
enveloped in design, typically floral, and typically accompanied by lace,
vellum, ribbon, etc. Invitations were then either plain (to one extreme) or
frou-frou (to the other). And they were going to be expensive either way, which
sends a message of formality.
But we’ve now entered an era where people throw all kinds of weddings
with all different “vibes”. What if you’re not really into florals? Or your
wedding is going to be super casual? Or you don’t have a lot of money?
The era of digitally designed invitations means a greater variety of
paper styles, colors and designs than just choosing from a few expensive
cardstocks and some ink colors (maybe some ribbons here and there). Digitally
printed invites create more room for bold patterns and prints, something many people
want to take advantage of in an effort to be more personal. Your invitations
can become a much greater bearer of your wedding “theme” or atmosphere with
more options: gingham, floral, trellis, geometric, vintage. You can also have
all of these great options for less money and with less production time. Our
selection of digital wedding invitations is growing rapidly because it allows
couples to get more bang for their buck.
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| Fleur de Lis Swirl Wedding Invitation Suite |
But if invitations aren’t your thing and you’re really struggling with
the process, it can be helpful to take a look at the latest trends to get a
feel for what you like.
If you look at a broad wedding search on Pinterest, there are certainly
some wedding themes that are particularly popular right now. Rustic barn
weddings are happening all over the place (especially in the South). The
combination of industrial components and rustic elements seems to be derived
from the rustic trend as well. And of course, as seems to be popular in all
party circles, The Gatsby Theme.
Gatsby themed weddings (whether the suggestion is overt or subtle)
typically allude to the opulence of the era, like gold rimmed china, long
gloves, chandeliers. The theme promotes old world elegance, ideally in a subtle
manner to avoid costume-jewelry-type tackiness.
Choosing wedding stationery to fit within your Gatsby/roaring 20s
wedding theme should promote those same elements: thick, luxurious paper,
metallic inks, vintage fonts, art deco details. If you have specific wedding
colors in mind, incorporate those. In this particular instance, it’s ok to be a
little over the top. It tells your guests what kind of party this wedding will
be.
Perhaps the most widespread wedding trend of late is the “rustic”
wedding. We feel the need for quotes here because there have been so many
variations of this theme generated over the past year or so. Rustic weddings
are great because they have that “down home” feel which encourages DIY wedding
planning, which lends itself well to a very personalized experience.
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| Vintage Laurel Wreath Wedding Invitations |
Whether your un-betrothed self
already has a Pinterest board chock-full of rustic wedding pins or you’re just
starting to explore themes with your partner, it’s good to know that rustic weddings
really all boil to down to a few core elements. Natural, unfinished materials
are a great place to start: burlap (maybe throw some lace in there for good
measure), raw or rough-hewn wood, and handpicked, simple greenery. Your new
mantra: trees and barns. Trees and barns. Invitations are also easy to
integrate in this case. Keep it simple. Kraft paper or light colors, flowery,
elegant fonts, hints of lace, textured paper.
We mentioned earlier that as rustic weddings became popular, many
variations of this theme arrived on the scene. One that seems to have taken
hold, especially amongst the more minimalist crowd is the combination of
industrial and rustic. Choosing an industrial venue and adding a few homey
accents is a nice balance between refined and country, minimalist and
elaborate. Industrial venues, with their concrete flooring, exposed brick, open
floor plan and (typically) large windows call for minimal card design, in terms
of invitations, with bold color for font or even images in place of some
wording. The invitation is a good opportunity to showcase understated design,
but warmed up with touches of fabric, scripted wording, or floral accents to
make it more appealing. Here, it’s all about the juxtaposition.
Because who doesn’t love a good juxtaposition?
Like we said before, the most important thing is that your wedding
invitations reflect you both as a couple. This is the trend above all trends.
While it can certainly be helpful to look around and see what your options are,
we always emphasize taking the opportunity to display yourself in every aspect
of your wedding (especially in your invitations, the first glimpse that anyone
will really get of how awesome your wedding is going to be).
What's your favorite wedding stationery trend?
Friday, July 11, 2014
Tips for Planning a Garden Party for Those Who Never Have
There’s nothing quite like planning a garden party. Given
the material you’ll already have to work with, planning this kind of party
typically means a dazzling event with less work. There’s something so great
about throwing a party outside surrounded by beautiful greenery, good weather,
good people, and good food. If you’ve never planned a garden party before, here’s
a list of helpful tips to keep in mind!
Invitations
Invitations for a garden party, as with any event, are your
first chance to set the tone. They indicate to your guests how formal the event
is going to be, which in turn suggests what to wear, if they should bring
anything, etc. When searching for the perfect invites, keep in mind that some
of the more filigreed options would indicate a certain level of formality,
whereas an invitation with blocked wording and illustrative styling might
denote an informal environment. There is no shortage of floral-themed invitations at Paper Style and obviously we highly encourage you to check them
out (wink wink).
Obvious though it may sound, make sure to keep in mind the
actual information you’d like on your invitation. Check out the “Wording”
section on this post that we did last year for a checklist of the standard
information included on any invitation. Do tell your guests time and date and
location, obviously, but it’s also helpful to include information about
apparel. Want your guests to wear big, fancy hats? Put it on the invite! Want
them to bring a shawl or sweater or parka (depending on their inclination to
cold) because the party will go well into the evening? You gotta let them know,
you know?
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| 818-55-0004 |
In a garden, of course! Or really, anywhere outside that you
have available to you. The idea behind any outdoor party is minimal décor. Let
the outdoors do the decorating for you! The world is your oyster and all that.
If you have an amazing garden that you’re super proud of and ready to show off,
a garden party is the perfect way to do that! But even if your backyard is
mostly concrete and weeds, you can still throw a beautiful, whimsical party
with the right tools.
If you’re lacking in the greenery department, it might be a
good idea to invest in some large planters that you can fill with an assortment
of greenery. Not just for the party, either. Big pots of flowers or plants will
always make a good addition to your space, especially if you choose
low-maintenance plants, like ivies or succulents.
Since the focal aspect of the party is the greenery, if you
have a lush space to work with, it’s best to have your primary set-up (your
tables or benches or wherever the wine is) in the middle of all of that.
As another note, we’re particularly fond of white décor for
garden parties because it’s light and airy during the day and sort of captures
your lighting in the evening. White
tablecloths/table runners, napkins, white canopies or umbrellas, white
centerpiece holders… Even if you only throw in a few white elements, it adds a nice,
clean pop to the rainbow of color in the garden.
But then, who are we kidding, your color scheme should
reflect the type of party you’re having and there’s no such thing as too much
color at a garden party. C’mon, it’s a garden.
Canopies &
Lighting (see also: really important parts of the party planning)
If your party is in the morning or afternoon and your space
is without much cover or shade, it’s a good idea to invest in canopies from a
rental company (if your party is a large one) or patio umbrellas (for smaller
or more casual parties). Don’t make your guests sweat it out.
If your party is in the evening, or will continue into the
evening, you need to account for lighting: and let me tell you, bistro lights
are where it’s at y’all. Or really any type of lights that you can string around
hedges or up in trees. We love bistro lights in particular because they’re so
versatile. They can certainly be used capriciously to give the party a much
more whimsical, natural feel, but they also look great worked into modern,
industrial design, taking into account patterns and angles.
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| Ashley Urke (Domestic Fashionista) |
Tables & Seating (see also: the most important parts of the party planning)
Tables and seating are the major components in the overall
atmosphere of the party. Parties that are on the casual side might be better suited
to family style tables and seating, whereas more formal events might be best
with several separate, round tables, perhaps even high cocktail tables.
Ultimately, what you can provide for your guests will depend on the space
you’re holding the party in and if you’re looking to spend major ducats.
Family style seating tends to be the go-to. It provide a
great environment and drives interaction with other guests. It makes serving
food easier and it takes fewer resources (tables).
If you’re throwing a party where the food will be limited
(but perhaps drinks will be plentiful, if you know what I mean) several high
cocktail tables are probably your best bet. It gives people more space to
mingle and since they won’t need much space for plates, you can open up the
event space by reducing the table space. It really all depends what atmosphere
you’re trying to create.
It’s also a good idea to include separate seating away from
the table to encourage mingling. We love outdoor ottomans, benches, or porch
swings with comfy and inviting pillows. They’re functional and decorative!
Centerpieces
The idea behind a garden party is to keep the floral theme
running through all the elements of your event, even if the space you’re
working with isn’t particularly verdant. In fact, centerpieces are the perfect opportunity to pack a floral
punch, even if your space is minimal and industrial.
 |
| Aimee Smith Media |
Centerpieces are the best way to make a statement about the kind of party you’re hosting, in a nutshell. What you include in your centerpieces and how they’re arranged are important. Choosing seasonal flowers is typically best, as they’ll likely cost less and probably last longer. Now that it’s summer, we love the idea of gardens and parties filled with sunflowers and colorful wildflowers. But ultimately, flower choice should be a direct reflection of the ambiance of your event. Plus, it’s hard to go wrong, no matter what you choose. Who doesn’t love pretty flowers?
But be sure to check out our Garden Party Pinterest Board for
more inspiration!
Monday, June 30, 2014
We Love BIG NEWS: Andrew Gets Engaged!
Happy Monday, everyone! What better way to start the week than with good news, right?
At Paper Style, we spend all day, every day helping people celebrate their lives. We get to hear all about your parties and weddings and birthdays and we love every minute of it. Relishing in all the excitement surrounding celebrations, it always feels extra special for us when one of our own team members has big news!
Last week, Andrew, our Director of Web Content, asked his girlfriend to marry him! Man, do we love a good engagement story...
We sat down to ask Andrew some questions about the engagement, and of course, it was the kind of romantic story that makes us all smile from ear to ear:
TPSB: How long had you been planning before you asked Heather to marry you?
A: I’d been planning the proposal for about 4 months. We had already planned a trip out west to Seattle and then to Montana to visit her family. I knew how special her lake house on Flathead Lake was to her. After much thought, I decided there couldn’t be a better spot to propose.
TPSB: How did you pick the ring? Had you guys been ring shopping together or did you just surprise her with one you picked?
A: Well, after a little while in a relationship – sometimes subtle hints are dropped. And there are sometimes not so subtle hints like “Oh, look, a jewelry counter….” We had a few discussions about ideas, so when I was ready I had something to work with. The hardest part was keeping it a secret, especially when it arrived over a month before our trip!
TPSB: It's early, but are there any details that you both are sure about yet? You mentioned the possibility of a destination wedding?
A: We’re still in the “Let’s enjoy this for a minute” phase, but we intend to start planning in a week or so. The one thing we do know is that we’d like a destination wedding. With our families and friends so spread out (Montana and Georgia, primarily) we figure we should make everyone travel and get a little sand between their toes!
TPSB: How did Heather react when you proposed?
A: She was over the moon! My plans included the one place where she has some of the best memories, and my asking her there added one more Special Memory of many to come! Her smile alone was worth another year of planning.
TPSB: Will you be getting your wedding stationery through Paper Style? (Shameless plug, y'all. Sorry! We're just so excited!)
A: We will definitely be placing an order for Save The Dates and Wedding Invitations as soon as we iron out those important details. Possibly one of the great beach wedding gatefold invitations. We already have a few sets of individual stationery for thank you notes – but I guess I’ll have to update hers with a new name!!!
Ah, the sweet sound of wedding bells on a Monday morning. What could be better? Do you have an extra-special proposal story to share?
At Paper Style, we spend all day, every day helping people celebrate their lives. We get to hear all about your parties and weddings and birthdays and we love every minute of it. Relishing in all the excitement surrounding celebrations, it always feels extra special for us when one of our own team members has big news!
Last week, Andrew, our Director of Web Content, asked his girlfriend to marry him! Man, do we love a good engagement story...
We sat down to ask Andrew some questions about the engagement, and of course, it was the kind of romantic story that makes us all smile from ear to ear:
TPSB: How long had you been planning before you asked Heather to marry you?
A: I’d been planning the proposal for about 4 months. We had already planned a trip out west to Seattle and then to Montana to visit her family. I knew how special her lake house on Flathead Lake was to her. After much thought, I decided there couldn’t be a better spot to propose.
TPSB: How did you pick the ring? Had you guys been ring shopping together or did you just surprise her with one you picked?
A: Well, after a little while in a relationship – sometimes subtle hints are dropped. And there are sometimes not so subtle hints like “Oh, look, a jewelry counter….” We had a few discussions about ideas, so when I was ready I had something to work with. The hardest part was keeping it a secret, especially when it arrived over a month before our trip!
TPSB: It's early, but are there any details that you both are sure about yet? You mentioned the possibility of a destination wedding?
A: We’re still in the “Let’s enjoy this for a minute” phase, but we intend to start planning in a week or so. The one thing we do know is that we’d like a destination wedding. With our families and friends so spread out (Montana and Georgia, primarily) we figure we should make everyone travel and get a little sand between their toes!
TPSB: How did Heather react when you proposed?
A: She was over the moon! My plans included the one place where she has some of the best memories, and my asking her there added one more Special Memory of many to come! Her smile alone was worth another year of planning.
TPSB: Will you be getting your wedding stationery through Paper Style? (Shameless plug, y'all. Sorry! We're just so excited!)
A: We will definitely be placing an order for Save The Dates and Wedding Invitations as soon as we iron out those important details. Possibly one of the great beach wedding gatefold invitations. We already have a few sets of individual stationery for thank you notes – but I guess I’ll have to update hers with a new name!!!
Ah, the sweet sound of wedding bells on a Monday morning. What could be better? Do you have an extra-special proposal story to share?
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