How to Ask for Money for a Bridal Shower Gift

Most people frown upon couples who ask for money for bridal showers, weddings, etc. However, sometimes it's necessary: maybe the couple already has everything they need, or maybe they are moving and would rather not add to the list of things they need to pack into boxes. The latter was the case for this bridal shower invite I was asked to design. So, how do you ask for money for a bridal shower gift, and not sound cheap or rude?

After searching online and finding numerous poems about "money trees" and other ideas I felt to be a little too cliché, I decided to put my English degree and creative writing experience to good use. The design below is the result. 

Instead of tip-toeing around the issue, I cut straight to the chase and flat-out told the guests the reason for wanting gift-cards and money vs. gifts. People don't like to be lied to, or tricked, and I figured honesty is the best policy. One thing you might notice is that in no place do I actually use the words "money," or "cash," or allude to it with the color green or mention of "growing leaves on their 'money tree.'" This allusion to money (or flat out using the word), is what I felt made the poems I found online so cliché. 

By simply asking for gift-cards, there is no need to actually use the word "money." It is implied that the couple doesn't want gifts, and if someone doesn't want to go to the store for a gift card, they will realize money is the next best thing (and what the couple really wants). You get the same end result without actually asking for it, and without sounding cheap. 

"We gather to celebrate

a gal and a guy who tie 

The Knot soon

and move in July.

Boxes are heavy,

moving is tough,

the bride & groom said,

We have enough!

To keep the move simple

so they don't get lost in

piles of boxes & bins

on their way to Boston

Let's shower them with gift cards,

because they're so small

and won't take up room in

the packed-up U-Haul."

It's important to mention that the couple was not completely opposed to gifts. In fact, it was the shower hostess' that decided to throw a gift-card-and-money-shower vs. a traditional shower due to the move.

The couple was registered at a few different stores which I included on the invitation to give guests a clue as to where to buy gift cards from. I also figured that regardless of what the invitation said, some people will end up bringing gifts anyway; they just always do. 

Speckled Easter Eggs Name Cards

I know this is a little past due, but I loved my speckled Easter eggs so much this year I need to post at least a few photos of them. I went with a soft (almost neutral) color palette this year. 

I used the inspiration/tutorial over at Dream A Little Bigger blog. If you've never dyed East eggs by putting them in a whisk instead of using a spoon, I highly recommend it!

I added the name tag & twine touch by myself, and we used them as name cards for the place settings. To make the stands I just cut down the individual modules of the egg carton. Voila! Instant egg holder. 

Calligraphy Birth Announcement: Freya Sydney

The family I used to nanny for just had a third child. They posted precious newborn pictures of her online shortly after the birth. I just couldn't resist making an unofficial birth announcement in her honor. World, meet Freya Sydney. Freya, meet The World. I can't wait to see her in person!

Restoration of an Abandoned Chateau: Chateau de Gudanes

Not stationery related (just easily inspired): It's easy to find inspiration in this restoration of an abandoned chateau in the south of France.  Here is one place I wish I could visit in person:

There is a chateau in the south of France known as Chateau de Gudanes. It was built in the early 1700s and for nearly the past 100 years it has become derelict. It was run down, with a broken roof, and no one to roam its halls. Then a couple from Australia fell in love with the chateau, bought it (after a lengthy legal process), and has begun to restore it to its original glory.

Besides the obvious beauty and grandeur of the structure and the scenery there are countless hidden gems that the couple posts close-up details of regularly on their blog, facebook page, and instagram (yes, I follow all three!). 

The headstone above (I guess I am assuming here, that this is, in fact, a headstone) "PAX" translates to "Peace." To me this blog shows that there is such beauty in the past, and in history. Sometimes we just need to dig through a little bit of rubble, and do a little bit of polishing in order to find it. 

All photo credit is given to the Chateau de Gudanes blog, Facebook page, and/or instagram. 

Tall & Skinny Calligraphy on Kraft Paper

This bride needed some simple, elegant calligraphy to carry her beautiful hand rendered wedding invitations to the homes of each of her guests. 

I love the black ink on kraft paper. When I first started the project the ink bled into the paper because it was so porous. I ended up using quite a bit of gum arabic to thicken the ink so it would lay smoothly on top of the paper.

I also designed and hand carved a return address stamp for the reverse side of the envelopes. Address stamps come in handy, because your address needs to go on all of the invitations and all of the return envelopes for RSVPs (in this case though, the bride & groom had email RSVPs).

The following shots of envelopes exclude the entire addresses for privacy reasons. Not that I think you all are going to hunt down the names & addresses on these envelopes and surprise them with... chocolate chip cookies or something. :)

Red Calligraphy

I totally forgot to post the calligraphy envelopes from the red & blue wedding invitations I did for my friend Paige. The linen envelopes are the same paper as the main body of the invitation suite and the wedding programs, and the red ink ties in nicely with wedding colors.

Red & Blue Wedding Invitations: A Simple & Sweet Wedding Suite

I was so honored to design these red & blue wedding invitations & programs for my dearest high school friend's wedding. It was a laborious but beautiful process, and as of April 11, 2014 our first wedding project has finally come and gone. 

The bride and groom were open to any ideas and styles I could dream up -- with the color scheme for the wedding (purple, red & blue) being my only restrictions. I soon found out that freedom of design can be a challenging process, but after a few drafts (and bouncing ideas off my creative director husband) came up with a solid set of elements to further develop. It was so much fun to play with the red & blue theme and to decide where to add pops of color, and where to leave text black.

Warning: There is a story behind this wedding (aka "The Fairy Godmother Project"). This post may get lengthy. But really, it's mostly pictures. You have been warned. ;)

Photo by Coppersmith Photography

Photo by Coppersmith Photography

Photo by Coppersmith Photography

Photo by Coppersmith Photography

The wedding was unlike any I've been to. My friend Paige and her fiance Cody (an Army Sergeant) were going to have a minimalist wedding, as that is all they could afford, but then something amazing happened: two women decided they would be Paige's "Fairy Godmothers" and throw her a dream wedding. 

The project became known as the first annual Fairy Godmother Project Minnesota. Led by fearless co-founders Terry Uy-Lennon of Uy-Lennon Floral and Events, and Amy Coppersmith of Coppersmith Photography. The two ladies rounded up other vendors to partake in this generous project, who provided their services for free or at-cost. 

Here are some of the amazing shots from the day. All photo credit given to Coppersmith Photography with a special thanks for letting me use them in my blog post. They did such a wonderful job & made sure everyone was having fun!

I love this shot of all the dresses! Yes, we all wore cowboy boots.

Close-up of the boots.

Bride with her Bridesmaids :)

The bridesmaid's dresses were varying shades of blue with red accents in the jewelry, flowers, and pashmina shawls. 

The whole wedding party.

Those tie-clips are actually really cool money holders that the bride engraved by hand. They have the initials of the groomsmen (& ushers) engraved on them. Such skill. The varying shades of the red & blue wedding party attire really came together nicely, don't you think?

And here are some of my favorite shots of the lovely bride & groom from the day. I can't help but smile when I look through these. 

Gorgeous wedding with great friends! I am blessed.  Oh yeah, plus some really cool invitations & programs ;) 

I can't believe I almost forgot to mention the super cool slow motion booth & photo booth that was set-up in the old hay loft of the barn. The video has not been posted yet, but basically the photographer (Travis Johansen) takes slow motion videos in addition to normal photo booth photos, and then splices them together & edits them into a crazy cool, fun, memorable video of the event. Enjoy!

Dancing with my momma

The bride & groom with some of the vendors

Slow Motion Booth & Photo Booth by 7Booth. For a full list of vendors visit the Fairy Godmother Project Minnesota Facebook Page.