Carly Eskin has been attending weddings all of her life. She has been a bridesmaid, bridal shower organizer, and even coordinated her best friend’s nuptials. As far as weddings go, she loves creative venues, pretty color palettes, dancing the Hora, and busting her moves to Sly and the Family Stone’s “We Are Family”, even if she isn’t part of the family. Her dislikes include mosquitos at outdoor venues, the redundancy of “Please RSVP”, and being the only unmarried woman forced to go and catch the bouquet while Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” is playing. Carly is a native Angeleno. She writes, works, watches bad (aka amazing) television, and is obsessed with her niece and nephew. She is currently single and looking for her tall, chubby, bearded beshert, so help a girl out.
While I graduated with a B.A. in psychology, what I really have is a Ph.D. in being a wedding guest. I have been to a wide array of weddings. I have been to very spendthrift weddings and I have been to weddings that cost in the six figures. From destination weddings to backyard soirées, grand hotels to public parks, I have seen them all. And, I take mental notes; very detailed mental notes. Needless to say, I know what a guest likes (open bar if you can) and dislikes (mosquitos at outdoor venues!). In my series, I want to share the usually ignored opinion of what we wedding guests appreciate and what we dread.
Today it’s all about something that affects the lives of all potential wedding guests: STDs. Ya know, Save the Dates.
As the old adage says, you only have one time to make a first impression. And, in the wedding world, that impression is usually in the form of a Save the Date.
First impressions, much like that first date you had with your soon-to-be husband, set the tone for the forthcoming journey. And, as The Wedding Yentas resident wedding guest expert, I know that the most memorable Save the Dates are the creative ones! This is in no way to say that an elegant, letter pressed, simple Save the Date is the wrong choice, because I have seen some that just take my breath away. But, as a guest of the wedding, I always enjoy something that makes me laugh, smile, and makes me want to show others and say, “This was just too cute not to share!”
The following are some of my favorite examples and tips on how to please your wedding guests because after all, your wedding is being thrown for them, am I right? No? Whatever.
Tip #1: Everyone loves pictures of you both as kids
Take Carly and Kurt here. Look at those punims! Who knew that one day that adorable little girl and that debonair toddler would one day find themselves in love with one another? I’m sure Aunt Marcia is getting a kick strolling down memory lane. This is surely being taken to the “beauty shop” to be passed around. Is this the little girl I carried? Is this the little boy at play? Damn right it is. Sunrise, sunset!
Tip #2: Be silly!
Did you both really just write on your face? Yes, you did. And I thank you for the chuckle and I will definitely be saving that date. I just hope they weren’t silly enough to use a Sharpie.
Tip #3: Always be creative!
My, my, that Kristy and Nathan are original. And, it’s interactive! Jeez, I really feel like I’m a part of this wedding. And I also feel like I’m back at summer camp in the 6th grade. Need a noun? Always go for the sure fire laugh of Poop.
Tip #4: If you are skilled with a video camera and are able to figure out how to upload and edit your recordings, take advantage of yourself… or that college roommate you made fun of for thinking they were going to be the next Coppola.
I love this video. I haven’t met these people, but I want to! And I also want(ed) to go to their wedding because if they know how to put together an awesome and funny Save the Date, think about the awesome wedding they will throw.
Tip #5: Puns!
Get it? They’re tying the knot, and you just tied the knot when you opened the Save the Date. This is actually my personal favorite and the route I’m going when I find that nice Jewish boy (Read: sucker) to put a ring on it. This is one of those ideas that has the recipient opening and closing the card multiple times to see the string tie and untie. This Save the Date is not only beautiful and elegant, it has just the right dash of whimsy that says, “Yes, we’re classy, but playful. Come to our wedding, have a nosh, dance the Hora and rejoice!”
So, those were just a sampling of what catches my attention in the Save the Date world. These are the ones that make it onto the refrigerator.
What was your Save the Date like? And if you are still in the planning stages, what ideas have you come up with?
