Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Wedding Wednesday :: Classy Balloons


While Well Registered focuses on wedding registries, each week we feature some of our favorite wedding day inspirations and tutorials. This week we're inspired by balloons.  Balloons as wedding decor can be a bit scary - in our opinion they can get tacky quickly.  But if done right, balloons can provide great visual interest by adding some height to your wedding decor.  Like paper, streamers, and yarn, we like balloons because you can buy them in a wide variety of colors to suit your wedding day palette. 




We love these oversized white balloons.  If you're timid about using balloons in your wedding decor, we suggest to stick with white, round balloons as pictured in this photo by Glamour.  





You could also add pops of color with balloons as seen in this photo by Martha Stewart Weddings.  To get balloons to hang correctly, simply place a marble or small weight in the balloon before filling with air.





This is another example of how to add height to your wedding decor by hanging balloons from the ceiling (or tent).  You could add vines among the balloons to add more interest.




White balloons are very versatile, but we especially love them in this gorgeous outdoor wedding.  See, balloons aren't always cheesy decor! 


Would you use balloons in your wedding decor? 




Monday, November 28, 2011

New Inspiration Boards


We realize how important it is for you to have many options to choose from when it comes to inspiration for your wedding registry.  We're working to increase the number of inspiration boards available on Well Registered.

Lately we've increased the number of inspiration boards for Target, Williams-Sonoma and Crate & Barrel.  Most recently we've added new inspiration boards from Bed Beth and Beyond.  Some of our favorites are featured below.  (Note: All items are in-stock and linked on the inspiration boards available at Well Registered.)


















Make sure to check out all the new boards for Bed Bath and Beyond at Well Registered and check back soon for more inspiration and advice!






Thursday, November 24, 2011

Thursday Thank You's


It's Thanksgiving and a perfect day for Thank You Thursday on the Well Registered Blog  Today we're featuring some of our favorite thank you stationary from across the internet.  



These gorgeous photo thank you cards are simple and classic with a featured picture on the front.  The inside is printed with a simple phrase of your choosing and leaves plenty of space to write your message.
 



These thank you cards from Paper-Source are fun and customizable.  You can personalize them with your names and there are four color schemes to choose from.




The flourished thank you cards from Minted.com come in four different colors (black, red, green and light blue) and are personalized with your names at the bottom right.



 
We love a do-it-yourself option for making your own thank you cards.  With Martha Stewart's Edge Punches you can easily decorate paper stock to make elegant hand-crafted stationary.  For a tutorial on how to make the cards pictured, visit MarthaStewart.com.


No matter how, make sure to say thank you!  Happy Thanksgiving!





Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Wedding Wednesday :: Chic Streamers


While Well Registered focuses on wedding registries, each week we feature some of our favorite wedding day inspirations and tutorials. This week we're inspired by streamers - there are so many color options with streamers and they are an inexpensive way to add texture and pops of color to your wedding decor.




See how chic streamers can be for wedding decor?  They make great backdrops for both wedding alters and photobooth backdrops.  




Streamers can make a great alternative to rice or bubbles for your wedding exit.





Ruffled has a great tutorial for making your own backdrop using streamers.  Check out their blog to learn how to make this for your wedding.





Oh Happy Day has a tutorial for how to make fringed streamers.  You could use these as a backdrop or to decorate tables or chairs. 










Like the look of the Confetti System product above but don't want to pay the price?  Punky Style offers a tutorial for how to achieve a similar look yourself.


Do you think streamers could make chic, pretty wedding decor? 




Tuesday, November 22, 2011

What Price Range Should I Have for My Wedding Registry?



You should aim to have items in a wide price range on your wedding registry throughout your engagement. 

 
Why should you have a wide price range of items?

You need to have low cost items on your registry because:
  • Many of your guests may have a limited budget to spend on their gift.  Simply put - be considerate and make sure there are plenty of affordable options for everyone.
  • Some guests enjoy purchasing multiple smaller items.
  • There are lots of household items that you will most likely need that will be under $25 even if you get the highest quality available.
You need to have more expensive items on your registry because:
  • Some guests will want to spend a considerable amount on your wedding gift and may not want to hassle with purchasing multiple items.  Be considerate of these guests by having some more expensive options.
  • Some people may want to go in together to get you a larger, more expensive gift. 


So what prices should your registry items be?

The common price categories for wedding registry items are:
  • Under $25
  • Between $25 - $50
  • Between $50 - $100
  • Between $100 - $200 
  • Over $200
The percentage of items you register for in each category will vary depending on the goal you have in mind for your wedding registry and also on your guests' budgets.  Since you don't know what your guests are going to spend, we suggest starting with the following percentages and adjusting your registry as items get purchased.
  • 30-50% of the total items on your registry: Under $25
  • 20-40% of the total items on your registry: Between $25 - $50
  • 10-20% of the total items on your registry: Between $50 - $100
  • 5-15% of the total items on your registry: Between $100 - $200 
  • 5-15% of the total items on your registry: Over $200
Notice that the percentages are based off the number of items, not the total cost.  The dollar amount of the items is fairly even across the price ranges even though the number of items on your registry will be more skewed towards the low-end.

Remember that your wedding registry should have a wide mix of price options throughout your engagement.  If you notice that a lot of the items in a certain category are being purchased, make sure to replace them with new items.  This task will most likely be the hardest part of being well registered, but the reward of keeping your friends and family happy and unoffended will be well worth your time.



Monday, November 14, 2011

New Inspiration Boards


We realize how important it is for you to have many options to choose from when it comes to inspiration for your wedding registry.  So we're working to increase the number of inspiration boards available on Well Registered.

We've already doubled the number of inspiration boards for both Target and Williams-Sonoma.  Now we are excited to feature some new inspiration for you from Crate & Barrel.  Check out the Inspiration Board Homepage for Crate & Barrel, and see our favorite new boards below.  (Note: All items are in-stock and linked on the inspiration boards available at Well Registered.)


This is one of our favorite color palettes - navy, white and cream.  We love these chevron curtain panels and the mirror set is gorgeous!




Take a look at Crate & Barrel's new capiz placemats... so pretty!




We love the patterned salt and pepper shakers and how well they coordinate with Le Creuset's cobalt items.




The crispness of this color palette - green, white, tan and brown - makes another one of our favorite color patterns.  And we just love the driftwood mirror.


Make sure to check out the rest of our new inspiration boards at WellRegistered.com!  And check back soon... new inspiration boards for Bed Bath and Beyond and Pottery Barn! 



Thursday, November 10, 2011

Thursday Thank You's


It's Thank You Thursday again on the Well Registered Blog and today we're featuring some of our favorite thank you stationary in different price ranges.



These classy yet modern thank you cards are available at an online stationary store called Minted.  There are tons of great options available here, and we'll definitely be featuring more of their cards in the future.


 

One of our favorite ideas for thank you cards for your wedding gifts is a photo thank you card.  We love this design's simplicity and you would have so many options of which picture to use.  See this card at Wedding Paper Divas




 
We also love black and white for wedding stationary.  This classic scroll designed card would fit many wedding themes and are more affordable than some other options.  The card even comes with a decorated envelope.




If you are wanting to send handmade thank you cards, Martha Stewart has a great idea for stitching card stock in your wedding colors.  Visit Martha Stewart Weddings for the tutorial. 
 
 
How are you going to say thank you?



Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Wedding Wednesday :: DIY with Yarn


While Well Registered focuses on wedding registries, each week we will feature some of our favorite wedding day inspirations and tutorials. This week we're inspired by Do It Yourself projects made from yarn.  Like the projects with paper featured a couple weeks ago, using yarn is very versatile since you can use any color you'd like. 



You can collect bottles and jars to wrap in yarn coordinating with your wedding colors.  They would be great for table centerpieces.  For an easy how to, check out Style at Home.



image credit: Wednesday Inc via Ruffled Blog

You can make these gorgeous yarn lanterns to hang at your wedding reception or ceremony.  For a tutorial visit Ruffled Blog.




Similar to the yarn lanterns above, you could make a hanging chandelier using yarn.  There is not a tutorial provided with the picture, but you can use the previous tutorial to get an idea.  Just use varying amounts of yarn, and make some with wire underneath.  Gorgeous! 




You can wrap clear glass votives with yarn to create beautiful centerpieces and decor.  For a tutorial see Merry Brides.




You can make these whimsical garlands with yarn in your wedding colors.  For a tutorial, check out Honestly WTF.




Finish your wedding day yarn look with favor boxes wrapped in various amounts of yarn.  See Martha Stewart Weddings for more ideas.



Tuesday, November 8, 2011

How to Choose Your Wedding Registry Stores


There are many options available for your wedding registry, so how do you choose the perfect stores?  Here are some factors you may want to consider when choosing your wedding registry stores.   


1 – Your Wants and Needs

The number one factor that should drive the choice for your wedding registry stores should be your own wants and needs.  Take some time to think about the purpose behind your wedding registry, and then choose stores that could help fill that purpose.  For example, if you need a lot of basic housewares be sure to register at a large department store with a wide selection of products.  Or if you want a beautifully stocked kitchen for cooking, consider registering at stores that focus on kitchenware.  Evaluate your wants and needs, think about what different stores have to offer, and begin to choose your perfect wedding registry stores from there.


2 – Location

Your location should also affect the choice of your wedding registry stores.  You will want to choose stores that are:

  • Convenient to you – Even if you set up your wedding registry online, we suggest that you try to visit the store and see your items in person.  You will want to feel the towels and linens you register for, see dinnerware up close, and make sure colors are similar to their online depiction. If you wish to see the items in person, make sure to register at a store that is reasonably close to your location.
  • Convenient to your guests – If your guests are concentrated in a certain city (or cities) try to find at least one store for your registry that is available in that location.  Many wedding guests still prefer to walk in a store to choose their wedding gift, and you want to make sure that option is available for as many of your guests as possible.


3 – The Store's Price Range

When choosing your wedding registry stores you should also think about the price range of products available at the stores.  Consider your wants and needs, but also be considerate of your guests.  Make sure to register at stores that offer a wide price range for their products and will be affordable for your guests.


4 – Incentives and Perks

Many wedding registry stores offer incentives and perks for wedding registrants.  If you're interested in free gifts, cash rewards or completion discounts, make sure to check out the different incentives available to help you choose your stores.  We offer a snapshot of this information for the stores we feature on Well Registered in The Stores section


5 – Your Style

Your personal style should also affect the decision for your wedding registry stores.  Many stores offer bedding coordinates and dinnerware, but many stores won't offer products that fit your style.  We created our inspiration boards to help couples easily see which stores offer products that fit their style.  Browse the boards to see which stores are right for you. 


Choosing the stores for your wedding registry is a difficult decision that could affect the look, feel and function of your home for many years.  Take time to think about these five factors and you will likely find your perfect wedding registry stores.


Thursday, November 3, 2011

Thursday Thank You's



It's Thank You Thursday again on the Well Registered Blog and today we're featuring some of our favorite inexpensive options for wedding thank you cards. 




We like these Hortense B. Hewitt Wedding notes because they are simple yet fun.  As for the details, the bird detail is printed in aqua and the words are in brown.  These thank you cards are currently being sold for $17.76 for a pack of 50 cards and envelopes.




These thank you cards are specifically for saying "thank you" for wedding gifts.  The words read "thank you from the new Mr. & Mrs."  The wedding themed cards could be a cute way to say thank you to your guests, and for $16.99 for 50 cards and envelopes they won't break the bank.  You can purchase them on Target's website.



 
We love photo cards for wedding thank you stationary.  While they are not the cheapest option, they are a very customizable and personal way to express your gratitude.  These cards are from Walgreens Photo Center and currently selling for $12.99 for a set of 20.  
 
 
 
Are there any inexpensive thank you cards you have your eye on? 




Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Wedding Registry Store Profiles


Store profiles for each of the stores we feature are now up on Well Registered.  For each store we've laid out information about:
  • The perks offered to wedding registrants such as completion discounts, bonus gifts, and more
  • The return policies 
  • The options your guests have for gift wrapping 
  • What we like and don't like
  • And more! 

To learn more about the popular wedding registry stores and what they have to offer, check out "The Stores" page on Well Registered.