Bella Kai Blog

How to Do It Yourself

2009-11-14T15:25:00.000-08:00

Making Your Own Invitations Has Never Been Easier!

Choose from any of our DIY Kits or create your own unique and perfect invitaions by using our step-by-step guide to ordering the right components for creating the perfect invitation. Either way, you will be shocked to find how easy and fun DIY invitations can be!

Step-By-Step Guide to Ordering Custom DIY Kits

1. Choose Your Pouch Style and Color (Square, Horizontal, Vertical, or DL European)

2. Choose Your Pouch Envelope Style and Color (Square, Horizontal, Vertical, or DL European)
Pouch and Pouch Envelope must be the same size/style

3. Choose one of our printed papers to use as a pouch liner or choose a printed paper of your own to use.

4. Choose a Pouch Backer
Square backer for Square Pouch
A2 Backer for A2 Pouch
A7 Backer for A7 Horizontal Pouch
A7 Backer for A7 Vertical Pouch
DL Backer for DL Pouch

5. Choose a Response Card Backer (A1) and color
A1 Backers fit into Response Card Envelopes

6. Choose a Response Card Envelope
A1 Top-Flap Envelopes fit A1 Backers

7. Choose a Pouch Seal
Use a printable sticker seal for a clean polished look.
Use your own item such as a ribbon, button, wax seal, etc.

8. Order our beautiful Linen Paper to print your information or use a printer's services and paper.

9. Order Bella Kai's suggested Glue- works great, doesn't bleed, and is acid-free.

10. Place order, wait a week or two for your orderto be delivered, open your box, get excited, call a friendor sister if you want, get gluing, sit back and amire your beautiful, one-of-a-kind, handmade invitations! Enjoy!

Forcasted 2010 Wedding Trends

2009-08-03T14:02:00.000-07:00

While doing a little 2010 wedding trend research I stumbled upon this great list from http://www.getmarried.com/ of some of the year's forcasted trends. Check it out below!

1. Back to Basics
Events will focus on the attention to the details, the foundation of the event, not the drama or grandeur of the evening. Consider spending more on the lasting memories than the showmanship of the event. Spend a bit more than the average budget allotment on photography mediums rather than abundant floral. Or consider a bit of a longer stay on your honeymoon and a little less of a party at the reception and you’ll be grateful for your decision in the end.

2. Home Weddings
Hit HomeIntimate and personal affairs in the backyard are bigger than ever. Going home incorporates the continued trend of personalizing the wedding day experience.Smaller size guest lists, more intimate settings, grass roots weddings, elegant and detail driven, but in no way small on what counts.

3. Buttercream on the Big Day
Fondant is falling behind, buttercream corners the market.Tools and techniques now allow for buttercream to look as smooth as fondant when applied by a skilled artist. You have the option of better flavor, more natural ingredients, and less costly cakes that no longer suffer or lack in design.

4. Favor Comeback
Personalized appreciation is back. The effect that an event has on the guests is more noticeable than ever before so the importance of a favor is felt more than ever. Be sure to appreciate to those in attendance - it’s not just an afterthought, omission, or generic item. Think local artisans, locally grown products, personal mementos, and on-the-spot print outs. (check out Bella Kai's assortment of favor boxes.

5. Nearby Destinations
Nearby destination weddings are taking flight over the exotic and far off locales. The ever popular destination wedding will remain but guests will get out of town by car (within driving distance) so couples can create a weekend, guests get an escape, but no one breaks the bank. Enjoying the US destination locations, spend within your own local economies, create a greener effect, experience undiscovered backyards, and stay sensible about cost while you’re at away.

6. Colors
Monochromatic palettes - this doesn’t mean muted colors, just single color bunches. Vibrant Colors: Orange, green, yellow, and pink. Metal Colors: Gold, silver, copper, and pewter. And black is definitely the new black. Break the rules and show off the darker side of your event. Check out Bella Kai's favorite monochromatic invitation.

7. Greener Conscience
Immerging will be the newest phase of eco-conscience: A better understanding of the gray shades of green. You will see more emphasis on the smaller changes that are less recognizable to the guest (i.e. cleaning green, composting, solar and LED lighting, no more oasis in floral arrangements, less catering waste). It’s no longer about making the event appear “organic” – it’s about understanding how things are made, disposed of, and where/when events take place. Learning to make better choices that are unseen by the guest are just as important as those tree-free invitations everyone is talking about.

8. Video Integration into Events
We’ve all seen the photo montages of your childhoods during dinner but the next phase in video at your event comes in several different forms. Video DJ’s are immerging, allowing your dance party to dance to the visuals of the music videos; ceremonies are being broadcast on screens for better viewing from the back; and time lapse photography is being shot and integrated into video for current day montages of you and your fiancé. Love to party? Set up crane camera and project the event as it unfolds on screens around the dance floor (budget permitting of course).

9. HD Video
Videographers have already gone hi-def. But next year all or most will make such a transition, making HD and even Blu Ray the norm in wedding videography. Upgrade now and appreciate the quality later. This also means smaller cameras on site and less intrusion into your event, all around a better (though more costly) option on the big day.

10. Visual Combinations
Professional grade still photo cameras like the Canon 5D Mark II DSLR are being released with HD video capabilities included. It is recommended to have both a videographer and a photographer at your wedding to capture every moment of the big day. Tech-savvy brides looking for a new experience, may like to experiment with a visual professional (videographer or photographer) who has this technology. In the future, you will begin to see an emergence of two-in-one companies. Companies like Engaging Films and Video Keepsakes of Beverly Hills in Los Angeles will shoot video and take stills, but use only one piece of technology.

What are YOUR 2010 wedding themes? We would love to know!

Exciting New Changes

2009-07-14T08:47:00.000-07:00

Bella Kai Invitations is going through some exciting new changes! We are in the process of introducing a new line of printable invitations, new invitation pouch styles (including embossed pouches) as well as some amazing new Do-It-Yourself (DIY) invitation designs!

Unfortunately, however, changes can't happen without working on the website. Bella-Kai.com will be offline for a few days, but please don't worry-we will be back and running soon and better than ever!! So hang on tight and we'll be back!

Sincerely,

The Bella Kai Invitations Team

Black, White, And A Punch Of Yellow

2009-04-08T20:44:00.000-07:00

Inspired by one of the themes from our bridal show, we have decided to blog about the hot look of black, white, and a bright, fun pop of yellow!

We paired a shimmery Ebony pouch with a fun yellow and white print to create a modern and vibrant wedding invitation. Nestled amongst modern black and white square dishes and linens, the custom invitation completed the trendy look. Mariah Floral Design's unique floral arrangements of yelow flowers and shimmery lemons looked amazing against the black and white table runner.

Continuing the yellow theme, why not wear a yellow wedding dress? Yellow shoes under a traditonal white dress? How about a lemon wedding cake? Yellow bridesmaid dresses next to black tuxedos for a crisp, clean looking bridal party?

Central Coast Bridal Show

2009-04-08T20:29:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we attended the Spectacular Spring Bridal Show held at the Madonna Inn Expo Center! We had an amazing time meeting so many beautiful brides-to-be and their family and friends, and even some sweet grooms-to-be! Teamed up with Mariah Floral Design, we were able to create a "spectacular" booth filled with Mariah's amazing floral arrangments and some of our favorite wedding invitations and save-the-date cards.

Thank you to all the brides who have inspired us with your unique and hip wedding themes and color schemes. We know each of your weddings will be "spectacular" and we hope to further assist in your wedding planning!

Top 2009 Wedding Themes

2009-02-22T21:42:00.000-08:00

We are already two months into 2009 and already seeing such a change in wedding themes from 2008! 2009 weddings are all about pink, stripes, nature, and the vintage Victorian !

THINK PINK!

Pink is a HOT color for 2009 and is being seen all over runways this year. Pinks are ranging from bubblegum pink to hot pink to deeper magentas. Play with different shades of pinks with your bridesmaid dresses, floral arrangements, and invitations. Serve Cosmos at cocktail hour to get everyone on board the pink train!

OUT WITH DOTS, IN WITH STRIPES

Stripes are replacing 2008's polka dots and we are seeing stripes everwhere from wedding cakes to the table cloths. Here's an idea: Use ribbons to create stripes on your favorite favor boxes or ring pillow.

NATURE INSPIRED

Many 2009 weddings are leaning to a more nature oriented theme. Many brides are looking into venues such as botanical gardens or rustic barns and using living plants as part of their floral arrangements.

VINTAGE VICTORIAN

This classic wedding theme is simple and refined and allows many brides to really feel like a princess for a day. Vintage wedding gowns and antique accesories and decorations really bring this theme to life. Cakes are being seen decorated with patterns similar to the lace found on many vintage wedding gowns. Go all out with horse drawn carriage for that real authentic Victorian wedding feel.

We love all these great new 2009 wedding themes. What's your theme!?

Wedding Invitations Etiquette

2009-02-22T21:21:00.000-08:00

When it comes to wedding invitations, it can be quite tricky deciding
exactly how to "formally" say "We're Getting Married!!!"

I recently stumbled upon this amazing guide to wedding invitations etiquette

and thought I would share it with all our blog readers.

Enjoy!!

Wedding Etiquette 101: Invitations

If you'll be tying the knot in a less-than-traditional setting, the wording of the wedding invitation can be as creative as you want: Think meaningful quotations, song lyrics, or any other phrases that will give your guests a sense of the style of your wedding. Just don't forget to include the basics:

Your name and the name of your fiance, including last names.

The date, location, and time of the wedding.

The location and time of the reception.

Reply information.

What if you're holding a church wedding but your parents are divorced? How do you handle stepparents? Read on for solutions to these and other invitation-etiquette quandaries. Can't find a solution to your specific question? Remember that the goal is to make people feel comfortable. When in doubt, it's always better to break the rules to spare feelings, keep the peace, or both.

Your parents are divorced but are still hosting the wedding together.Solution: The proper way to word an invitation when the bride's parents are divorced is to list the names of the bride's parents at the top of the invitation. The bride's mother's name should be on the first line and her father's name should go on the line beneath it; do not separate the lines with "and." If the bride's mother has not remarried, use "Mrs." followed by her first name, maiden name, and married name.

Your divorced parents have remarried.Solution: Traditionally, only the parents' names appear on the invitation. But if you would like to include your stepparents, it's perfectly acceptable to list them. Place your mother (and her husband, if she's remarried) first, and include your last name.Mr. and Mrs. Edward William Burch Mr. and Mrs. John Albert Smith request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Anna Grace Smith

One of your parents is deceased.Solution: If one parent is still living, that parent should issue the invitation. If your mother has not remarried, you should place "Mrs." before her name.If neither of your parents is alive, the invitation may be issued by you or other relatives, such as your grandparents (in which case you should handle it as you would divorced parents who have remarried), or you and your fiance.Miss Anna Grace Smith and Mr. James Robert McMillan request the honor of your presence at their marriage

You have been married before.Solution: If your parents are issuing the invitation, include your married name:Mr. and Mrs. John Albert Smith request the honor of your presenc eat the marriage of their daughter Anna Grace Robertson. Or you and your fiance may issue it yourselves:Anna Grace Robertson and James Robert McMillan request the honor of your presence at their marriage

You or one of your parents is a doctor.Solution: It is perfectly acceptable for medical doctors to use their titles on wedding invitations; academic doctors should not use theirs. If your mother is a doctor but your father is not, place her name, preceded by "Doctor," on the invitation above your father's. If your father is a doctor, it should read "Doctor (or "Dr.") and Mrs. John Smith" on the same line. Using the word "and" in between the names indicates that they are still married.

Your mother uses her maiden name.Solution: List your parents on separate lines, mom first, separated by the word "and" to indicate that they are still married.

The groom's parents are issuing the invitation.Solution: List your fiance's parents on the invitation as you would your parents, and include your last name.Mr. and Mrs. Steven Charles McMillan request the honor of your presence at the marriage of Miss Anna Grace Smith to their son James Robert McMillan

You're paying for your own wedding.Solution: If you have a good relationship with your parents, honor them by placing their names at the top of the invitation, especially if this is a first marriage and you are holding a traditional ceremony. If you prefer, or if the wedding is informal, most people will assume you're hosting the event if you issue your own invitation.

You don't want guests to bring children.Solution: Not everyone knows that the only people invited to an event are the ones to which the invitation is addressed. If you have friends who feel their little ones are always included, a quick phone call to tell them that your reception isn't set up for children will get your point across — and it's nicer than printing "No children, please" on the invitation or the response card.

You would like guests to contribute to a charity rather than give gifts.Solution: As altruistic as this request is, it still isn't considered appropriate to place a reference to gifts on a wedding invitation. Instead, let your wedding party help get the word out.

Written by the Editors of Real SimpleReal Simple Weddings

Thank you Real Simple for these great tips!

Happy New Year!

2009-02-02T15:21:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year from Bella Kai Invitations!

To start this amazing new year off right,

we are offerring a site-wide promotion of 10% off everything!

Use the code Season09 at the checkout

We hope you are all as excited as we are for 2009!

We have so many plans and goals for this year and we hope to really get
Bella Kai Invitations off the ground and on the road to success!

Thank you to all our supporters, friends, and family who made 2008 a great year for Bella Kai Invitations. We hope all you 2009 brides and party planners out there have a wonderful event and we hope to help you with anything you need.

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something BLUE!

2008-11-29T12:38:00.000-08:00

Move out of the way citrus hues,

the hottest wedding color trend for 2009 weddings are BLUES!

We're talkin' all shades of blue--navy blue, cobalt blue, bright blue, aqua blue, baby blue, turquoise blue, teal blue, cyan blue, steel blue, sky blue...

We are seeing shades of blues all over the wedding scene and fashion world and although there was a lot of blue last year, it was often complimented with chocolate brown. This year, pair blue with lighter neutrals such as cream, champagne, taupe, gold, and grey!

Blue bridesmaid dresses are

everywhere and look good

on everyone!

We especially loves these ones

found at jcrew!

Going for a monochromatic wedding color theme, choose blue flowers such as Irises, Delphiniums, Volkenfreidens and/or Hydrangeas.

Check out a few of Bella Kai Invitation's blue themed
wedding invitations and favor boxes that would be perfect for any blue themed wedding.

Most favor boxes come in Pool Blue as well

as many other amazing colors to compliment any blue!

Gratitude

2008-11-26T15:34:00.000-08:00

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOU......

From all of us here at Bella Kai, we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for taking the time to read our blog and offer your words of wisdom and support.

Our adventures in blogging have so far been a blast and we look forward to searching the web for more new and exciting things to bring to your attention!

All our love,
Megan and Alecia

Branding

2008-11-26T14:47:00.000-08:00

Branding Your Wedding

While monograms are lovely and traditional, the latest and greatest in weddings is the act of "branding" your wedding. A brand often includes an explicit logo, fonts, color schemes, symbols and sound which may be developed to represent implicit values, ideas, and even personality. This is typically used in the business world but has recently crossed over into the world of weddings.

Couples are striving to create a unique and special wedding that stands out from all the rest. They are creating their wedding , that reflects them, that only they could think of. And they are enlisting the help of graphic designers to do so.

One way to brand your wedding is to have a logo. This can be designed around many different ideas. We worked closely with our long time graphic designer, Kevin Starbird and his lovely bride, Carrie Mortensen to connect their logo with their invitations, place cards, table cards, programs and menus. Together, we created the Starbird Wedding Brand.

Using Stamps.Com, we printed their postage to adhere right to the A7 Mailer Boxes. We also used large, circular labels to print the return and guests addresses.

Kevin Starbird is a freelance graphic designer. Contact him if you are interested in having him create a brand for your wedding.

Envelopes and Boxes

2008-11-18T14:21:00.000-08:00

Anatomy of An Invitation

Part 3 Envelopes and Boxes

Choosing an envelope may seem like an easy task, but there is actually quite a bit of thought and knowledge that goes into this decision. There are many different sizes, textures and colors and I hope to clarify everything for you now.

INVITATION BOXES

These are on sale now for $1.95 a box, minimum of 50 boxes!

The latest trend for mailing invitations is to send them in a box. Your guests will feel like they are receiving a little present and once they open the box, your invitation will make a definite impact. There are a few different ways to address the boxes. One, you can have a calligrapher hand address the boxes. This will typically cost between $2.50 - $4.00 a box, depending on the calligrapher and the detail of the script. Another option is to use labels. We like using large round stickers that wrap around the top and bottom of the box, thereby sealing it shut and properly displaying the return and guests addresses.

Our A7 Boxes coordinate perfectly with out A7 Vertical and A7 Horizontal Pouches. The colors work well together and the size is just right. We carry these in 9 different colors.

OUTER ENVELOPES

Our A7 Vertical and Horizontal Pouches work with our A7 Top Flap and A7 Side Flap Envelopes. They come in 40 colors in shimmer and flat. The size is 5 ¼" x 7 ¼". Most printers will take these envelopes, so you can use the same font that you've printed your invitations in to print the addresses of your guests and your return address. You can also use a calligrapher to hand address the envelopes. We highly recommend the amazing Laura Hooper.

Our Square Envelopes are a perfect fit for our Marsupial square pouches. These envelopes are available in shimmer and flat colors and definitely stand out in the mail. Square envelopes to cost a bit more to mail, so keep that in mind when you are planning your budget for invitations.

REPLY CARD ENVELOPES

Almost all wedding invitations include a reply card for your guests. This helps you keep track of who is and isn't coming to the wedding. These numbers are especially helpful for your caterer. Proper etiquette states that you must print or write your address on the front of the envelope as well as stamp it. This way, all your guests have to do is let you know if they are coming and pop it in the mail. We will discuss wording options in the next segment.

Typically, these envelopes are 4Bar - which stands for Baronial, or A1. They both measure 5 1/8" x 3 5/8. We carry the marsupial line of reply envelopes in A1 in 40 colors in flat and shimmer, just like our outer envelopes. You can match these, or try a different color to add more interest to your invitation.

San Diego

2008-11-16T16:55:00.000-08:00

To start my "Best Places to Get Married In..."series, I have decided to start with my hometown of San Diego, California where my cousin, Tara, is planning on getting married sometime next year. In helping her plan her wedding, I have been inspired by the infinite amount of options for wedding ceremony and reception sites throughout beautiful San Diego County.

San Diego is a great place to get married, with endless places and regions to choose from. With so many ceremony and reception sites throughout San Diego County, any wedding is possible. From cozy and romantic settings to elaborate, over-the-top weddings, whatever your dream wedding may be, it can happen in San Diego.

My own personal favorite beachfront venue to get married in San Diego is at Seagrove Park in Del Mar. For a casual wedding reception, walk over to Powerhouse Community Center and hear the waves crashing as you toast your marriage and dance your first dance or walk a little further north and choose from L' Auberge's various beautiful reception (and ceremony) venues.

Rancho Santa Fe's posh atmosphere is the perfect place to get married for those looking for an elegant and sophisticated wedding. Get married in luxury at Rancho Valencia Resort and enjoy the resort's 40 acres of lush landscaping.

For those looking to get married in the heart of San Diego, Balboa Park offers a timeless and spectacular setting to get married (just ask Bella Kai's Alecia!).

Head inland and there are countless wineries to choose from. For an intimate wedding ceremony and reception, the quaint Bernardo Winery is an authentic old winery nestled amongst grape vines and olive trees.

If La Jolla is your place of interest, feel like a princess at La Valencia. The charming 1926 hotel offers breathtaking oceanfront ceremony and reception sites.

Cross the bridge to Coronado and feel like you are getting married on your own private island. Hotel Del Coronado offers various choices for your celebration to take place. Choose from either the Garden Patio or their luxurious ballroom that can occupy up to 700 guests.

For those planning a garden wedding, Quail Botanical Gardens is a spectacular place to get married. Many years ago as a flower girl in a wedding there, I was so awestricken by the beauty of the garden, I forgot to throw the flowers from my basket. Luckily there was enough beauty in the venue itself that my unsuccessful flower dropping went unnoticed.

What's your favorite place to get married in San Diego?

Until next time when I return to dish about The Best Places to Get Married in....

San Luis Obispo County

Liners and Pouches

2008-11-16T14:20:00.000-08:00

Anatomy of an Invitation

Part Two Printed Liners and Pouches

Once you have chosen your pouch , the next step is to decide how you want to add interest to it. A few things to keep in mind are

Your wedding or event colors
Your theme
How formal or casual your event or wedding will be
Your budget

Our liners are available in many different colors and patterns. If you are going for a modern look, our Soho invitation is perfect.

This invitation uses our Chicago printed liner. This liner is available in 5 different sizes, depending on which pouch you would like to use it in. A7 fits our A7 Vertical and Horizontal Pouches. The 6 Inch Square fits our Square Pouch. The DL fits our DL Pouch. We also have a size that fits our Petal Enclosure.

If you are going for a simple, clean look. You can skip the printed liners and use a backer. These are solid colors that add weight and elegance to the invitation. Let's say your main color for your wedding is champagne gold and your accent color is ivory, you can mix and match the pouches and backers to reflect this.

Our Gold and Ivory Invitation does just that. Using two shimmer papers, this invitation exudes elegance and sophistication while still remaining modern.

Our backers are available in the following colors:

Pouches

2008-11-15T15:01:00.001-08:00

Anatomy of an Invitation

Pouches

An invitation to a party sets the tone and we at Bella Kai are here to help you do just that!

My name is Alecia and I am going to show you exactly what you need to make your invitation speak volumes about your event.

I am going to focus today on a Do-It-Yourself invitation using our Marsupial Pouches. These are available in many different shapes and sizes, which I will explain for you.

First, we have the A7 Vertical Pouch. This pouch is perfect for a wedding or party invitation. The length gives you plenty of space to fit all of the information needed, and the pouch provides a pocket for your reply cards, maps, direction cards or anything else you need.

Next is the A7 Horizontal Pouch. This pouch also is perfect for a wedding

The pocket is a bit smaller, so if you have bigger insert cards, I would go with the Vertical pouch.

One of my personal favorites, is the Square Pouch.

This non-traditional shaped invitation adds a touch of surprise and personality to your event. Although, if you are on a budget, you must be aware that it costs more to mail square envelopes, so keep that in mind.

If you really want to make a statement, consider our European (DL) Pouch

This pouch is sort of like a pocketbook. It is long and sleek and very modern. It pairs well with our smaller printed paper liners because there isn't much room to show them off.

Going Green!

2008-11-10T19:35:00.000-08:00

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something green!

Even if your wedding colors are espresso

and sea foam blue, why not go "green" as well?

If you care about our planet,

why not integrate some of those "going green"

principles into your wedding.
Here are some "Green" wedding tips that we love from http://www.planetgreen.discovery.com/.

1. Watch the numbers. No matter what other choices you make, the biggest factor in the ecological and financial impact of your wedding will be its size. The cold hard fact is that each person you invite means more miles traveled, more food consumed, a bigger venue, and more waste when it's all over.

2. Source locally. Almost anything can be found locally, but some things are more important than others. Food and drinks are a great place to start. If there's a good micro-brewery down the road, why use up the earth's precious resources trucking in a keg of your favorite organic ale? For finding local food producers, check out networking sites like Local Harvest in the US, or Big Barn in the UK.

3. Source green. Everything you buy or rent for your wedding will have an environmental and social impact, so keep this notion high on the list when planning. Can you encourage caterers to use organic produce? What is your dress made of? How was the gold in the rings mined? Did those tasty little gift bags of chocolate involve slave labor? Even if you can't establish the green credentials of every single supplier, at least by asking questions about such issues you are already making a difference. Remember though, what is green may not always be obvious--while a hemp suit may be a good eco-statement, if it is going to sit in the closet for most of your married life, you could be much better off with a traditional rental service.

4. Pick your venue. Choosing a location that is as close to as many of your guests as possible will reduce your wedding's impact in a big way. But once you've done that, you might also want to consider what type of venue you will be using. If you are not tied to a particular church, synagogue, mosque, or rammed-earth eco-dome, why not consider supporting your local community garden, farmer, LEED certified building, or other worthwhile project?

5. Green your transportation. So, you've picked the venue, now how will you and your guests get there? Try to provide as much information on transport options as possible. Let them know that you'd really appreciate it if they arrived by train, bus, bike, or at least by carpool. You could even include a link to travel guides like Seat61 in the invitations. If you are a little ways out of town, why not provide shuttle buses—that way you don't have to worry about drunk driving either. It may also be a good time to educate your guests about alternative fuels: "what do you mean this bus is running on used veggie oil?" And while your own transport is likely to be a small part of the overall footprint, it certainly sends a big message. Pictures of the happy couple arriving on a Christiania Bike or G-Wiz electric car will preserve the eco-propaganda value of your wedding for some time to come.

6. Make it personal. While you've definitely got to throw a good party, it doesn't need to feel like ancient Rome (or the Playboy mansion). What you lack in material decadence, you can make up for in personal touches. Why not ask friends to grow and bring flowers? You'll end up with the most fabulous flower (un)arrangements ever seen, and your guests will appreciate being involved. Or why not create a scrapbook to which friends and relatives can add poems, drawings, pictures, or anecdotes. These are the things that most folks remember most fondly--not the chocolate fountain or the cut-glass chandeliers.

7. The perfect eco-invites. An invitation sets the scene for a party, so you don't want to look cheap or tacky, but you also don't want to compromise your principles. Fortunately, there is an increasing number of suppliers of recycled, handmade, or tree-free invitations out there. Some may offer a self-assembly option, which saves on money but can take considerable work, others will put the whole thing together for you. If you are happy breaking from tradition, then electronic invites like Evites are worth considering, too.

8. Gifts of conscience. There are almost too many retailers of green gifts to mention these days, and many offer registry services. So why not ask for that solar cooker you've always wanted? Popular eco-choices for gift registries include Viva Terra, Branch, and Gaiam. Many local craft stores may also do registries, and even mainstream retailers now have many eco-options, such as organic linens, etc. Remember though, less is almost always more when it comes to being green--so think carefully about how many bamboo yoga mats you really want or need. If you have all you need, why not create an online donation registry to a worthy cause instead?

9. Offsetting the rest. To be truly green, make every effort to cut emissions, waste, and other negative impacts of your wedding at the source. However, the thing is still likely to create a significant impact. Offsetting can be a means of taking responsibility for that impact and channeling funds into some positive projects--as long as you pick your offset provider carefully. Popular choices include Terrapass, Native Energy, and MyClimate in the US, and Climate Care in Europe. Native Energy even has an online wedding offset calculator. If you can't afford offsets for the whole wedding, then why not offset a portion and ask guests to contribute to the rest? You can at least include information on offset providers on the invites so guests can choose whether to offset their travel. Be aware though, that some see offsetting as fundamentally flawed, no matter which provider you choose--so make sure it fits with your version of what’s green.

10. Communicate. Whatever you do to green your wedding, make sure you tell people about it. Screening An Inconvenient Truth during the ceremony is probably over the top, but you can still take advantage of having your friends and family gathered in one place to do a little friendly education. Tell them about yourselves and about what is important to you. If you can create a wonderful, magical celebration that treads a little lighter on the planet, then people will remember it. Too many folks still believe environmentalism is all doom and gloom--this is the perfect opportunity to prove them wrong!

Thank you PlanetGreen.com for these awesome tips!

Favor Ideas

2008-11-10T12:19:00.000-08:00

Bella Kai's Favorite Favor Ideas

Here are a few of our favorite wedding favor ideas that we have seen throughout the years.

What is your favorite wedding favor?

1. "Green" favors such as seed packets, flower bulbs, or tiny succulent pots.

2. In lieu of favors, a donation made in the guests' honor to a favorite charity of the bride and groom.

3. Measuring Spoons with a "Recipe for Love."

4. Music CD with music played at the wedding.

5. A two cup package of "The Perfect Blend" of coffee for the next morning. Perfect for the late night partygoers.

Need a place to put your favorite favors?

Check out Bella Kai's line of Favor Boxes below.

Add your own creative touch by decorating however you want!
Embellish with pictures, ribbon, stamp, emboss or use a printed seal for the perfect detail.

Take-Out Box

Our Take-Out Favor Box is great for holding candy, chocolates, candles, personalized fortune cookies, seed bags, or even small plants such as succulents or bulbs.

A7 Box

Our A7 Favor Box is great for holding flatter favors such as music CDs, sand dollars, or chocolate bars. Use this cool box as a way to package bridesmaid and groomsmen gifts.

Pillow Box

Our Pillow Box is great for holding personalized soaps, candy, chocolates, candles, coasters, or seed bags.

Pocket Box
Our Pillow Box is great for holding personalized soaps, candy, chocolates, candles, coasters, seed bags, or even small plants such as succulents or bulbs.

Pyramid Box

Our Pyramid Favor Box is great for holding seashells, candy, or chocolate treats.

Holiday Parties!

2008-11-07T14:26:00.001-08:00

It's Party Time!

With Thanksgiving just around the corner,

that means it is almost time to break out the Christmas Lights and Mistletoe

and start planning those holiday parties!

This year Bella Kai is offering festive Holiday Invitations

in both Do-it-Yourself (DIY) form and as Pre made invitations.

10% off all Holiday Party Inviations ordered by November 30th.

Money Saving Tips

2008-11-07T14:13:00.000-08:00

In today's economy, many brides are looking for ways to save money.

We have compiled a quick list of our Top Ten Favorite Money Saving Tips

for planning a wedding without a money tree!

photo by Jonathan Roberts

Bella Kai's Top Ten Money Saving Tips

1. Choose Do-It-Yourself (DIY) "Save the Date" cards and wedding invitations. Why not start the party early and get together with your bridesmaids and family for an “Invitation Making Party!” Check out our amazing line of DIY Invitations here.

2. Find a location that doesn't break the bank! Many venues charge a high site fee and can eat up a big chunk of your budget. Instead, look into churches or synagogues you or your parents are members of where the site fee may be waived. Also, city-owned sites such as public gardens may be free or only charge a small fee.

3. Plan your wedding for earlier in the day to avoid high dinner and nighttime open bar costs. Instead, set your reception time earlier for either brunch and mimosas or hors' devours and cocktails.

4. Choose seasonal and local flowers and avoid planning your wedding around holidays such as Valentine's Day when flower prices spike up.

5. Pick a wedding site that offers beautiful scenery. You won't need so many decorations and flowers if your guests are happy staring at the swaying palm trees and ocean behind you or the winery's endless rows of grape vines.

6. Getting married on any other of the week other than Saturday. Many venues have lower costs on Fridays and Sundays and often wedding and reception sites have more available dates for these days as well.

7. Look for wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses on sale. Most post-season dresses will be on sale, but will maintain the elegant style of the next season for a fraction of the cost. Same goes for shoes which are usually barely seen under the dress anyways!

8. Save on expensive make-up artists and hair dressers by finding a friend or friend-of-a-friend who has experience in doing hair and make-up, or just someone you trust to make you and your bridesmaids look great!

9. Instead of hiring a pricey videographer, have a friend shoot the ceremony, messages to the bride and groom, first dance, and other key moments on your or a friend's video camera. Suggest that this be their gift to you and everyone saves!

10. Instead of spending a fortune on favors, look into small items that coordinate with your theme to give as favors. For example, give out seashells to guests at a beach themed wedding.

Leaves

2008-11-07T09:27:00.000-08:00

photo by Jonathan Roberts

Autumn is a beautiful time of year for weddings. It is such a warm and cozy time of year, perfect for celebrating love and marriage.

All the colors around us have inspired some new designs that we'd like to share. Falling Leaves invitation is a modern, simplified designed inspired by Autumn. Shown here with pinks and browns, the accent colors can range from browns, to greens, or a simple ivory.

As always, we like to keep our Do-It-Yourself and budget bride in mind. Using your own color scheme, you can design your own invitation, pick the size, shape, accent paper, and we'll send you the kit. Our favorite prints right now are:

Butternut Squash

Chamomile

A vocado

Vote!

2008-11-04T13:16:00.000-08:00

Happy Election Day!

Today is a big day for our country and we hope you all got out to vote! We came across these fabulous wedding photos of Barack and Michelle Obama and John and Cindy McCain and thought you'd all like to see them.

In honor of this Election year, we are offering a 10% discount to all customers who voted. Enter the code IVOTED at checkout to receive your discount!

Coming Soon!

2008-05-04T20:42:00.001-07:00

Stay Tuned for News and Updates From Bella Kai!