Wedding invitations are one of the first things guests see regarding your wedding, which makes it especially important to create a invitation that represents you and your wedding. A great place to start is to think about the unique qualities of your wedding or relationship that you want to express to your guests.

This wedding invitation by Leesa Dykstra Designs portrays a unique birdcage design with beautiful colors specially designed for the couple. This invitation also includes the essential information necessary for guests. Important things to place on your wedding invitation include writing out the full names of the bride and groom, the date (including the year), the location of both the ceremony and reception, and sometimes parents’ names or the mention of the parents, as this invitation shows.

Tailoring the invitation to the season also provides a reminder to the guests as to when the wedding is, as well as provides a unique touch. This invitation incorporates the holiday season with its design, allowing the date of the wedding to be a part of the invitation design.

This board displays some of the essential parts of a wedding invitation. Important things to include with your invitations are a response card and envelope with your address on it for the guest to easily RSVP (don’t forget to stamp the envelopes before stuffing!) Providing a card with accommodations is also helpful for your guests.

When deciding on your wedding invitations, remember to include the essential details and items, but most importantly remember to make them uniquely you!

Written by Jillian Madden, TwoFoot Creative – Ann Arbor

We have so many fabulous engagement sessions on our blog for this year’s couples – so I decided to put together a post with some tips for getting the most out of your engagement session. The first tip is to dress like yourself! You don’t want to look back at these pictures 20 years from now and not recognize the person looking back at you. These photos should be a reflection of who you are!

Our second tip is to find a location that speaks to you. Biz & Nick, pictured above, both have a connection to the film industry. They chose the Michigan Theater as their engagement session backdrop; what a perfect decision for them!

Third: don’t be afraid of color! Look how amazing Cory and Ian’s red umbrella looks in the picture above – it just pops! I’m not saying you should put on a rainbow of colors, but if you have a color that looks great on you, go for it. It is so much more interesting than your standard neutrals.

Get to know your photographer during the session – this might be the only time you see them before the wedding day! The more comfortable you are with them, the better your pictures will turn out in the end.

Wendy Martin Photography

Take care of yourself leading up to the session – wash your skin regularly, brush your teeth right before, and drink lots of water so you look your best. It will show! Follow this care routine up to the wedding day to ensure that you continue to look and feel your best. Also – make sure to eat so you don’t look and feel exhausted half way through the shoot!

Get your makeup done by a professional if possible. This is a great time for a makeup trial with the artist that will be putting together your wedding day look! It will also help you feel more confident going into the session, which might lead to a better selection to choose from in the end.

Finally – have fun! You will probably be using these pictures for save the dates, a guest book or signing mat, to hang in your home