Peacock feather invitations

In one of our previous posts, we talked about how peacock feathers will be a big trend in 2011, and we even created this inspiration post of examples of how to incorporate peacock feathers into your wedding.

Here's an invitation suite we created to tie in the peacock theme for your wedding. We especially love this colour combination for a winter wedding:

Colours used in this invitation: artichoke, eggplant and navy

Reception details

RSVP card

Entire wedding suite

Come visit us at the FREE Wedding Show Part 5

Come visit Glass Slipper Designs at the Wedding Show Part 5 on Sunday, February 27, 2011 at the Deerfoot Inn and Casino. Admittance and parking are FREE. Can't wait to see you there!

Using social media for your wedding

With all the social media tools out there these days, it’s no surprise that these tools are being incorporated into the wedding planning process. While there are some things that really should be avoided (hi, we don’t need you to create wedding hashtags and tweet updates throughout your ceremony), social media can be a really useful tool in terms of finding wedding resources and keeping your technology-savvy guests in the loop.


As a newlywed myself, I know that I used social media a lot to research potential vendors and ask them questions. That’s why when I launched Glass Slipper Designs, I created a Facebook page, a Twitter account and a blog so I can help brides see the work I’ve done, create a forum for brides to ask me questions and share general wedding trips and trends to help brides out in any way I can.

The Blue Nile Wedding Tech Series recently posted a blog post about the ways couples are incorporating social media into their wedding planning. Here’s their take on how social media can be used to help you with your big day:

1. Get in touch with vendors

As you plan your wedding, you’ll likely hire a team of vendors. Creating the right ream is important, and social media makes it easy to see vendors’ work and get recommendations from wedding veterans. For one thing, most vendors keep their social media channels more up to date than their websites or brochures.

2. Communicate with guests before the wedding

Keeping the lodging and travel information, registry information and information about the wedding party in one online place can help guests make their plans for your big day. If you use a Facebook Page or another wedding website that has a message board, it can also help them coordinate with each other.

Some popular free tools for creating a wedding web page include The Knot’s wedding websites and WeddingChannel.com.

3. Get inspired

Do you admire the work of a wedding planner you could never afford? Is there a vendor who works in another city who you wish worked in yours? Follow him or her on Twitter to get ideas that you can incorporate into your own wedding.

Wedding blogs are another great place for inspiration (most of their authors are on Facebook and Twitter, too). Some of our favorites include Once Wed, Always a Blogsmaid and Junebug Weddings.

4. Share your memories

Social media can be a great way for you and your guests to share photos, videos and memories. Here are four ways you might go about coordinating the effort:

• Ask your photographer to share photographs on Facebook: If the photographer takes a minute to tag you and your betrothed in a Facebook album, you can easily share the photos with your guests.
• Ask your guests to give their photos a particular tag on Flickr: That way all guests will be able to see each others’ photos — even if they’re not Facebook friends.
• Live stream your wedding: Guests who can’t travel will still be able to witness your big day if you use a service like Live Vows or webcastmywedding.net.

Save the dates

If you’re planning a destination wedding or are having a large amount of guests coming from out of town for your wedding, you definitely want to send out save the dates. Save the dates are a great way to notify friends and family of your upcoming wedding date so they can put the date in their schedule well ahead of time, ask for time off of work and save money if they need to travel for your wedding.

Your save the dates should be sent out at least six months in advance and up to one year in advance if you are planning a destination wedding. Sending out save the dates also ensures you only have to send your invitations out 6-8 weeks before your wedding.

The information that’s typically included on the save the dates are the couple’s names, the wedding date, the city (and country if it's a destination wedding) that the wedding is being held in and the couple’s wedding website, if applicable.
Glass Slipper Designs is happy to create save the dates that will coordinate with your wedding invitations, which will help create a cohesive, consistent wedding stationery suite. For more information, contact us today to set up a free consultation.Some of the save the dates Glass Slipper Designs has created:

Front of save the date postcard

Featured vendor: Twilight Affairs

We have a vendor that we'd like to share with all you brides-to-be. Twilight Affairs is a Red Deer-based wedding planner started by owner Ashely Martin. Ashley is a small town girl with big city dreams. She is a full-time mother of two, wife, event consultant, fairy godmother and vision achiever. Spare time is her nemesis! She is a passionate activist for local charities, groups and organizations. Twilight Affairs has grown out of her personal love for entertaining, volunteering, fundraising, and most importantly, people.

Glass Slipper Designs interviewed Ashley to learn more about how Twilight Affairs came to be and some of the big trends Ashley predicts will be huge in 2011:

1) What inspired you to start Twilight Affairs?


The inspiration came like many wedding/event planners when I planned my own wedding in 2006. It was a low budget, short time line, high stress time in my life and I needed help. Not having many friends that knew a thing about weddings or any family close by to lend a hand, I thought of how great it would be if I could hire a wedding planner. I looked into it and there was no wedding planner any where to be found in Red Deer.

During the planning stage of my wedding, I managed to sneak a few hours here and there and took a online wedding planning crash course. That is when it all started, I fell in love. I learned there was actually a timeline for things, a list of etiquette and traditions and so much more! I learnt how to cut costs, negotiate deals with vendors and even maintain a budget. I had confidence again, and went on my merry way planning my wedding. After my wedding, I got so many complements on the ceremony location, my dress, the food, and event. I thought,  "Ashley this is it, this is what you were meant to do!"

2) What cities do you provide services in?


Twilight Affairs provides services in Central Alberta, approximately in areas around 100 km around the Red Deer area. I consider events outside this area, but the are subject to travel fees.

3) What do you think the biggest trend for 2011 weddings will be?


I have been seeing a lot of vintage - what was once old is now new. Also, family-style seating is becoming more popular; sitting at rectangular tables is now the thing and rounds are old news. I am also noticing smaller guest lists with my 2011 clients, which creates a great atmosphere. I think if I have to put a label on it, I would call it the `Comfort Element'.

Surrounding your self with close friends and family, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere and carrying on the time old traditions and style that were at your grandmothers wedding is all the rage for this year.

4) What's the most extravagant wedding you ever planned?


I am currently planning the most extravagant wedding and corporate event I have ever planned! A double whammy!

For the wedding, there is a soft, whimsical theme with touches of vintage. Pretty mixes of pinks, orange and peaches with the slightest touches of green & glistening crystal. Oh so pretty! Watch out for pictures on my facebook page and website.

The corporate event is a Hollywood theme Winter Gala! We have the biggest room at the Capri Hotel, celebrity Radio D.J`s, live entertainment, celebrity impersonators, red carpet, bright lights and awards! I am SO excited about this one!

For more information about Twilight Affairs, visit the website at http://www.twilightaffairs.ca/,  email twilightaffairs@gmail.com or call Ashley at 403-350-0938.

Happy New Year

As 2010 comes to a close, I wish all of you a Happy New Year. May 2011 be your best year yet.

Creative centrepieces

One thing that will catch your guests' eye is your centrepieces. It's a great way for you to add a creative element to your wedding decor. Here are some ideas to get you started:

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Espresso, marine blue and cream wedding stationery

These colours, combined with the embellishments and embossed details, are perfect for an elegant wedding. This stationery suite includes a pocketfold invitation featuring three layers of cardstock, dry embossed details, satin ribbon and pearl embellishments. The pocketfold includes response card, reception and accommodation inserts.

This suite is an example of our Glass Slipper wedding package.

Front of pocketfold invitation featuring stamped sentiment, dry embossed details and pearl embellishments

Inside of invitation featuring response card, reception and accommodation inserts in the pocketfold.

Close up view of dry embossing, satin ribbon and pearl embellishment details

Side view of front and inside of pocketfold invitation

Chic chandalier wedding stationery

We had fun creating this chic chandalier wedding invitation and response card. Navy, aubergine and cream are big colours for the upcoming year. This suite is an example of the options available in our Fairy Godmother package. This particular suite features three layers of cardstock, shimmer spray, shimmer ink on the chandalier image and pearl embellishments.





Wedding invitation with shimmer details and pearl embellishment

Angle view

Response card with shimmer details and pearl embellishment

2011 wedding trends

As we get ready for 2010 to come to a close and for 2011 to mark the beginning of the new year, it's time to take a look at some of the wedding trends that we'll be seeing in 2011. What are your thoughts on these trends? Will you be incorporating any of these into your big day? Leave us a comment below.

~ Mixing up table sizes at the wedding reception. To help encourage conversation among guests and to keep the room looking interesting, many couples will be looking to throw a mix of table sizes and shapes into the reception mix to avoid a cookie-cutter look.

~ Brunch receptions to help couples avoid breaking the bank. As many couples are working towards saving money for other priorities like buying a home, morning ceremonies and brunch receptions will be a big trend in the upcoming year.

~ Personalization. Gone are the days of the by-the-book wedding. Couples are concentrating on personal interests, hobbies and style of dress, to name a few, as a way to create a wedding theme.

- Goodbye monochromatic bridesmaid dresses. Brides are looking to find dresses that suit their bridesmaid's personalities. Whether it's getting the same colour dress in different styles for each girl to putting each girl in a different colour dress, the head-to-toe bridesmaid attire will be left behind this year.

- Accenting white dresses with a bold colour. Whether it means adding a coloured brooch to the gathering of material at the waist or throwing a bright pink sash around the middle, brides will be looking to add a punch of colour to their dresses this year with a fun coloured accessory.

- What's old is new again. Vintage is a HUGE theme for 2011, with brides opting to take a shabby-chic approach to reception decor and opting for tea length wedding dresses.

- DIY. Not only a great way to save money, DIY is back with a roar, helping to create a personal look and feel to the wedding.

- Intimate weddings are in. Couples are choosing to keep the day close and intimate by only inviting close family and friends, allowing for an opportunity to mingle with everyone and celebrate with the day with those who care the most.

- Bridal hair pieces. Veils will have to sit on the sidelines in 2011 as bold hair pieces will become the hair focal point this year.