On the 1st day of Christmas Absolutely Inviting gave to me...an ad featured in Ca Mari!

Absolutely Inviting placed an ad in the Winter issue of Ca Mari Magazine which was released this week! Ca Mari is a groundbreaking local women's lifestyle publication. This issue is now on sale, and we were the first stationery company to advertise in their weddings section!

Absolutely Inviting also attended Ca Mari's release/mix and mingle held this weekend and had a good time mingling with the editor in chief, contributors, advertisers, and other supporters.

Check out our ad from the magazine and get your copy of Ca Mari today!

Absolutely Inviting Presents the 12 Days of Christmas!

We have not been blogging as often as we should have, so we have a special treat for you! Absolutely Inviting is gifting you with 12 days of Christmas during the 12 days to Christmas!!! Over the next 12 days (yes we know that the "12 days of Christmas" actually begin on Christmas :)), culminating with Christmas day we will give you a new post every day. This should more than make up for the posts we have missed. Please check back each day for exciting Absolutely Inviting updates.

And Baby Makes...: Baby Shower Feature

A few months back we advised that we would be temporarily halting client consultations, and alot of our Facebook friends wanted to know why. We promised that we would let you all know the reason in due time, so here it is:

On Sunday, September 5th at 4:11 a.m., we welcomed a beautiful baby boy into this world! Our son, born at 7lbs, 7 oz, is truly a blessing. We therefore took some time off to enjoy our new bundle of joy while working on various projects we had already committed to.

We are sharing one of the first (of hundreds :-) ) shots taken during a photo shoot with photographer Warren Grant, who we found out about after he did an engagement session for some friends. He also took some shots that will be included in our next wedding feature. You can visit his website HERE or his Facebook page HERE

For our SURPRISE baby shower I created the invites - Yes it was a surprise. Here were the instructions I received... "Design the invites and leave a space for the date/time/venue". My family insisted that I design the invites because that way they could ensure that the stationery would be to my liking - how cute :)

The invitation colors were mint and chocolate (which were incorporated in everything from the decorations to the oh so yummy cake!) The dot motif on the three layer invitation 'just happened', but strangely enough this season saw LOTS of baby items in green and brown with dot/circle motifs! Focus was placed on the fact that we were not finding out the baby's gender, and to reflect this, we used a boy/girl teddy bear graphic outlined with a question mark. The invitation also contained a matching outer seal.

Absolutely Inviting is Absolutely more than weddings, so contact us today for your event stationery!

Happy Thanksgiving

Absolutely Inviting is wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

On this day we are thankful for being blessed with creativity, ORIGINALITY, vision, loyal clients, and the huge amount of support we have received since we started. We are thankful in advance for the great things that are to come!

Enjoy your holidays.

-From: Your Friends at Absolutely Inviting

We're BACK!!! with a New Promotion: Book now & SAVE

As you may be aware, Absolutely Inviting had discontinued new client consultations for a brief time (we'll share the reason in an upcoming post). We received several requests during the time about our products and services, and we are thankful for your patience and continued support.

We are happy to announce that we have resumed client appointments!!! We are presently offering a special discount to brides who book before December 31st, 2010.

Contact us today for your event stationery!

*Offer applies to wedding stationery only. In order to qualify, a deposit must be made by December 31, 2010. This offer cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts.

Viva Las Vegas! Wedding Feature

This particular wedding feature is of personal significance to us.

The bride: one of my best friends, former school-mate, and maid of honor in our June 2006 nuptials The groom: my husband's fraternity brother, fellow All American track and field teammate, and groomsman in our wedding as well.

They met during our wedding festivities and if I didn't believe in destiny before - I do now, because they are simply meant to be. This couple decided to have their wedding celebration in fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada. The ceremony was held at Wynn (by the way - this hotel is absolutely stunning) and the reception was held at Trevi at Caesar's Palace (by the way the calamari is absolutely delicious :-)!

The colors chosen were aqua and pewter, and the stationery suite included invitations and favor tags. The clients gave us a basic idea of what they wanted, and we came up with a gate-fold invitation concept using their custom designed monogram as a closure.

This couple was ABSOLUTELY fabulous
Their event ABSOLUTELY Vegas
Their stationery - ABSOLUTELY INVITING!

Congrats again to our friends: Mr. & Mrs. Smith!

Event Tip: Contact To Have & To Hold for your linen rental needs: See samples & book your event today!

Article written by D. Roberts for Absolutely Inviting.
Please note that copying, downloading, reproducing, or printing of any of our material is strictly prohibited without our express written permission.

Linens such as table overlays and chair covers provide an easy AND - more importantly - affordable way to spruce up your reception venue. Before hand, chair covers were deemed as being just an option; however, more and more persons are realizing that chair covers form an important part of their overall wedding décor.

"Why linens?" you ask:

• They add elegance, formality, and they give your event a “finished” look.
• They can transform any room and allow you to incorporate your colors/theme without clashing with the chairs/etc. at your reception venue.
• They do an awesome job at covering otherwise unattractive tables and chairs that may be provided by your reception venue.

How linens can impact your event budget:

• Linens can actually be quite affordable. To Have and To Hold’s chair cover and sash combinations can be rented starting at around $5 per set (compare this to the cost of other options such as renting Chiavari chairs). Table runners/overlays start at: $3 each!!! Tip: Save even more when booking together with an Absolutely Inviting event stationery package!
• Because of the affordability of our linens, you can actually book a less expensive venue and spruce it up. Tip: Think an outdoor fiesta or a hall at a fraction of the cost of renting a high end location.
  
• Because of the added effect of linens, you can actually spend less on other areas of the event décor. Tip: Think simpler center pieces/foregoing drapery.

To Have & To Hold's Linen options:

Chair Covers: Spandex: These give a sleek look and are the top choice for a more formal event. Because of the stretch fabric, they cover the entire chair with a fitted look. These form to fit many chairs (arm chairs not included). Click HERE to see a sample of our spandex covers along with our taffeta sashes in olive and chocolate. Chair Covers are currently available in White & Ivory

Chair Sashes:
Chair Sashes are currently available in:

• Organza: offers a light look and is a very popular choice
• Satin: perhaps the most common; versatile – can be used in both formal and more relaxed settings
• Taffeta: the heavier material provides a rich look and adds texture

Table Linens:
Overlay and runners can be provided in fabrics/colors matching those of your selected chair sashes.
Napkins can also be provided in coordinating colors

See some of our fabrics/colors below:

Chair Covers & Tie Backs • Table Cloths, Overlays & Runners • Much More...

Contact To Have & To Hold today to see samples and to book your event!

242-676-2544 (Bahamas) 954-759-2637 (US) tohaveandtoholdbahamas@gmail.com

***We offer special discounts for wedding packages which include both linen and stationery***

Summer, Summer, Summertime!!! Wedding Feature

Summer is the ideal time to kick back and enjoy spending time with family and friends. We were approached by this couple who wanted their nuptials to be just that...a relaxed and casual setting with their closest family members and friends. Their request: simple and tropical with natural elements.

For the laid back morning wedding, we created a single layer invite using a paper with natural flecks which definitely added texture and character. For the tropical element, we incorporated a double hibiscus motif. Their stationery suite included invitations and table numbers and was just what they wanted.

This couple was ABSOLUTELY lovely
Their event was ABSOLUTELY intimate
Their stationery - ABSOLUTELY INVITING!

Enjoy!!!

By the way - Don't you just love this uber tropical centerpiece? We loved how fruits such as peaches and pineapples were used in the coordination with roses, other flowers, and greenery.

A Reason to Celebrate!!!

As you probably already know, Absolutely Inviting caters to celebrations of all kinds! Last month we were asked to do invitations for a private cocktail reception in honour of Mr. Kevin McKenzie, the 2010 recipient of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association's Supervisor of the Year award!

Such a high honour required an elegant celebration (which of course meant that elegant stationery was needed in order to set the mood for the event). The client requested burnt orange/rust as the color, and we were given creative freedom. We did a three layer invite incorporating the client's request, adding bronze and cream elements. They loved the final product.

This gentleman was ABSOLUTELY deserving
His accomplishment was ABSOLUTELY commendable
The stationery - ABSOLUTELY INVITING!

Consultations to resume October 2010

To our valued clients/supporters:

Please note that Absolutely Inviting will resume new client consultations in October of 2010 for persons whose event falls in 2011. If you have an urgent stationery request or an event that occurs this year, please contact us so that we can see how best we can accommodate you in the interim.

We thank you for your continued support. Please see our last post for our suggested reservation dates for your stationery needs.

Please check back often for blog updates!!!

Happy 37th Independence Bahamas! (1973 - 2010)

Happy 37th Independence Bahamas from Absolutely Inviting!!!!

In the spirit of independence, we thought it fitting to blog about gaining financial independence through proper budgeting during your wedding planning. Look out for the next blog feature!

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

If you are interested in invitations with an island flavor, ask us about our beach themed suites or our Androsia invitation that was featured in the Tribune last September!

Linen Rental: To Have & To Hold

Chair Covers & Tie Backs • Table Cloths, Overlays & Runners • Much More...

Absolutely Inviting introduces To Have & To Hold - your source for fabulous wedding accessories/party favors (To Have) & event linen rental (To Hold).

"We can assist you with creating a beautiful atmosphere for wedding receptions, birthday and anniversary parties, dinners, church events, corporate affairs, and other celebrations. We pride ourselves in always providing quality products, personalized customer service, and competitive prices. Feel free to contact us today!"

Now booking for June 2010 functions and beyond!

242-676-2544 (Bahamas) 954-759-2637 (US) tohaveandtoholdbahamas@gmail.com

***We offer special discounts for wedding packages which include both linens, and stationery***

Event Tip: Unity Candles

According to wikipedia.com, "The lighting of a unity candle is a relatively recent addition to the traditional wedding ceremony, most popular in the United States. The unity candle ceremony uses two taper candles with a large pillar candle (called the "unity candle") in the center. At the beginning of the wedding ceremony, a representative from each family (usually the mothers of the bride and groom) light the two taper candles. Later in the ceremony (usually after the formal vows), the bride and groom use the two taper candles to light the large pillar (unity) candle together... When the ceremony is alternatively performed to symbolize simply the joining together of the bride and groom, the tapers may be blown out, to indicate that the two lives have been permanently merged, or they may leave them lit beside the central candle, symbolizing that the now-married partners have not lost their individuality."

At Absolutely Inviting, we can customize your unity candle set to suit your wedding. Whether you are performing a unity candle service during your ceremony, or would simply like the candles to add to your wedding decor, a unity candle would fit in beautifully. We can also customize memorial candles to pay tribute to loved ones.

Contact us today about customizing your unity candle set!

Just what the Doctor(s) ordered - May 2010: Wedding Feature

We recently completed a fabulous wedding stationery suite for the wedding of Dr. & Dr. -Mrs. Bowleg :-) @ "Dr.-Mrs.". We were extremely overwhelmed and humbled by the responses we received from the family, invited guests, wedding coordinators, etc. The event decor was done by our friends at Island Destination Services (IDS) who we featured in April - Please click here if you have not seen it as yet. Needless to say, it was one of the most beautifully decorated events we have ever attended.

The colors chosen were shades of ivory, gold, plum, and pinks. The stationery suite included ceremony programs, tented table numbers, menu cards, and our latest add on ... a customized unity candle! The clients gave us a basic concept of what they wanted and we created for them a stationery suite that they ABSOLUTELY loved! The common factors that linked the stationery pieces were the paper selection, ribbon choice, and a pre-designed monogram provided by the client which was also incorporated in the aisle runner.

This couple was ABSOLUTELY gorgeous
Their event ABSOLUTELY breathtaking
Their stationery - ABSOLUTELY INVITING!

Enjoy!

Graduation Announcements

Here is a graduation announcement we did for a client whose daughter is graduating from university in May. We can customize graduation announcements, birth announcements, and much much more.

Contact Absolutely Inviting today about customizing your announcements!

Spring Ahead: Wedding Feature

We have been so busy designing, we have been a little delayed with design updates recently; however, as promised, here is our first wedding feature for the year!!!

Looks like Absolutely Inviting is becoming more and more popular for "off island events" as this wedding was held on the beautiful island of Exuma in the Bahamas. The clients opted for a envelope fold invite and of course the colors, which were fun and bright, were representative of the season. This colorful invite used shades of pink, orange, yellow, blue, and green between the papers, graphics, and text. The stationery suite included invitations and ceremony program. Enjoy!

Vendor Spotlight: To Have & To Hold - Wedding Accessories & Linen Rental

Chair Covers & Tie Backs • Table Cloths, Overlays & Runners • Much More...

Absolutely Inviting introduces To Have & To Hold - your source for fabulous wedding accessories/party favors (To Have) & special event linen rental (To Hold).

"We can assist you with creating a beautiful atmosphere for wedding receptions, birthday and anniversary parties, dinners, church events, corporate affairs, and other celebrations. We pride ourselves in always providing quality products, personalized customer service, and competitive prices. Feel free to contact us today!"

Now booking for June 2010 functions and beyond!

242-676-2544 (Bahamas)
954-759-2637 (US)
tohaveandtoholdbahamas@gmail.com

Corporate Bahamas!

As the Christmas was approaching, we reminded our readers that we also did stationery for corporate clients. Here are two of the pieces we customized as Christmas cards:

On the first one, we partnered with the good folk at The Workshop - Home of the Signature Brow (who by the way come highly recommended). We came up with a concept that would allow their Christmas cards to double as a coupon for their loyal clients... save paper/GO GREEN! (The coupon section has been covered on the photo with the Absolutely Inviting signature). We were given full creative freedom on this, and incorporated their company's logo in the actual design. We got quite a bit of compliments from the owners and clients alike :-)


On the second design featured, we personalized the envelope seal using the logo of our friends at Apex Management. Their logo was also prominently displayed on the inside of their card. Another happy client!

Contact Absolutely Inviting today for your corporate stationery such as invitations, Christmas and birthday cards, banquet tickets etc. !!!

Vendor Spotlight: Island Destination Services (IDS) at the Tyler Perry Movie Premiere at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas!

Congrats to our friends at Island Destination Services (IDS) for a job well done on decorating the Tyler Perry Movie Premiere "Why Did I Get Married Too?" held at Atlantis on Paradise Island in the Bahamas!!! Awesome work (as usual)! Please feel free to contact them about their destination management and event planning services - tell them Absolutely Inviting sent you :-)

One of the stationery pieces Absolutely Inviting did for a prior IDS event can be seen in our video showcase here!

Event Tip: Place Cards

A place card in the traditional sense is a small card bearing the name of your guest; it is placed at the space that each of your guest will occupy at a table. In addition to being functional, a place card can be used to add an elegant touch and a finished look to any function from an intimate dinner to the largest wedding. At the intimate dinner, the place card can make your guest feel welcomed, and at the large wedding reception, the place card along with a seating chart can go a long way in reducing chaos. Of course, in order for organized seating to be effective, guest MUST RSVP within the time frame stated on the invitation so that there is sufficient time to produce place cards/seating charts etc., and so that the various pieces will most importantly be as accurate as possible!


There are many creative ways of using place cards:

• Traditional: The traditional table card of course suits any event; however, for more casual events think fun fonts and funky colors to lighten the feel. The cards can be flat or tented.
• Use your theme: Place card holders can be used to coordinate with your wedding theme...think leaf motifs and beach themes. Theme specific frames can also be used.
• Using everyday (and not so everyday) items: Place card holders can take the form of wine bottle corks and sea shells just to name a few.

There are tons of other ways place cards can be incorporated into your event...contact Absolutely Inviting for your event add-ons such as place cards today!!!

Tented place cards done for St. George's Anglican Church's 60th anniversary ball held last fall:

Article written by D. Roberts for Absolutely Inviting.

Did you see our ad this week?

We hope you caught our ad in The Tribune this past Tuesday :-) It was included as a part of their wedding feature as they displayed photos from the recent bridal show. Click here to see the issue in case you missed it!

Allow us to "Reintroduce" Ourselves - We are Absolutely Inviting...

Absolutely Inviting provides one-of-a-kind stationery solutions for all of life’s occasions and eventualities, catering to weddings, parties, showers, church and corporate functions just to name a few… As we mentioned a couple months back, we have been enhancing our marketing efforts; the image above is one of several that will be used in our upcoming ad campaign.

Look out for it: March - June 2010!!!

Absolutely Inviting will also be launching a subsidiary company offering linen rentals and party favors! Beginning June 2010, we will be offering an exquisite line of napkins, banquet chair covers, chair tie backs/sashes (in a variety of fabrics), table cloths, table overlays and runners.

Look out for our announcement: June 2010!!!

We have gotten quite a few requests for our design updates recently. We are glad that our readers are as excited about our designs as we are, and we will be uploading a few in the upcoming weeks. Look out for our post featuring designs done for some of our corporate clients during the holiday season, our kiddie chic invitation post, our first wedding feature, and our series of posts on seating charts, place cards, and table numbers.

Look out for it: March - April 2010!!!

Nahdia & Jamaal - December 2009

We were appproached by this couple after they saw our stationery at the wedding of their friends Therell & Theron in July of 2009. We were extremely excited about this being our very first "off-island event".

The couple's wedding incorporated fuchsia - which turned out to be a very "haute" winter color, and Absolutely Inviting's task was to capture their wedding personality on paper...chic and fabulous. Their invitations gave their guests a preview into their highly anticipated wedding, and we received tons of compliments on this stationery suite which also included ceremony programs, menu cards, and table numbers.

See below for a sneak peek into their event.

This couple is ABSOLUTELY chic.

Their event was ABSOLUTELY fabulous.

Their stationery - ABSOLUTELY INVITING!

by the way Isn't this couple Absolutely Gorgeous?!

We can't wait to see the official wedding photos :-)

Vendor Spotlight: Lullaby!

Over the past few months we have been featuring various wedding vendors in our "vendor spotlight" section. The company we decided to feature this time is not a "wedding vendor", but since the demand for our baby shower and kiddie party invites has been increasing steadily, many of our blog readers can no doubt benefit from what this company has to offer.

We stumbled across this store, and fell in love with it instantly! We don't know if it's the decor, awesome selection, reasonable prices, or friendly staff that keeps us coming back...or perhaps it's just the perfect combination :-). Located on Mackey Street, in Nassau, Bahamas, Lullaby carries the cutest line of kid's casual and formal clothing, accessories, christening gowns, hair care products, etc. They also stock chic mommy-must-have's such as diaper bags and changing pads.

Check out Lullaby's Facebook Page here!

Let them know the folks over at Absolutely Inviting sent you!

See below for some of our personal faves:

Happy New Year from Absolutely Inviting!

Absolutely Inviting extends to all our readers best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year! We are thankful for all the support we received in 2009 and we are excited for what 2010 has in store for us! We hope that you continue to follow our blog to keep updated on what we are doing throughout the year. We are now booking appointments and encourage you to contact us today regarding our invitations and event stationery. We will be posting some photos from another one of our past weddings shortly, as well as offering more vendor spotlights in the upcoming weeks. Stay Tuned!

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...Absolutely Inviting Stationery (of course)!

As the popular Bahamian saying goes: "Christmas Soon Come!". In view of the fast approaching yuletide season, Absolutely Inviting is accepting orders for Christmas cards/gift labels/seals etc. You can choose from our standard designs, OR for a small design fee, we can completely customize your cards.

Just as a reminder: we also cater to corporate clients. We have gotten a number of requests for Christmas/Thank you cards from various companies not wanting to give their clients a traditional, store-bought card. As we are currently completing one such order, we thought we should take a few minutes to let our clients know that Absolutely Inviting can also accommodate their corporate stationery needs.

Contact us to place your order today! We look forward to hearing from you.

Johniqua & Kennon - November 2009

Traditionally November is known as "Turkey month", but this couple's fab invites made another bird the star of the show. Their peacock themed invites were definitely the talk of the town!!! This couple told us their colors and theme, and we took it from there. Both the couple and Absolutely Inviting received amazing feedback from this invitation set.

Enjoy!

Man oh man...

A client approached us about doing some invites for her husband's 40th birthday celebration...

• Client's Question: How do I get an invitation to suit my event...i.e. elegant yet masculine?
• Answer: For the perfect invitations contact Absolutely Inviting...where we customize your stationery to suit YOUR style & YOUR event :-)

We designed an invitation around the client's color scheme, and we were given full creative freedom to create a concept which the client absolutely loved! We're sure you will love it too... Enjoy!

Did someone say Elmo???

A special event for a special two year-old...

One of our Absolutely Inviting clients approached us again to design some invitations for her daughter. Since her daughter was fascinated with Elmo, we decided to create a sweet invite based on this theme. Mom gave us the details of the party which included bouncing castles, special guest appearances, popcorn, snowcones, cotton candy, and face painting just to name a few. Not opting for the typical "kiddie" invite, Absolutely Inviting created a "kiddie fab" invite. When mom saw the invitations she had one word - "Perfect"! (The photo was blurred intentionally)

Oh Baby!

Pink and orange baby shower invites: