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By
Helen E. McKinney
Contributing Writer
(February 2008) – For couples wanting
to bring out their personalities through
their wedding decor, there are a variety
of options from which to choose. Well conceived
special touches can enhance this memorable
experience for the couple and their guests.
Diane Lock, owner of The Memory Mine in
Madison, Ind., advises clients not to be
trendy in their choices. She tells brides-to-be,
“It’s your special day; your personality
should shine through.”
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Metro
Services Photo
Wedding
invitations or “Save the Date”
cards can help set the tone of the
wedding and can be tailored to suit
a particular theme for the
event, experts say.
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Lock’s business offers wedding and
event planning and coordinating. Her expertise
can help a bride get started with a budget
plan and continue through the entire process
with coordinating and decorating the wedding.
The Memory Mine also offers rentals.
One smart way to personalize a wedding is
through the invitations. Lock said she is
noticing many invitations with a scrapbook
look. “They are layered, to make them
look more hand made.”
Lock recommends sending out invitations
six to eight weeks before the wedding. Chocolate,
turquoise, pinks and reds remain popular
wedding colors for the area, Lock said.
Red and navy will be big accessory colors
this year as well.
Anything that a customer sees on the Internet
can be done by Lock. She has a variety of
wedding books to browse through which include
a large assortment of invitations, napkins
and programs.
“The personal service you get here
will change the way you look at things,”
she said. “No two weddings are the
same.”
Lock began her business after planning her
son’s wedding. After realizing the
lack of vendors in the area, she has since
become a one-stop-shop for wedding needs.
She has coordinated more than 70 weddings
since opening three years ago.
With everyone’s hectic schedules, “Save
the Date” cards are currently popular,
she said. Generally, they are sent out nine
months before the wedding, especially if
a wedding date is scheduled for the busy
months of June and October.
Wedding programs printed on fans are popular,
particularly for outdoor weddings, said
Shawn Abitorabi, owner of The Paper Cupboard
in Louisville, Ky. Fans can be purchased
in the shape of hearts or shells, printed
on the front and back with the wedding ceremony
schedule, and photos of the bride and groom
can be added if desired.
Abitorabi bought the 30-year-old business
in December 2007. “We have such a wide
variety of choices,” she said of her
inventory. She has 43 wedding books through
which couples can scan.
“We have one of the largest selections
in the Louisville area,” said Abitorabi.
If she doesn’t have a product in-house,
she is more than happy to order it from
her merchandisers.
Invitations can be customized by the choice
of verses a bride selects. Pocket invitations
seem to be currently popular, she said.
Ecru and black and white remain fashionable
invitation colors.
Abitorabi will be remodeling her Lyndon
Lane location at the end of January and
joining with a wedding planner and other
vendors to expand her offerings. Abitorabi
is training to become a certified wedding
planner and plans to have vendors in her
shop who will provide bridal jewelry, veils,
cakes and florals.
She plans to be open seven days a week and
will have Vera Bradley stationery products
on hand.
Linda Cummins of Star Quality Awards in
Madison, Ind., suggested several ways to
customize a wedding. Her business can etch
wine and champagne toasting glasses and
vases.
Many couples have glass beer signs etched
to give as groomsmen gifts, she said. Star
Quality Awards can etch or engrave items
they sell or items customers bring in.
“The sky’s the limit,” said
Cummins. “We’re a one-stop-shop.”
Cummins also provides an engraving service.
Items commonly engraved include cake servers,
knives and wedding bands. In addition, Cummins
offers a catalogue from which couples can
order gift items and wedding necessities
such as garters and guest books.
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