Chicago Wedding Resource Spring/Summer 2018-2019

CHICAGOWEDDINGRESOURCE.COM CHICAGO WEDDING & PARTY RESOURCE SPRING & SUMMER 2019 | 5 Hold, Please How to save the date By Renee Lee Wege, CTWFeatures It used to be that save the dates were almost always a given when it came to weddings – mostly found as actual snail mail – and then put up on friends’ refrigera- tors as constant reminders to, well, save the date. Unlike wedding invitations, save the dates aren’t completely mandatory. As everything continues to go digital these days, many people are saving money (and unnecessary clutter) by foregoing paper save the dates and simply sending out emails, announcing details on a wedding website, or spreading the word on social media. If you do go the physical save the date route, there are a variety of trending designs and elements to consider. Samantha Rekas, owner of Chicago-based Sam’s Simple Decor Paper Goods store on Etsy, designs a number of wedding-related paper goods, including menu cards, pro- grams, escort cards and custom work. Overall, she’s seen multiple trends in the wedding paper goods space, including save the dates. “Right now there’s tons going on with geo- metric patterns, marble, green florals, succulents and watercolor. However, I feel that the overlaying trend across each of these items is gold foil,” Rekas says. “I personally love the trend, as foil items are some of my best sellers and it really adds another dimension to the page and makes the design pop even more.” In line with the metallics and pretty pinks and pastels appearing on wedding Pinter- est boards and in bridal spreads, Rekas says gold and rose gold are currently her top two requested foils. Couples might also opt to think outside the box, or paper, rather, when it comes to save the dates. Skip the middleman between a save the date and the fridge by making save the date magnets (after all, who couldn’t use another magnet to hold up all those wedding invites and A+ homework assignments?) or send guests something they can get more use out of, such as printed save the date coasters. Though she hasn’t personally worked on any non-paper save the dates, Rekas has been seeing wooden save the dates that are laser-cut with calligraphy. “While doing a save the date on wood would really make your big day stand out, I can’t even begin to image the postage cost!” she says. © CTW Features Unlike wedding invitations, save the dates aren’t completely mandatory. INVITATIONS & STATIONARY