Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on our blessings and give thanks for our health, our family, our friends, and all the other beautiful things in life, both great and small. Yet, although it is a time-honored Thanksgiving tradition, expressing gratitude is a habit that can be practiced all year long.

For weddings, when we think of giving thanks, most of us think of it in terms of sending thank you notes after the wedding has already passed. However, there are many ways–and reasons–to give thanks before your wedding day, too. From vendors and wedding party members to parents and future in-laws, there are many people involved in bringing your dream wedding to life.

As they help you plan your way down the aisle, use Personal Stationery to send them special, personalized notes of appreciation and gratitude. You can use them however you want: thank them for something very specific, like how your bridesmaid came over with cupcakes  and hugs when you were having a late-night meltdown. Or, send a general message of thanks for their continual love, support, and services.

Showing appreciation is a great foundation upon which to build your future marriage. Oh, and don’t forget to send notes to the most important person in your life: your spouse! By sending little notes of love and thanks, you can write the first chapters of your lifelong long story of love together.

Here at MagnetStreet, we offer a variety of Personal Stationery designs that you can use as wedding note cards or personalized thank you cards. Below are a few of our favorite designs. With any design, you completely personalize the colors, photos, fonts, and wording–making it easy to design your own message of thanks.

Personal Stationery Design: In Full Bloom

 Personal Stationery Design: Watercolor Bloom

Personal Stationery Design: Classic Love

How about you: Do you plan on sending little notes of thanks as you plan your wedding? Or, have you been the recipient of a special thank you note from a bride or groom? We’d love to hear!

–Rachel, writer at MagnetStreet Weddings

Fonts–they’re expressive and moody in a good way and in a very understated, clever sort of way too. The right ones will give your wedding invitation the finishing flair it needs to render the style and tone you want for your wedding. As important as color and custom wording, the most fitting fonts, can change the direction of your design from formal to casual or … to vintage or destination, etc. 

Here are four fonts on the same invite design with each font giving off a distinct–albeit subtle–feel. From left to right:

#1) Formal & Fanciful. I used ITC Isadora Bold style on Robin & Michael. The fancy bold type gives off a stately look.

#2) Casual & Modern. Using Mary Helen on Robin & Michael, the open style of the type, feels contemporary & fun.

#3) Funky & Offbeat. With Bossa Nova style on the third, the feel is quirky and unique- perfect for a non-traditional couple.

#4) Feelin Jamaican. Love the chunky relaxed feel of Immi Five O Five on the last invite. Destination wedding anyone?

Which one is your favorite?

{click to enlarge}

So with your wedding style and formality in mind, play with the wedding fonts–espeically on your names! Notice the subtle sway of emotion that a font has on you. When you see the right font for you, you’ll know it. Use our Design Studio to play with fonts on your stationery–here are our most popular wedding fonts but there’s plenty more to choose from when you’re in Design Studio.

Want more info on fonts? Read On Choosing Invitation Fonts for a quick lesson in typefaces. and read Jen’s post to see how 4 fonts changed the look and feel of one Save the Date design!

image source: The above fonts are featured on Sketched in Love Flat Tea-length Wedding Invitation.

Let them eat cake at the royal wedding… two of them in fact. William requested one of his childhood favorites and Kate’s thoughtful pick~ a traditional English fruit cake.

Go team Fiona Cairns~ the English cake maker chosen to create the confectionery centerpiece for Kate and William’s wedding breakfast on April 29, 2011. Of course, much is left to our imaginations with final ingredients and what the fruit cake will ultimately look like, but I’m sure the multi-tiered creation will be stunning~ from the “language of flowers” theme { a 16 different bloom embellishment} to the English and oh-so fancy Joseph Lambeth decorating style.

I wonder though, are fruit cakes still getting a bad rap? Dried fruits. Raisins. Walnuts. French brandy. What are your thoughts on fruit cakes for wedding cakes?  Will their popularity skyrocket in light of the royal wedding?

Here are 3 fruit wedding cakes that are definitely not getting a bad rap from me. They look gorgeous, fresh and delicious. What do you think? Fruit wedding cake or fruit cake?

via Martha Stewart Weddings

source

Conflict happens. It just does. And wedding planning seems to offer perfect moments for conflict to rear its nasty little head. Every family has their differences of opinions, customs, beliefs and unique family dynamics. Where there are people, there is conflict. However, a lot of good can come from it … improved communication, cleared-up misunderstandings and deeper relationships to name a few.

Here are 5 practical tips that I have learned {oftentimes the hard way} to be helpful in resolving minor conflict in and out of my marriage. It’s a lot easier said than done. You know it. I know it. But, in the end our relationships are worth giving our all to.

1. Keep your cool. Once you say something, you can’t take it back. Pause and think before you react.

2. Seek to understand. Try and figure out where the other person is coming from. Sometimes, they just need to know they’ve been heard correctly.

3. Commit to working it out. Don’t blow it off. Although you may need some time to reflect, make a commitment to digging in and resolving the issue. So true of our close relationships.

4. Take responsibility for your own feelings. Nobody can make you “feel” a certain way unless you allow it. Using statements like “I feel” rather than “You made me feel” will help keep someone from going into defensive mode.

5. A kind word goes a very long way. There is a proverb: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” This one can take some practice, but I have found it to be extremely helpful in reducing conflict!

Thoughts? Easier said than done? Do share your insights into what helps you deal with minor conflicts- especially during wedding planning.

photo via Braedon Photography via Snippet & Ink