Sweetly Paired offers custom stationery, invitations, and paper for weddings in Colorado, Austin, and destination weddings all over the world. We can do custom printing for all of your stationery needs. We also do custom seating charts, table names and numbers, and welcome signs! We do custom watercolor invitations as well. 

There are so many little details when it comes to wedding planning that by the end of it you may be making choices just to make the problem go away. But keep in mind that these little details really do make all the difference when everything comes together on the big day.  You'll be so ahppy the you made mindful choices that really represent you and your loved one. One of those little (major) details is the guest book.  The guest book is a key detail because everyone who attends the wedding will see it & (hopefully) sign it. Here are a few tips to picking out the perfect guest book.
1. Representation: This day is all about you and your loved one becoming ONE unit.  So what is something that the two of you love to do? Do you love to travel together? Use a globe. Do you love to ski together? Use a set of skis. Do you love to drink wine together? Collect corks and have people sign them. There are so many possibilities, but keep in mind that it is best when it is about you.
2. Aesthetic: You can choose something based of the theme of your wedding.  Is your wedding more black-tie? Stick to a classic alternative of a beautiful bound book that will shimmer in the night. Think about the rest of your decor and see how your guest book can compliment it.
3. Keepsake: Your guest book is a keepsake that you and your partner now get to keep forever til death do you part. Want to hear a great tip? Pick something you like! Pick something you treasure and want to keep displayed around your home, not just a memento that you are going to put in a box and forget about. A framed picture for people to sign is a great decor piece that you can add to any part of your home.
4. Find inspiration: Still struggling to find "the one" for your wedding.  Turn to others for inspiration.  Ask your friends and family members what they used when they got married, or take a peek at the guest book of any weddings you may attend in the near future. Inspiration may strike at any moment! And then there is always the internet which is packed with some of the most creative ideas known to man.  So grab a cup of Joe and surf the web a bit looking at wedding blogs, Pinterest, and wedding inspiration pages. 

Music is one of the most important components when it comes to a wedding.  It says a lot about you as a couple and can really set the tone for the whole night.  It is used in every part of the wedding from the bride walking down the aisle all the way until the last song of the night.  So who do you trust with one of the most important tasks of the evening... A live band or a wedding DJ? How do you choose?! Check out all things we believe you should consider when choosing between the two.

There are three main points you should consider when choosing between a band or a DJ.
1. Wedding Venue- If you have already chosen your venue think about the spacing.  Is there enough room for a full live band to fit? Is your dance floor a little smaller that only a DJ booth would fit? Think about your floor plan and see which fits best.
2. Budget- Your budget is the most important thing to keep in mind when choosing between the two. Live bands are generally more expensive but if the music is on the top of your priority list then it might be great to splurge a little for a full live band. 
3. Theme/atmosphere- What kind of atmosphere do you want to create for your wedding and how are your music choices going to influence that? 

What having a live band at your wedding means:
Pros: Let's be real... Who doesn't love live music!? The excitement level is turned up to a 20 and guests are going to walk away talking about the band you had for months and months to come. They keep the party going because they join in on the party!
Cons: One of the biggest cons is the price tag.  Live bands tend to be more expensive because you are having upwards of 10 people traveling to be at your venue. Depending on the location you may need to put them up in a hotel room for a night as well. Also, a bands repertoire tends to be what they choose so if you are looking for specific songs at your wedding you may not have the option.

What having a DJ at your wedding means:
Pros: A Wedding DJ is generally less expensive and they aren't packing as much equipment as a band might. They also have access to every song in the whole world. So if you want to mix country music with swing music and then throw in some rock n roll then you can! The possibilities are endless. If you do your research, read reviews, and set up meetings you will be able to pick a DJ  with an awesome personality that will make sure your party goes all night.
Cons: It is a rare moment that people will talk about the DJ you had at your wedding for months afterwards. They tend to not be as memorable because of how common they are in the wedding scene.  You also run the risk of a lack luster Emcee who isn't willing to have fun themselves. They may just sit in the corner and press play when they need to.

1. The first piece of advice I have for a newly engaged couple is to think about their wedding in the scope of impact and guest experience first. Think about every decision with that in mind. It will help spend the budget in the best and most impactful way. If you have a limited budget - think about the things your guests are going to notice the most and push your budget towards those things. 

2. Secondly, unless planning events is what you do - and even if it is - Hire a planner to help you. Planners will give you options - coordination for the month or day of, partial planning where the planner helps you though most of the decisions and makes sure you're on the right track - and full-service planning that is all encompassing. That planner should be someone you completely trust, someone with great reviews and personal recommendations, and someone with the experience to handle your exact vision and execute it. That person is the only person in your day who has your best interest at heart in EVERY decision that's made throughout the day. They balance the opinions of all the other vendors and make decisions that track with what you want for your day. That planner is the most well-spent piece of your budget. They are there to pull the stress off of you. From the time you hire them, or the time their contract takes effect, their job is to pull communication and stress off of you and your family, and make sure everything is on-track and running smoothly. 

3. Don't just book vendors without reviews, references, and referrals. Make sure that they can back up their sales pitch with experience and the experiences of their previous clients and fellow wedding professionals. Unless your budget is very very tight - make sure you book vendors with experience doing precisely what you want them to do. Make sure they've worked your venue, shot your style of wedding, and cooked and served the type of food you're after. ​Best advice? if you find a vendor or professional that you adore - ask them who their favorite wedding professionals are. If they love them, chances are they'll match your personality and wedding style as well.  Your planner can also help to build a team that can work together for your day - trust the person you put in charge.