With the average New York wedding costing more than $80,000, there is plenty of opportunity to save money. One way that requires little sacrifice is simply by changing the date and time of your wedding and reception. For most of the country, June and September are the most popular months for weddings.  You can expect prices to rise during those months due to the high demand.  Avoid holiday months as well such as December and February when you will be competing with holiday parties that may use the same venue. Also plan your wedding and reception around local high school and college graduations, school vacation days, and large city conferences.

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What’s with all the fuss over food trucks lately? All of the sudden you see them popping up everywhere: in your parking lot at work, on busy street corners, or circling the local parks. They always seem to have weird names and colors and outrageously long lines of people in front of them that clog up all nearby sidewalks. So what gives?

Well, food trucks, it seems, aren’t just for hipsters anymore. The mobile food craze has spread and everyone’s eager to try the quick, conveniently-located, yummy restaurants on wheels. Last month, I went to a rehearsal dinner that featured a food truck with the best fish tacos and fish ’n chips I’d ever had, which gave me an idea… read more…

When the sun is bright and the breeze is pleasant, what could be better than a nice picnic? We know that going on a picnic isn’t all fun and games, and that there is actually quite a bit of planning involved! We’re here to provide you with some tricks and some tips to hosting the perfect summer picnic for family and friends.

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One day you will have children of your own, perhaps even a daughter. You’re going to love and provide for her during her formative years. But you know that the day will come, when a strapping young man whisks her away from you. That’s definitely a big deal, and you wouldn’t want to mess it up for any father in the world. So without further ado, Greenvelope gives you 5 tips to asking the father for his daughters hand in marriage. (And yes, you definitely have to ask.)

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It was a rare scene indeed.  Kyle and Preston, our tech geniuses, had just flown in the night before from the Midwest and were now gathering around the office sofa with the rest of the Greenvelope team to play a round of “so what do you do at Greenvelope?”  The Greenvelope Retreat officially started with a Friday Mariners game where Cliff  disappeared to woo a girl and Lauren sipped from an elegant glass of chilled white wine as the crowd cheered when the Mariners beat the Oakland A’s.

Saturday morning the team divided into two cars and drove through Deception Pass on the way to a cabin on Whidbey Island. It was one of the hottest days in Seattle, but the team barely felt the heat thanks to the breeze from Penn Cove. As Michelle, Sam, and Lauren prepared some fresh fruit, smoked salmon, and cheese, Olivia and the tech guys took in the magnificent view, while Cliff led Noni in a meditation session. At some point Sam brought out the bait cages and fish heads for crabbing.  Lauren and Preston volunteered to be his first crew for setting the bait. They soon discovered that Sam was the only one strong enough to row the boat against the current. As Lauren said to Sam, “We would have been lost at sea without you!” read more…

One of the most common excuses we hear people give for not utilizing the plethora of “green” alternatives available to them is that being eco-friendly is too expensive. Well here at Greenvelope, we think otherwise.

Whether you’re a college student cutting coupons or a 20-something just starting your first job, going green on a budget is not just possible, it’s profitable. Check out these ways that choosing green alternatives can actually help to save you money: read more…

1. Greenvelope Unveils New Guest Experience and Event Page

For the last six months the Greenvelope team has been working hard to transform the event page and improve the overall guest experience based on your feedback. We strive to revolutionize the digital invitation industry by integrating stationery design and data management. Here is what’s new:

• Matching header
• Customizable background image
• Slim mobile friendly layout
• Customizable sections and icons (for hotel, attire, parking information etc.)
• Default colors selected by our design manager

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Just a year ago if I was asked whether I would hire an event planner or plan my own wedding, I would say, “Of course I would plan it!” Now after working in the wedding industry and learning all the intricate details that go into planning the perfect wedding, my answer has changed. Event planners are lifesavers.

Here are the 3 top benefits of hiring an event planner:

1. Save Money!  Initially it may seem expensive to hire an event planner, but having an event planner can actually work in your favor by keeping you on or under budget.  Think of it this way, most event planners have developed relationships with multiple vendors, which means they  know where to go and who to talk to, and how to negotiate for the best deals. read more…

Morgan and Will shared a passion for travel and wanted to treat their friends and family by taking them to Costa Rica for their destination wedding.  Guests filled every villa at Hotel Villa Caletas and the wedding ceremony and reception was held at the beautiful Zephyr Palace.

The rehearsal dinner, wedding and reception was a blend of the natural and exotic elements of Costa Rica with a touch of the glitz and glamour from “The Great Gatsby”.  At the rehearsal dinner, each table had bunches of bananas painted gold, green coconuts, pink ginger and dark green Tiger Paw leaves, and wooden table numbers in 3-D also painted in gold to match. Pink and green (inspired by The Beverly Hills hotel in Los Angeles) were chosen to highlight the palm leaves and the gorgeous pink flowers of Costa Rica.  They also added subtle hints of 1920’s fun with the gold dipped feathers, a speakeasy (rum and cigar lounge below the reception) and flowers inspired by The Great Gatsby movie. Matching the theme, Morgan wore a jaw dropping beaded art deco dress from Les Habitudes.
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Kelly Stonelake Photography

We’re all adults here, and for the most part, adult gatherings come with adult beverages. Just as Greenvelope has different templates for different events, there are definitely different drinks suitable for different occasions. Without further ado, we present the Ultimate Guide: Cocktails for Every Occasion Part One.

Waiting for your flight: If you have a long flight ahead of you, you would want a cocktail that you can stretch, meaning one you can savor. Something fresh that plays with all your senses, and will help keep you awake. Perhaps a refreshing Mojito with ground up mint leaves and lime will do the trick.

Spending the Night at Home: Sometimes, nothing beats cozying up and reading a good book, or watching the latest episode of “The Bachelor.” When this is the case, make sure to settle down with a refreshing White Wine Berry Sangria. This White Wine based cocktail, mixed in with some berries and berry extract, sets a light and refreshing tone for the night. read more…