The Green Kangaroo - Unique Wedding Invitations and Stationery

We often receive questions from brides seeking the proper etiquette guidelines for stuffing wedding invitations. And in fact, there is a certain “protocol” for assembling your invites and placing them in the envelopes. While we always include a fully assembled sample in every order to serve as a visual reference, here are a few tips to streamline the process:

1. Layer accessory pieces from largest to smallest on top of the invitation.

2. Place your invitation with the accessory pieces into the inner envelope so that the printed side of the invitation faces the back side of the inner envelope.

Image courtesy of Invitation Advice

3. The inner envelope is inserted into the outer envelope in the same manner, with the front side of the inner envelope (with the guests’ names) facing the back side of the outer envelope.

If you keep in mind that, when a guest opens the envelopes, the printed side should always be what is seen first, this will be an easy trick to remember!

If you’re planning a fall wedding, I’m sure you are in the very thick of the planning stages! To give you autumn brides a little cool inspiration during these hot summer days, I wanted to feature one of TGK’s gorgeous fall-themed designs, the Acorn wedding invitation.

The hand-drawn acorn branches bring to mind crisp autumn days and are a supremely elegant nod to the season. We love this design in traditional, subtle earth tones, such as chocolate and grass shown above.

And we just launched this new Acorn Square Clutch invitation design, also shown in chocolate and grass, but with a little more green for a bit more punch! The clutch features your invitation on the front with an innovative pocket on the back. It’s similar to a pocket, but a bit more streamlined without the booklet-style opening.

Check back with us for more autumn inspiration in the coming weeks! And try to keep cool until then …

Between the argyle and mercury glass, we have been happily overwhelmed by the all the current sparkly vintage trends. Melissa and Kristen recently fell in love with these gorgeous hairpieces they saw at a party, and they can’t stop talking about all the ways they could be used in a wedding!

Think about it… the bride could wear a vintage fabric flower in her hair, and her bridesmaids could wear coordinating flowers attached to ribbon sashes around their wastes. A vintage brooch can grace a headband and also a purse.

The movement has even brought these glamorous pieces to chokers, necklaces, bracelets, and anklets. You can work them into the boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen, and I imagine that they would work well as part of a centerpiece, too. So if vintage style is your bag, try some of these ideas on for size!

Taking a cue from our popular pocket wedding invitations, last year The Green Kangaroo introduced a new pocket-style concept: our unique clutch wedding invitation style.

The Monogram Clutch, in periwinkle and pewter.

Since its introduction, brides have loved the simplicity of this innovative design, which features your invitation on one side and a pocket on the reverse to hold three accessory cards. No unfolding necessary! Just flip the invitation over and your maps, accommodations, and reply information are all there, tucked neatly into the simple pocket on the back.

The Circles and Dots Clutch, in tropical pink and aqua.

And an added plus is that clutch invitations cost a bit less than pocket invitations because they use less paper. Just one more spin on a new classic from our design team!

At this spring’s National Stationery Show, the USPS unveiled its very first stamp designed specifically for irregular-shaped mail. This is great news for brides who want to mail square and oblong envelopes that might be considered “oversized” and require postage beyond the standard 44-cent stamp. No longer will you have to stick a sad little 20-cent stamp next to your carefully chosen “Love” stamps!

Of course, it’s still a good idea to take a fully stuffed sample wedding invitation down to the Post Office to confirm the weight and correct postage before you buy stamps and mail your invitations off. But if 64-cents is what it will cost to mail your envelopes, the lovely Monarch Butterfly design is a nice new option!

Oh, the question of what to gift your bridesmaids and groomsmen! These gifts must accomplish so much: you want to thank these dear friends for all they’ve done for you; and it would be lovely if the gift were an appropriately “special” or even “meaningful” reminder of your wedding. Yet most couples are already operating at the outer limits of their wedding budgets when they set out to purchase multiple gifts for these key wedding party members!

So when we come across a gift idea that is 1) beautiful, 2) practical, and 3) well priced, not to mention 4) something both women AND men would be happy to have; 5) customizable to fit the personal style of each gift recipient; and 6) made of gorgeous recycled materials … we feel it is our bounden duty to report it far and wide!

Case in point, these lovely, handmade pouches. The designer, who works in the furnishings industry, was inspired to create these wee wallets as a savvy way to re-use the remnants and un-used samples of the high quality leathers her company was discarding. And we are so glad she did! Priced just under $22, the pouches are ideal for holding the bare essentials needed for a night on the town, a quick walk to the coffee shop, or for slipping into a gym bag.

Visit the Pouches By Page Web site to view their full selection of leathers and custom options. And surprise your wedding party with this delightfully modern, earth-friendly take on a classic necessity.

TGK had the pleasure of working with Jackie and Greg as they planned a September wedding in Raleigh. When we saw Jackie’s ideas for her bold, hot pink and black invitations, we knew this girl was all about color! As you’ll see from their wedding pictures, Jackie and Greg did a great job of incorporating their fun-loving personalities into the details of their day.

A big thank you to the couple’s photographer, Scott Faber of Scott Faber Photography, for the use of these photos!

Jackie and Greg chose our popular Circles & Dots motif for their wedding stationery. Here’s a great shot of their program – we love it in hot pink!

Jackie carried the hot pink and black color scheme out seamlessly, selecting classic black dresses for her bridesmaids accented with fierce hot pink shoes and hot pink calla lilies in the bouquets. Even the bride wore hot pink heels!

The happy couple taking their vows …

And cutting a rug with their YouTube-worthy wedding dance!

Thank you, Jackie and Greg, for making The Green Kangaroo a part of your wedding!

One of Melissa and Kristen’s fellow Wedding Aces posted a helpful article on navigating the etiquette of addressing some of the trickier titles when addressing your wedding invitations. See some of her helpful tips below, and click the linked photo below to read the full article on the Wedding Aces site.

Excerpted from Addressing Envelopes II: Dr., Hon., ...Esq.?

~ If both Jane & John Doe are doctors, address the envelope using either Drs. Jane and John Doe, or use their degree in their title as Jane Doe, M.D. and John Doe, Ph.D. (when using the second option, forgo the “Drs.” at the beginning.)

~ If John is a doctor, but Jane is not, the envelope could be addressed Dr. and Mrs. John Doe though if Jane is the doctor, it would be Dr. Jane Doe and Mr. John Doe.

~ If Jane is a lawyer, Jane Doe, Esq. is accurate, however since a wedding is a social invitation, it may be most appropriate to address the invitation more formal and less business. When in doubt, ask the guest how they prefer to be addressed.

Don’t forget to add the wonderful Wedding Aces to your blog list so you can stay in the loop on all the fabulous wedding insider tips!

Lucky duck that I am, last weekend I got to attend my cousin’s oh-so-elegant beach-side wedding at the glorious Dunes Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Though the ceremony and reception site were decidedly formal, the beachy setting–and the couple’s laid-back style–called for casual, personal touches.

Upon entering the reception hall, we were invited to don a pair of flip flops, conveniently grouped by color and size in crisp white baskets. This display set the stage for an afternoon of dancing, merry making, and strolling the beachside lawn.

Guests choosing to wander outdoors to take in the coastal scene were met with baskets filled with straw fans and retro, 80’s style sunglasses.

The guests appreciated these funky and functional touches that doubled as wedding favors.

And check out this beautiful bride (my new cousin Tricia!) who pulled these fun ideas together and simply glowed radiance throughout the weekend!

I had the delightful pleasure of attending my cousin’s wedding last weekend in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Nearly all of the guests were out-of-towners, making this a definite destination wedding. I was so impressed with their attention to the little details that made the entire weekend flow as a seamless event, while leaving plenty of room for each guest to enjoy their own “mini vacation” in this popular seaside spot.

Note to the gentle reader: Please pardon this blogger’s sub-par photography skills!

Perhaps the most useful detail was this clever “Guide to Awesomeness” that Tricia and Will put together themselves and tucked into each out-of-towner’s welcome bag. The guide unfolded, map-style, to reveal a large, full-color road map of the Myrtle Beach area, complete with numbered pinpoints of each wedding event, recommended restaurants, and even golfing options!

The bottom half of the guide provided categorized details of each marked location. Tricia and Will incorporated lighthearted tips and recommendations for each spot so we’d easily be able to find the best spot for local seafood or the ideal destination for entertaining kids at an alligator farm!

Their helpful guide allowed me to set aside my printed, unpredictable Mapquest directions and follow their handy, local-approved map. We weren’t late to a single activity! And best of all, we felt like we got the most out of our “mini vacation” by sticking to the bride and groom’s fabulous recommendations. If you’re planning a destination wedding, take a cue from the newly wed Mr. & Mrs. Weaver and create your own “Guide to Awesomeness!”

If you’re looking to create a vintage vibe for your wedding day, we love the idea of using sealing wax to secure your wedding invitation envelopes. A perfect complement to our retro chic Hollywood or our classic Grace invitations!


There are seals with every monogram and image you can imagine to personalize the impression pressed into each dollop of wax. Many brands of sealing wax are mailable, and we particularly love the selections available online through Letter Seals.

Carry the old world charm of wax seals into other aspects of your wedding day. Gift your bridesmaids with these gorgeous fine silver wax seal initial necklaces by Etsy artist Shannon Westmeyer. The perfect way to say thank you to your lovely maids!

Or imprint a seal on the side of wine bottles or hurricanes as table centerpieces.

The ideas are limitless!

Sealing wax images courtesy of Letter Seals

Over the last few weeks, we’ve launched four new square pocket invitation designs. If you love the clean, modern look of pocket wedding invitations, we think you’ll adore our fresh – and square! – takes on this “new classic!”

The Seahorse Square Pocket incorporates our popular palm tree, sand dollar, starfish, and (of course) seahorse motifs to set the scene for your laid-back chic coastal wedding! The square pocket design is a terrific solution for packaging the vital details and information for a tropical destination wedding.

Our Monogram Pocket’s clean lines appeal to brides looking to keep things simple, timeless, and elegant. Perfect when paired with subtle, sedate hues, this invitation really pops with vibrant colors, such as the grass green and navy, shown here.

Since we launched it last year, our charming Magnolia motif has quickly become a favorite! We love the “surprise” of this gorgeous southern blossom gracing the lower corner of the invitation when the pocket is opened! A stunning addition to our square pocket family.

And of course, we can’t launch a new set of invitations without finding a home for our beloved Josie motif, whose updated floral filigree design sets the tone for weddings of all styles. Josie, like my little sister, looks good in just about any color or shape we put her in! And the square pocket style is no exception.

Have you fallen in love with being “square” yet?

After winning three (count ‘em, three!) coveted awards from the Triangle Bridal Association (or TBA) earlier this month, we didn’t think our heads could get any bigger. Turns out, we were wrong! TBA decided to puff us up a good deal more by featuring The Green Kangaroo as their “So Hot Right Now” Member of the Month! We love it! Check out what they’re saying about us (below) … we’re blushing!

SO HOT RIGHT NOW :: TBA Member of the Month

This month we are featuring the The Green Kangaroo who has just announced a special charitable promotion where 5% of all sales featuring the color blue would be donated to the Oceanic Preservation Society. April’s results are in and TGK is sending a donation to OPS! They’d like to thank their customers for rallying behind this organization to help preserve ocean life! Also, in honor of Earth Day, all products are now available for printing on 100% Recycled white paper! WOW! If this doesnt inspire you to “go green”...I’m not sure what will!

Raleigh-area brides, come see TGK at a VIP bridal tour of the exquisite Grand Marquise Ballroom! We love this wedding and reception spot with its elegant Louis XIV style – a perfect location for magnificent events with a majestic staircase, breathtaking balcony, and grand entry parlor.

The Grand Marquise iron staircase.

TGK has been invited to display our latest designs along with some of the region’s top wedding vendors, including Azul Photography and Your Special Day Weddings & Special Events. The evening will feature a tour of the facility, hors d’oeuvres, dessert, and of course an opportunity to meet with (and interview) leading vendors. Come say hello to our very own Lori from 6-8PM on Thursday, June 10!

The Grand Marquise Ballroom: 225 New Fidelity Court, Garner, North Carolina.

Many of our customers have been asking when we’d have additional motifs available for Wedding Wire’s wonderful free wedding Websites. Well, we are pleased to announce that Wedding Wire has just launched four more TGK-exclusive designs! You can now customize our Damask, Pine, Circles & Dots, and Modern Snowflake graphics in a range of lovely colors to give your wedding Website a TGK-inspired look!

The Circles and Dots motif in pink.

The Modern Snowflake motif in blue.

Whether you want to coordinate your Website with your wedding invitations and stationery, or if you’re looking for a unique background and theme just for use on your site, we think you’ll love how easy and helpful Wedding Wire’s sites are to use!