I seriously loved interviewing Kara Underwood from Magnificent Milestones!!  Kara owns an amazing custom invitation shop and I am like a kid in a candy store there … Ok, I will admit it … I have a little crush on paper. Feeling really nice paper gives me a bit of a rush.  Now I know that might be a little strange for some of you but it isn’t for Kara and that is one of many reason we get along so well!!

One lucky reader will get an amazing gift provided by Kara … You will have to read through the interview to find out what and how you can win.  Yeah, I am sneaky like that!

You own a beautiful invitation company that operates out of Smitten Boutique, how did you end up sharing this space?

Kirstin Martin, the owner of Smitten Boutique, and I separately had dreams to open a wedding boutique in the West Loop. It was perfect… close to many wedding vendors and there was absolutely nothing like it in the area. The only problem was, we both had the idea at the same time.

We opened within 6 months of one another and did our best to find our niche and support one another’s businesses. Kirstin focused on day of details, such as jewelry, cake toppers and more, while I focused on custom invitations and all things paper. We were constantly sending people to one another and meeting for coffee to chat. After a year, Kirstin and I met to discuss a physical merger. We would share the amazing space at Smitten Boutique and each maintain separate businesses. Naturally, I jumped at the chance!

Seriously folks, if you live in the Chicagoland area and have not been to Smitten Boutique then run don’t walk. The store is simply amazing!!

What do you love most about the invitation business?

When the bride sees her invitations for the first time! It is very surreal to see your name next to your fiancés… very official!

You just created your own Invitation Line.  Tell me about “The Third Coast Collection”!

I started the Third Coast Collection out of my love for Chicago and a void in the marketplace. Brides & Grooms are always searching for fun and kitschy notes for thank you cards and welcome bags. They don’t always have the budget for customized notecards and these have a way of being personal to the couple and their personalities. Stay posted for a line of Chicago-centrice save the dates and invitations coming this fall!

You used to be a wedding planner, what made you decide to forego that and focus on invitations?

I love weddings (obviously), so it’s no surprise that I had my hand in several things at once. Planning was so much fun, but I truly think everyone should have a specialty. After the business started to grow, I realized that I was spreading myself to thin and needed to decide on just one focus. My love for paper prevailed!

I must admit this makes me very happy!!  Not only because Kara was some stiff competition for me but because she has truly outdone herself with the custom invitations.  I seriously love taking my brides to see her.  Not only do they love being in the shop and what she has to offer but she is just plain fun to spend an hour with … Oh and it does not hurt that if you make an appointment to look at invitations with her she gives you the most adorable “expert thank you cards” (yes, that is all you have to do … Make an appointment instead of just stopping in!).

What do you miss most about planning?

Good question! I miss the day of, hands down. It is so exciting… Seeing the bride for the first time, watching the groom when she walks down the aisle, bringing them in to see the room, everything.

What did you find the most stressful about being a wedding planner?

There were times that I felt more like a psychiatrist than a planner! There is a lot of mediating, whether it is between a client and his/her parents or the bride and groom themselves, and it is challenging.

You just got married yourself (at the Ivy Room no less).  What did you learn from “the bride’s perspective” that you did not know from the planner perspective?

All the fun details and stresses you don’t deal with as a planner…. Such as the amazing dress, the dreaded guest list.

What was your favorite part of your wedding?

Oh gosh, that is hard! I have a few… getting ready with my bridesmaids and my mom was a blast. I needed my girl time, so everyone came over in the morning for hair and makeup. After a lot of laughs (and some champagne), it was time to start the day. The ceremony was also one of my favorites. Our officiant did a great job personalizing it. Last but not least, one of my favorites was the dance party that took place that night.

What is your favorite restaurant in Chicago?

My favorite food is Mexican and I love the *new* Mercadito.

Favorite color?

Yellow

Favorite movie?

Steel Magnolias

Favorite song?

This changes all the time! Once I love something, I listen to it on repeat, literally, so it doesn’t last as a favorite for long. Sleepyhead by Passion Pit is on repeat right now.

Which living person do you most admire?

My mom, for a lot of reasons. She is one of eleven (yes, eleven!) children which made her mom-like figure to my aunts and uncles at a very young age. She had to sacrifice a lot to help out and never got to go to college. But I have never heard a complaint. She worked hard before starting her own family and still became extremely successful. In more recent years, I have thrown her several curve balls, moving to Chicago (with no job, no plan), starting my own business, opening a store and more. Everything I throw her way, I get nothing but support. I am always told that if “someone can do it, it’s me” and I truly think that is why I get to do what I love today.

What do you like best about working with Greatest Expectations?

Personally: You two are just fun! I can seriously chat with you for hours. Oh wait, we have!

Professionally: I love working with planners like you that go above and beyond for their clients. They are so lucky to have you! I know when I email them at 9:00 p.m. at night, I will get a response

Thank you Kara!!  It is so nice to get that kind of compliment from someone in the industry.

Now on to the good stuff … If you love paper the way Kara and I do then you will really enjoy these beautiful (and totally fun)  engraved note cards from Kara’s Third Coast Collection. In order to win simply post a comment here telling us about your personal secret (or not so secret) obsession (mine is clearly expensive paper). Anyone is welcome to enter!

There is simply no getting away from this fact.  Thank you notes are extremely important.  They not only let your guests know you received their gift but that you appreciated it (and them). Even in this tech and eco friendly world, nothing replaces the hand written thank you note!

Thank you notes should be sent for bridal shower gifts as well as wedding gifts.  If it is a “ladies only” shower then the thank you note should be from the bride to be only.  If it was a couples shower you should both sign it.  This stationery does not have to be fancy or expensive but should be a good representative of your personal style.  Have fun with them, get creative and if you are on a tighter budget, make your own!  

A little insider tip for the people hosting the bridal shower is to purchase the thank you notes for the Bride to Be.  Address and stamp the envelopes with the names of everyone on the invite list, wrap them in a pretty ribbon and present them to the guest of honor at the end of the event.  Then all they need to do is write the actual thank you note and drop them in the mail.  This is one of my all time favorite things to do when hosting a special party. I use it for any type of event where gifts will be received.  It really shows your attention to detail and thoughtfulness! I have also been on the receiving end of this fantastic idea and I can say from personal experience, it really is wonderful.

While your guests have up to a year to send you a wedding gift, you do not have that long to send out a thank you note.  Many people like to send wedding gifts as soon as an invitation is received.  We think this is a wonderful thing to do, in fact, all gifts should be mailed and not ever brought directly to the wedding (trust us on this, it is simply good etiquette).  One thing to note is that it is not ok to send out a thank you note with your married name (or initials) until after the actual marriage has occurred!!

What we suggest is one of two things. Send a thank you note on non-personalized stationery as soon as the gift is received or wait until just after the wedding and use those beautiful new monogrammed note cards (it really is ok to wait!).  If you decide to wait until after the wedding (which is my personal preference) one tip for making it easy instead of overwhelming is to write, address and stamp the thank you notes as soon as the gifts are received.  Keep them all together and mail them out the day after your wedding.  If you are working with Greatest Expectations we are happy to mail them for you so you can focus on your honeymoon! Your guests will be pleasantly surprised and duly impressed to get their thank you note while you are away on your honeymoon!

No, you do not have to stay up the night of your wedding and write thank you notes! You have one month after your wedding to mail them for gifts received on the big day and two weeks for anything received afterwards.

When it comes to actually writing the thank you note you do not have to get long winded. Simply thank them for the gift (be specific about it i.e. “We loved the waffle maker and cannot wait for our first free Sunday to test it out”).  If it was a cash gift you should not only thank them for the gift but let them know how you plan on using it (i.e. “Thank you so much for the generous gift. We plan to get the last of our crystal with the money and will think of you every time we use it!”).  They should be signed by both the bride and groom.

What you spend on your thank you notes is completely up to you.  Check out your local stationery shop or shop online.  Both of these can be done well before the wedding takes place so you are completely prepared.  Greatest Expectations has a wonderful line of personalized stationary so you can always go through us to get something that is just perfect (and affordable)!

You can go super traditional and get something monogrammed like this embossed fold over note card from Crane and Co.

Or a more contemporary look on a flat card, like this one from Wedding Paper Diva’s.

I love this non personalized note card from delphine. They are embossed on 30% post consumer paper and have a soy based ink – totally eco friendly!

Oh and don’t forget the return address! On most wedding invitations you will have the return address printed directly on the envelope.  Unless you are having custom stationery made, you will need to come up with another solution for the return address.  I suggest getting a self-inking stamp.  They really make the job easier and can be customized in just about any way you can imagine, including different colors. Oh, and they can be used for a very long time – easy and eco friendly!

I love these round stamps from Custom Art Stamps.  There are so many design options you can really have fun picking out the perfect one for you!

Or you can stick with the traditional and get something like this from Emily Friday’s Calligraphy. (this shop has some really great items, you should totally check it out!).

No matter what your “note card style” is … pick something representative of you, your tastes and your wedding.  Have fun, buy extras (you can always use them for years to come) and thank away!!