The Dandelion Patch

Monday, October 25, 2010

Grand Opening Event - New Georgetown Location!

Join us on Thursday, November 4, 2010 to celebrate our newest locations in Georgetown.

When: November 4, 2010

Time: 7PM - 9PM

Address: The Dandelion Patch, 3222 M Street NW, Second Floor, Washington DC 20007 (located in the Shops at Georgetown Park

RSVP: Kindly send us an email to rsvp@chicpr.com

We look forward to seeing you to celebrate our new Georgetown location!

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Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Your Wedding Invitation: Trend or Trash - Part 2

In my blog yesterday, I wrote about some of the latest trends in wedding invitations. We talked about adding color to break up the traditionally white wedding stereotypes. You have channeled your inner Carrie Bradshaw and have found a way to create new trends through the use of fabric flowers, or through textures such as tweed or wood.

We learned that the outside package, the envelope, is just as important as the item inside. Monograms remain a perennial favorite for invitations.

And finally, we learned that it is very easy to "be green" when it comes to invitations through the use of 100% tree-free materials.

So, we've learned what is hot and what is trendy. Now, let's talk about what's not!


Splurge on stamps. Do not (I repeat, do not) send wedding Evites or a mass email invitation. No matter how much time, money or trees it may save, if you plan on inviting the office, do not post a general, "come-one, come-all" invite on the coffee room bulletin board . . . cuz you know the Dwight Schroot of your office WILL attend. And one thing: no photocopying invites. That's just icky and tacky.

Skip the cutesy prose, cheesy photoshopping and saccharine theme. I know, I know. You're in love. But, those things worked in grammar school when you were fleshing out the details of your wedding to one of the Backstreet Boys, but not now.

Stay true to your personalities and relationship. Now's not the time to go all "Three Faces of Eve" on your invitation. If you're quirky and loud, you'll leave the guests scratching their heads if your invitation is lace and roses. Conversely, don't go biker gang on your stationary if you're more of a prepster!

Stifle the urge to unleash Bridezilla. We all know one. You don't want to be her. So don't use your invitations to tell guests which gifts you want or that you'd really like them to underwrite your honeymoon trip to Fiji (it is NEVER appropriate to include registry info in a wedding invitation). Never, and I mean never ask them to kick in for the prime rib reception meal or watered down drinks from the cash only bar either. Remember, this day is about a marriage, not the wedding. So don't scream at your vendors / neighbors / friends for not remembering your exact shade of azure blue.

So, there you have it! Just remember that we at The Dandelion Patch are there to help make your day very special. You make a wish, and we'll help make it come true.


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Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Your Wedding Invitation: Trend or Trash?

I am very pleased to republish this article that originally appeared on District Bride Guide. Enjoy!

You're engaged!

Now the fun begins. You know EXACTLY what kind of wedding you want (you've been planning it since kindergarten, right?). Then at the stationary store, you leaf through binder after binder until each sample is a swirl of color and a blur of words. The gravity of this first step overwhelms you.


The invitation sets the tone for your big day and dictates all that follows. It should represent your style and the type of wedding you'll be having. But with so many different invitations, how do you weed out the trendy from the just-plain trashy? Here are a few tips:

Model the runway. Rich colors like purple, chartreuse and magenta break traditionally white wedding stereotypes. Current menswear fashions are echoed in pinstripe shades of your wedding scheme. Whether horizontal or vertical, tonal stripes say "modern classic." As the chicest women know, accessories make an outfit. They're seen in trendy invitations and include Swarovski crystals, rhinestones and pearls. Just don't overdo it. Less is often more. Take a cue from red carpet stars and go with a neutral pallette of shimmery bronze, platinum, gold or silver.

Channel your inner Carrie Bradshaw. If you are like me and a huge fan of Carrie and her BFFs (Charlotte is my personal favorite), then invitations adorned with lifelike fabric flowers are a perfect touch. Vintage florals and textures like tweed and wood are making their way into invitations, creating new trends just like Carrie.

Wrap and send it with love. Like beautiful wrapping paper, the outside package says as much about the gift as the actual item inside. The robin's egg blue Tiffany box makes a recipients heart flutter just a little faster. Your invitation envelope can do the same. Slip yours into a luxurious orgenza pouch or integrate your color scheme into the envelope with a tied satin ribbon.

Monogram it. Admit it. When you were younger, you carved you and your beau's initials into a tree or in the sand at the beach. We've all done it. What says romance more than you and your love's initials intertwined? There's a reason why monograms remain a personal favorite on invitations.

Be green. As Kermit the frog said, "It's not easy being green." However, it is easy being green when it comes to invitations. Some of today's most elegant invitations are made with 100% tree-free materials. Want your happy occasion to extend beyond the reception? Invitations can now be embedded with seeds that guests can later plant!

The possibilities are endless.

Now that you know what's trendy, in my next blog post we'll talk about what's not!






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Monday, October 18, 2010

I'm Speaking at the GrowSmartBiz 2010 Conference

I hope you will join me at the 2nd Annual GrowSmartBiz conference and tradeshow on November 5, 2010. This year's event, sponsored by The Washington Business Journal and Network Solutions, will be held on November 5, 2010 at the Renaissance Hotel, 999 9th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001.

The event brings together hundreds of executives from various industries across the Washington DC region. Small business leaders (that's me!!) will share their knowledge and experience on today's most relevant topics.

So, I hope you will join me and hundreds of industry leaders from around the greater Washington, DC area.

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Thursday, October 14, 2010

Be Organized and Stylish in 2010

Now, through November 1st, enjoy 20 percent off all 2011 calendars and agendas! You deserve to be stylish AND organized in 2011! Come get yours today.

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Tuesday, October 12, 2010

The Dandelion Patch, Plus 2! - Visit our New Stores in Georgetown and Leesburg

We are thrilled to announce the opening of two new stores!

The Dandelion Patch opened on October 8, 2010 in the Shoppes of Georgetown Park, 3222 M. Street NW, Suite W-022 (2nd floor), Washington, DC 20007. Our phone number there is 202-333-8803, and you can contact us by email at georgetown@thedandelionpatch.com.

On October 15, 2010, we will open The Dandelion Patch in the Village of Leesburg, 1603 Village Market Blvd. SE, Leesburg, VA 20175. Our phone number there is 703-443-8810, and our email is leesburg@thedandelionpatch.com.

Hours for both new locations are the same:
  • Monday through Saturday from 10AM - 8PM, and
  • Sunday from 12PM - 6PM

We are thrilled to have two new locations where we can bring our unique, creative style to new customers in Georgetown, Leesburg and to the surrounding areas.

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Thursday, October 7, 2010

A Weekend Event That Happens Only Every 100 years!

October 10, 2010 - that's 10 / 10 / 10! So, since this weekend is the "perfect 10" we thought we would celebrate with you!
  • Save 10% if you buy one item
  • Save 20% on two items
  • Save 30% on three or more!

Our celebration sale runs from October 8 - 10. We hope to see you on this "perfect 10" weekend!

(Note: This offer may not be combined with other discounts or promotions. Trollbeads are not included. No special orders. No rainchecks)

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