Xtra Xtra, Online Announcements

XtraXtrabio

Website: http://www.xtraxtra.com
xtra xtra is the premier destination for hometown events and milestone announcements. We are devoted to helping you celebrate the moments that matter with our free and eco-friendly online announcements.

A wedding is undoubtedly one of the largest milestones one can experience. It’s our goal to help users share that news with the people and communities that matter the most. From engagement and wedding announcements to the commemoration of a golden anniversary, xtra xtra will be there every step of the way!

Stephanie has been with xtra xtra since its conception and has closely followed the trend from print to digital media. She is a graduate of UMass Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management, where her studies took her to Hawaii, Denmark, and back. Stephanie’s entrepreneurial spirit drew her to xtra xtra, and her contributions are creating a new era in the time-honored tradition of wedding announcements.

Cooley is a recent graduate of Boston College and directs xtra xtra’s social media strategies. As a former debutante, a recent maid of honor, and a current blogger, she has an informed approach to integrating traditions and etiquette with emerging media tools. Cooley brings the latest social media news and trends to brides so they can celebrate their weddings in a fun and cost-effective way.

Join Steph and Cooley and learn how to make your wedding an affair to remember—in print and online!

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Giveaway: A Gorgeous Piece from Demoiselle

Posted by Xtra Xtra, Online Announcements on December 7, 2011
bridal jewelry giveaway

Photo Credit: Molly Anne Photography

You want everything to be perfect on your big day, right down to the jewelry that you select for yourself and your bridal party. Lauren Hastings from Demoiselle creates exquisite, elegant handmade jewelry that can be customized to fit all of your bridal needs. This week, we are giving the winner their choice of three pieces of Demoiselle jewelry!

You can also find Lauren at the New England Bridal Affair and other bridal shows in the New England area, where she will be showcasing her jewelry and offering additional discounts and giveaways. Good luck!

Giveaway Details: One winner will receive their choice of ONE of the Demoiselle designs displayed below (the gathered twist, the triple decker necklace, or the embellished bracelet). Please allow 5 days for shipping once the winner has been announced.
1. Gathered Twist Necklace in classic white
2. Triple-Decker Necklace in classic white
3. Embellished Bracelet

bridal jewelry giveaway

Photo Credit: Demoiselle Jewels

pearl necklace giveaway

Photo Credit: Demoiselle Jewels

jewelry giveaway

Photo Credit: Demoiselle Jewels

To view details about each piece, click here.

To enter for a chance to win, simply comment on this post! You may comment as frequently as once per day through Tuesday, December 13 by 11:59 pm EST. You can ALSO do any of the following to increase your chances of winning:

Make sure to come back and leave a separate comment for EACH action you take. Please include links to your posts, tweets etc. when possible. Good luck!

*Email addresses in comments will ONLY be used to contact the winner. They will not be shared with the public or used for promotional purposes. It is only necessary to enter your email address into the email field and not in your comment. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, December 14.

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Filed under: Giveaways & Contests, Guest Experts, Jewelry & Rings
December 7, 2011 by Xtra Xtra, Online Announcements
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Color 101 – Create Your Perfect Wedding Palette

Posted by Xtra Xtra, Online Announcements on April 8, 2011

Choosing a color palette for your wedding can be overwhelming. There are endless possibilities, and of course you want to pick the perfect, memorable mix for your big day. Sometimes it is best to take a step back and examine the basics of color theory. Start simple and then expand. Here’s a quick lesson on the color wheel; hopefully it will inspire you to do something colorful and unforgettable for your wedding day.

The color wheel can be simplified into 12 basic colors. A color scheme is made by mixing logical combinations of these colors. Once you have chosen the base colors you can then experiment with different variations of each color. Adding white creates different tints, adding gray creates different tones, and adding black creates shades.

Complementary

Complementary colors are colors found opposite each other on the color wheel. The contrast between two complementary colors creates a vibrant look.

AnalogousAnalogous colors are found next to each other on the color wheel. Analogous colors tend to create a soothing and elegant effect. These color combinations work best when they have a similar tint; this means your colors harmonize well if they are either all vibrant or all pastels, rather than mixing the two

Triadic

Triadic colors are evenly spaced around the color wheel. A triadic scheme creates a contrast similar to a complementary scheme but is more easily balanced. A good practice is to select one of the three as the dominant color, then use the other two as accents.

Split-Complementary

Split-Complementary schemes are similar to complimentary, but this scheme uses a color and the two colors adjacent to its compliment. These themes can be very colorful without a high contrast.

monocromatic

Monochromatic color schemes use one color that varies in lightness and saturation.  These schemes are clean and soothing. These palettes integrate nicely with neutral colors such as black, white or gray.

coolWarm

The color wheel can also be divided into cool and warm colors. Warm colors are more lively and energetic while cool colors give a sense of calm and relaxation.

Use these schemes for inspiration as you plan your wedding. Whether you’re seeking vibrant flowers, cool and calming bridesmaids’ gowns, or elegant centerpieces, the central qualities of the color wheel can make the tough decision a lot easier. Experiment and be bold, and see what colors are couched beside your favorites on the wheel. You might find some great combinations that surprise you!

What are the boldest colors you’ve ever seen at a wedding?

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Filed under: Customization, Guest Experts, Planning & Resources, Theme & Color Inspiration, Tips and Tricks
April 8, 2011 by Xtra Xtra, Online Announcements
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Make the Shower a Couples Affair

Posted by Xtra Xtra, Online Announcements on March 18, 2011

Gone are the days of the groom picking up his tux and simply showing up at the ceremony on time. More men are taking active roles in the wedding planning process, and thus more couples are looking for ways to celebrate together. The traditional shower – complete with tea, petit fours, and orange blossoms – is a lovely event, but some couples might want to do something different as they celebrate their upcoming wedding.

That’s what the couples shower is for.

co-ed wedding shower

Photo Credit: Click Photography

If you’re hosting a wedding shower, consider this approach to the event. While showers are traditionally a ladies-only affair, you could invite both men and women to open up the party to a larger group. There are some really unique ways to host a memorable shower (or “celebration,” if you think “shower” might scare away your male guests) and to get your guests excited and involved. Here are two ideas to get you started.

Do Something – A shower is a great time for everyone to get to know each other before the wedding, so create an activity or event that will put everyone at ease. There are many fun ways to plan your event and they will certainly vary depending on the number of people your plan to invite. If you have a small group, you could go golfing or whitewater rafting … run a 5k together or set up a ski trip for an afternoon.  If you’re having a large number of guests, simply rent a venue and plan some fun games or creative ways for your guests to interact. A group activity will help break the ice, and it’ll also offer some great photos and memories for posterity.

Give Back -Turn your big day into a happy day for someone else. Some couples use their weddings to support their favorite charities, so let the shower do the same. Maybe you ask for donations in lieu of gifts, or perhaps you encourage guests to bring canned goods to donate to a food bank. Guys may feel more comfortable at a “shower” if their gift is one that gives back (and they don’t have to watch the couple open a whole slew of domestic gifts)! Couples can also register with certain stores that will donate funds to a designated charity, ensuring that each gift opened at the shower is also a gift to someone else. Learn more about that program at the I Do Foundation.

There are lots of things to consider when planning a couples shower, but it’s invariably a fun and exciting event for all involved. Below you’ll find some good examples of fun couples invitations from Wedding Paper Divas. Invite all of the bride and groom’s close friends and family, and encourage your single invitees to bring a date or a friend, for this type of event certainly falls under “the more the merrier.”

wedding shower invitation

Photo Credit: Wedding Paper Divas

shower invitation

Photo Credit: Wedding Paper Divas

What kind of showers have you attended? Would you be likely to host a couples shower, or would you keep the pre-wedding celebrations to his-and-hers? Let us know in a comment!

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Filed under: Guest Experts, Shower
March 18, 2011 by Xtra Xtra, Online Announcements
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Adorable Announcements!

Posted by Xtra Xtra, Online Announcements on January 4, 2011

You set the tone for your wedding by making decisions. Do you want an indoor or outdoor ceremony? Should you offer a formal dinner or a buffet at the reception? What music will be played—classical organ selections or something trendy with an acoustic guitar? These choices are important, but the tone of your wedding is actually established long before anyone arrives on the big day.

Announcements and invitations are your guests’ “sneak peek” of what to expect at your wedding. The days of mauve paper and plain colors are behind us; more couples are adding bold colors and textures to their palettes, and it’s a trend worth celebrating. Establish a look and feel for your wedding by revolutionizing the elements that were once taken for granted—opt for RSVP cards with flair, envelopes with character, announcements with style.

Our friends at À Deux, a Boston-based wedding stationery company, offer great examples of these colorful expressions. Here are a few of our favorite creations from their portfolio…

weddig invitations

Photo Credit: McBoat Photography

wedding invitations

Photo Credit: McBoat Photography

wedding stationery

Photo Credit: McBoat Photography

wedding invites

Photo Credit: Kelli Parker

Will you be bold with your announcements and invitations? Do you have your own favorite examples of colorful stationery? Let us know in the comment section below!

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Filed under: Guest Experts, Paper Goods
January 4, 2011 by Xtra Xtra, Online Announcements
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An xtra xtra Giveaway!

Posted by Xtra Xtra, Online Announcements on December 9, 2010

xtra xtra wants to send you from your town to any town!

giveaway

By going to the xtra xtra site and posting a milestone announcement between now and December 20th and you could win one of two $300 JetBlue gift cards. It’s quick, easy and free! Share your engagement or wedding announcement and you could use the gift certificate towards your honeymoon. There are sixteen categories- including anniversaries, holiday greetings, birth announcements, athletic, academic, military achievements, and more – so everyone has something to add to the site.

Here’s how it works
Post your announcement on xtra xtra. Only one announcement will count toward the contest, but you can gain two additional entries by sharing it on facebook and twitter. Full contest rules are available here.

Make sure your announcement is:

  • Timely- Posts must be current and timely. For example, if you got engaged in November, an ongoing engagement would be timely- whereas a wedding that happened two years ago would not. Make sure that posts do not contain outdated information.
  • Relevant- Each posting must contain real people and events that are associated with actual schools and pertinent towns/zip codes. Your posting must be relevant to the milestone category and written in the spirit of hometown news and community announcements.
  • Detailed/Specific- Use details and full names to give your readers the full experience of your posting. Each posting must be at least three (3) sentences in length to be considered admissible, and it should include the details you would normally find in an article in your local newspaper. Please view the samples if you are unsure.

Here are some sample milestones that have been posted by xtra xtra users:

Engagement Announcment

giveaway

wedding announcements

What are you waiting for? Head over to xtra xtra to post your announcement today!
Good luck! Winners will be announced on the xtra xtra blog on December 23rd, 2010.

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Filed under: Guest Experts, Planning & Resources
December 9, 2010 by Xtra Xtra, Online Announcements
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