A Budget Worth Blogging About...

The economy may come to a screeching hault, but we assure you, the weddings will go on! People won't cancel their wedding on account of a lost job or pay-cut, they'll simply cut their budget... and that's where we come in!

Blake's Party Store is one of the few vendors that offers 20% off of an endless variety of wedding invitations! Times may be tough, but we're making it easy! Simply shop a few of our catalogs and see for yourself!

Discounted Wedding Invitations

Discounted Wedding Favors & Accessories

MORE Discounted Wedding Invitations

You can get your wedding invitations anywhere, but why get them without a 20% discount? You won't see the discount until you check out, but rest assured, it's there! If not, give us a call at (909)980-0766 as a few select items may not be eligible.

Oh, and if you're under the impression that discounted wedding invitations translates to ugly invitations that nobody would buy, here's a few images of some of our discounted invitations... and remember, these are just a few...

Hats off... to the GRAD of course!

We've got a few holidays ahead of us... and then BAM! Like a brick to the head, it's Graduation season! We know it's gonna hit most of you just as mentioned above... like a brick... but don't worry, we've been planning for grad season 2009 since the day after grad season 2008!

We've got plenty of options to meet your graduation needs! As always, we've got your traditional style graduation announcements, both in our store and through our online Invitation Station. With a huge variety, you're sure to find the announcement that works best with your school colors and theme!

Not our traditional shopper? No prob! Actually... that's even better! Why, you ask? Well, we've been busting our tail to create custom graduation announcements that look like no other! We can create them with or without a senior portrait and can even include some childhood photos to show the memorable growth of the accomplished graduate!

Our line of exclusive designs is known as Annie Bee Announcements (You know, after my grandmother, Anna Mae Blake... founder of Blake's Party Store) While we don't have the website fully up and running yet, you can bet that it will be by mid March... just in time for those grad orders! Check out a sneak peek at the upcoming site HERE. Until then, enjoy the photos I've included of our custom graduation announcements... to be found nowhere else but... you guessed it... Blake's Party Store!

Ordering Wedding Invitations... In Person or Online?

Ordering wedding invitations is a tricky task... if not handled appropriately! There is a great deal of etiquette and tradition that goes into the process. Now I know what some of you are thinking... "Who cares about tradition, etiquette, and blah, blah, blah?" I'll tell you who! It may not be you, but it's sure to be the majority of your guests... you know, those people receiving your invitation!?!

The point of my blabbing is... take some extra time and do it right... unless you enjoy those nagging lectures from your great Aunt Hilda... "You know, in my day, we always spelled the word 'honor' as 'h-o-n-o-u-r', but you kids these days..."

Nowadays, you've got three main choices for placing the big order... correctly I might add!

1. You may place your order online with some random company that operates solely online, which translates to: You cannot contact them via phone for any questions, concerns, misunderstandings, or corrections. [Hello confusion... and you're not even married yet!]

2. You can go into a local wedding shop that provides access to invitation books where, after making your selection, you will be handed an order form and wished good luck on completing your own order, which translates to: Any errors are not their fault, as they had no part in filling out the order form. [Pointing fingers... yet another way to start out a marriage...yikes!]

3. You can call Blake's Party Store at (909)980-0766. WHY you ask? Well, if you must know, we offer BOTH of the above mentioned services and we'll hold your hand through either method you choose... okay, so we won't literally hold your hand, we're not trying to get fresh! We simply want to provide you with YEARS of wedding experience and expertise as you place a very serious order!

If you choose to order in person, we have over 60 wedding books to choose from and an experienced wedding salesperson to help ensure that everything is just the way you imagine it! We even type out the order form for you!

Likewise, if you choose to place your order with us online at Blake's Invitation Station we can still be contacted by phone/e-mail, or visited in person, regarding your order! We want to help you in any and all ways that we can!

So, ya'll know that I'm partial... after all, this is my grandmother's business... but seriously, is it worth it to go anywhere else? Time and time again I've worked with mothers and daughters to order wedding invitations... and I can't help but beam with pride each time a mother proudly announces that she ordered her own wedding invitations at Blake's Party Store 30 years ago. I've heard it a zillion times... and you know what?... it never gets old!

The Girl Behind the Blog... okay, Woman... uh, how about Mom?

SO, it occured to me... if I'm going to make the most of this Blog and really attempt to identify with my readers/customers, then I'd better let you in on some information... perhaps some information about me! Everyone likes to know who they're talking to, or in this case, listening to!

Just like so many of you, I'm a daughter, a sister, a mother, a wife, a teacher... and so on, and so on. Now, I know what you're thinking... "Didn't you forget something?" Simply put... nope! I saved one special role for last. Sure, being a wife and a mother certainly have their way of taking the cake, but there is still something magical about being a granddaughter! This is a role I take great pride in, as a few of my most beloved grandmothers are no longer here to share in this relationship. As a granddaughter, especially to women of greatness who have already passed on, there is this indescribable need to fill their shoes, make them proud, expand their contributions to our family, etc. I can honestly say that I strive daily to do just that.

With that said, I am the proud Granddaughter of Mrs. Anna Mae Blake, founder of Blake Paper Company... now, Blake's Party Store. Anna Mae had an idea... a good idea... she wanted to start a party supply store! At the time, the industry was completely untouched! She opened up shop with the help of my grandfather and started her first store with a coffee can for a register. Her son and son-in-law joined the family business as well. Jim Stephenson, my uncle, is the manager for Blake's Party Store in Covina, California and my father, Randy Blake, is the manager for the Blake's Party Store in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Those are our only two stores... and 37 years later, those stores carry out my grandmother's wild ideas!

37 years is a long time to stay in the game... especially a game being played by the "Big Boys" like Wal-Mart and Party City. Of course they are just two of the MANY stores that want a piece of the party supply pie. Now, we could just roll over and call it quits with the way competition is these days... but remember those shoes I've got to fill? My grandmother hatched and raised Blake's Party Store... and 37 years later we still offer the best discounts around, the best one-on-one service there is to be had (ask anyone who has ordered Wedding Invitations from us), and that family-owned feel... I'm not letting go of a darned thing!

My name is Candice and I'm here to bring Blake's Party Store to the next level... you know, the Internet! Perhaps we're a little late coming, but nonetheless, I just know that Anna Mae is smiling... her hard-headed determination has been found... and I intend to put it to good use!

Summer awaits us... nevermind the blasted rain!

You've got a wedding to plan! So let's get on with it! Here are a few of the hottest new color and style trends for Summer 2009!

As usual, you can find these up-to-date invites through our trusty partner site!

Oh, and don't forget, you won't find our discounts anywhere else! After all, it's why we're still in business after 30 years! Just remember, you won't see the discount until the checkout page... so hang tight before hair is pulled and fingers are pointed... we're with you all the way! And if you're moments away from unintentional cursing, give us a call for further assistance at (909)980-0766... ask for Kristina in Wedding... she's the best friend you've never met!

The invitation to your left is setting the trend for this Summer's weddings! The theme is Moroccan and the colors are fantastically bright! Can't you see the Bollywood dancers now? Talk about setting the scene for a vibrant wedding day! After all, the invitation is the first glimpse of the wedding your guests will encounter... so tease em' with this invite entitled, "Fearless in Fuchsia"!

Okay, so everyone knows that Summer weddings = Beach weddings... which strikes many as casual. However, the invite to your right is what we at Blake's refer to as, "The Works". If you're looking for something to make your beach wedding stand out, appear more formal, or simply permeate elegance and class... you're lookin' at it! Not to mention, the organization of this invite will have you Type A brides drooling on your wedding organizers!

Modern, delicious colors, trendy single letter monogram, half-pocket cover... what else could you be looking for? Seriously! This invite has the feel-good colors of the season and an unbeatable look... with a personal touch even! You don't see the single letter monogram on too many invites these days. That's because they're all stuck on yesterday's traditional tri-letter monogram. SO, unless you actually took on the brave tradition of sporting your mother's wedding gown, let's step it up a notch and drop a a couple of letters for the sake of the modern bride!