KissAndWed.info

KissAndWed.info

Our bride, Hazelle, wanted a polka dot aisle runner and we were happy to oblige!

KissAndWed.info

So, if you ever have the need for a product that isn’t quite what we’re offering on our site, don’t be afraid to ask.  We love the challenge!

With so many options to choose from, it’s easy to see why you might feel overwhelmed when making the decision to purchase a custom aisle runner from Kiss And Wed.  It’s time we made it simple for you!

When choosing to have an aisle runner custom-made, it’s important to realize that very few companies out there actually produce quality custom-made aisle runners.  I can probably count on one hand the companies that I know who make an aisle runner worth anything.  It’s all too easy to get suckered into the “it’s cheaper” thought process.  But, the old adage is true, you get what you pay for.  At Kiss And Wed, we hand-paint every one of our products and we use only the finest materials.  Nothing is machine processed.  With that, it’s expected that you’re going to have to pay a little more for a true quality product.

So, you’ve decided Kiss And Wed is the company for you, but you still don’t know how to proceed with your custom aisle runner purchase.  The first thing you need to ask yourself, even before how much are you willing to spend, is what type of quality is needed.  If you’re walking down a concrete or carpeted aisle, then you really could choose any of our products.  But, if you’re walking down a marble floor, a fabric aisle runner with nonslip backing added is your best bet.  Here’s the low down on each of our aisle runner types -

Budget Aisle Runners

We recommend Budget Aisle Runners for use on surfaces such as carpet when pinned down, concrete, wood, grass, dirt, stones, sand, etc.

Fabric Aisle Runners

KissAndWed.info

Fabric aisle runners are literally made from polyester fabric material and come in an array of colors (65 to be exact).  These quality aisle runners have surged edges (so no fraying) and are one long piece of material (no seams).  Fabric aisle runners are made from material that is similar to what you would find used for restaurant linens.  They are quality material and will not puncture under normal wear and tear.  For obvious reasons, fabric aisle runners are our number one seller.

UPDATE: Now you can choose to have nonslip backing added to your fabric aisle runner to prevent slippage.  This means that now all of our 62 colored fabric aisle runners can have the luxury and safety that a nonslip aisle runner provides (you can even dance on them and they will not move – yes, I’ve tried!).  Please bear in mind there is an added charge for this service and all fabric aisle runners that have nonslip backing added will lose up to 4″ in width from the original 36″ or 45″ size.

We recommend Fabric Aisle Runners on any surface except slick floors (example: marble).  However, if you add on the nonslip backing, you can use your fabric aisle runner with nonslip backing on any type of aisle.

No matter which aisle runner material you choose, you can expect your aisle runner to be pressed and rolled onto a tube for easy use.  They also include either a rope (budget aisle runners) or satin ribbon (fabric) pull cord.

Now that it’s all laid out for you, I’m sure you’re thinking…well, this is an easy decision! 

Be on the look out for a future blog post to help differentiate the aisle runner collections too!

Quite a surprise, The DC Ladies wrote about our new line of Eco-Runners here.  Maybe they’re gearing up for my visit to DC next week?? 

Weddingistas were kind enough to write a blog post about our aisle runners (and other products) even though Jenny isn’t really a fan of aisle runners….but, she likes what we have to offer!

And last but not least, we were honored when Style Unveiled wrote this awesome blog post featuring our custom aisle runners and parasols and a mention of our Eco-Runners.  This post was featured not only on the Chicago site, but also the Austin, Portland, and Los Angeles sites as well!

Thank you so much for the support, guys.  It’s overwhelming!

Soo excited to tell you about our latest feature on www.hawaiibride.com discussing our custom aisle runners.  Take a look (just click the image above).

And, don’t forget, keep your eyes peeled Monday for our big announcement!

First things first, you need to know what you’re ordering and who you’re ordering from.  Unlike three years ago when Kiss And Wed first opened its virtual doors, now there are TONS of different “shops” that offer similar products to ours.  But, the key is knowing what to look for.

• How long has the shop been in existence?
• What quality of products do they offer?
• Are you able to read testimonials or reviews on the shop?
• Are you able to see pictures of finished products?
• Aside from their website, where else might you have seen their work?

Being in this business as long as I have, I have done lots of research on my competitors, especially the ones whose products are offered at prices much lower than mine.  But, then I took a deeper look at some of these companies and want to share my findings with you, without divulging the other companies.  But, here’s my disclaimer – there are a number of quality companies out there who have been in existence longer than me and/or offer the same type of quality products I do.  However, there are soooo many more that do not.   Here are my answers to the questions above, with some information relating to the other shops as well:

• A lot of these companies are popping up are run by women who painted their own aisle runner and decided to start selling to others.  Now, there is nothing wrong with this as it’s how I started this business.  But, I cannot begin to tell you how much I learned over the three years I’ve been doing this.  With experience you are generally ensured to get the true product you want.  For example, when I first started out, my logos were painted a lot smaller on custom aisle runners and I used a much lower quality fabric.  But at the time I didn’t know better; now I do.
• Quality matters.  As I said, when I first started out, I used muslin.  For those of you who don’t know what muslin is, it’s a very thin fabric used for lining purposes.  Not only is it thin, but it also wrinkles easily and sometimes has stray marks on it and hideous seams.  I don’t see too many people offering muslin today, but instead the sheer lace type aisle runners.  Don’t get me wrong, I have offered them too (as budget options), but they really are not a good quality runner at all.  And, when asked, that’s what I tell people.  Compared to our other three runner types – non-woven, fabric, and nonslip – the quality just isn’t there.  But, that’s what you will find from most of the other shops, this quality-lacking material.
• Testimonials are SO important.  As you see, I have some right on my website, but I also have some on  third-party website (Wedding Wire) that I cannot change.  So, this means if I get a negative review, you will see it and you will see why.  It’s really important to see about getting these types of reviews (third-party) because you really get the whole side of the story.  However, don’t be limited in your beliefs that if a shop gets a negative review, they should not be purchased from.  Sometimes customers are just difficult to please, no matter what we as shop owners try to do.  If there is a pattern of negative reviews or a good description as to why the review is negative, then that’s definitely something to think about.
• Pictures are super important in this industry.  If you can get a close up shot of the image, that’s best.  Take for example, this picture:

KissAndWed.info

This is one of my runners, from early in my career.  In the picture, you can see the quality of the fabric (almost see through and wrinkled), and you can see the size of the logo, not too bad, but small.  But, you can also see how it appears that parts of the logo are crooked and there are parts where the paint is a lot thicker than other parts.  Back when I did this runner, it was acceptable to me and to the client.  However, now that I’ve been doing this a long while, it is no where near acceptable.  The logo is too small (it should extend almost the width of the runner) crooked (Jeffrey is lower than Karen), and the paint is just not up to par (look at the 2 in 29 as compared to the word Karen – thick vs. thin).  Compare that runner to this one for example:

KissAndWed.info

The fabric is better quality, all words are straight across, and all paint seems to have about the same thickness.  In addition to that, all the letters are smooth.  That’s a difficult one, but something I cannot show you without compromising the quality of another shop’s work.  All of my aisle runners, past and present, have had smooth lines.  Click on the picture and zoom in, you will see smooth lines.  But, in may of the products I’m seeing today, I’m seeing jagged, sharp, not smooth lines.  Keep your eye out for that and if you can zoom in to look at a picture, do that.

• The last point is not as important as the first few, but it’s still important nonetheless.  Has the company had their work featured anywhere reputable?  We have – Platinum Weddings, Carolina Bride, Southern Weddings magazine and blog, Destination I Do blog, and more.   But, that’s just recognition.  It’s important to some, but not to all.  As long as the other points are satisfied, this is just a bonus. 

So, when shopping around for a good custom aisle runner company, it’s definitely important to consider the details.  Can you think of any details we may have forgotten to highlight?  If so, leave us a comment or send an email; we’d love to hear from you!

Best of luck in your search for the components that will really make your big day special and unique.

Today’s real wedding feature is Thuy Vi (who goes by Vivian) and Victor’s wedding from May 24, 2009 at Jericho Terrace in Mineola, NY.  Vivian has been such a wonderful person to work with and we still maintain communication to this day.  Vivian ordered a non-woven custom aisle runner from us with the request of matching the paint color to the royal blue used throughout the wedding.  After we had begun working on her runner, Vivian came to us with a few special requests.  She wanted to know if we would also create her table numbers, cry packs, and petal cones for her.  After doing a bit of research, we were able to do them for her and I just love how everything turned out.  The moral of the story, if you want something in addition to your purchase that you don’t see on our site – just ask, we will try to do whatever we can to make you happy.

Take a look at the custom products we created for Vivian…

KissAndWed.info
KissAndWed.info
KissAndWed.info
KissAndWed.info

Here’s what Vivian had to say about her custom products…

When choosing to have an aisle runner custom-made, it’s important to realize that very few companies out there actually produce quality custom-made aisle runners.  I can probably count on one hand the companies that I know who make an aisle runner worth anything.  It’s all too easy to get suckered into the “it’s cheaper” thought process.  But, the old adage is true, you get what you pay for.  At Kiss And Wed, we hand-paint every one of our products and we use only the finest materials.  Nothing is machine processed.  With that, it’s expected that you’re going to have to pay a little more for a true quality product.

So, you’ve decided Kiss And Wed is the company for you, but you still don’t know how to proceed with your custom aisle runner purchase.  The first thing you need to ask yourself, even before how much are you willing to spend, is what type of quality is needed.  If you’re walking down a concrete or carpeted aisle, then you really could choose any of our products.  But, if you’re walking down a marble floor, non-slip aisle runners are your best bet.  Here’s the low down on each of our aisle runner types -

Budget Aisle Runners

We recommend Budget Aisle Runners for use on surfaces such as carpet when pinned down, concrete, wood, grass, dirt, stones, sand, etc.

Fabric Aisle Runners

KissAndWed.info

Fabric aisle runners are literally made from polyester fabric material and come in an array of colors (65 to be exact).  These quality aisle runners have surged edges (so no fraying) and are one long piece of material (no seams).  Fabric aisle runners are made from material that is similar to what you would find used for restaurant linens.  They are quality material and will not puncture under normal wear and tear.  For obvious reasons, fabric aisle runners are our number one seller.

We recommend Fabric Aisle Runners on any surface except slick floors (example: marble).

Non-Slip Aisle Runners

KissAndWed.info

Non-slip aisle runners are our most luxurious option.  These aisle runners are made from a poly/cotton blend but also include a foam backing adhered to the aisle runner to prevent movement.  This means you can walk and even dance (yes, I’ve done it) on the runner and it will not move.  Of course you will spend the most money on a non-slip aisle runner, but you’re also receiving the best aisle runner for your money, one that only a handful of companies even make!

We recommend Non-Slip Aisle Runners for every type of aisle.

No matter which aisle runner material you choose, you can expect your aisle runner to be pressed and rolled onto a tube for easy use.  They also include either a rope (budget aisle runners) or satin ribbon (fabric and non-slip) pull cord.

Now that it’s all laid out for you, I’m sure you’re thinking…well, this is an easy decision! 

Be on the look out for a future blog post to help differentiate the aisle runner collections too!

First things first, you need to know what you’re ordering and who you’re ordering from.  Unlike three years ago when Kiss And Wed first opened its virtual doors, now there are TONS of different “shops” that offer similar products to ours.  But, the key is knowing what to look for.

• How long has the shop been in existence?
• What quality of products do they offer?
• Are you able to read testimonials or reviews on the shop?
• Are you able to see pictures of finished products?
• Aside from their website, where else might you have seen their work?

Being in this business as long as I have, I have done lots of research on my competitors, especially the ones whose products are offered at prices much lower than mine.  But, then I took a deeper look at some of these companies and want to share my findings with you, without divulging the other companies.  But, here’s my disclaimer – there are a number of quality companies out there who have been in existence longer than me and/or offer the same type of quality products I do.  However, there are soooo many more that do not.   Here are my answers to the questions above, with some information relating to the other shops as well:

• A lot of these companies are popping up are run by women who painted their own aisle runner and decided to start selling to others.  Now, there is nothing wrong with this as it’s how I started this business.  But, I cannot begin to tell you how much I learned over the three years I’ve been doing this.  With experience you are generally ensured to get the true product you want.  For example, when I first started out, my logos were painted a lot smaller on custom aisle runners and I used a much lower quality fabric.  But at the time I didn’t know better; now I do.
• Quality matters.  As I said, when I first started out, I used muslin.  For those of you who don’t know what muslin is, it’s a very thin fabric used for lining purposes.  Not only is it thin, but it also wrinkles easily and sometimes has stray marks on it and hideous seams.  I don’t see too many people offering muslin today, but instead the sheer lace type aisle runners.  Don’t get me wrong, I have offered them too (as budget options), but they really are not a good quality runner at all.  And, when asked, that’s what I tell people.  Compared to our other three runner types – non-woven, fabric, and nonslip – the quality just isn’t there.  But, that’s what you will find from most of the other shops, this quality-lacking material.
• Testimonials are SO important.  As you see, I have some right on my website, but I also have some on  third-party website (Wedding Wire) that I cannot change.  So, this means if I get a negative review, you will see it and you will see why.  It’s really important to see about getting these types of reviews (third-party) because you really get the whole side of the story.  However, don’t be limited in your beliefs that if a shop gets a negative review, they should not be purchased from.  Sometimes customers are just difficult to please, no matter what we as shop owners try to do.  If there is a pattern of negative reviews or a good description as to why the review is negative, then that’s definitely something to think about.
• Pictures are super important in this industry.  If you can get a close up shot of the image, that’s best.  Take for example, this picture:

KissAndWed.info

This is one of my runners, from early in my career.  In the picture, you can see the quality of the fabric (almost see through and wrinkled), and you can see the size of the logo, not too bad, but small.  But, you can also see how it appears that parts of the logo are crooked and there are parts where the paint is a lot thicker than other parts.  Back when I did this runner, it was acceptable to me and to the client.  However, now that I’ve been doing this a long while, it is no where near acceptable.  The logo is too small (it should extend almost the width of the runner) crooked (Jeffrey is lower than Karen), and the paint is just not up to par (look at the 2 in 29 as compared to the word Karen – thick vs. thin).  Compare that runner to this one for example:

KissAndWed.info

The fabric is better quality, all words are straight across, and all paint seems to have about the same thickness.  In addition to that, all the letters are smooth.  That’s a difficult one, but something I cannot show you without compromising the quality of another shop’s work.  All of my aisle runners, past and present, have had smooth lines.  Click on the picture and zoom in, you will see smooth lines.  But, in may of the products I’m seeing today, I’m seeing jagged, sharp, not smooth lines.  Keep your eye out for that and if you can zoom in to look at a picture, do that.

• The last point is not as important as the first few, but it’s still important nonetheless.  Has the company had their work featured anywhere reputable?  We have – Platinum Weddings, Carolina Bride, Southern Weddings magazine and blog, Destination I Do blog, and more.   But, that’s just recognition.  It’s important to some, but not to all.  As long as the other points are satisfied, this is just a bonus. 

So, when shopping around for a good custom aisle runner company, it’s definitely important to consider the details.  Can you think of any details we may have forgotten to highlight?  If so, leave us a comment or send an email; we’d love to hear from you!

Best of luck in your search for the components that will really make your big day special and unique.

Today’s real wedding feature is Thuy Vi (who goes by Vivian) and Victor’s wedding from May 24, 2009 at Jericho Terrace in Mineola, NY.  Vivian has been such a wonderful person to work with and we still maintain communication to this day.  Vivian ordered a non-woven custom aisle runner from us with the request of matching the paint color to the royal blue used throughout the wedding.  After we had begun working on her runner, Vivian came to us with a few special requests.  She wanted to know if we would also create her table numbers, cry packs, and petal cones for her.  After doing a bit of research, we were able to do them for her and I just love how everything turned out.  The moral of the story, if you want something in addition to your purchase that you don’t see on our site – just ask, we will try to do whatever we can to make you happy.

Take a look at the custom products we created for Vivian…

KissAndWed.info
KissAndWed.info
KissAndWed.info
KissAndWed.info

Here’s what Vivian had to say about her custom products…