Don't look directly into the light...

Twice a year, The Wedding Cafe hosts a popular series of workshops that attracts hundreds of brides and grooms. I participate in the Invitation Showcase, naturally, and love meeting everyone and catching up with my fellow invitation designers. At the end of each workshop, we have a Q&A session and today I'm sharing my favorite tip.

Possible snafu: Even the most well-meaning guests could forget to write in their names on the response cards before mailing them in.

Easy fix: Before sending your invitations out, write a tiny number in the corner of your response cards that corresponds to your numbered guest list. Example: Aunt Fran is #3 on your Excel spreadsheet....write in "#3" on the back of her response card. If forgetful Aunt Fran mails back a blank card, you'll know who it's from!

Better fix: If the thought of a hand-scribbled number on your pristine response cards makes your stomach turn, enter the UV SECURITY MARKING SYSTEM -- aka, the SPY PEN. This pen uses an invisible ink of sorts that is only revealed with a UV light. Useful, relevant, and its cool factor is through the roof!

Here's a shot of the packaging:

The UV light:

The pen:

The test: I scribbled a "secret message" on the corner of my glossy business card.

The big reveal:

Look for this cool gadget at your local office supply store...it'll be in the same section as those pens that detect counterfeit bills. For local O'ahu girls, check out Fisher Hawaii on Cooke St. I saw a handful of them in stock about a month ago!