I am often surprised at the creativity of my clients! Today, while walking the grounds of a museum where she’ll marry in March, my client introduced me to yet another idea which will act as her alternative to a guest book . Many of my clients and acquaintances feel similar – guest books are now becoming antiquated . Creative "guest projects" are now preferred.
In the spirit of alternatives and trends, below you will find a list of the most interesting guest book alternatives that I have "found", heard of, and recommended.
Just a hint: If you have invited two groups to your wedding…one group for the ceremony + reception, and one group for ceremony-only, you may wish to consider using a traditional guest book to register attendance for your ceremony, then use the alternatives below for the reception (where guests will have more creative time to spend).
1. [This idea is from today's client meeting... ] The Guest Tree (Note: After researching this idea is also sometimes called a "Wishing Tree")
This idea combines the idea of a guest book and a "best wishes" guest area. (A best wishes guest area may be defined as an area set aside for guests to write personal thoughts for the couple. Today, many brides still use photo mats for guests thoughts and signatures.)
A Guest Tree is a potted, "indoor" tree that will feature paper "ornaments" which contain guest’s best wishes to the couple. As it was explained to me, there is a table with strips of paper (not to be folded) and pens and ornament hooks. Once the guest has completed their thought to the couple it is hung by an ornament hook onto the tree. (Keep in mind that you will want to punch holes into the ends of the strips of paper so that your guests will not have to fumble and rip their paper.) The tree that my client is using is a manzanita tree, pre-decorated with blue Christmas lights. However, there are many other tree varieties that would be appropriate.
Hint: You may wish to place a card containing directions for the less-creative-minded guests. (Being told how to complete the project is often times helpful.)
2. The Wedding Canvas – A work of wedding art
Recently, at my sister’s wedding, we used a large blank canvas for guests to "make their mark". Permanent markers, paints, scissors, and interesting pictures were placed on a table next to the canvas which was held on an easel (my sister’s request). An 8" x 10" rectangle section in the center of the canvas was marked and designated as a spot for a future photo to be placed, and the guests were helpful about not writing or marking in that area. A variation of this idea would may be to use watercolors (paints and paintbrushes), or just colorful permanent pens. (It all depends on what you want the guests to "do".)
3. The Wedding Vase
If you are the type to place flowers in your home, consider purchasing a vase for your guests to sign. (Again, you may wish to leave a card printed with helpful directions to the guests.) If you are going to choose a dark vase, use a light paint pen , and vice versa.
4. The Wedding Quilt (Important: This requires sewing)
Have you ever seen patchwork quilts? Well, the premise of a patchwork quilt is to take squares of fabric and sew the edges together to make a quilt. Imagine then squares of fabric cut for guests to write well wishes or thoughts for the couple on with a permanent fabric pen ! You would want to have a table set-up with fabric squares, directions to the guests, permanent guest pens, and a "finished" box or bin where guests could put their finished squares. You could go shopping for your favorite fashionable quilting squares, or you could just purchase a generic set online.
A bit of Caution
Giving gifts to the couple that are used in daily life, such as aprons or plates, makes for a sad day when the markings wear-off when being laundered or washed. Although aprons and plates are cute ideas you may be happier with an item that isn’t used as often or as regularly.
If you’re looking for a way to class up your invitations, you simply must check out Revelry Invitation Studio! The pictures we have here don’t do these beauties justice! Thick paper covered in silk and accented with a bit of sparkle – perfect for an elegant event.
I got to sample a gray and plum invitation set which included the invitation itself, reception enclosure and RSVP card (and envelope), and the envelope that held everything together. Not only are the pieces assembled wonderfully, but they simply feel luxe. Once you get your hands on one, you won’t want anything else!
Check out the site for more inspiration and information! Or, send an email to info@revelryinvitations.com to communicate with Glory, the fabulous creator, directly.
Hello all! This is my first post! I originally had my wedding planned for January 2009, but with work, and uncoperative vendors, I had to change the date to July 25, 2009. So now I am in the midst of a dilema. I originally wanted charcoal grey dresses for my bridesmaids, with accents of green, cream and white. I think it will be a color scheme that I will not regret in the future! So is charcoal grey too deep of a color for a summer wedding? I was thinking of adding some purple accents here and there just to punch it up a bit. Your thoughts?
Only recently has “winter” officially begun. While I do prefer cooler weather – icy roads are no fun! Regardless, with the crisp air and falling snow comes some wonderful wedding inspiration. Here is a wedding from Brides that I ADORE and it reminds me of a perfect winter wonderland (yet it’s definitely warm and inviting at the same time). And best part about this beautiful event? It doesn’t have to be chilly outside for a wedding to have similar elements! Whites, creams, and golds can easily be used in a wedding of any season!
I want to focus on a topic that is not discussed often, if at all – preparing your Bridal Suite. If you can imagine a wedding day filled with non-stop action and passion, tears, and excitement, you can then imagine the "crash" that many couples feel once they leave the reception to head back to their Bridal Suite for their first night together as a new couple. This post is dedicated to making your overnight stay "post-wedding" a comforting success. If you are unable to prep by completing the tasks described below, perhaps you can ask a trusted friend or family member not in the wedding party to accommodate.
During your planning phase, consider the following questions and suggestions and how they will relate to your post-wedding overnight accommodations experience:
What will you eat? You may have just spent eight to ten hours looking and acting perfect, and perhaps you did not feel like or did not get a chance to eat at your own reception. You’ll likely feel like consuming something light, something healthy, something without sugar or caffeine. Consider packing a meal to have waiting in the room, or better yet pre-order room service with your ideal meal. Remember, indulge yourselves…you don’t have to eat the same thing if you don’t want to! If all else fails (or you forget to plan this part) you can always just order in pizza or Chinese and be less formal. Just make sure that you are able to find napkins and plates.
What will you drink? First, something hydrating, then perhaps something soothing. Whether a cup of tea or a night cap, have your favorite beverages and the proper equipment (ice, cups/glasses, tea, etc.) waiting for you in your room. Keep in mind that if you order alcohol from the hotel bar you can expect a price mark-up of literally at least 100% – A $35 magnum of Grey Goose will be marked-up as high as $100 – so plan accordingly.)
What will you listen to or watch? (Hint: not TV)…but maybe a movie you both like playing in the background? (Will you need a DVD player?) What if you want to listen to a favorite CD, or what if you have packed along your mp3 player and some little speakers (will you need your charger or batteries?)?
What will you want to smell? Soothing scents can enhance nearly everyone’s experience, no matter the situation. Consider bringing along some scented candles, incense, or room fragrance. Soothing scents such as lavender or vanilla will help your post-wedding transition.
What will help you to relax? Perhaps your idea of relaxation is popping open a beer, or perhaps you are anticipating sore feet and muscles. To relieve a day’s worth of stress consider scheduling an in-room double massage for you and your sweetie. Believe me, there are companies that offer this in-room service – be sure to ask your concierge for a referral. (Don’t feel bad if you both find yourselves totally unwound and napping during the massage!) If a professional massage is out of the question, give each other a little rub-down (at least your feet!).
What type of lighting is present? Candlelight is most flattering, white (holiday) lights are magical. Whatever your lighting preference consider using dramatic lighting. There is a chance that the room you are staying in has adjustable lighting (which means no extra work for you), so be sure to ask. Important: if you are going to bring candles make sure that you bring candle plates or holders to catch the melted dripping wax…you don’t want to have to pay for room damage. Also, make sure that they have a fire extinguisher in the room (or at least nearby) for unforeseeable emergencies.
What will you want to wear? If you have packed something sexy to ‘play’ in, don’t forget to pack something new and comfortable to sleep in. Sleeping in your ‘everynight’ pajamas is not exciting, so consider purchasing a new pajama set…it will make your first married nights sleep a huge and special success.
Take a nap. Seriously. Whoever "invented" sex immediately following post-wedding may have been unwilling to discuss the sheer exhaustion which tries to infiltrate most newly married couples bedrooms. Before you both completely unwind for the evening, consider setting an alarm or scheduling a wake-up call with the front desk, and then settle down for a nice mid-sized nap. Once you wake-up you can shower or bathe and then begin the next phase of your night together.
The formal wake-up call . Perhaps you have brunch with your family scheduled for the next morning, or perhaps you are both going to get a massage. Be sure to call the front desk for a wake-up call, or be sure to pack and bring your own alarm to set, or have one of your friends call your hotel room. You won’t want to oversleep if you have plans for the next morning.
Do Not Disturb (DND ). If you end up getting into bed late (and waking-up late) you won’t want to be disturbed by the hotel staff trying to clean so be sure to place the DND sign on the door and enjoy. Another form of DND will be to hold your phone calls (call the front desk to request this), or simply unplug your hotel room phone. Don’t forget to turn-off your cell phones. You’ve earned a night together without any outside interruptions.
Enjoy your first night together!
Best,
Alisha Forrester Scott
La Ruche. event design studio.
You can reach AFS by e-mailing: studio@enterlaruche.com
Last Saturday, December 20, my little sister entered into matrimony . In Arizona where we reside, cold weather may be defined as "below 70 degrees Fahrenheit". So, you can imagine the goose pimples on the guests when weather for the outdoor ceremony and reception dipped below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Although most of the guests toughed-out the cold weather and stayed for the entire event, with recent memories of freezing fingers and toes, I propose the following ways to help avoid freezing guests and dwindling guest numbers:
1. Mention the weather considerations in your invitation – You may wish to place a mention the cold weather alongside the registry, wedding website, or venue map. For my sisters wedding we used a single (small) card (about the same size as the Response Card [RSVP Card] for this purpose, broken down as such:
Front side – Registry, event timeline, and weather consideration mention Back side – Venue address, map, and driving directions
2. Having an indoor ceremony and/or reception? Set-up a coat check area . Guests will appreciate not having to lug around their winter coats, or worse yet having to hang them over the back of their chairs.
3. Having the event(s) indoors away from the cold weather? Err on the side of placing the thermostat temperature "a little cool". Consider that your guests may not be able to peel off too many layers past their winter coats should the indoor temperature climb. (Nearly everyone gets warm when they dance.)
4. Having the event(s) outdoors in the cold weather? Err on the side of heat which means considering the use of heaters, fireplaces, hand-warming packets , or decorative fire pits (covered or screened) where guests can warm their parts and then leave to enjoy more wedding action.
5. Incremental weather means having brooms on-hand to sweep away water, shovels or a snowplow on stand-by to make a path in snow, and umbrellas for the ushers use to assist guests as they arrive and depart.
6. Transportation considerations – if your ceremony and reception are in different locations and it is sure to be snowing, consider renting buses, limo buses, or cars to transport guests (to avoid parking accidents, sliding, or hydro-planing).
If you have any questions about this post, or need advice, feel free to contact studio@enterlaruche.com.
Check out just a few of their hundreds of designs:
I got to sample a few magnets – the quality is fantastic. Clear pictures, great graphics, and stylish all around. They come in a number of shapes and designs and can be easily customized. So, if you’re looking for some save the dates, check them out!
Now for the giveaway details! MagnetStreet Weddings is offering one of our fabulous readers 200 FREE SAVE THE DATES – any design, and style. To enter, click on over to their site and pick out your favorite design. Come back to this post and tell us your favorite design and how you would change the colors to make it your own. We’ll randomly pick a winner after the new year!
“Going Green” is not just for a select group of people who care about the earth anymore. It’s “catching on”, so to speak, with everyone (well, perhaps not everyone, but a lot of people). And one particular event people are paying particular “green” attention to is, you guessed it, weddings.
With this interest in green lifestyles and green weddings, a wealth of information and resources have popped up – and thank goodness for that! Today I am so excited to share with you a fabulous new book on green weddings, by environmentalist and recent bride, Kate L. Harrison – “The Green Bride Guide”.
The book was officially released on December 9th, so if you haven’t already picked up a copy, get to it! I’m a big fan of books (and websites) with valuable information and ideas in them. Information that I can actually use, ideas that I can execute using the resources I have, resources that will actually lead to other valuable information and ideas, and generally useful. This is exactly how I would describe “The Green Bride Guide” – valuable.
Kate does a great job of helping earth-friendly couples put being green at the top of the wedding planning to-do list. Her book includes a monthly time line, tons of great, doable ideas, and one of my favorites, “Sustainability Worksheets”. She also includes a recommended reading list as well as a few resource page – all with valuable information on them. Some other features of the book include:
**Price indicators ($, $$, $$$) to help you get an idea on how much things cost
**Markers by information that is expanded upon on The Green Bride Guide website
**Side notes with FYI and idea-sparking tidbits and traditional wedding alternatives
**A whole chapter on “Planning an Eco-Fabulous Honeymoon”
So, if you’re a green person through and through and in the process of planning a wedding, I’d definitely recommend this book. But, I’d also say it’s a helpful resource for the “green” environmentally friendly couple, new to the idea of leading a green lifestyle together or planning an eco-chic wedding. You can go wrong with showing a little love for the earth!
I don’t have time to do a full post today but I thought I would put up a funny video a friend sent me recently. Two comments: I hope you feel like a champion after planning your wedding and I wouldn’t recommend doing the Soulja Boy dance at your wedding in case your grandparents ask what the lyrics mean!
Flower girls. Most of the time, they are precious little things, often adding another degree of the “cute factor” to your wedding day. One thing I love about them is that (if they are good sports) you can dress ‘em up like little living dolls and they love it! On a completely unrelated note, I firmly believe that my obsession with weddings stemmed from the fact that I was never a flower girl in my younger years…
Back to the cute factor. Here are some little ways to add to the adorableness!
The Dress
This will quite possibly be one of the first “beautiful” dresses your little girlie will wear. It will make her feel like a princess! And the great thing about it is that they don’t necessarily need to be crazy-expensive to achieve the “princess” look and feel. The dress above is from My Girl Dress.
Jewelry
Who doesn’t love getting dressed up and putting on all of her jewels? Especially those youngsters that see mom all glammed up but don’t get to put anything fancy on themselves. I recently got an email from Mija, a site where designer Michelle Guest has some of the sweetest little pieces (for kids and moms).
Something to Carry
If you’re going to stick to tradition, baskets are always nice. By why stick with the old when you can easily welcome the new!? These days flower girls are carrying everything from bouquets to a single stem to candles to bibles. Get creative and think of something original for your special day. I absolutely adore the image above (and have probably used it before)! It’s the handy work of Jennifer Echols Photography.
Fancy Hair
It’s not every day we get to wear our hair in a super fancy ‘do! Another joyous thing about flower girl hairdos – they need not be expensive to achieve maximum impact. As long as it is somewhat different from her normal style, it’s perfect. It doesn’t need to be done by a professional, either – just someone that is good with hair! I have to admit I picked this picture because I simply think it’s sweet as can be. Look at those tiny little hands!
What are some ways you’re dressing up your flower girl (or girls)? Having a flower boy (they do exist these days, you know)? What other little details are you adding to your wedding day “cute factor”?
