Hello! I am happy to be joining Wedding Fanatic as a guest blogger. Wedding Fanatic is full of great ideas, and I am excited to contribute.
The guest book is a time-honored tradition and a special memento of those who shared your big day with you. Late last year, we shared ideas for guest book alternatives – we called them “guest projects.” Here are more ways to create a keepsake record of your guests:
Photo scrapbook: It was a privilege to be a bridesmaid at a wedding this August! One of my favorite touches was the bride and groom’s unique approach to the guestbook. The bride compiled favorite couple photos and used an online service to create a photo scrapbook, but left about half the photo spots blank. Guests wrote messages in the blank squares, creating a convenient alternative to the traditional cut-and-paste scrapbook
Heirloom piece: Handier brides and grooms with a love for heirloom furniture pieces might enjoy a small bench, side table or chair with guest names. Visit flea markets or garage sales for unique furniture items, keeping an eye out for a piece that fits your style. Strip and prime the piece if necessary, then paint. Arm guests with permanent markers or permanent paint pens and give them free rein! Some may simply sign their name; others may add a splash with a message or drawing. The best part? You know you have one new piece of furniture for your first place.
Polaroids: Polaroid has recently stopped production of its instant film, but you can borrow the concept of instant memories for your guest project. Leave disposable cameras at each table and ask guests to take pictures of themselves throughout the evening. Meanwhile, at a separate table, invite guests to sign white cardboard frames, cut to the shape and size of a Polaroid photo frame. After the wedding, get the film developed. Craftier brides can crop or cut photos to the size of a Polaroid and attach with photo tape to the back of the frames. Mount into a scrapbook or frame your favorites.
Signature poster: Playful brides and grooms can spread out a roll of parchment paper, distribute markers and let their guests create a work of art. Use a long piece of paper and hang above a couch or along a hallway. Use a tall piece of paper and hang from ceiling to floor to create a vertical effect. The signatures, messages and doodles can be preserved for time in a glass or metal frame.
Collage: An intimate wedding is the perfect setting for a guest collage. Present guests with scraps of stationery, old movie stubs, postcards, tickets from baseball games, swatches of paint: any paper item that is a symbol of your relationship can be used. Each guest can sign one piece of paper. After the wedding, use decoupage and overlap the items together for a colorful, abstract, one-of-a-kind piece of art. Frame if you’d like, or mount it on a canvas for a 3D effect.
Plate or ceramic: Buy a large glass or ceramic bowl or plate; pick a color that coordinates with your wedding colors or décor style in your new home. Guests can sign the piece anywhere they would like. It can be an instant centerpiece! Just wrap it well for transport from the reception.
I love colors!! I love how they mix together creating beautiful, gorgeous combinations.
My wedding colors? No idea yet… The more I look around, the more complicated it gets. I want them all.
One thing I know for sure; No matter what color I come up with for my wedding theme, for my ceremony I would love to have everything simply white!
Simple, pure, peaceful, beautiful: WHITE.
Few days ago I posted about pomanders, which I am strongly considering decorating my aisles with. Then I’ve found the picture below, which is nothing more than “white pomanders”.
It’s your wedding day – you should feel like you’re walking on air, right? Well this couple took that quite seriously…
My mum saw this on CNN this on Tuesday and let me know. On Monday we posted about getting married in space. What will those creative brides and grooms think of next?! Found this video on NECN.com.
A long, long, time ago, aisle runners had a tall order to fill. They were placed on the aisle to keep evil spirits from coming up through the ground and getting to the bride and groom. Since then, superstitions like this aren’t really believed by many soon-to-be-marrieds, but the ceremony accessory is still alive and kicking!
So, is an aisle runner right for you? They have their pros and cons:
Pros:
-They spice up the ceremony site, making it look more special than the everyday space
-They can add a little decoration to the space and incorporate your colors into the ceremony space
-They can help give your guests the message that they should “stay off” the aisle
-They can make you feel extra special – not many people have something special rolled out for them to walk on
Cons:
-They are an additional cost and perhaps unnecessary for brides trying to pinch their pennies
-Unless tacked to the ground in many places, they will shift and fold
-If a light color and you allow guests to talk on it pre-ceremony, you’ll see footprints all along your walk down the aisle
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Still can’t decide to use a runner or not? Here are some ways of decorating your aisle with or without a runner.
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With a runner:
-Have your monogram or names placed on the beginning of the runner
-Use a fancy or funky fabric for a unique touch
-Have it rolled out before quests get there, ust prior to the processional, or just before your walk down
Without a runner:
-Place decorations along the pews or rows of chairs to dress up the space
-Place arrangements on the floor along the sides of the aisle for a aisle-runner feel minus the actual runner
-Try focusing your decorating attention above the aisle instead of the floor – create a canopy of sorts to walk under
The Ceremony: What kind would you like to have? Religious or civil? Long and sentimental or short and sweet? Fancy and frill or modern and minimalistic?
*Note: If you’re tying in different religions into your ceremony, make sure you take them into consideration for ever step of the ceremony planning!
The Location: In a church or synagogue or in a secular place? Inside or outside? At a different place from your reception location or at a different venue?
The Guests: You don’t necessarily have to invite everyone to the ceremony just because you’re inviting them to the reception (although those invited to the ceremony should definitely be invited to the reception!). Will you include everyone or just close family and friends?
The Wedding Party: How many people do you and your soon-to-be-spouse want to stand up with you? Remember: If you are going to have, say, fifty guests and ten individuals in you wedding party, the guest-to-wedding-attendant ratio will seem a little funny (twenty percent of the people in the room will be standing up with you)!
The Rituals: Write down all of the things you want to include in the ceremony. They might include an exchange of vows and rings, unity rituals, marriage contract, readings, a moment of silence, offerings to ancestors, and wine-sharing rituals. More might be the ketubah, b’deken (veiling of the bride), sheva brachot (seven blessings) and the breaking of the glass. And if you have children, you might want to think about including them in a ritual as well, like a family vow exchange or exchange of different items.
WeddingFanatic tip: when all is said and done and you’re about to walk down the aisle , take a deep breath and let what’s going to happen, happen! Share a special moment with your father (or whomever is walking you down the aisle), look into your groom’s eyes all the way down the aisle, or, mouth the words “I love you” to your mom, grandparents, and or siblings.
So you’ve decided to take the plunge! Often we forget that the whole Wedding Day is in fact the Wedding Day because you’re getting married, not just because you’re having a huge party the same day to celebrate. Indeed, the wedding itself is the reason for the day, so make sure you take a lot of care in planning for it.
Below, we have listed some things to consider. But keep in mind that the tidbits we mention relate to the traditional Christian-American wedding. The white dress, the flowers, etc. But! Maybe that’s not at all the wedding you’re going for. We admire that! Let us know about the unique things you are doing or tell us about some of the religious traditions you plan to incorporate. We want to hear about it!
Faiths to Incorporate: Maybe you’re Jewish and he is Catholic. Perhaps your family is something else but you want to honor them by incorporating some of their ideals into the ceremony. Write down all the faiths you want to consider.
Ceremony Date Options: Sometimes the date you want the most won’t work because of the officiant or the ceremony or reception site, so have a few back-up dates in mind.
Officiant Options: Likewise, perhaps your childhood Priest is unavailable on the date or unable to travel to you. Consider your other options.
Ceremony Setting: Perhaps you have always dreamt of marrying in the church or in a garden. Or, maybe logistically, the best place for you to tie the knot is at your reception site. Or perhaps the idea of saying “I do†is most attractive to you while jumping out of an airplane or scuba diving in the ocean. Where you get hitched will affect the overall day, so consider it carefully.
Ceremony Type: Religious or Civil?
Vows: Traditional or Your Own?
Traditional Elements You Wish To Incorporate
Procession – Everyone walks in!
Opening – “Welcome…â€
Main Body – A little talk your officiant gives, about marriage, love, etc.
Vows – Do you’s and I do’s
Exchange of Rings – “I, Your Name, give you, His Name, this ring as a symbol…?
Unity Rituals – Lighting the unity candle, taking your first steps as Husband and Wife, etc.
Pronouncement of Union – “I now present to you…â€
Closing Remarks – Often a prayer or blessing
Recessional – Everybody walks out!
Personalized Ceremony Elements or Rituals You Wish to Add: These might come from meshing together different faiths and rituals or just something personal you want to add.
Special Persons to Honor – Maybe there is a special person in your live that you wish to remember on your special day. There are many things you can do, such as flowers on the alter or leaving an empty seat in the front row and placing a flower on it. Think of the special people you would like to honor and the ways in which you can do so.
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