Most couples are opting out of the traditional wedding guestbook for obvious reasons (what do you really do with a book of everyone’s name and/or addresses other than send out thank you cards).
So, what is the new trend? A guestbook photobook of your engagement photos. Guests sign on a blank page of a book filled with images of you and your fiance.
BUT, when I saw this idea last week, I thought this was a fantastic idea!
Image courtesy of Jonas Peterson via Earth Friendly Weddings
It’s a “Wedding Tree.” Have each of your guests place their thumbprint somewhere on the tree. Then, the happy couple can have it framed and put it in their home. The “Wedding Tree” is a great memento and a great guestbook alternative. It would probably work best with a smaller wedding, but if you have a hefty guest list, you could do a few different trees and have a collection of artwork for your house. It’s fun and different, and just plain awesome.
Image courtesy of DomestiFluff
This guy (or gal), would be a great addition to your wedding decor (or holiday decor). Plus, it’s a simple process to make (much likes the ribbon wreath). All you really need is a styrofoam wreath form, felt, straight pins and a few other small crafty items.
All of the step-by-step instructions can be found on the DomestiFluff site.
They wreath (or wreathes) would be great in door entry-ways. Smaller versions would be good for the aisle at the ceremony. The list goes on.
If you end up crafting one of these, let me know how it goes. And, send pics! I’d love to share it with the readers!
In keeping with our circle , the Pilot and I may just round the corners on all of our paper goods.
Image courtesy of About
Although our invitations and save the dates have not been completely finalized, we are currently liking the look of the rounded corners over the traditional square.
Plus, as a scrapbooker (although, I must confess it’s been awhile since my last scrapbook), it’ll be great to keep that crafty tool around!
In your envelopes.
LOVING this idea. It’s a creative way to make your Thank You envelopes fun (and different).
Image courtesy of Honey My Heart
Check out Honey My Heart‘s blog for the tutorial!
For those of you who didn’t already know, the FI is a pilot. So, of course I love these Save the Dates…best of all they are FREE!
Plus, the envelope design is free, too!
Courtesy of Ruffled Blog
Now, we aren’t going to use them, we’ve designed our paper suite ourselves, but I love the little paper airplane!
Today wraps up my feature of Grace’s wedding. You can check out the previous posts here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.
In creating the tables scapes and floral arrangements, Grace was looking for something simple and laid back, just like her. She found a planner, Tricia Huddas, who used the team at Garden on the Square to create her simple floral arrangements. Each of the arrangements were placed into jars and bottles from The Paris Market and then laid out on each of the reception tables.
I’m a huge fan of somehow finding a way to reuse the bridesmaids bouquets. One way to do that is to have empty vases filled with water on the head table. This allows the girls to place their bouquets in the vases once they arrive to the reception, and voila! You have an instant floral arrangement.
Grace took this to a new level by having her bridesmaids bouquets placed around the base of her wedding cake, an idea that I l-o-v-e, love.
All images courtesy of Belathée Photography via Design*Sponge.
You can check out more details from Grace’s wedding on her blog, Design*Sponge, or check out the Fall 2009 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings.
To create the escort cards, Grace used vintage wallpaper. The wallpaper was scanned in to be duplicated and printed out on on tags. They were attached to the petticoat dryer with clothespins.
Using the same wallpaper pattern, the Martha Stewart Weddings team assisted Grace in making notecards for guests to leave notes for the couple. They did not have a traditional guestbook, so the notecards were used instead, and guests placed them into the planter they put together.
All images courtesy of Belathée Photography via Design*Sponge
Since Georgia summers can be hot and humid, Grace decided to have fans made for her guests to use. She used side profile photos of her, Aaron and their two cats, and Julia Rothman turned them into green silhouettes, and added their wedding date. They were then printed out and attached to wooden sticks to make fans.
Favors for the guests were a throwback to Georgia’s roots. They included grits from a local farm, as well as a recipe for Shrimp and Grits. The grits were packaged in a paper bag, and the recipe was attached to the bags with a fabric button from busy beaver button.
Grace had some vintage handkerchiefs left over from the invitations, so she decided to use the remainder of them for her table numbers. She had numbers screen printed onto each handkerchief and then wrap and tied them to a bottle of water.
All images courtesy of Belathée Photography via Design*Sponge
Throughout her wedding planning, Grace was able to utilize many local vendors to help her out with her vision.
She contacted the The Paris Market, who loaned her several antique chandeliers, which was used as outdoor lighting for the ceremony.
For her escort cards, Grace borrowed a vintage petticoat dryer and antique dresser from @home vintage general. The escort cards were attached to the petticoat dryer and family photos were placed on top of the dresser.
And, to keep guests dancing, Grace and Aaron hired The Corduroy Road, a bluegrass band based out of Athens, Georgia.
Images courtesy of Belathée Photography and Tara Tonne for Martha Stewart Weddings via Design*Sponge.
In keeping up with the chic DIY theme from Grace’s wedding, I wanted to share with you all this fantastic little DIY project.
I’m a huge fan of grosgrain ribbon (HUGE). I was always the girl that wore one in my hair whenever I had my hair up. So, it is no surprise when I found this little beauty, I was ecstatic.
The wreath is super easy to make, and would make an adorable addition at a wedding. The wreath could be made in any color. You could even alternate colors to add depth (although I’m a huge fan of the monochromatic look for this wreath).
Here are the instructions to make your own (as found on The Long Thread):
Supplies:
- 12″ foam wreath form
- 24 yards 1 1/4″ black grosgrain ribbon (or less if using a wider ribbon)
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
Steps:
1. Cut 45-50 16″ pieces of ribbon.
2. Tie one strand of ribbon in a knot around the wreath. I used a “messy knot” — right over left, then right over left again, pulling in the opposite direction. It doesn’t really matter how you do it as long as you are consistent all the way around. Repeat with the knots, pushing them close together, until you fill the wreath.
3. Cut one long piece of ribbon (48″) and tie one end to form a knot. Leave a long loop for hanging and tie another knot onto the wreath.
4. Trim any frayed or long ends.
Images and instructions courtesy of The Long Thread via iDIY.
