courtesy of onewed.com
While weddings have always been a personal and intimate celebration of one couple’s love, these days, brides and grooms have really started to focus on the “personal” side of that adage more so than anything else. As each couple begins to shape their wedding plans, most find themselves creating a one of a kind celebration that will fit them perfectly and will be filled with creative ideas and personalized touches.
This truly is something that is extremely great for the day, but sad when you consider most of the wedding day accessories couples purchase won’t ever be seen or heard from again. So, it’s important to keep the ones that will stick around as a true representation of your life and love. After all, flowers will wilt; invitations will be tossed; food will spoil; bridesmaid dresses will more than likely be donated to consignment life and even your dress may be “trashed,” but one item every couple puts out in the hopes of recording and creating memories is the quintessential <trumpets sound!> wedding guest book.
And like every other aspect of a modern day wedding, guest books are no longer just the simple turn and sign books of yore. While traditional guest books still play their part in modern day weddings, more often than not, brides and grooms will opt for guest book alternatives that will not only fulfill the traditional roll of capturing guests’ names, but will also capture the trendier roll of sentimentality and personality.
Guest book alternatives also allow your guests to get more involved with your celebration, which is a win / win for everyone! Below are some fun ways to renovate your typical guest book, while creating beautifully unique memories to last a lifetime.
The Shadow Box of Heartfelt Wishes. Both brilliant to display and easy to love, this creative art-from-the-heart-kit lets your guest be a part of a keepsake you’ll proudly showcase in your home! After each guest signs his or her name on the heart cutouts provided in the set, brides and grooms will simply instruct them to drop the heart-shaped note inside the shadow box and watch as the memories are captured and art if created. Truly a meaningful wedding keepsake, as well as fabulous DIY project for the crafty bride!
Wooden Box filled with Memories & Rustic Charm. Talk about a standout home accessory. This ultra unique guest book alternative has both the looks and the sentiment to easily be so many brides and grooms favorite wedding day keepsake. Simply asks your guests to fill out their names, well wishes, memory cards and the like, and then, gently roll them up and place them in the box. Once the wedding day is done, you’ll have all their names and sentiments stored for life!
Envelope Book of Warm Sentiments. A favorite amongst brides and grooms hoping to savor the sentiment, this unique guest book looks traditional while remaining completely trendy. Fitted with lots of tiny envelopes, this book allows your family and friends leave little note cards full of their best well wishes, memories or wisdom. Read one wish each day to savor your newly-wedded bliss, or dive right in to all of them at once. No matter what you choose to do one thing is for certain, you’ll have priceless words and memories to treasure for all your years of cheers and triumphs to come.
February 28, 2013
photo courtesy of theannotatedlife.wordpress.com
Because most of the wedding accessories you purchase for the big day won’t ever be seen or heard from again, it’s important to keep the ones that stick around as a true representation of your life and love. After all, bouquets will wilt; invitations will be thrown out; food will go bad; bridesmaid dresses will be forgetten and even your dress may be “trashed,” but one item every couple puts out in the hopes of recording and creating memories is the quintessential <trumpets sound!> wedding guest book.
Traditional guest books involve your wedding guests simply signing their names along the dotted line, but this kind of keepsake leaves little for brides and grooms to reminisce about. So, why not make this pre-ceremony tradition a little more memorable? Here are some fun ways to renovate your typical guest book, while creating beautifully unique memories to last a lifetime.
Instant Photo Book. Test your guests’ photography skills with an instant photo guest book. Simply place a Polaroid camera and unique guest book in a designated area at your reception and watch as your guest book transforms into a fun photo booth. Guests can shake the photo dry, slide into a slot on the page, and leave some musings or memories. It’ll be your most favorite picture book keepsake ever! **Works great when paired with a Photo Booth Back Drop**
photo courtesy of stephaniewilliamsphotography.com
Envelope Book. Fitted with lots of tiny envelopes, this book allows your family and friends leave little note cards full of their best well wishes, memories or wisdom. Read one wish each day to savor your newly-wedded bliss, or dive right in to all of them at once. No matter what you choose to do one thing is for certain, you’ll have priceless words and memories to treasure for eternity :)
photo courtesy of marilynskeepsakes.com
Thumbprint Tree. Perfect for a DIY savvy bride, these thumbprint trees are a fun activity that will help guests feel welcome. Set up a large tree graphic that has only branches, no leaves. Your guests will then press their prints in an ink color of your choice and “leaf” their autograph. Pun intended. Couples are sure to frame this piece as a work of art for their abode.
photos courtesy of thesweetestoccasion.com and ultimatebridalmag.com
Autograph Frame. Rather than just adding their signature to a long-winded list of others that came before, have guests autograph a spacious border matte that can then be placed around your favorite wedding photo. This will serve the dual purpose of picture frame guest book.
photo courtesy of marilynskeepsakes.com
Wishing Tree. The ultimate display of your wedding guests’ affections, this pint-sized tree will be drenched in floating wish cards by the end of the night, making it the most stylish and versatile guest book alternative… not to mention, economical and earth friendly!
photo courtesy of herecomestheguide.com
Painted Canvas. For the most inventive guest book art, many couples are providing paints and canvases that are sectioned off into squares, as a ceremony sign in. Each guest gets the opportunity to get imaginative with their square, and the newlyweds receive unique pieces of art to remind them of their creative guests and special day.
photo courtesy of buhdoop.blogspot.com
Time Capsule. For twosomes willing to wait, the time capsule makes a truly thoughtful keepsake to be savored. Guests fill out their wishes for the couple and tidbits of advice to place in a small treasure chest, along with a selection of wedding keepsakes – such as shoes, cards, toasting flutes, etc. The box will be put away until the pair’s first wedding anniversary, where they will open their chest to find some truly valuable treasure.
photo courtesy of theunicorndiaries.com
Signature Vase. Sure to be an essential accessory for any couple’s home décor, have guests sign a ceramic vase as a long-lasting memento of the special day. Then, fill it with fresh flowers of your choice throughout the year, as a permanently fresh reminder of the day you said “I do.”
photos courtesy of marilynskeepsakes.com
Vintage Typewriter. Popular among retro inspired nuptials, vintage typewriters will complement the old-time theme of any ceremony. Have guests type out their insight on matured paper; just make sure to leave a few simple instructions, as many of your loved ones may have never operated one before!
photos courtesy of onestylishbride.com
October 13, 2010
photo courtesy of theunicorndiaries.com
Okay, so I’ve been seeing this trend slowly rise in popularity over the past few months, and I have to say… I absolutely LOAF it! Truly one of DIY’s finest ideas to date, wedding day time capsules make a great guest book alternative for couples looking to have a more inventive, interactive reception, and it’s no wonder why.
Originally inspired by this post from elizabethannedesigns.com months ago, I haven’t been able to shake the uniqueness of time capsule guest books from my brain. Not only do they create a blue print for individual style and once-in-a-lifetime memories to shine, but they also lay the ground work for what can be a newlywed couple’s most precious wedding keepsake.
Simply place the keepsake box, chest, container, etc. of your choice on a table near the front entrance of your reception – similar to where a traditional guest book would go, and accessorize it with vintage stationary, pens and instructions for use. Encourage guests to write a cherished, shared memory of you two, a favorite moment from your wedding day, where they see you in ten years or even their best, marital advice.
Top the box off with time-honored treasures from your big day (ie. ceremony programs, Polaroids, toasting flutes, etc.), close it up tightly and bury it away. Then, wait for your anniversary, whether it be 1 year, 10 years or 50 years down the road, and open it for the greatest flashback in time ever.
I’m telling you, this has the best of childhood memories and a buried treasure written all over it, and what better way to commemorate all your years together, than by taking a retro walk down memory lane?
Good luck, and cheers to many years of happiness!
photo courtesy of theunicorndiaries.com
July 19, 2010
