Welcome back Real Weddings Magazine brides to another installment of The Recessionista Bride Blog Series by our guest blogger extraordinaire Kate Miller of Kate Miller Events.
This week, she addresses the topic of guestbooks. Take it away Kate!
“Recessionista Bride Stevie wanted something special for her guests to sign as they arrived to her wedding extravaganza – and a simple guestbook wasn’t going to cut it!
We poured over concepts until we came to the conclusion – the Guestbook Quilt was the ONLY way to go for Stevie!
When guests arrived, they were greeted with a guestbook attendant that explained the rules:
• Take a pre-cut pinking-sheared square,
• Use a fabric safe pen,
• Remember to write your sentiment in the center, and
• Pin it to the clothesline!
We set the table with a custom-designed Guestbook Quilt sign, filled a golden vase with gilded clothes pins and set a tray full of quilt squares topped with fabric pens.
The clothesline kept its shape, weighed-down by interspersed photos of the bride and groom. This kept the squares on display so that guests could view the couple’s photos while reading sentiments left by others throughout the evening.
Stevie’s aunt would collect the squares after the wedding, as her gift, and create a custom heirloom wedding quilt that could be enjoyed for years to come!
If you are inspired to do a Guestbook Quilt and plan to sew the quilt yourself, the true price of the guestbook can be considered a deferred cost – you can budget for the remainder of the quilt after the expense of the wedding has passed.
A quick tip: keep the signing squares in a neutral color so that sentiments are easy to read and they can be paired with fabrics that match your home, not just your wedding palette.
Inspired to do a non-traditional guestbook? Here are a few ideas to get your brainstorming started:
For the Wine Lovers: Purchase a giant bottle of your favorite vino or champagne and have your guests sign directly onto the bottle using a glass pen in a pretty metallic color. Bonus: pop the cork on your anniversary to celebrate!
For the Music Lovers: Have your guests sign a guitar (acoustic or electric) using a Sharpie in your favored colors. The instrument can be mounted on the wall in your home to be enjoyed where you play or listen to music together.
For the Food Lovers: For a guestbook that can be displayed in the room where you spend the most time, your kitchen, purchase a large ceramic platter. Make sure to use a permanent ceramic paint pen, so the loving words aren’t washed away. Post-wedding, place your platter on an easel to proudly display it a la countertop.
For the Art Lovers: Turn your guestbook into a custom work of art by allowing guests to color in portions of a custom canvas. Create a faint grid using a pencil and surround the canvas with your choice of medium: markers, crayons, colored pencils. Make sure that the art won’t make a mess, as your guests will most likely be dressed in their best!
The options are endless! Can you think of a non-traditional guestbook that reflects the hobbies of you and your fiancée’s unique hobbies?”
Tune back in to the Real Weddings Magazine blog on February 27th for the next installment in the Recessionista Bride Blog Series: One Room Wonders
About Kate Miller Events (in their own words):
Kate Miller Events offers full-scale event and wedding planning of extraordinary detail for the bride and groom looking for that extra-special touch. We will keep you organized, on or under budget, and stress-free while designing the wedding of your dreams. We are committed to making sure your day goes off without a hitch — except for the hitching part of course!
Kate Miller Events offers new technology to keep all avenues of communication open and organized. Our excellent online client planning tools include customized checklists, payment calendars with email notifications, appointment tracking, online idea boards, and contract filing with easy access for all members of your wedding party. Our top-notch organization enables us to be your liaison to all of your vendors – we worry about the details so that you don’t have to.
All of our packages are unique and completely customized to fit your budget so that you only pay for the services that you need. We offer a wide range of planning services from Day of Coordination to Full Coordination/Design and everything in-between.
Be sure to check out Kate Miller Event’s Web site and Kate’s blog or call her at 888-808-KATE.
Photos above of Stevie’s Guestbook Quilt, one of our featured real weddings in the current issue of Real Weddings Magazine, by Sarah Maren Photography. Kate Miller from Kate Miller Events worked with Stevie & Blake to achieve their perfect day. To read more about Stevie & Blake’s wedding and to view more photos from their wedding, pick up a copy of the current issue or click here.
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