Paper Bag Wedding Programs
May 5, 2010 Creative Wedding Ideas, Weddings, Weddings, Weddings
We totally adore these Paper Bag Wedding Programs we spotted on Elizabeth Anne Design’s wedding blog. We love the simplicity of the ideas and it’s dual purpose - the bags were filled with petals to toss at the couple after their ceremony. Totally cute and simple! This could easily be recreated for other purposes as well, to hold other items or to serve as a “take home bag” for a candy bar or filled with favors for your guests.
Tags: diy, paper goods, tips
Greening Up Your San Diego Wedding
Apr 21, 2010 San Diego Wedding Tips, Weddings, Weddings, Weddings
In honor of Earth Day tomorrow, we’re putting together a mini “Eco-Friendly/Green Wedding Guide”. We’ve got a list of some tips and things to consider when planning your wedding (if you want to have a green friendly wedding!) and some resources for you to check out around the web to help you plan your eco-friendly San Diego wedding.
- buying and wearing recycled wedding bands
- using locally grown flowers (farmer’s markets or other local sources are a good place to start)
- organic wedding cakes (or cupcakes!)
- pesticide free flowers - or forgoing flowers, growing your own, using paper flowers or other plants that guests can take home with them after the wedding
- recycled paper invitations (or, if you want to go a step further - e-vites!)
- organic, locally grown foods
- hemp, soy, or silk gown, suit, or bridal party wear
- vintage or pre-owned dresses
- having your wedding held at a beach, a local park, farm or nature preserve versus the traditional ballroom (San Diego makes this one an easy one to have on your to-do list)
- think green with your wedding registry - or ask for donations to your favorite cause or charity
Some green friendly wedding resources:
- Shindig Invites
- Naturally Ever After
- Morgan Bozilkov - Natural Bridal Collection
- Eco-Friendly Wedding Bands (via Etsy.com)
- Elizabeta Jewelry
- San Diego Farmer’s Markets listings
- San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project (find a variety of local food sources)
- CB Vintage (vintage wedding items!)
- Eco-Beautiful Weddings (blog)
Tags: eco-friendly, tips
Creating Your Own Wedding Guestbook Ideas
Mar 29, 2010 Creative Wedding Ideas, The Reception
There are lots of options for your wedding guestbook instead of just the traditional “sign your name here” guestbook. Be original and create a wedding guestbook that you will enjoy re-reading in years to come! Have a relative, wedding attendant or other close friend sign your choice of wedding guestbook first. This will give an example to the rest of your guests and encourage them to follow suit so you can get the type of wedding guestbook entries you want and will treasure for years to come.
• Wishing Bowl: Have a fish bowl set up with pieces of paper and pens next to the bowl. Include instructions for your guests (through a poem or just simple directions) asking them to give you wedding advice, well wishes, marriage wisdom and any other thoughts or memories.
• Wishing Tree: Have a small tree or artfully placed branches in a vase. Supply note cards with ribbon tied on the end. Have your guests write advice, thoughts, memories and well wishes on the paper and then tie them to the branches.
• Scrapbook Guestbook: Create your own wedding scrapbook. Fill the pages with photos of you and your significant other along with stickers and pretty papers. Let guests sign their wishes throughout the book.
• Another Scrapbook Guestbook: Include a note in the invitations to ask guests bring a photo of themselves with either one of the couple or a photo they have of the couple (past and present). At the wedding reception, provide pens and paper and have them write a note to go along with the photo to give to the bride and groom for a scrapbook to be made later.
• Postcards: Gather various postcards (from thrift stores, discount stores, personal collections, free postcards, etc) and have guests sign these instead of a traditional guestbook. If you have a theme, the postcards could all reflect the theme (beach, country, Paris, Italy, Japan, etc.)
• Signature Frame: Get a high quality, acid free mat that has a cutout. Store a photo, the wedding invitation, a poem or other personal item in the cutout as a memento from your wedding. Have guests sign around the memento on the mat. Frame and hang in your home after the wedding ceremony.
• Favorite Memories: Instead of having guests just sign their name in your guestbook, ask them to write a favorite memory of either (or both) of the couple.
• Polaroid Guestbook: Have your wedding guests take Polaroid’s of each other (be sure to get all the wedding guests!). Have guests sign their Polaroid and you will have a snapshot of each of your guest enjoying your special day.
• Artsy Guestbook: Instead of having the guestbook placed in one area of the wedding reception, have it passed around with colored pencils, markers, or other artistic implements. Encourage guests to draw pictures, write poems, tell stories, share memories and simply be creative.
• Ceramic Signature Platters: Get a personalized platter made with a special ceramic marker for guests to sign. After the wedding, fire the platter in your oven and you’ve created a long lasting keepsake from your wedding.
Look for more Creative Wedding Ideas on our website and be sure to check out our San Diego Wedding Vendor section to find great local business that can help you in the planning of your San Diego Wedding!
Tags: diy, paper goods, tips
Kids at Your Wedding: Plan Fun Activities!
Mar 17, 2010 San Diego Wedding Tips, The Reception
Many couples now are making their Wedding Day a family event. Kids are becoming welcome guests so make sure to keep them in mind in the planning with these cool ideas to keep them entertained.
- Assign a special table for kids with a full evening of arts and crafts
- Have a separate room especially for the kids with a face-painter, balloon artist or clown
- Have a ‘children’ only dance, inviting all the kids to a group dance with the bride and groom
- Create activity packs filled with crayons, playing cards, or travel-sized games so they can be entertained at their table
- Give each child attending a disposable camera and have them capture the Wedding through their eyes. This will surely be a unique perspective!
- Have a children’s menu available so the little ones can munch on familiar foods during the reception.
- Provide snacks for the children, such as individually packaged crackers or lightly sweetened cookies, to help the little ones wait until the meal is served at the reception.
Tags: tips
Bridesmaid 101 Tip: Returning from the Honeymoon Surprise…
Mar 15, 2010 Bridesmaids
A few ways to help your bride and groom: is the couple leaving the night of or the night after for their honeymoon? Offer to collect all bridal gifts from the wedding and transport them to their house (ask a groomsmen to help carry the heavy items). On the day of their return from their honeymoon, leave a gift basket or set up a dinner for two for them to enjoy on their arrival home. It’ll help them to avoid reality for a little longer and not have to worry about dinner or grocery shopping after getting back from a long trip.
Tags: tips
