Monday, April 2, 2012
With so much to do on your wedding day, and so many guests to see, many couples often find they don’t have enough time to greet and talk to all their guests. Guest books can help you keep track of all the family and friends who helped you celebrate your big day, as well become a wonderful keepsake where well-wishers can share messages of love and luck with you and your fiance. If you are looking for something a little more creative than the traditional guest book you find at weddings, keep reading. Here we will share some of the most creative, and beautiful wedding guest book ideas we have come across.
Envelope-Filled Guest Book
Instead of simply asking guests to scrawl a message in a book for all to see, encourage more personal, intimate messages by inviting guests to write upon pieces of paper and place them inside individual envelopes glued into a book. Scrapbooks work great for this type of guest book since they have larger pages and provide room for more envelopes. For an extra touch of uniqueness, purchase patterned paper from a craft store. If you look in the scrap booking aisle at most craft stores you will find hundreds of different colors and types of paper, this can brighten up your guest book and encourage guests to have a little fun with the messages they leave. Encourage guests to write their names and addresses on their envelope, so when it comes time to send out your thank you notes you have everyone’s contact information in one place.
Luxury Stationery Cards
If you are looking to incorporate elegance and sophistication into your wedding ceremony, luxury stationery cards are a great option. These cards can be printed on a variety of different types of paper, and can display unique designs created by letterpress printing or embossing. You can either provide several different styles of card, and allow guests to choose their own; or you can also provide one, beautifully designed stationery card if you would like a uniform look.
Polaroid Guest Book
They say a picture’s worth a thousand words, so fill your guest book up with fun polaroids to capture exactly what each guest looked like, wore and had to say on the day you were married. If you would like guests to have a little fun, consider setting out props for the pictures, such as hats, boas, silly glasses or other costume pieces. Leave out different colored markers so guests can pen their own well wishes on the bottom or back of each Polaroid. Once the day is over tape all the Poloraids into a keepsake book.
Traveling Guest Book
This guest book is great for those couples who like to make a statement. Gather together a list of cities that each wedding guest is traveling from. Paint these city’s names on pieces of wood and include the mileage between your venue and their hometown. Then take these individual pieces of wood and nail them to a small wooden stake so they resemble an old-fashioned road traffic sign. Then have guests sign their names in permanent marker on the city where they came from.
Guest Tree
Turn your family and friends’ beautiful messages into a touching decoration you can display in your home for years to come. Buy a small tree-like ornament. Many craft stores have miniature trees actually crafted from wood, while you can find porcelain and metal tree-like sculptures at many home goods stores. Make sure the tree you choose has plenty of branches from which guests can hang their messages. Depending upon the size of your tree, either have guests sign miniature ornaments, or pieces of paper with loops of ribbon attached to them. Then have guests hang these messages from the tree. For a romantic look, hang small candle valises or twinkle lights from the some of the branches as well.
Postcards and Mailbox
Buy a collection of different postcards, or ask guests to bring one from their hometown. Have guests write their messages on these postcards then place them inside a mailbox. If you are going for a rustic look, a simple metal mailbox can provide a beautiful finish to your guest table. If you would like to get more creative, you can paint and decorate the mailbox with fabric, buttons, shells or any other trinkets that embody the theme of your ceremony. Again, ask guests to leave their names and addresses on their postcards so you are sure to have everyone’s information when it comes time to send out thank you letters.
Quilt-style Guest Book
If you are an avid sewer, or you are looking for a guest book you can display around your house this is the perfect guest book for you. Ask guests to sign and leave their messages on pieces of fabric. If you like you can color coordinate this fabric with the colors of your wedding, your home, or you can simply leave a variety of different colors and see what guests come up with. After the wedding is over, sew these individual pieces of fabric together and you will have a beautiful quilt to display on your walls or place on your bed.
Keys to a Wonderful Marriage
If you would like to add a touch of antique style to your ceremony consider this truly unique guest book. Purchase a bunch of old, Victorian keys. Purchase roughly as many keys as you have guests attending, with a few spares just in case. Don’t worry about matching the metals or style of keys, as the more diverse your collection the more stunning it will look. Provide a trunk, ornamental vase, or other holder for the keys and ask guests to write their messages on slips of paper. These can either be messages of love, or you ask guests what they believe is the ‘key to a wonderful marriage’. Guests will then ties their messages to a key and drop it in the holder.
Guest books are one of the best ways to celebrate family and friends who attended your wedding, and share this special moment with them even if you don’t have time to personally greet everyone. Get inspired by some of these creative guest book designs and you’re sure to throw a wedding everyone will be talking about.
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Posted in Wedding Resources
Monday, April 2, 2012
Luxury Wedding Hotels in Maryland
More and more couples are choosing to host their nuptials in a hotel. The large number of staff members who are constantly on hand to help, and years of wedding planning experience, make hotels sone of the most dependable venues a bride could choose. As part of a three-part series, we are scouting out the most luxurious wedding hotels for those couples who are looking for a truly unique and memorable wedding day. If you are getting married in the beautiful state of Maryland, consider some of these magnificent hotels as the perfect choice for your ceremony or reception.
Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa
There is no more romantic backdrop than the beautiful waters of Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa offers couples the chance to say ‘I do’ in one of their large ballrooms overlooking the bay, or right out in the ocean air on their stunning rotunda overlooking a private marina. Photos taken at this venue will look stunning on your custom thank you notes. The Chesapeake Beach Resort will take care of all your wedding needs, offering complete wedding menus, including an open bar, as well as all the banquet accessories and seating you could need. Each couple will have a special Wedding Coordinator who will help plan every last detail of the event.
Pier 5 Hotel
The Pier 5 Hotel gets its name from the private pier it is located on, right next to the Inner Harbor in Baltimore. This upscale hotel knows good food and has two of Maryland’s best steakhouses right in the hotel, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and McCormick and Schmick’s Seafood, both of which offering catering options for weddings hosted at Pier 5. The Pier 5 Hotel strives to be one of the most luxurious destinations in Maryland, providing all guests with their choice of Godiva chocolates, Robert Mondavi wine or Haagen-Dazs ice cream upon arrival.
Morningside Inn
This charming country inn in Frederick, Maryland is the perfect setting for couples who wish to get married amongst the romantic, sprawling countryside of Maryland. This inn sits on 330 acres of highly manicured, stunning farmland and is the ideal setting for both small and large weddings. Couples can choose between an indoor wedding in the quaint farmhouse, or an outdoor wedding amongst beautiful ponds, willow trees and rolling hills. Morningside Inn boasts one of Maryland’s most acclaimed chefs, Chef Timothy Erfourth, who is known for creating some of the most luxurious wedding menus in the state.
Historic Savage Mill Manor
Tucked away in Savage, Maryland this historic landmark built in 1844 will take wedding guests back to another century. This intimate setting is great for smaller weddings, hosting up wedding parties of up to 110 attendants. Savage Mill Manor will wow guests and their taste buds by presenting a delicious menu in artful displays. A tenderloin display, shrimp and lobster bar and seared fish display will delight guests and create that air of extravagance you are looking for. Both the bride and groom can calm their nerves before the big day, and get ready amongst family and friends, in their individual, private suites.
Admiral Fell Inn
If you are looking to capture the enchanting feel of historic, downtown Baltimore then Admiral Fell Inn is a wonderful venue for you. The Admiral Fell Inn encompasses hundreds of years of history. Built in the 1700s the inn has previously served as a shipyard, a theater and inn for traveling sailors. The Admiral Fell Inn offers couples an Experience Specialist is at your beck and call and is an expert at creating the exact wedding and atmosphere you are looking for. If you are looking to host the actual ceremony somewhere else in the city, the Admiral Fell Inn offers a shuttle service that will pick up guests and drop them off the inn for the reception.
Sheraton Baltimore North Hotel
The Sheraton Baltimore North Hotel captures the modern side of Baltimore. Located right in the heart of the Towson business district, this hotel is ideal for lager weddings with 282 guest rooms and several large ballrooms perfect for hosting wedding ceremonies and receptions. The decor at the Sheraton creates an air of sophistication with lots of dark cherry wood and rich crimson and cream accents. Couples will receive a complimentary overnight stay at the hotel, and guests are offered special discount rates.
Hotel at Arundel Preserve
If you have guests traveling from all across Maryland the Hotel at Arundel Preserve is a great place for everyone to meet. Located in-between Baltimore, Annapolis and Washington this modern hotel has stylish, one-of-a-kind decorations in every room. The largest ballroom at the Hotel at Arundel Preserve can comfortably seat up to 500 people and the outdoor terrace is perfect for a cocktail hour, or hors d’oeuvres before the reception.
With so many stunning luxury wedding hotels to choose from in Maryland, you will want to celebrate your big day over and over again. These luxury wedding hotels provide the professional expertise you are looking for and a sophisticated, luxury venue that will leave your guests talking about your wedding for weeks. If you are looking for luxury wedding hotels in Washington, D.C. be sure to check out our previous post, or stay tuned for out next installment: luxury wedding hotels in Virginia.
Posted in Maryland Event Resources
Saturday, March 31, 2012
As the big day approaches, you will most likely find yourself feeling more frazzled than you were at the beginning of the wedding planning process. As excitement, nerves, and anticipation begin to mount you will probably find yourself daydreaming more about that special moment at the alter, than planning the last details of your reception or mentally writing your letterpress thank you notes. Help banish last-minute panic and chaos by putting some thought into all those essential accessories you will need on your big day. By creating a checklist ahead of time of all the necessary items you will need on your wedding day, and setting these items aside, you will ensure that the morning of your big day you will be free to enjoy the company of family and friends, instead of spending precious time looking for your veil.
Before you hit the hay the night before your wedding day, make sure you’ve assembled these crucial accessories:
Your Shoes, Jewelry and Veil
While these items may seem like the last accessories you would forget to bring with you on your wedding day, you would be surprised to learn how many weddings have been delayed while the mother of the bride ran home to grab the bride’s shoes. As the big day approaches, you may be trying on your altered dress to see how it looks with your shoes, veil and jewelry; or you may be wearing your heels around the house to try and break them in. Whatever the reason, your accessories are often anywhere but their boxes the last couple days before the wedding. Make sure you look out all the accessories needed for your big day the night before; including, your shoes, veil, jewelry, hairpieces, gloves, garter, etc. Make sure these items are properly stored in containers that will keep them clean and safe during transit and easy to access once you get to your venue.
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue (or any other good luck charms)
Whether or not you are superstitious, many brides enjoy incorporating a little tradition into their big days. You may choose to follow the traditional “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” custom, or you may have your own tradition that involves a family artifact, or other meaningful relic. Whatever the custom, make sure you look out these important keepsakes beforehand, and pack them alongside your other accessories. Even the most cool and collected bride can suffer from wedding day jitters. Bringing along with you a good luck charm, or comfort item can help keep you calm as you wait for the ceremony to start. Some religious brides choose to bring a bible with them to read an important passage right before the big moment, while others opt to bring their iPods and play all their favorite songs while they do their hair and makeup. Put some thought into what items you would like to have with you while you prepare to get married and make sure they are ready to go out the door at the last minute.
Gifts for the Day Of
While the bride and groom are usually the ones who receive the gifts on their wedding day, it’s nice for the couple to thank those closest to them who helped prepare for the wedding. Customarily, brides may give their grooms, attendants and maids of honor a small gift before they head down the aisle. While this is not required in most traditional weddings, this is a great a opportunity to share a special moment with those who mean the most to you on your big day. If you plan to hand out gifts on your wedding day, be sure they are wrapped and ready to go before the morning of your wedding.
Disposable Camera
While the majority of brides will have a professional photographer handy on their wedding day, it’s also a good idea to bring a disposable camera for your own use. With so many people involved in a wedding the photographer will follow a tight schedule, and many times may be preoccupied taking photos of different members of the wedding party, or setting up for pictures to be taken later in the day. Make sure you don’t miss a single special moment and have a disposable camera on hand to catch those intimate moments you share while the photographer is away.
Personal Helper
This is not an official title you will find in any wedding preparation guide, but it is important nonetheless. Make sure before the big day arrives that you designate someone as your right-hand-(wo)man to assist you on the big day. Many brides will find their cellphones ringing off the hook the morning of their wedding, with calls from guests who are lost and need directions, a makeup artist who is running late, or the limo driver who is parked in a tow zone. Most likely you will be busy getting yourself ready for the ceremony and will not have time to take all these calls, and provide everyone with last minute instructions. Be sure you have someone to assist you with these tasks so you do not find yourself without a photographer, limo driver, or mother-of-the-groom minutes before the ceremony is set to start.
Emergency Kit
According to Murphy’s Law, “If it can go wrong, it will go wrong.” Hopefully, your big day will go off without a hitch, but it never hurts to be prepared for an emergency just in case. Put together an emergency kit to take with you on the big day. This may include essential items, such as:
- Breath mints
- Bobby pins
- Needle and thread
- Lipstick
- Concealer
- Asprin
- Band-aids
- Safety pins
- Static-cling spray
- Lint roller
The list is endless. Think about what types of emergency items you may need, whether it’s extra tissues for particularly weepy bridesmaids, or stain-remover for the clumsy mother-in-law. It never hurts to be over-prepared, so put together a list ahead of time and pack these items together in your emergency kit.
There is no doubt that your big day will involve some chaos, but with plenty of preparation and a little creative thinking you can eliminate plenty of unnecessary stress from your preparation. Gather up all the necessary items for your big day ahead of time, and you’re sure to have most everything you need handy before you walk down the aisle.
Posted in Wedding Resources
