Another idea I had for a guest book makes use of your place cards. Guests can write little messages on the backs of their cards and drop them in pretty glass bowls. Later, cut the cards in half and display both your guest’s name next to the card with their message. This will make a beautiful and meaningful scrapbook. Store your wedding invitations, your place cards, and any other stationery item or keepsake to help you remember this day. Here are a few I love.

One thing I’ve discovered about planning my own wedding is that it can bring out and help you discover talents previously uncovered. For me, I learned that I can do calligraphy, not professionally done but done well enough. If you don’t have the resources to afford a professional calligrapher and still want the personal look calligraphy brings you can buy a how-to book on calligraphy or do what I did. Go to the office or school supply section at your nearest store and look for a calligraphy kit. I actually found the task relaxing and fun and I think it added something personal to our invitations and place cards.

I found this fragrant French milled soap wrapped in luxurious paper and tied with a black cord on Anthropologie.com and fell in love. I just added a leaf tag to personalize this glamorous favor.

This past weekend was all about weddings! I went to a wedding on Friday, a wedding fair on Sunday and did a lot of wedding to-do’s in between. Needless to say it was a busy weekend filled with a lot of unique ideas that I’m so excited to share with you!

One thing that seems to be “in” right now is having guests write their wishes for the newly married couple on matching wedding stationery. Pens were left on the sign-in table with blank cards and a beautiful glass vase to put them in. The potential photo of a gorgeous glass vase filled with loving wishes is reason enough to do this at your wedding. But the wish cards can also be later saved and placed in an album with the rest of your wedding keepsakes.

This place card would work great as a wish card. It’s simple, pretty and you can choose one to match your wedding colors. It can also be created with or without any wording.

Edged Monogram: Surf

This wedding used stationery throughout the reception which really helped to pull a consistent modern look together. The couple used escort cards with place names, and menu cards to let guests know what to expect.

All in all, I thought they were both successful events. The bride and groom looked elated and I got a lot of great ideas that I may even use for my own wedding. Look for an upcoming blog on the second event! I got some really pretty photos and more unique ideas.

When I began planning my wedding, I became overwhelmed with the entire wedding lingo. What was a place card, for example, and what was the difference between that and an escort card?

A place card is used to tell guests specifically where they will be sitting. Usually in the style of a tented or folded card and done by a calligrapher, these cards are put at the table setting of each guest. Some have colored stickers on them to help waiters identify what type of entrée you requested whether poultry, fish, or vegetarian, for example. Escort cards help guests learn what table they will be sitting on. Creative couples sometimes assign places they traveled to instead of numbers to each table. I have seen escort cards lined up on a table filled with orchids, strung on a line with laundry pins, pinned to fresh fruit and my favorite hung from the bare branches of a tree.

Here’s a beautiful example of a place card from a wedding I attended last year. With candles and a vibrant pink floral centerpiece, this was definitely one of my favorite designs I’ve seen at a wedding.

I think outdoor weddings are so pretty! That’s all I ever wanted for my wedding. Whether it was going to be at a beach or in a garden, that’s the only thing I ever dreamed about. When my dream became a reality however, I realized that there were a few challenges I didn’t initially think about. For example, the weather! For all you brides out there, who love an outdoor wedding as much as I do, remember to think of alternative indoor locations. Although I’m praying for a sunny day, we’re fortunate to have an indoor place just in case. Also, right now there are such great ways to counteract the various kinds of weather possibilities. Have a bucket filled with chic umbrellas to give out to guests for cover, or hand out cool bottled soft drinks as favors. Wedding Paper Divas has great place cards that could be used to tie around trendy bottles of pop. If you have a wine themed wedding and getting married in wine country, using their Wine Country place cards to hang on wine bottles would match perfectly with your theme and be so ultra-hip and cool.

Wine Country Place Cards

I’m leaving you with a few nature themed cards to get you inspired for your own outdoor wedding!