Something Different: A Creative Guest Book Idea from Photoworks

You have probably talked to brides who said their wedding day was a blur … that everything passed too quickly and they’d love to go back and see it again in slow motion.

Well, I’m with them. With emotions reaching new heights and the rush of adrenaline - and estrogen - you will have that day there are likely to be some things you miss. So plan ahead.


You know guests books are an essential element at any wedding. They record the names of the people who attended your wedding and they are meant to be a lasting memorial to your Big Day.

Traditionally, guest books were small journals purchased in the bride's wedding colors. Guests would stand in line, sign their names and the book was tossed into a dusty box post-wedding never to be peered into again.


Recently guests books have become part of the wedding decor and are decorated in seasonal elements or theme-related designs, but still serve the same purpose and meet the same dust-filled fate.

So here is a new idea.

Photoworks.com has a program that allows customers to create a personalized photo album directly from their website. Customers upload pictures, add text and choose from a variety of page colors, layouts and fonts.

But here is how it becomes a wedding guest book.

1. Choose some of your favorite photos of you and future hubby - both of you together as a couple and individual photos. Throw in some pics of the two of you as babies, as well as some pictures of you growing up with your parents and siblings. Be careful of adding pictures of you with friends, as you might hurt feelings if some friends make the cut and others don't.

Choose pictures that tell the story of your lives. If you like to travel together, show pictures of the two of you on vacation. If you met in college, show pictures from your Alma Mater. Don't be ashamed to show silly pictures. They add to the charm of the book.

2. Go to the front page of the photo book section of the website and select the size of book you would like to use.

3. Depending on the book, you will be able to change the front and back color at this point. But don't worry, you can always go back later and make more changes.

4. Upload your photos.

5. Click "change page layout" to alter the number of pictures and to add text-only pages to your book.

6. You will need to play around with your options here and determine the line size and appropriate spacing so your guests will have room to write on the lines.

7. Add interest to your guest book by changing the layout, but use the same font type and color throughout the book to maintain consistency.

8. Click the "design options" tab so you can change the font, add borders or alter page colors.

9. Preview and order.

Instead of asking your guests to simply sign your guest book, ask them to write you a message. They will enjoy the gesture and you will have a book you will be proud to display in your new home year-round.

** When you receive your book in the mail, test several pen types and colors to ensure your guests' memoirs don't rub off of the page.

Photos courtesy of frogsrockmysocks.

A Lovely Family Wedding

I went to a wedding last weekend and it was really lovely. Aside from the fact that I got to see family members and had a nice time catching up with them, I was also impressed with both the elegance and simplicity of the wedding itself. It was a true KISS wedding.

The church portion of the wedding was Greek Orthodox and fairly cut and dried, as this is a church that does not allow for too many variations to its basic services. However, before the service began, there were a couple of really nice touches.

Since the bride’s father had passed away, her mother walked her down the aisle. The groom was raised in a single-parent home and when the bride and her mother arrived at the altar, the groom’s mother took her son by the hand and gave it to the bride. Then it was a straightforward ceremony after that.

When we got to the wedding reception at the large banquet hall, there were place cards with table numbers alphabetically listed on an entry way table. Next to this table, there was a guest book and poster of the bride and groom to sign.

While the wedding photographer was snapping all the formal wedding pictures, one of the groom’s nephews was taking candid pictures of all the guests as they entered and having them write a short note to the wedding couple. He was then going to be putting these photos into a special wedding photo book to give to the wedding couple when they return home from their honeymoon.

The bride chose three colors – black, white, and red – and carried these out throughout the wedding and reception. An excellent touch was that she had selected the color red for her bridesmaids’ dresses. However, instead of these bridesmaids' dresses being done in cookie cutter fashion - regardless of whether they look good on a particular body – she had each bridesmaid choose her own dress style in the exact color red she had selected. This meant that one bridesmaid wore a strapless dress that was flattering to her slim figure while another bridesmaid, who was full figured, wore ¾-length sleeves with a fuller skirt. Another bridesmaid wore – well, you get the picture.

Each place setting was elegantly appointed with place card holders, white china, and shiny tableware. Although it was a buffet style, there were servers assigned to ensure that the guests were kept supplied with salads, desserts and beverages. Bridal shower favors attached to tulle-wrapped Jordan almonds were at each place setting and candles shone on each table. When the dancing started, the overhead lights were dimmed and the candlelight lent the room an elegant feel.

What also impressed me was that although there were eight weddings and parties at this banquet hall (Michaud's for those in the Cleveland area) that evening (you should have seen the parking lot) there was never any sense that my cousin’s wedding was not the most important event happening there. The professionalism of the crew made this a wedding to remember.

This wedding was an excellent example of keeping it simple and stunning!