Bridal Expo

If you find the idea of a traditional guest book slightly boring, there are plenty of fun, new ideas that keep the spirit of the guest book alive but, add a new twist and a little excitement! These fresh ideas allow you to express your creativity and still have the the sentiments of your loved ones to look back on many years from now.

1) Retro – A vintage typewriter will remind your guests of the ‘old days’, and will probably spark a few conversations and definitely a few chuckles. Remember when we used to do our homework on typewriters……with correction tape? Armed with a few sheets of long, white paper, your guests will pluck out a few sentiments and have fun doing it! The best part - you won’t have to break the bank to find an old typewriter at a flea market, garage sale or thrift shop!

2) File This – Talk about organized…. your guests can sign their well wishes in this  file card guest book set and then place their name in the appropriate slot – in alphabetical order! For those of us with OCD – an adorable dream come true. Inexpensive to purchase but, definitely something an avid crafter could DIY!

3) Calendar – Seriously, what could be better than  a sweet note written on a calendar to remind you of your friend’s  birthday?  Another great DIY project, any calendar can be converted into a guest book or you can buy one pre-made especially for your big day.

4) Postcards – Pre-printed with the couples address and adequately stamped, have the guests sign fun postcards and slip them in the mailbox. The best man or maid of honor will drop them in the mail the next day and when you return from your honeymoon, your mailbox will be brimming with well wishes…. which you can file or scrapbook as keepsakes.

However you decide to go, the importance of the guest book should not be overlooked. It is a reminder of your loved ones and how they felt about you on this day. Making it simple for them to sign is the key since you really want your guests to spend the evening with you and not looking for hidden notes or filling out lengthy forms or folding envelops or origami birds. Although some of the more complicated ideas seem like fun, they will get stale (for your guests) really quickly.

Whats’ your favorite guest book idea?

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Time capsules have been around for a long time and have consistently offered a fun and mysterious way to capture memories and remember major milestones. As a result, it seems only natural that couples are putting together wedding time capsules in order to succinctly remember specific moments from their wedding day. If you are planning to ‘bury’ a time capsule to commemorate your wedding, here are a few tips to get you started:

1) You don’t need a kit. Although a kit may simplify things, it is not necessary.

2) A picture is worth a thousand words. Make sure you enclose pictures from the wedding, whether it is a photobooth strip, polaroid or another form of instant snapshot. Don’t wait for the formal photos, the point of a time capsule is for it to be sealed on that specific day. Keep the pictures in airtight plastic storage bags. Be prepared, the images of  loved ones (especially those who are no longer with you) on your happy day may bring some emotional memories rushing back and you may have to take a moment to compose yourself upon opening.

3) It doesn’t have to be buried. Digging a hole in the yard may sound like a good idea but, only if you know exactly where you put it, don’t disturb it during a backyard renovation or plan to move from your current residence. It can be kept in an airtight container on the mantle, in the back of the closet or in a safety deposit box if you desire.  If you do bury it, make sure you have the location documented accurately and remove it if you move to another home.

4) Include personal notes from each other and close family/friends. You can also have a ‘Time Capsule’ station at your wedding, a place where family and friends can write notes or answer a few pre-determined questions about your future. The smaller, the better – no one is going to feel like filling out a 2 page survey during the reception. Pick one or two questions like “Where do you think the couple will live in ten years?”  or “How many children do you think they will have?”

5) Paper goods . Enclose a copy of all printed material; Save the Date, Wedding Invitation, Menu Cards, Place cards for the Bride and Groom, Engagement or Wedding announcements, and a copy of the current newspaper in the city where you live for that day.

6) Decide on a date to open. If you plan to have children, you might want to make it at a date late enough for them to help you, maybe 15 or 20 years.

7) Pick a secure container. The actual container does not have to be made of any particular material but, you might want to stay away from glass jars. Metal shipping tubes, vintage leather suitcases or a wooden boxes all make great time capsules. Keep in mind where it will be stored and for how long.

The only thing more fun than putting together a times capsule is opening one. If you plan to have a time capsule to commemorate your wedding, a little planning goes a long way and you will be surprised at how much fun you will  have, especially if you do it together!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

In the ever-changing world of weddings, there is always something new on the horizon. Someone with ample creativity and talent takes a traditional item ( in this cakes the wedding cake) and literally turns it upside down. For those of you who have not seen the Chandelier Wedding Cake, here it is:

Beautiful, delicious, and suspended from above, Chandelier Cakes take artistry and imagination to a new level. It seems to defy the laws of gravity and common sense but, it hangs with great stability. The cake is decorated in stages and then put together using a special cake ‘stand’ that inverts the order of the stacking from smallest on bottom to largest on top.

Chandelier Cakes are just starting to get some notoriety but, look out for them to become very popular, thanks to Pinterest and other sites that encourage creative expression. According to Judy of Judy’s Cakes, they are easily dismantled, layer by layer from the bottom, for cutting.

I’ll have to trust Judy on this one because this sounds very complicated to me. But, this one really takes my breath away and I am looking forward to seeing more Chandelier Cakes in the future!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Although you will be deluged with wedding gifts from friends and family, probably the most meaningful and special will be the gifts you give to each other. This is not one of those time-honored traditions that has to be handled one way or another or someone will be offended. This is a private matter and it doesn’t have to be a costly or grand gesture that makes everyone’s jaw drop. All is has to be is something you know your beloved would cherish.

If the bride and groom are paying for the entire wedding, that might be the gift in and of itself.

You will probably have a photographer for the wedding but, how about gifting each other a snazzy expensive camera to take fabulous honeymoon photos?

He would love cufflinks, you would love a diamond bracelet!

 How about having each other’s rings engraved with a personal sentiment?

Whatever you decide, it should be from the heart and done when the two of you are alone. Flashy gifts given in front of a large crowd are highly suspect in intention and sometimes lose the real meaning of gift-giving. This should be be between the two of you, given during one of the quiet moments you share before, during or immediatley after the wedding.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago