One way to add some personalization to your wedding is with an unusual or unique guest book.  There are several ways to accomplish this.  One idea is to get a mat for a picture frame.  Choose what size you want the inside picture to be, then add a mat a good three inches larger than that picture.  For instance, if you want an 8×10 picture, then pick a mat that is about 11×13.  This should give your guests enough room to sign or leave a short message.  You can always choose a larger mat if you have invited a lot of guests to the wedding.

If you enjoy puzzles, then a puzzle is another option.  You can get a blank puzzle from almost any craft store.  Put the puzzle together and leave out a few pieces for your guests to sign.  You will have a puzzle to put back together whenever you like.  You can also go without putting the puzzle together first and leave the pieces for your guests to sign.  Then have fun trying to put the puzzle together.

Another option is a photo booth.  Your guests have their picture taken, and then they can attach the picture in a scrapbook and leave a message.  This works especially well with a black scrapbook and colored gel pens.  Make sure your adhesive is acid free.  You can have a table or box full of props that your guests can use to personalize their photos.  Think about adding cool props like hats, feather boas, funky glasses etc.

If you don’t mind something a little larger, try this.  Put different stationary at each table (or at a designated table).  Have your guests write a short story about the bride and groom.  Stories like a fun camping trip you went on or something guests remember about the bride and groom’s childhood.  Guests can also choose to just write you some words of encouragement.  At the end of the reception, have someone gather all the pages and then you can either have someone bind the pages or you can bind them yourself.  Binding yourself is a simple project.  Punch two to three holes in each page, line them up, and thread either string, twine or ribbon thru them.

These are just a few ideas for something to add a personal touch to your wedding.

Want an interesting do it yourself idea for place cards for your guests?  Try picture frames instead of plain place cards.  You can do many things with the frames.  You can use plain small picture frames and print off your guests’ names in fancy script to put in side the frame.  Try using different colors of papers along with different fonts.  Cut the paper to fit within the frame space or you can also use a mat to fit it into the frame.  Something a little more fun and interesting is to insert photos of your guests, instead of just their names, into the frame. You do not need to have just small frames; you can use any size frame you like.  If you want something with a more personal touch, purchase wooden frames and decorate them yourself to include your own personality or to incorporate the theme of your wedding; even if that only means painting the frame to match your wedding colors.

Here are some ideas for you to change the look of a plain wooden frame:

Paint the frame a solid color.  Painting or staining the wood provides a bit of protection to the wood.  Let dry and then glue different color and different size buttons all over the frame.  You can apply as many or as few as you like to achieve the desired look.  Painting the frame first allows for the wood to be seen through the buttons.  Maybe you do not like the look of buttons.  How about silk flowers instead?  In this case, make sure the flowers are slightly flat so they will lay better on the frame.

Cut letters or words out of cardstock thick paper.  You can either do this freehand, use a cutting machine made for precise cutting (like a Cricut), or buy already cut words and letters from you local craft store.  Glue the letters/words all over the frame.  When the glue is completely dry, paint over the entire frame and lettering with one color.  When the paint is dry, apply a clear coat protector.

Decoupage is also a great way to change the look of something.  Decoupage glue can be purchased at your local craft store.  Choose a paper pattern.  This can be a napkin, tissue paper, scrapbook paper, magazine page, etc.  Have several pages of the paper to cover the frame completely allowing for overlapping of edges.  Apply glue to small areas of the frame at a time.  Tear pieces of your paper and apply to glue.  Continue process until the entire frame is covered, making sure to overlap each piece slightly.  When entire frame is covered, apply a top coat of the decoupage glue to entire frame.  Allow to dry.  Fabric also works well for this application.

The ideas are endless when it comes to decorating.  Take a walk thru your local craft store and the ideas will jump out at you.

Do you want to make sure that your wedding is absolutely perfect? The most important thing to remember when you are trying to plan your wedding is that the best weddings pay very close attention to detail. It’s the little things that matter, and some things as small as the napkins you use and the candles you pick to light your tables actually have an affect on people. If you make sure to pay attention to the little details, your guests won’t notice a lot of the bigger elements of your wedding. As a result, you can save a whole lot of money. One tiny little detail to keep in mind is personalized wedding stamps.

The little details in your wedding are what ultimately tie everything together. When you invest in the small things, your guests will get a sense that you have really made an effort to make your wedding as organized and unified as possible. Personalized wedding stamps are one of the very small details that people really take notice of. When you send off your mail consisting of save the date cards, shower invites, wedding invites, thank-you notes, and anything else, they will all be tied together by a single element.

Personalized wedding stamps are wonderful because they are completely original to you and your wedding. You can browse through options online and choose the perfect stamp to adorn your wedding mail. There are several choices you can make. You can choose between a wide range of wedding like images such as flowers, rings, bells, hearts and others. You can also look around for personalized wedding stamps that can come marked with your names or a word or phrase that you would like to associate with your wedding. Whatever stamp you choose to purchase, you will be able to use any form of currency and buy your stamps in a variety of values so that you do not have to worry about not having enough postage to send heavier letters or long distance mail.

When you are planning your wedding, do not look over the small details. If you are not particularly detail oriented, ask someone in your family or your bridal party to think up ways that you can make the small aspects of your wedding, like personalized wedding stamps, shine. If you show the proper attention to detail, your guests will be amazed at the wonderful planning that went into making your special day as perfect as can be.

Guest Author Bio:

PMCustomWeddings.com provides a variety of wedding stamps, custom invitations and save the date cards.

When it comes to a wedding, people put in all efforts to plan and make all the arrangements perfectly, in order to make the day grand and memorable. However, after the wedding is over as planned, at times people forget to send a thank you card to their guests, who graced the big occasion with their presence and made it a success. Sending thank you cards to the guests who attended the wedding is not only a formality, but a vital part of the wedding, as it shows your concern and gratitude towards them for attending the special day and making it all the more memorable and pleasant for you and your partner.

Nowadays, personalized wedding thank you cards are becoming very popular, as it is an excellent way to thank your guests in your own special way for attending the occasion and also for bringing the wedding gifts.

In most cases, couples buy the wedding thank you cards at the same time while shopping for their wedding invitations. They do so because it not only saves time and effort, but also money, as couples purchasing the thank you cards along with their invitations, can get special discounts or bargains on their complete purchase. The online wedding planning websites and stores are one of the best places to buy unique and latest design invitations and thank you cards, at special discounted prices.

Generally, the time frame for sending wedding thank you cards to the guests is preset, which is around eight weeks. This means that the newly wedded couple has a lot of time to enjoy their newly married life and at the same time receive all the gifts sent by their near and dear ones, even if the delivery is delayed because of any unforeseen circumstances. But while enjoying their new life, they should not forget to send a thank you card to those who made the day all the more special for the couple.

A great way to thank the guests for their presence and gifts is to send personalized wedding thank you cards. What couples can do is they can add photographs of their honeymoon along with the thank you note, so that the guests can also get a glimpse of their new life and feel glad that the couple is sharing their special moments with them.

Besides adding a personal touch to the thank you cards, couples also need to select the words very carefully while writing their thank you notes. It should not contain details of your wedding and honeymoon, but the words should reflect your happiness and gratitude towards the guests who were present with you on your wedding day. You should also mention how helpful their gift is for you. The main idea is to thank your guests and to tell them what their presence meant to you on your special day.

This article has been written by an expert associated with WeddingMuseum.com, a company providing wedding planning help for today’s weddings.

Choosing a wedding invitation, and all the additional wedding stationery, can seem like a confusing undertaking, especially, if you have no prior knowledge on the subject. With that in mind, we decided to compile a general list of wedding paper goods to take into consideration for your big day — including a quick description to help you decipher all the wedding stationery lingo.

Wedding Invitation – The official letter (usually a flat card) inviting guests to your wedding celebration. The traditional wording of a wedding invitation includes the names of the bride and groom, the date, the ceremony location, and let the guests know who’s hosting the wedding (the couple, one set of parents, or both set of parents). They are usually sent 6-8 weeks before the wedding.

Outer Envelope – According to wedding etiquette, outer envelopes are part of the double envelope tradition where the outer envelope is the one addressed, sealed, stamped and mailed to guests.

Inner envelope – In the double envelope tradition, the inner envelope arrives at their destination in pristine condition. The inner envelope only has the name of guests written on it and is never sealed.

Pocketfold - Decorative — and protective — enclosure for your wedding invitation and additional paper goods. They’re usually adorned with ribbons and bows, or closed with a paper band or seal. The pocketfold would take the place of an inner envelope.

Response Card (RSVP) – This card is usually sent with the wedding invitation and comes with a pre-stamped return envelope. The response card needs to be filled out by your guest and return in a timely fashion. Your guests should specify if they will attend the wedding or not — as well as stipulating a specific number of guests.

Reception Card – The card is a way to invite your guests to the reception and give them the location, times and type of reception to be expected. To be sent with the wedding invitation.

Directions Card – Gives out specific instructions on how to reach your wedding’s location. It can also feature a map of the area. Sent along with the wedding invitation.

Thank You Card – The card is a way to thank your guests for attending the wedding and express your gratitude for the wedding gift they gave you. Thank You cards are usually sent 4-6 weeks after the wedding to all your guests.

Save The Date Card – It’s a great way to inform your guests that a date has been selected for your upcoming wedding. The card should be sent at least 6-12 months before the wedding to insure that your guests pencil in your big day on their calendar.

Ceremony Program – Small booklet that informs your guests of the order of service for your ceremony, as well as songs, prayers, readings and vows. You can also include the list of your wedding party and other useful information.

Escort Card – Displays the name of your guests and specifies which table they are assigned to. The formal version is a flat card tucked in its own envelope. The casual version are tent folded cards. Escort cards are usually displayed on a table near the entrance of the reception room.

Place Card – Found at each place setting on all the tables; it assigns a specific seat to each one of your guests.

Table Number Card (or Table Name Card) – Displayed in the center of each table, they’re a way for your guests to easily find their pre-assigned table.

Menu Card - Fun way to decorate each place setting. It’s also a practical way to inform each guest of the food offerings — as well as the various choices for the main course.

Hang Tag or Stickers -  Personalized hang tags or stickers that include the couple’s name and their wedding date. Adds a personal touch to your wedding favors.

Keep in mind that not all the various stationery elements are required for your wedding — except maybe the Invitation, Response card and Thank You card.

About the Author: Nadine Elliott, freelance writer for WeddingMuseum.com.

Should You Send Save the Date Cards to Your Guests?

You’ve probably heard about Save the Dates since they have become quite popular with brides but you might not know exactly what purpose they serve.

People’s lives are getting increasingly busier and more tightly scheduled so that’s where Save the Date announcements come in handy. You want to make sure that your guests, especially family and close friends, keep the date of your wedding open when planning their schedules. To ensure this, you’ll want to consider sending out Save the Date notices shortly after you have set your wedding date, especially if it’s several months in the future or around a holiday.

Proper etiquette doesn’t dictate that these advance notices have to be sent but in today’s world it helps your guests in their planning so they can be sure to be with you sharing in the celebration of one of the most important days of your life. If you do decide to send them out, you are not required to send them to every one of your guests but you’ll probably want to at least include close family members and friends. Guests who will have to travel to be in attendance will find them especially helpful for giving them plenty of travel preparation time particularly if you are having a destination wedding.

It’s easy to be creative when sending out your Save the Dates since there are so many different varieties and designs available.

• Magnets have become a favorite selection and why not since your guests can easily stick them onto their refrigerator as their reminder. Some magnets have the option of including a photo and some actually show a calendar of your wedding date month with your date circled for easy reference.
• Scratch Off Cards are a fun, unique way of announcing your wedding date. Your date will only be visible to guests after they have scratched off the appropriate area on the card similar to lottery tickets. They come in great playful designs sure to make your guests smile.
• Announcement Cards can be as creative or as simple as you like. They come in varying designs, colors and themes from whimsical to more traditional. Some of them even come in creative shapes.

All designs are printed with your wedding date and names and some even give the option of including the wedding location. Blank white mailing envelopes are usually included in the price no matter which design you choose. Be sure to list at the bottom of your Save the Date the added line, “invitation to follow”, so guests won’t assume that this is the actual wedding invitation. This is also why it’s imperative that everyone who receives your Save the Date will also receive your wedding invitation.
Wedding invitations play an important role in planning your wedding, and in today’s society, Save the Dates are becoming increasingly popular because of your guests’ busy schedules. You want to do everything you can to make sure family and friends will be able to share in the joy of your wedding day.

About The Author: Sara Haese owns http://www.printedcreationsweddingstore.com/ where you’ll find a fantastic selection of wedding invitations as well as save the dates and wedding accessories. Visitors can also sign up to receive her FREE Wedding Invitation Guide.