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Mrs. Taffy, Ann Arbor Age and Occupation: 28, Color and Materials Designer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Automotive Designer Engagement Date: May 9, 2008 Wedding Date: May 2009 Blogging Since: September 14, 2008 Venue: University of Michigan Union About Me: I’m a girl who is crazy about Mr. Taffy, sewing, dancing, almost all types of sweets, and our cute pet canaries. I dislike touching fuzzy fabric of any kind, eating somewhat squishy food, and Michigan winters. Mr. Taffy and I are having a blast planning our Ann Arbor wedding, and cannot wait to share our day with friends and family.
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DIY Portrait Booth Backdrop

May 4th, 2009 @ 6:30 pm by Mrs. Taffy

Last weekend, my friend Miss K came over to help me make this DIY backdrop for the portrait booth at our reception. This project was so much quicker than I ever thought it would be, and was really fun to make. Here is a cropped picture of the top… don’t mind the brush strokes showing through the sunlight… our photographer’s lights should not show any brush strokes.

To make this project, I used:

  • A full size flat bed sheet from Bed Bath & Beyond that was 525 thread count cotton with an anti-wrinkle finish. This was a little pricier than I wanted to go, but not having to worry about ironing the backdrop made it totally worth it. The high thread count meant that the paint wouldn’t seep through to the back while we painted it. And of course, I used a 20% off coupon. ;)
  • Whatever supplies you will need to create your design. We used a set of Fiskars oversized circle templates. These were on sale at Jo-Ann’s for 40% off. Mr. Taffy had a set of mini circle templates that we also used. We bought some blue and black paper on sale to simulate our pattern before painting.
  • Acrylic paint in black & blue (I bought way too much paint—we only needed one tiny bottle of each!)
  • Paint brushes. I bought some foam brushes, but we ended up using Mr. Taffy’s small fine art brushes instead.

Before you purchase any supplies, speak with your photographer about what size backdrop she would prefer. Also discuss your ideas for colors and patterns, and how high the sheet will hang on his or her equipment.

After speaking with our photographer, I found a bed sheet that fit the specifications that she asked for. I washed and dried the sheet, then hung it up over our windows. The overhang that you see here is to account for the amount of fabric that will be used to hang the sheet.

Next, Miss K and I used these Fiskars templates to cut our circles on black and blue paper.

image source

We put tape on the back of the circles and started sticking them on the sheet. We made a pattern to coordinate with our invitations.

After a few more tries…

Once we perfected the pattern, we took the sheet down and marked the pattern with a pencil using the circle templates. We made it like a paint by number… labeling B for black and A for aqua.

We tried out the blue paint on some scrap fabric to see how it would photograph. The guys watched hockey…

Next, we got to work with the paint brushes! I think the actual painting took around an hour and a half.

We put down some paper underneath the sheet, but because the thread count was so high, we didn’t have any paint soak through. Better safe than sorry!

I hung the backdrop up the next morning, after the paint had dried.

Please note: I’m sure this will look much better when properly hung up! We used office clips. ;) Also, the sun won’t be shining behind it, so I don’t think we need to put another coat on the aqua circles.

I originally wanted to do a “framing” design for a couple instead of an overall border graphic, but I figured that we would have more than two people in the booth at times, and the border style would work well. :)

This project was very easy and the possibilities for coordinating the backdrop are endless! I was actually inspired to do this after reading the many bee tutorials on DIY aisle runners. (Thanks, Mrs. Pineapple, Spring Roll, Cookie and Penguin! )

Our ceremony room has slate floors, and they advised us against using an aisle runner to prevent slipping. We are going to do a petal aisle, but I was bummed that I wouldn’t be making a fun, personalized runner. I borrowed the concept and transferred it to the backdrop!

Huge thanks to Miss K, who took time away from her wedding planning to help me with this! I am so ready to help you with any projects after May! ;)

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51 Responses to “DIY Portrait Booth Backdrop”

1.
Gilneas
Member
Gilneas (message)  965 posts, Busy bee

How fantastic is that! Wow!

 
2.
Miss French Bulldog
Bee
Miss French Bulldog (message)  5,956 posts, Bee Keeper

Your backdrop looks fantastic Taffy!

 
3.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Duckling (message)  1,348 posts, Bumble bee

This looks absolutely AMAZING! I just am loving all your wedding details.

 
4.
ggsb
Member
ggsb (message)  831 posts, Busy bee

That is amazing! Such a creative idea, I love it!

 
5.
Bee Icon
Bee
miss mouse (message)  2,915 posts, Sugar bee

Wow, it looks great! I can’t wait for you to share some of the photo booth pics with us after the wedding!

 
6.
Newport Nuptials
Member
Newport Nuptials (message)  1,116 posts, Bumble bee

Wow that came out so awesome Miss Taffy!

 
7.
EAQ219
Member
EAQ219 (message)  1,019 posts, Bumble bee

You. Are. Awesome. That is just so cool. I love love love the circle design you’ve incorporated throughout your wedding. I kind of wish I was coming so I could take pics with this. I’d pay for my own meal!

 
8.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Beagle (message)  1,021 posts, Bumble bee

I love it! It looks so professional and I love how it matches with everything else! :)

 
9.
Keladry
Member
Keladry (message)  184 posts, Blushing bee

It looks amazing! Such a good job, Miss Taffy!

 
10.
Miss Gloss
Bee
Miss Gloss (message)  1,019 posts, Bumble bee

Great job!!
I wish we were having a photobooth just so I could make one!

 
11.
happilywaiting
Member
happilywaiting (message)  1,398 posts, Bumble bee

It looks fantastic! Wow!

 
12.
LLauRRa
Hostess
LLauRRa (message)  842 posts, Busy bee

That will go so perfectly with all of your stationary!! So this is just going to be set up somewhere with your photographer hanging out by it to take people’s pics as they come in or??

 
13.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Glitter (message)  874 posts, Busy bee

I love it!! It blends perfectly with your wedding theme! Great work. I have a question (which perhaps you’ve addressed in a previous post?)…if so I apologize for my lengthy comment.

Is your photographer having an assistant man the booth? Or will guests somehow take the portraits themselves? How are you guys working out the logistics of the camera?

I ask because I contacted our photographer about making our own photobooth. I don’t think he understood what I was saying, because he quoted me at $700 extra for the booth. I was curious if this is the going rate for a DIY booth?? You don’t have to give me any numbers, but I was just wondering if that seems kinda high?? Thanks so much for your help! xo

 
14.
Guest Icon
Guest
oKelsio

That is so neat! I wish I was as creative as you when it came to my wedding. I cant wait to see it in action!

 
15.
Mrs. Cupcake
Bee
Mrs. Cupcake (message)  1,159 posts, Bumble bee

Beauteous!

 
16.
Member Icon
Member
midwestelle (message)  135 posts, Blushing bee

Brilliant! I want one! ;)

 
17.
fabulouslyengaged
Member
fabulouslyengaged (message)  306 posts, Helper bee

omg. I couldn’t do that.

 
18.
Guest Icon
Guest
A

What a nifty idea! Love it!

 
19.
laurajane
Member
laurajane (message)  320 posts, Helper bee

I love that you’ve carried this design though out your wedding!! It looks great, and everyone will notice how well it flows too. The painting looks great!!

 
20.
WorstTwinEver15
Member
WorstTwinEver15 (message)  737 posts, Busy bee

Such a cute idea! Got my wheels turning to do the same thing!

 
21.
Bunny83
Member
Bunny83 (message)  123 posts, Blushing bee

It looks amazing!

 
22.
Bee Icon
Bee
Mrs. Sushi (message)  933 posts, Busy bee

I love that you’ve got your “theme” all through out your wedding. I can’t wait to see it all done and put together!

 
23.
FlipFlopBride
Member
FlipFlopBride (message)  1,293 posts, Bumble bee

Turned out beautifully! We won’t be doing the photobooth but this has me thinking about making some custom curtains! I can never seem to find a set that are ‘perfect’!

 
24.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Bruschetta (message)  5,553 posts, Bee Keeper

Looks awesome! I really love how you’ve carried this theme throughout so many elements of your wedding!

 
25.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Bunny (message)  11 posts, Newbee

I was just going to buy an old patterned sheet, but you make the painting look so easy that I may have to rethink that plan.

 
26.
Guest Icon
Guest
beachbride

this is great! if you’re selling it, can i buy it once you’ve used it?

 
27.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Joey (message)  822 posts, Busy bee

That’s awesome. I want my picture taken in front of that. :)

 
28.
Member Icon
Member
cj2009 (message)  306 posts, Helper bee

this is awesome! good job.

 
29.
UrbanLeo
Member
UrbanLeo (message)  100 posts, Blushing bee

OMG–utterly fantastic!

 
30.
msashleymarie
Member
msashleymarie (message)  370 posts, Helper bee

How fabulous! It looks great!!

 
31.
Vic004
Member
Vic004 (message)  780 posts, Busy bee

I love it! I also have the same question as Miss Glitter, who are you planning to take all the pictures? Or are you doing polaroids?

 
32.
LatteLove
Hostess
LatteLove (message)  4,029 posts, Honey bee

This is genius! I love it–so crafty, Miss Taffy!

 
33.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Labrador (message)  1,315 posts, Bumble bee

This is so awesome. I never even thought about a photo backdrop but may do one after seeing this!

 
34.
mrspaetz
Member
mrspaetz (message)  1,704 posts, Bumble bee

oh wow, you are so fabulous! i love how all the elements in your wedding come together so well.

who would have thought that it was all inspired by a random little trinket?!

 
35.
Ruby Slippers
Member
Ruby Slippers (message)  472 posts, Helper bee

How clever are you? This never would have entered my mind!

 
36.
MightySapphire
Hostess
MightySapphire (message)  2,608 posts, Sugar bee

We’re just using a plain yellow sheet, but your project has given me bride envy…so cute!

 
37.
krissybee
Member
krissybee (message)  871 posts, Busy bee

wow, that looks awesome!! soo cute!

 
38.
mydreamring
Member
mydreamring (message)  50 posts, Worker bee

Nice!!!

 
39.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Taffy (message)  2,508 posts, Sugar bee

Thanks!!! :)

@LLauRRa: @Miss Glitter: @Vic004: Our photographer’s assistant will be running the booth after our first dance. We will be setting the booth up next to the bar, and we will have a big sign to let people know when the booth “opens”, so hopefully it will get the guests excited to use it after dinner. :)

@FlipFlopBride: Curtains are a great idea!

@lmariea: I thought this was going to take way more time and energy than it did. Once we were ready to paint, it went by so fast! I think it helped that I wasn’t doing it on my own… I would have fussed over the pattern all day. ;)

@mrspaetz: I know!!! It is crazy. :)

 
40.
Guest Icon
Guest
Lindsay

This looks really really really great!!!!

 
41.
alaud41
Member
alaud41 (message)  66 posts, Worker bee

This is super cute! Great DIY project!

 
42.
Member Icon
Member
missalisa (message)  46 posts, Newbee

Wow this is awesome. Just wondering, but how are you going to hang this? We’re doing the same thing, but think we’re using one of the hotels air walls to hang the sheet.

 
43.
Guest Icon
Guest
Curtis Copeland

What a great idea! thanks for sharing!

 
44.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Taffy (message)  2,508 posts, Sugar bee

@missalisa: Our photographer has a backdrop set up that holds paper or fabric. I got the dimensions for her to make sure our backdrop is the right size, and she will hang it up on her equipment. :)

 
45.
MrsSl82be
Member
MrsSl82be (message)  1,435 posts, Bumble bee

That looks great! We got some velvet banquet table cloths in black and aqua for our backdrops. Hopefully they will photograph nicely

 
46.
Guest Icon
Guest
heavnzbrat

i love how you’re incorporating your stamp over and over. beautiful!

 
47.
Guest Icon
Guest
Enchanted Favors

That is so cool and fun! Great job!

 
48.
Bee Icon
Bee
Mrs. Flamingo (message)  1,265 posts, Bumble bee

Looks so nice… you did a great job. Two Thumbs up to you :)

 
49.
Guest Icon
Guest
Kristal

Holy cow, it turned out great! I love it!

 
50.
FutureMrs_S
Member
FutureMrs_S (message)  20 posts, Newbee

Can I just tell you how super psyched I am to see all the “Pokey-spot” stuff you are creating? I am also doing polka dots and its hard to find anything for parties that have polka dots not in pink and brown, or pink and green or black and white. We are doing Dark Pink and Navy Blue (or watermelon and marine according to DB) so I have had to pretty much create everything from scratch.
Absolutely wonderful!!!

 
51.
Guest Icon
Guest
Kelly Merrill

I love this! I wish we had a motif so I could paint it onto fabric… boo.

 


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Mrs. Taffy Mrs. Taffy, Ann Arbor Age and Occupation: 28, Color and Materials Designer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Automotive Designer Engagement Date: May 9, 2008 Wedding Date: May 2009 Blogging Since: September 14, 2008 Venue: University of Michigan Union About Me: I’m a girl who is crazy about Mr. Taffy, sewing, dancing, almost all types of sweets, and our cute pet canaries. I dislike touching fuzzy fabric of any kind, eating somewhat squishy food, and Michigan winters. Mr. Taffy and I are having a blast planning our Ann Arbor wedding, and cannot wait to share our day with friends and family.
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