Sorry for the lag in posts lately. I am soo close to completing a HUGE project I can’t wait to share (as in over 100 hours logged…ugh). In the meantime, I want to start brainstorming my next DIY: escort cards.
There are so many directions I could have gone, but I think I have it narrowed down to two options:
I found this awesome set of 100 wood rounds on Etsy for only $10. They come in a variety of one- and two-inch sections, but the seller FiNeGRaiNeD also takes custom orders. I could whip out my fine-tipped pens and hand write the guests’ name on one side and the table numbers on the other. Easy and cheap. (It’s about time I find a project that meets both of these criteria.)
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Image via FiNeGRaiNeD on Etsy
I sent this inspiration picture to my mom, and her response was, “I like it…but let me think about it.” When I saw her this past weekend, she handed me a bag full of little wood rounds. Pretty awesome, huh?
She said when my dad saw the picture he went outside for a few minutes and cranked some out so I could get a sense of the size. Thanks to him, now I know I definitely would want at least two-inch rounds. Overall, I like this idea quite a bit, but I don’t want to drive the “woodsy” theme home too hard. (I have a number of undisclosed projects that also feature wood.)
I also have to consider the issue of how to display the wood. Would I sprinkle them around a table covered in moss? Place them in neat lines like Mrs. Castle did?
There are a few different variations of this. Right after I became engaged, one of the first inspirations pictures I pinned was this:
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Image via Style Me Pretty / Photo by Sarah Rhoads Photographers
I love the idea of having everyone take their picture and then hang it up on display. But when I thought about the logistics of this, I realized it probably wouldn’t work out very well. Since our guests will arrive at the reception in large groups (the boat will drop them off in batches), I worry this would cause a big bottleneck right when guests arrive. When I was discussing this with my grandmother over the weekend, she told me to keep it simple ” since we all know everyone just wants to get to the bar anyway.” Instead my idea was to tweak the project so that when guest arrive the photos of them will already be on display. The guests will just grab their photo and check out what table it directs them to.
Mr. Squirrel was worried this would turn into quite the project, but honestly…I think if I had a 20-minute date with Facebook, it would be easy. Plus, I could use their pictures to actually create the seating chart! So much better than Post-its. 
Does anyone have a preference between these two options? Have you done something similar?
Awh I love that your dad helped you out with this!! My dad did too on a project I’m going to share really soon… it also involved cutting wood 
And can’t wait to hear about your big project!! 100 hours?!?
I already know I love your grandma I decided to just keep the escort cards pretty simple. It’s something that basically gets completely dismantled within a few minutes anyway. AND you’ll probably never see it. AND you want it to be easy to figure out.
I prefer the wood ones just because I get frustrated when I don’t know where I should look for my info. If everything is in alphabetical order, then I just go straight for my name and don’t spend forever thinking, “Oh, that’s me! No wait… that’s not what I look like…”
Great ideas! Love the second one but like you said it can be a problem with larger groups!
I like the idea of them taking polaroids, but it does look like it would be logistically challenging.
These are cute ideas, you can’t go wrong with either one! I would go with the cheapest and/or easiest option since you’ll have many other time sucks in the near future
I love the polaroids idea but I think I’d do it as a substitute guest book. The guests could write their names and advice greeting whatev. on the white section. Then I could just take all of the pics and put it in a traditional guest book! Thanks for giving me ideas I would have never thought all by myself!
Great ideas! but it does look like it would be logistically challenging.
A couple of friends of mine did the wood rounds for their wedding, but they made them thinner and varnished them so they doubled as coaster favours. Everyone loved them! I also pinned that polaroid inspiration photo! We couldn’t do it though because we couldn’t find a polaroid camera.
I really like the wood round option-clearer about which one was actually mine. What about using a wood burner on the wood rounds? As far as displaying them, you could try attaching ribbon or twine to them and hanging them from a string or board like the polaroids…which could tie in if you just have a comment on the table requesting a picture in the same spot by the end of the night instead of immediately.
Totally with your grandma – that’s how our wedding will be viewed, too. Props to her.
I think @Jennyemm has a great idea, using the Polaroids as a guest book. Ultimately though I think that whatever you choose will be awesome and unique!
Mrs. Squirrel, Tampa, FL Age and Occupation: 25, Genetic Counselor Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Graphic Designer/ Engineering Student Engagement Date: March 17, 2012 Wedding Date: May 2013 Venue: Davis Island Garden Club About Me: I am a DIY loving, science dork. I like to eat green peppers every day and I wish all clothes would be made with bows and lace. I moved to the South for grad school and stumbled across Mr. Squirrel, aka Southern Gent extraordinaire. We moved to Tampa, Florida and are starting a new life together. We are so excited to get married! Our ceremony will be in a Catholic church and the guests will then take a boat ride to the outdoor reception. We are channeling a Midsummer Night's Dream and plan to have lots of twinkling lights, moss, and whimsy in the air.
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