Mrs. Meerkat, Kalamazoo, MI/Riviera MayaAge and Occupation: 30, Application EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, IT ConsultantEngagement Date: July 26, 2008Wedding Date: December 2010Venue: Al Cielo / La LagunaAbout Me: I’m a tech-savvy tomboy with an affinity for hot tea and good sushi. Us Meerkats are just a couple fun lovin’ geeks from Michigan. We love anything having to do with movies, books, video games or technology and we hold a special place in our hearts for our two very spoiled shih-tzus, Wicket and Bravo. We also LOVE to travel. We love it so much it only took us 12 hours after we got engaged to decide to have a destination wedding. We are working our little Meerkat tails off planning a rustic-chic, travel themed destination wedding in the Riviera Maya with a semi-formal, vintage-turned-modern, outdoor at home reception back here in Michigan.
At the same time I was creating our reserved seating signs I decided to also create a couple other signs that I knew we would need. The first thing I thought of was some instructions for our guestbook since it was not a standard “sign your name here”-style.
Each page in our guestbook had a question to help prompt our guests to write down some of their favorite memories of us.
Miss Oatmeal, Fresno, CAAge and Occupation: 25, Medical Device Sales RepresentativeFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Police Officer/Captain in the US ArmyEngagement Date: February 16, 2010Wedding Date: May 2011Venue: Private Residence, FresnoAbout Me: I am a toast-loving, list-making, occasionally crazy California girl getting dangerously close to marrying her crime-fighting, patient, man's man fiancé. I’ve never left our hometown of Clovis, CA, I love Anthropologie so much it almost hurts, appreciate promptness, love that our 4lb. Chihuahua, Murphy, smells like Fritos, am irritated by windshield wipers that move too fast for the amount of rain, love me some cold weather, have an unhealthy obsession with boots, and wholeheartedly think that my family is everything. Mr. Oatmeal is, oddly enough, my brother's best friend. He's also the best thing that's ever happened to me, and together we are planning a vintage chic, backyard, spring wedding with a few nontraditional touches while trying to keep up with our crazy lives.
I’ve stumbled upon, quite possibly, the greatest idea ever to have been invented in the history of wedding guest books. You may be thinking, “Hey Oatmeal, what gives? You’re already having two guest books at your wedding. Why are you still talking about this?” Honestly, I had no intention whatsoever of adding to the list. Buuuuuuut, something changed when I came across Thrilled For You. Check this out.
Mrs. Eggs Benedict, SeattleAge and Occupation: 29, AttorneyFiance's Age and Occupation: 35, AttorneyEngagement Date: December 5, 2009Wedding Date: February 2011Venue: IslandWoodAbout Me: I'm a Northwest girl who spends my time goofing around with Mr. Eggs Benedict and our dog, hiking, traveling, drinking wine and planning a wedding that will showcase the best of what the Pacific Northwest has to offer. I also love photography, beating Mr. Eggs Bene at Mario Kart, and watching the most ridiculous natural disaster flicks you can think of (seriously, how can you deny the awesomeness that is The Core or 2012?? That's right, you can't). We are planning our weekend wedding adventure at an environmental educational center, and I can't wait for the fun to begin!
I’ve never really liked the traditional guestbook. What do you do with a list of names after the wedding is over? I understand that it’s meant to be a record of the guests who attended your wedding and usually people write a little something to go along with their names, but I want something a little bit more than that. Something like Mrs. Hamster’s “Wishes, Advice, and Predictions” board:
Miss Oatmeal, Fresno, CAAge and Occupation: 25, Medical Device Sales RepresentativeFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Police Officer/Captain in the US ArmyEngagement Date: February 16, 2010Wedding Date: May 2011Venue: Private Residence, FresnoAbout Me: I am a toast-loving, list-making, occasionally crazy California girl getting dangerously close to marrying her crime-fighting, patient, man's man fiancé. I’ve never left our hometown of Clovis, CA, I love Anthropologie so much it almost hurts, appreciate promptness, love that our 4lb. Chihuahua, Murphy, smells like Fritos, am irritated by windshield wipers that move too fast for the amount of rain, love me some cold weather, have an unhealthy obsession with boots, and wholeheartedly think that my family is everything. Mr. Oatmeal is, oddly enough, my brother's best friend. He's also the best thing that's ever happened to me, and together we are planning a vintage chic, backyard, spring wedding with a few nontraditional touches while trying to keep up with our crazy lives.
I’ve noticed a major downside to having a fairly lengthy engagement, and that is, you make many decisions early on in the engagement, thinking you’re being original. Then as the months go by and you continue to obsess over wedding blogs on a daily basis, you find that so many of these details are popping up in dozens and dozens of other weddings.
I’m not, however, going to let this discourage me from using the ideas I originally dreamed up. Not to say I made them up, of course. I was simply inspired before they made it to the big time.
So what’s a prime example of this? The gorgeous and wonderfully “unique” wedding tree.
Miss Oatmeal, Fresno, CAAge and Occupation: 25, Medical Device Sales RepresentativeFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Police Officer/Captain in the US ArmyEngagement Date: February 16, 2010Wedding Date: May 2011Venue: Private Residence, FresnoAbout Me: I am a toast-loving, list-making, occasionally crazy California girl getting dangerously close to marrying her crime-fighting, patient, man's man fiancé. I’ve never left our hometown of Clovis, CA, I love Anthropologie so much it almost hurts, appreciate promptness, love that our 4lb. Chihuahua, Murphy, smells like Fritos, am irritated by windshield wipers that move too fast for the amount of rain, love me some cold weather, have an unhealthy obsession with boots, and wholeheartedly think that my family is everything. Mr. Oatmeal is, oddly enough, my brother's best friend. He's also the best thing that's ever happened to me, and together we are planning a vintage chic, backyard, spring wedding with a few nontraditional touches while trying to keep up with our crazy lives.
Today I have a treat for you. Well, really, it’s a treat for me and Mr. Oatmeal. OK, it’s just a treat for me.
On Christmas morning we were given a spectacular gift from my brother. I’d say that it was the best gift given in the Oatmeal household this Christmas, but I’d be lying. Mr. Oats and I gifted my brother a ShakeWeight. Enough said, right?
Anyway, it was our wedding guestbook! Here I am opening said gift, and my brother is beaming with pride over his gift-giving abilities. (And yes, that is our little Murphy, in a hoodie.)
Mrs. Eggs Benedict, SeattleAge and Occupation: 29, AttorneyFiance's Age and Occupation: 35, AttorneyEngagement Date: December 5, 2009Wedding Date: February 2011Venue: IslandWoodAbout Me: I'm a Northwest girl who spends my time goofing around with Mr. Eggs Benedict and our dog, hiking, traveling, drinking wine and planning a wedding that will showcase the best of what the Pacific Northwest has to offer. I also love photography, beating Mr. Eggs Bene at Mario Kart, and watching the most ridiculous natural disaster flicks you can think of (seriously, how can you deny the awesomeness that is The Core or 2012?? That's right, you can't). We are planning our weekend wedding adventure at an environmental educational center, and I can't wait for the fun to begin!
I’ve been trying to think of more ways to bring the community feeling that Mr. EB and I want for our wedding to all of our guests. I thought about creating some sort of guest-list tree or timeline to show guests how they know or are related to Mr. EB or me, or what random connections people might have to each other that could make for good conversation starters. I was thinking about making something similar to these:
Mrs. Pancakes, New York/Costa RicaAge and Occupation: 26, Law School StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Latin American Policy AnalystEngagement Date: March 12, 2010Wedding Date: May 2011Venue: Casa Punto de VistaAbout Me: I’m a perfectionist with a big heart. I love a good laugh and firmly believe no one has ever regretted being prepared! My motto is “go big or go home.” I am incapable of doing anything in moderation, especially when it comes to shopping, TV, food and travel, and some would say wedding planning! The other half of this nearlywed team is a laid-back, adventure-loving, accident prone, sweetie from LA. He makes me laugh, is always down for an impromptu dance party, and totally indulges most of my hare-brained schemes. Now, in my final year of law school, we’ll be spending the spring abroad in Amsterdam and planning a DIY, whimsical, detail-filled destination wedding in Costa Rica!
One of the first things Mr. Pancakes and I decided early in the planning process was that we wanted to be as green as possible. The reality is, this is the most money we’ll have ever spent on anything, and we don’t want to spend it polluting the planet. To us this means we will only spend money on things that are really going to be meaningful or useful. For example, we won’t use tiny bags for favors that people will just throw away, when we could just use one reusable basket or just put them out on a table.
When thinking about our guestbook, we really wanted to think of something that we would get to appreciate for years to come. Personally, I like the idea of putting our engagement photos into a bound album and having guests sign it. I also like the idea of a photobooth with Polaroids that the guests can sign and add to a wishing tree or something. Enter Internet. There are SO many amazing alternatives to the traditional guestbook.
Ms. Sloth, PhiladelphiaAge and Occupation: 35, Account Manager and Fashion BloggerFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Design AdminEngagement Date: December 25, 2009Wedding Date: May 2011Venue: Bartram's GardenAbout Me: I'm an internet junkie and music snob with a good eye for a bargain. I couldn't live without thrift store shopping, cheeseburgers, sushi, Coke Zero, websites devoted to silly photos of baby animals, Photoshop, and Mr. Sloth. Speaking of which, he and I are a pair of goofball homebody nerds who love our beagle (the most ridiculously adorable dog EVER) to an embarrassing degree. We're planning a low-key and intimate yet festive and quirky outdoor wedding with DIY details and deeply personal touches, and it's all taking place in the city where we fell in love and call home: Philadelphia.
On the same day that we got our engagement photos back from our photographer, I got an email from Groupon for a $10 photo book from Shutterfly. It seemed like kismet to me. Up until then, I had no idea what to do for a wedding guestbook, but the idea fell in my lap, so I went for it.
Mrs. Waffle, AustinAge and Occupation: 31, Costumer/ArtistFiance's Age and Occupation: 33, AnimatorEngagement Date: July 27, 2010Wedding Date: June 2011Venue: Hummingbird HouseAbout Me: My life is pretty much spent in a sea of fabric, paint, sequins and drama. When I’m not working, I play on a trivia team, take Broadway dance classes, read, buy shoes, and occasionally geek out on video games. I am an American girl who loves all things British and Mr. Waffle is a Brit who loves all things American...I guess it was meant to be!
For our guestbook, we have decided to do a “yearbook” style book on Shutterfly or Snapfish using pictures of us from diapers to “I do” that our guests can sign like a yearbook. I have used both companies for photo albums in the past and have yet to decide on which one to use. I’m sure it will all come down to who offers the best price.
Anyhoo…in preparation for this grand guestbook and our memory jars, I have started unearthing boxes from our garage and closets to search for treasures of our pasts, and yes, they are indeed treasures. The pictures of Mr Waffle as a mini Waffle are soooooo adorable. I squealed, oohed and awwwwwed my way through his photo albums whilst he blushed and looked at me suspiciously out of the corner of his eye.
How excited am I about putting this together? Super extremely excited!!! I have already scanned the majority of our childhoods that has made it past the preliminary round of cuts. We are also asking our parents and close friends to send us copies of their favorite photos of us so we can add them. The Waffs is slightly scared to see what will arrive.
Mrs. Hippo, New York City/Dallas, TXAge and Occupation: 34, Event Planner for a Non-Profit Fiance's Age and Occupation: 35, Finance ITEngagement Date: August 8, 2009Wedding Date: March 2011Venue: Samuel Lynne Galleries and Marc EventsAbout Me: I’m a thirty-something bride living in New York City and planning a modern-ish wedding in Dallas, Texas. I love trashy reality television (Jersey Shore, anyone?), online shopping, Sunday brunch, Central Park, and random celebrity spottings on the streets of Manhattan. While I love NYC, I miss good Tex-Mex, my college friends, central A/C, and being in close proximity to a Target. I’m thrilled to finally be planning an event that’s not work-related and to be marrying my best friend in what I hope will be a unique and personal ceremony followed by a reception with plenty of good food, good drinks, and dancing (regardless if it’s good or not).
I was hoping to get some use out of our engagement pictures, and after reading how pleased Mrs. Cheeseburger was with her AdoramaPix wedding album and seeing how Miss Meerkat had used AdoramaPix for her guestbook, I was sold. I went to AdoramaPix.com and created a 26-page 8″ x 10″ photo book to use as our guestbook. Not only was it super easy (and dare I say fun?), but the book just arrived yesterday and I am totally impressed with the quality. Let’s take a peek, shall we?
I used one of our landscape photos to create the wraparound album cover.
Miss Peppermint, LA/Palm SpringsAge and Occupation: 23, ActressFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Web ProducerEngagement Date: October 21, 2006Wedding Date: December 2007Blogging Since: July 2, 2007Venue: historic estate overlooking the heart of Palm SpringsAbout Me: I am a Southern California native who enjoys cooking, writing, travel and all things in the arts. Mr. Peppermint and I met in college and he proposed on our four year anniversary in one of our most special places, Joshua Tree National Park. We're having a destination wedding in Palms Springs that will incorporate tradition as well as reflect our personalities!
Greetings, Hive! Mrs. Peppermint here. Long time no…type. As some of you may remember I got married in Palm Springs in December 2007, almost three years ago (!). I’m excited to write to you all again as part of the Best of the ’Bee Series, especially because I’ve been meaning to do a final wrap up on all our vendors. I’m eager to get that underway, but until then let me remind you about our wedding…
We were inspired by themes of travel and old Hollywood—after all, Mr. Pepp and I both work in entertainment. Our wedding had a lot of personal details including manyGoccoprojects for all things paper, tables named after our favorite Hitchcockmovies (we met in a college Hitchcock class!), a family wedding photo display and a travel-themed guestbook. I wanted to share the guestbook with you today. Enjoy!!
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First off, hello hive!! I’ve missed you! I know it’s been a long time since I last posted, but I’m back…
I thought I’d kick it off with a post about our guest book. To remind you, we got married in Palm Springs last December. While neither Mr. Peppermint nor I are from there, it had long been a special getaway for us. We had family coming from all parts of California as well as Virginia, Minnesota, Wisconsin and New York. We wanted our guest book to reflect this travel theme, so we settled on postcards! Basically, the week before the wedding when we were out in Palm Springs getting ready, we went to tourist gift shops, antique stores and anywhere we could find postcards (new and vintage) of Palm Springs and the outlying areas. During the reception, we had guests fill them out and drop them off in a caddy that also doubled as a pen holder. Originally, I was going to find a mailbox, but couldn’t find one that was just the right size.
Here is how it was set up at the reception: Read more…
Mrs. Elephant, Dallas, TXAge and Occupation: 27, Financial Operations AnalystFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, IT Student/Store ManagerEngagement Date: March 29, 2009Wedding Date: April 2011Venue: The Tribute Golf ClubAbout Me: I'm a Philly native creating roots deep in the heart of Texas. I might be a little obsessed capturing those Kodak moments of anything and everything (mainly on vacations). I've become more of a gamer thanks to Mr. Elephant, who I met online and can't wait to spend the rest of my life with. We are planning a wedding based on our favorite colors, blue and green, with a travel theme for 150 of our closest friends and family. Hopefully our long (2-year) engagement won't kill me!
Remember my guestbook idea? It’s OK if you don’t, I won’t hold it against you. Well, more pieces of the puzzle have arrived, and it’s time for a mock up!
Here’s a refresher of the box I painted to hold some postcards:
I ordered this mailbox (in white) from Walmart.com for $15. I was very pleased with how fast it came in: Read more…
Mrs. Sand Dollar, HoustonAge and Occupation: 24, Graphic DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 22, Electrical TechnicianEngagement Date: January 8, 2010Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: MacLean ParkAbout Me: I'm a domestic diva down to the core. I heart cooking, sewing, baking, decorating and making sure we have a hand-crafted home. The best part about the wedding is I get to incorporate it all! I make sure I put my art degree to good use by screen printing, craft knife cutting, and a whole lotta graphic design. We're having a big-time party on a small-time budget, and I promise to show you a boot-scootin', barbecue-eatin', finger-lickin' good time! Mr. Sand Dollar and I spend most of our time on DIY projects or traipsing around the outdoors with our two pooches Rory and Juno. I'm looking forward to sharing our journey with all of you!
When I decided to do a guestbook bench for our wedding, I never expected how happy I’d be with the end result. It’s so personal, so sentimental, that I fall more in love with it every time I lay eyes on it. Let’s bring it back to the beginning, when I enlisted my bridesmaids to join me in a group girl-power project. Read more…
Mrs. Meerkat, Kalamazoo, MI/Riviera MayaAge and Occupation: 30, Application EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, IT ConsultantEngagement Date: July 26, 2008Wedding Date: December 2010Venue: Al Cielo / La LagunaAbout Me: I’m a tech-savvy tomboy with an affinity for hot tea and good sushi. Us Meerkats are just a couple fun lovin’ geeks from Michigan. We love anything having to do with movies, books, video games or technology and we hold a special place in our hearts for our two very spoiled shih-tzus, Wicket and Bravo. We also LOVE to travel. We love it so much it only took us 12 hours after we got engaged to decide to have a destination wedding. We are working our little Meerkat tails off planning a rustic-chic, travel themed destination wedding in the Riviera Maya with a semi-formal, vintage-turned-modern, outdoor at home reception back here in Michigan.
I am not a big fan of the traditional sign-your-name type guestbooks. I want something fun that I would enjoy looking through again. I fell in love right away with photo guestsbooks like these:
Mrs. Sushi, Hershey/HawaiiAge and Occupation: 27, Air Force PhotographerFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Laborer/Aspiring Hip Hop ProducerEngagement Date: December 25, 2007Wedding Date: March 2009Blogging Since: October 9, 2006Venue: Byodo-In Temple, Luau ReceptionAbout Me: I’m a notorious people-watcher who loves all things paper, food, traveling, grubbin’ on food, gossip magazines, food, sock monkeys…did I mention food?! Mr. Sushi and I are both haolepinos (half Filipino, half Caucasian) and hope to be able to somehow incorporate our cultures at our destination wedding in Hawaii. All while planning from the sweetest place in earth, Hershey!
So, in my last post I told you about my guestbook postcard fail and how I filled the rest of our album with purty postcards. Welp, I did find something else to fill our album with…
Our postcard RSVP cards! We had left a space on our RSVP cards for our guests to write something back to us. Not every guest did this or got the concept, but the ones who did had written some sweet things to us.
Unique Wedding Favors
Well, more pieces of the puzzle have arrived, and it’s time for a mock up!
