wedding certificates
There are so many fun ways to present guestbooks at receptions, but one of our favorite ways to capture the names of guests in attendance is the Quaker-style wedding certificate. It’s better than many other versions of the guest book, in our opinion, because it can be framed and admired for years to come.
There are many ways to design a wedding certificate, from the very traditional, where the vows, date and wedding location are listed, to more modern versions that may only list the bride and groom’s names at the top in a decorative manner along with a quote or poem.
No matter how you choose to embellish your certificate, there are a few things that are standard certificate to certificate. Two lines are typically reserved at the top of the page for the bride and groom. Since in the Quaker tradition, the bride and groom marry one another in the presence of friends and family, there would not be a line for the minister on a true Quaker certificate, but you could add that line to yours just beneath the bride and groom’s signature lines. General signature lines follow and are often introduced by copy that reads, “as witnessed by our friends and family,” or some version thereof.
The design of the certificate above included details that were sentimental for the bride and groom: Montauk daisies to remind the bride of where she grew up and to nod to the groom’s proposal and dogwood blossoms for Virginia, where their wedding took place. It’s those sort of sentimental details that mean so much. Below, guests sign Alex and Paul’s certificate at their outdoor reception at Maymont.
certificate designed by Miss Pickles Press; image by Don Mears
pattern play
I’m adoring the wallpaper story in the current issue of Martha Stewart Weddings, but I’m a total wallpaper junkie. Every surface in my house would be covered in paper if I had my way. Whether you’re interested in adding a bit of pattern to your invitations, creating a backdrop for a photo booth, lining serving trays, creating a unique escort card display, making drink flags or backing programs, vintage and modern wallpapers offer myriad ways to personalize the design elements of your event. There are literally thousands of ways to use patterned paper! And the great thing about wallpaper is that one roll will really go a long way toward all of your paper projects.
If vintage is more your style, Etsy is a treasure trove for vintage wallcoverings. Elements of Style (have you seen the invitation that employed a blue and white pattern from Erin’s shop?) and colleenabean are two of my favorites. Secondhand Rose is also a go-to for vintage papers, while Schumacher is a modern love of mine.
vintage Virginia save the date
Loving this vintage style, Virginia-themed save the date that Ashley of Lemon and Lavender designed for her client, Sarah. Their entire wedding suite is inspired by Virginia — can’t wait to see more from this wedding!
All wrapped up!
I’m so happy to have a special guest blogger here today. Brittany started working with Merriment last year as an intern and continues to assist on event days. When she said she’d be interested in guest blogging, I took her up on it immediately, of course! Hoping to see much more of her around here. Today she has a great gift wrapping idea just in time for Mother’s Day.
I love the idea of using fabric for wrapping gifts. Not only is it clever and eco-friendly, it can be two gifts in one if you use tea towels or a vintage scarf. To secure the ends, tie them in a simple knot or secure them with a cute pin, button, or pretty ribbon to give the package an extra special touch. Also see more wrapping techniques here. Add a personal element to your wedding by wrapping small favor boxes in monogrammed cloth napkins or vintage fabric scraps.
images: 1 Photograph by Joseph De Leo for Handmade Weddings via The Haystack Needle; 2 and 5 Studiopatro Tea Towels; 3 and 4 fabric wrap by Chewing the Cud via Oh Joy!
royally beautiful illustations
I love these fun and modern Royal Wedding souvenirs designed by The House That Lars Built — pretty enough to inspire your own wedding logo and paper goods, perhaps?
images via The House That Lars Built spotted on Everything Fabulous
be still my heart…mr. boddington’s studio on paperless post
Oh, how I do love Mr. Boddington’s Studio. I’m just over the moon seeing Mr. Boddington’s young nephew on Paperless Post.
all invitations designed by mr. boddington’s studio for paperless post
escort cards that do double duty
photos:1- Cookie escort cards featured in Nonpareil Magazine & designed by Maddy Hague; 2 – Escort card buttons designed by May+Bell Calligraphy at Kathryn’s wedding photographed by Elizabeth Messina; 3 & 4 – Match box favor/escort cards and Mint Lemonade escort cards via Martha Stewart
Menu card inspiration
There are as many ways to present menu cards as there are ways to design receptions. Below are a few ways from classic to modern, casual to formal.
Traditionally, the bride and groom’s name or duogram and the date of the wedding appear at the top of the card, then the menu follows with wine either noted alongside courses or at the bottom of the card. The menu card usually matches the place card, both in the stock of the paper it’s printed on and possibly with the repetition of a motif or monogram (see Kathryn’s invitation below — she used the wreath motif throughout her wedding on printed materials).
Although menus can be shared, they usually go on each place setting, and can double as place cards. In that instance, the guest’s name would be hand calligraphed or printed at the top of the menu (see Kathyrn’s menu for an example).
When outdoors, it’s best to have the menu tucked into a folded napkin or secured in another way so it’s not picked up by the wind.
A classic menu that uses a mix of calligraphy and type, for a rehearsal dinner featured on Snippet and Ink and photographed by Kristen Loken.
A modern calligraphed menu, photographed by Karen Mordechai, by Betsy Dunlap for Sunday Suppers.
Kathryn’s classic wedding menu, photographed by Elizabeth Messina, used the wreath motif that appeared on many printed goods at her wedding. Her menu cards also doubled as place cards — guests’ names were calligraphed by Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls at the top of each card.
A casual wedding menu photographed by Suzanne Christine Photography and featured on Martha Stewart Weddings. The bride and groom used a repetitive stamp motif on their day-of paper goods.
This menu, photographed by Timothy K. Lee and originally featured on MSW, doubled as a napkin band — a great solution for an outdoor event!
monogram etiquette
Monograms are a staple in the south. You’ll see them on cars (yes, cars), pillow cases, embroidered cocktail napkins, and, of course, at weddings. But, did you know that it is a breech of etiquette to use a “duo-gram” (a monogram that uses the bride and groom’s first name initials and the initial of his last name) on any printed materials prior to your marriage? A duo-gram should be reserved for printed materials following the ceremony (cocktail napkins at the reception, like above, or thank you notes). If you’d like to use a monogram on your invitation or programs, it is most appropriate to use the initials of the bride and groom’s first names (see the wooden stirrer above for an example).
photo by Melissa Musgrove via Martha Stewart Weddings
