WedEclectic Q&A

 

We ask the WedEclectic team a question, and post their answers each week…providing some advice, inspiration and insight into the person behind our shops. We hope you enjoy them!

Please reply with your own answer!  : )

Guestbook ~ Did you have a traditional guestbook? If not, what did you do different?

 

 

 

 

Dalynda from SteampunkWedding

Yes! I love the tradition of a guest book. Looking back 21 years ago, I can’t remember which aunts were there, so I can look. We’ve lost many family members since then and it is wonderful to have their signatures as part of our ceremony forever. My daughter and I were looking at the book last month and took the time to tell her about so many of the great-grandparents that she doesn’t remember.

 

 

 

 

Jennifer from ClayBouquetShop

Instead of having a book everyone had to find to sign, we included paper on each table, cut in sizes to fit into envelopes I glued into a nice scrapbook. We got notes from our guests, some good wishes, some funny stories, and some advice. It makes me smile whenever I take them out and read them. : )

 

 

 

 

Amanda from ArtisanMaskers

I had a traditional style guest book which I added photos to (from our engagement pictures) in order to liven it up a bit. I also used portions in the back of it to keep notes about my bridal showers (who came, what gifts we received, etc.) so now I can look back and find it all in one place!

 

 

 

 

Kitty from KittyKanzashi

Nope, my partner and I couldn’t be bothered with one because we only had 65 guests so it would have been a very empty guestbook and it was my intention on the day to talk to all of the guests.

 

 

 

 

Kristin from BagSecrets

We had craft paper in our wedding colors that I cut up into 3×5 cards. People then wrote us little messages on them and left them in a beautiful crystal bowl. After the wedding I took the cards, matched them up with photos from those people at the wedding and made a little scrapbook. I love looking through it and see the photos with their messages!

WedEclectic Q&A

We ask the WedEclectic team a question, and post their answers each week…providing some advice, inspiration and insight into the person behind our shops. We hope you enjoy them!

Please reply with your own answer!  : )

How did you decide who you were going to ask to be in your bridal party?

Dalynda from SteampunkWedding

As a couple we talked about who we’d lean on the most in our relationship. Who would be there for us, when time get tough? We’d face our new in-law issues, children, etc.

We chose a couple of close friends and our siblings. It was perfect! His sister was on my side and my brother was on his side. Funny how that worked out – when times do get tough – his sister is usually still on my side! 😉

Jennifer from ClayBouquetShop

It was easy for both of us…my sister and our closest friends. : )

We had a bit of drama when my party was 3 people, and his was 6…I didn’t think it mattered, he did. After trying to get his sister and two other unknowns onto my side, the drama that ensued from his sister made it easier to reduce it to three people each.

Yes, there is always some drama…but you get through it one way or another. : )

Kitty from KittyKanzashi

I didn’t really have a bridal party as such. I think I just assigned tasks to certain people who I knew could do them. So my parents choose our wedding meal and cake after I have already shortlisted a few things and my mother-in-law made sure the registry office and the hotel where kept up to date.

Then it was just the case of telling my brothers to make sure the wedding guests knew where they should be going on the day.

All a bit uneventful really.

Kristin from BagSecrets

My husband and I decided we didn’t want a large bridal party. Our wedding was going to be on the smaller side anyway so I thought it would look weird to have a large bridal party with only about 100 guests. I of course asked my sister to be my Maid of Honor and then asked one my best friends to be my Bridesmaid. My other best friend hates being a bridesmaid so instead I asked her to perform the ceremony and marry us! She was a little stressed about it but she did AMAZING 🙂

Wedding Inspiration ~ For a Music Themed Wedding

by Kristin from BagSecrets

This wedding theme is perfect for the couple who wants to celebrate their wedding day through their shared love of music. You can add a vintage twist, or keep it fun and playful!

Place Cards

 

Cupcake Holders

 

Toasting Flutes

 

Invitations

 

Wedding Cake Toppers

 

Guestbook

 

Table Centerpieces

 

Bouquet

 

WedEclectic Q&A

We ask the WedEclectic team a question, and post their answers each week…providing some advice, inspiration and insight into the person behind our shops. We hope you enjoy them!

Please reply with your own answer!  : )

Guestbook ~ Did you have a traditional guestbook? If not, what did you do different?

Dalynda from SteampunkWedding

Yes! I love the tradition of a guest book. Looking back 21 years ago, I can’t remember which aunts were there, so I can look. We’ve lost many family members since then and it is wonderful to have their signatures as part of our ceremony forever. My daughter and I were looking at the book last month and took the time to tell her about so many of the great-grandparents that she doesn’t remember.

Jennifer from ClayBouquetShop

Instead of having a book everyone had to find to sign, we included paper on each table, cut in sizes to fit into envelopes I glued into a nice scrapbook. We got notes from our guests, some good wishes, some funny stories, and some advice. It makes me smile whenever I take them out and read them. : )

Amanda from ArtisanMaskers

I had a traditional style guest book which I added photos to (from our engagement pictures) in order to liven it up a bit. I also used portions in the back of it to keep notes about my bridal showers (who came, what gifts we received, etc.) so now I can look back and find it all in one place!

Kitty from KittyKanzashi

Nope, my partner and I couldn’t be bothered with one because we only had 65 guests so it would have been a very empty guestbook and it was my intention on the day to talk to all of the guests.

Kristin from BagSecrets

My husband and I had a guestbook, although it was not a traditional one. We used colored paper in our wedding colors (purple and gold) and cut them up into about 3×5 size cards. We had a table where people could choose their pen color, write us a message and then leave it in this beautiful crystal bowl. After the wedding we took the cards with all our special messages and put them into a scrapbook. I found photos from each of our guests at the wedding who wrote us a message and put it next to their card. I loved the way it turned out! It’s so much fun for us to look back and read the messages while also enjoying some wedding photos!

WedEclectic Q&A

We ask the WedEclectic team a question, and post their answers each week…providing some advice, inspiration and insight into the person behind our shops. We hope you enjoy them!

Please reply with your own answer!  : )

What are you favorite wedding color combinations?

Dalynda from SteampunkWedding

Antique colors are my favorites: off-white or eggshell, silver, grey, even bronzes, and metal tones. My wedding dress was a vintage Victorian in almost a cream color. Most men look dashing in a dark grey suit. I don’t really favor black tuxes; its been done again and again.

Kitty from KittyKanzashi

I love all purple colour combinations because there is always a purple to suit everyone.

From a pale lilac for girly to a deep rich purple for the more adventurous.

Jennifer from ClayBouquetShop

I love the vintage looks as well…ivory paired with pale blues. (My second favorite is an autumnal palette: reds, oranges, browns, copper…which we used for our wedding a few years ago. : )

Amanda from ArtisanMaskers

I like vibrancy! My own wedding colors were citrus (tangerine, lemon, and lime), but I love to see any bride be daring and pair some unusual, bright colors together (like turquoise and tangerine).

Kristin from BagSecrets

I love the vintage colors. Personally I went with a dark purple and gold with ivory accents. I also really love Tiffany blue with a dusty rose color 🙂

WedEclectic Q&A

We ask the WedEclectic team a question, and post their answers each week…providing some advice, inspiration and insight into the person behind our shops. We hope you enjoy them!

Please reply with your own answer!  : )

Theme Weddings ~ If you could choose any theme for your wedding what would it be and why. If you are already married, did you have a theme wedding? If you could do it all over again would you change the theme?

Keri from DelaneyPhotoJewelry

I did not have a theme at my wedding, but if I could do it again, I would love to have a roaring 20″s wedding them with vintage photo props & centerpieces. I would love an old saloon photo shoot with the bridal party. And if the reception could take place in that same environment, piano player and all, it would be the icing on the cake.

Dalynda from SteampunkWedding

Of course we here at Steampunk Weddings LOVE theme weddings! I highly recommend them! More and more people are doing this! It lightens the mood and contributes to a more enjoyable celebration. I saw a Harry Potter themed wedding set in a forest chapel. It was gorgeous & magical things happened all evening!

I’ve always been partial to Victorian style, yet lots of our friends and family in Oklahoma favor the Wild Wild West genre. Steampunk would have worked well for us. However, ‘way back then’ we went with Victorian Garden party theme. It was lovely, but not eclectic enough for me!

Kitty from KittyKanzashi

I did not have a themed wedding because I think that would have upset my parents but if I had a choice then it would either be Victorian OR Japanese.

Victorian because I love the fashion of that period. Big dresses, elaborate hairstyles and high tea for reception what is there not to love. As for Japanese, well that is my other love in fashion and it would have been lovely to see the whole wedding party in colourful kimono. When my friend got married, she got married in a gorgeous kimono and asked her friends to wear kimono as well. We really brightened up the wedding photos.

Jennifer from ClayBouquetShop

We went with an Autumnal theme to bring in the colors of the season.

Red and orange bouquets/bouts were carried/worn, and the accent color for the gowns and tuxes and chair sashes were Apple (David’s Bridal/Mens Wearhouse.) Centerpieces were made from orange Chinese lanterns and deep red berries and velvet maple leaves I purchased at Michael’s stores. (I cleaned out the 4 stores around us to make them.) I made our invites and placecards out of burgundy and ivory lotka paper with accent leaves, and the chocolate wedding cake was accented by the autumnal colors. Cocktail tables had candle holders with japanese maple leaves from our yard, and I even dried leaves from a few yards the prior year for the ceremony aisle. And the reception hall provided many accents of leaves, berries and flowers in similar autumn colors for the fireplace and windows in the room to add to everything we did ourselves. : )

Amanda from ArtisanMaskers

I would love to have done a masquerade-themed wedding (obviously), but because of the extra time and cost involved in doing it “right,” I don’t regret not doing it. Would’ve been a blast, though!

Kristin from BagSecrets

We got married at the Cliff House in San Francisco which is a historic landmark. So naturally we went with a historic San Francisco theme. We had old photos of different landmarks around the city put them into gold vintage frames and used those as our table names. Our last song was “I left my heart in San Francisco” which naturally got everyone on the dance floor. I loved our theme and I wouldn’t change a thing!

Wedding Inspiration ~ For a Gothic Wedding

By BagSecrets

Your wedding day should showcase who you and your fiancé are. Don’t be afraid to break traditions and create a wedding that is truly unique. Here is some inspiration for a gothic wedding!

Brooch Bouquet by ClayBouquetShop

                 

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Glitter Vases by KPGDesigns

 

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Fairy Mask by ArtisanMaskers

 

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Wedding Dress by WeddingDressFantasy

 

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Invitations by OddLotEmporium

 

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Lace Fingerless Gloves by DarkJye

 

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Feather Flower Hat by MsFormaldehyde

 

WedEclectic Q&A

We ask the WedEclectic team a question, and post their answers each week…providing some advice, inspiration and insight into the person behind our shops. We hope you enjoy them!

Please reply with your own answer!  : )

Grand exit ~ Did you opt to make a grand exit at your wedding? If so what did you do?

Jennifer from ClayBouquetShop

I wanted to leave a bit early when planning our wedding, but we opted to help pack up everything that night (still in our gown and tux) so we didn’t have to come back in the morning. It was a very DIY wedding, so we had to pack up the centerpieces’ vases, stones and silks, the chair cover and sashes, and the many other décor pieces around the rooms.

Karen from BlingForTheTable

I love the grand exit. 32 years ago we had a post reception party for close family and friends. I hated to leave!!

Dalynda from SteampunkWedding

My favorite grand exit was when the couple rented a gorgeous old car, a Bentley Mark VI, and drove off to their destination!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bentley_Mark_VI

My husband and tried to do a grand exit… My husband is a BIG cyclist & we married in an outdoor wedding in Colorado. So when we were ready to go, he put me on the bike and he peddled us away!

My mom and grandmother rolled their eyes – so go with the Bentley Mark VI instead!

Kristin from BagSecrets

My husband and I opted for a grand exit. We originally wanted everyone to hold sparklers for us to run under. Unfortunately it didn’t happen as the sparklers were hard to light, plus we got married on the coast and it’s typically windy there. Luckily we tested them first! Instead we had a large paper banner made that said “Just Married” and our wedding date. We had a few people hold it up and everyone lined up on both sides. We then charged down the “aisle” high fiving everyone along the way and then tore through the banner like a football game. Kinda cheesy, I know, but it was fun and different. 🙂

WedEclectic Team Treasury

Check out this bright and bold team treasury by Kristin from BagSecrets

WedEclectic Q&A

We ask the WedEclectic team a question, and post their answers each week…providing some advice, inspiration and insight into the person behind our shops. We hope you enjoy them!

Please reply with your own answer!  : )

Save the date cards ~ are they necessary? Did you opt to send them out?

Jennifer from ClayBouquetShop

I think it helps family and friends in terms of scheduling time off of work, especially if they are sent far in advance. (Ours were sent out a full year ahead of time.)
It can also be a great way to announce your website (for RSVPs, date, venue, menu options, hotels, area information, etc.).
And since they are sent out early, they don’t have to match your invites. : ) I created ours on Vistaprint for fairly cheap, so it was well worth it. : )

Karen from BlingForTheTable

I love the idea of receiving Save The Date cards. In a time where we are so busy it helps to give people a heads up on the upcoming wedding. It also provides the bride to be the opportunity to introduce herself and her fiance with a special photo. I guess if my budget was tight I might forgo but I personally love to receive them.

Dalynda from SteampunkWedding

I ❤ Save the Dates!

Even if the notice isn’t a formal card or mailing, a simple email really helps!
Our calendar includes several weddings this summer in at least three different states!

Many friends and families are really busy in the summer months, especially, so giving as much notice as possible is preferred. We’ve received ‘Save the Date’ cards, emails – one even included a YouTube link with pictures of the couple with a favorite song!

Kristin from BagSecrets

Save the date cards are not only fun to receive but I think they are necessary these days with our other responsibilities and commitments. I am so glad that my husband and I decided to send them out nearly 6 months in advance as we had several guests mention they already had trips planned but decided to reschedule so they could attend our wedding! As Dalynda mentioned above there are a few ways to send out Save the Dates for free, they don’t need to expensive. I too have received a Save the Date by email with a photo of the couple which actually linked back to their wedding website where you could even RSVP for their wedding!