Modern Twists on Traditional Guest Books

Even the best of guest books can become cluttered, messy, and difficult to read. Below, you'll find several ideas that we love to add an unique twist to an old-fashioned tradition!



This innovative guest book personalizes each message, and its colorful envelopes have a fun and youthful appeal. The envelopes also allow guests the opportunity to leave more private and meaningful messages, something they may not be inclined to do if they know another hundred and fifty people will be reading what they wrote.



Wine bottle guest books are one of the latest trends in weddings. Simple, easy and creative, this idea allows your guests to be concise in their messages, taking the pressure off of those who have difficulty putting their thoughts on paper. It can also be be used later as a decorative piece in your home, serving as a constant reminder of your special day. All you need is a large enough wine bottle and colorful sharpie pen (silver tends to work best)!



A Mad Lib guest book is a lighthearted approach that let's your guests show their sense of humor. An easy icebreaker, the personalized Mad Lib is a fun way for your guests to send you their well wishes while making you laugh at the same time. Easy to create, this idea can be created using any simple word processor!

Rich Smith Photography

One of our favorite photographers, Rich Smith, just had a stunning bridal photo shoot at the ruins in Barnsley Gardens. The images are nothing less than spectacular, dovetailing the romanticism of being a bride with the ruins of an antebellum plantation.

Only a short drive from both Chattanooga and Atlanta, Barnsley Gardens is a fantastic golf resort that sits on the site of a former plantation in Adairsville, Georgia. It’s rich history, along with its natural charm, create a perfect destination for a weekend get away or event. For more information, visit their website - http://www.barnsleyresort.com/.




What we love must about Rich Smith’s images are that they capture what a photo is supposed to do – tell a story. He captures a bride who is surrounded by lush greenery as she explores the beautiful remains of a Southern plantation. They are simple yet elegant, and tug at the core of human desires – to love and to explore.

To see more of these phenomenal photos, visit his website, http://www.richsmithphotography.net/2475-ryann-»-bridal.html!

Wedding Trends from Across the Pond

When Prince William and his fiancé, Kate Middleton, wed on April 29, the entire world will watch with baited breath to see the biggest royal spectacle in decades. The trends this famous couple has set can already be seen, even here in the States. Like his mother and father, William and his bride-to-be are influencing wedding styles for many years to come.

When his mother, Princess Diana wed in 1981, her wedding gown ignited a desire with brides around the world to copy her dramatic look. Designers frantically tried to meet the demands, creating gowns that copied her iconic puffed sleeves, lace cuffs and ruffled neckline. There is no doubt that future brides will be anxiously awaiting Kate Middleton’s choice in a dress to find their own inspiration.

Kate’s engagement ring has even sparked a new craze among women around the globe. Many brides are starting to seek out non-traditional gemstones, like sapphires and diamonds in various colors, allowing them to add their own personal touch to their ring.

Despite the non-traditional engagement ring, the return to more traditional wedding features appears to be the most influential trend set by the famous couple. Many couples-to-be have taken cues from the royal nuptials by adding rich features to their special day. Elaborate and ornate invitations, dramatic lighting, and lush floral arrangements are all major trends to be seen this season.

When planning your own wedding or event, adding traditional elements can be a nice touch that ties everything together. However, it is important to make sure you add your own flare in any event you have. While traditional, royal themes may seem appealing, any direction chosen should reflect who you are, so you don’t feel like a guest at your own event.

Be sure to catch the excitement of the Royal Wedding on April 29th (two weeks!), airing on BBC America.

Bold Colors Make a Bold Statement

We love to incorporate bright, bold colors into spring and summer weddings. Many brides are going outside the box and choosing gorgeous colorful schemes for their wedding and reception florals. Here, corals, oranges and reds were used against soft greens. Bright colors work really well in outdoor settings to bring a big burst of color to a natural setting. It is a great way to make your flower budget stretch. Greens and neutrals can sometimes get lost outside, but brighter colors really add a nice punch and stand out against their green backdrops. Thanks to Tamara Dillard of Sophie's for these gorgeous arrangements!

Fun At Work

We recently had the pleasure of planning and coordinating a beautiful wedding at the Tennessee River Place in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The unbelievably talented Garrett and Joy Nudd of Garrett Nudd Photography sent us a snapshot of the Soirees Team hard at work. We always coordinatate weddings with a team of no less than three of us on-site all day which makes for big smiles (as you can see in the photo) and great experiences. Thanks Garrett and Joy for sending us this awesome shot!

It's All in the Details

Taking time to pay close attention to details is what can really make your event stand out to your guests. Something as simple as tying a ribbon on your napkins or programs, monogramming your cocktail napkins or even bringing big punches of color into your event using fabrics and flowers can really make a statement. When budgeting for your event, consider setting aside a small part for your own extra touches.

Soirees offers full-service event designing in addition to event planning and coordination. Our creative event designers meet one-on-one with our clients and create a detailed event design portfolio that is tailored to each and every one of our clients specific wants and needs. If you would like some help making your own event unique, please contact us today to see how we can help.

When to Order Invitations?

With the frequency of the question, "When do I order my invites," we decided that an answer post might be very helpful to many browsing brides. The process of creating and ordering invitations should be a very fun and enjoyable one, as long as you are not under a time crunch. Pre-designed wedding stationery packages, which can be found at any local stationery shop, are the quickest way to order your invitations. We recommend this process to all wedding clients who do not have at least 4 months before the wedding date. If you have the time and budget, creating a custom invitation can be very fun and rewarding. Having a unique and personalized invitation set is a great way to send your guests a preview of the wedding day. After all, in most cases it is the first glimpse of the wedding for your guests. For custom invitations you should allow anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks for proofing and decisions, 4 to 6 weeks for printing and shipping and 2 to 4 weeks for calligraphy (if you choose to use a calligrapher). You should send your invitations 4 to 6 weeks before the response date (which should be printed on the response set). We like to advise clients to ask for a response date which is 3 to 4 weeks before the actual date of the wedding. Many guests will send their responses back at the last minute (sometimes after the requested response date) and most of your wedding vendors will require a head count 2 weeks before the wedding date. This will give you a few weeks to gather your final guests list. And if you choose to use a pre-designed set you can take quite a bit of time off the above estimates.

And don't be afraid to get creative with your invitations. The trend is becoming to really personalize and make a statement with your invitation set. Unique sizes and colors are being used more often than you would expect. For more information on local stationery shops and resources, please feel free to send us an email at info@soireesonline.com.