A Unique Wedding Guest Book and Seating Chart
I recently had a custom order for a GIANT wedding book tome to be used at a friend’s daughter’s wedding. Since she knows how I make books and journals, she thought having something custom made would be a special touch to the day.
We brainstormed a lot of things, and landed on making a book that would serve as a seating chart for guests AS WELL as be the guest book for people to sign in and leave a sentiment for the new couple.
I’ve never done something of this size, and it turned out so wonderful!
Inspiration from the Gothic Era
My journey into creating this extraordinary book began with a fascination for old tomes found in castle libraries during the Gothic period. Since the wedding theme was castles – this was a perfect starting place. And, I wanted to craft a wedding guest book that went beyond mere functionality, one that would transport you to a bygone era and evoke the charm of those ancient books.
The Exquisite Details
If I do say so myself, this book turned out to be a true masterpiece. It was meticulously designed to resemble an ancient tome, with metal filigree on the outside and handmade cover that has been dyed to look like aged and worn leather. The pages inside were made from coffee-dyed watercolor paper and feature decoupaged images of magnificent castles that set the scene for a fairy tale wedding.
A Dual-Purpose Marvel
But what truly sets this book apart is its functionality. This 16″ x 12″ wonder isn’t just a guest book; it also served as the seating chart. Pages throughout the book featured tuck spots that held tags with the guests’ names and their assigned tables (which were castle names!), ensuring a smooth transition from the ceremony to the reception.
A Guest Book with Sentiments
In addition to helping guests find their seats, each page had space for guests to leave heartfelt sentiments for the newlyweds. There were quill pens and ink wells nearby to finish off the look and people were able to sign the book before they left for the night.
Overcoming Challenges
The creation of this book was not without its challenges! Crafting a book of this size required crazy attention to detail, and believe me, I faced unique challenges, especially in ensuring the end pages held the book together securely. Even the metal tassel on the outside had its moments of stubbornness before it found its place.
See How it All Came Together
This book was so much fun to make, and turned out better than I even imagined! Before I handed it over for the wedding, I created a little flip through video so I could remember it!
For a closer look at this amazing tome, check out the video above, and then let me know what you think in the comments!
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