Photography by: http://effervescentmediaworks.com
Ok… so you’ve already acquired your engagement and bridal pictures and the wedding day is fast approaching! Now what? The following are several fun ideas for displaying your pictures at your wedding reception. Some of these pictures I have taken myself at receptions, others I have collected from the web!
1. A photo tree!
I just love this one since it elegantly bridges the gap to create a more organic look! It is the perfect addition to have on your sign in table or next to your sign in table depending on how tall the branches you use are. I recommend either finding or buying clean branches so the focus is on your pictures and not distracted by leaves or a lot of messy bark. And if needed sand and spray paint a clean subdued color. White can even be a bold but clean look. Many home furnishing stores will sell cleaned branches for living room decor and they make the perfect fit! The swirlier and curvier the branches are the better since it creates such a unique look! There is also so much variety you can find with something like this since they come in a variety of colors.
To attach pictures to the trees, just add a hole punch at the top and a little piece of twin or string to hang it on the tree just like you would a Christmas ornament.
Even if you don’t want to display pictures, you could also create a sign in tree. I loved how at one of the receptions I shot there were they adorable tags that people could sign when they walked in and then hang it on the branches of a small tree.
I love this idea because it adds such a personal sort of touch, and it is really an art piece that blossoms of all the love and company present at your receptions for quests to see again when they leave.
Depending on the size of your branches, you can even consider implementing small christmas lights, especially if you are having an indoor night time reception. This will give that additional elegant glow.
To put the tree pot together, simply insert a large block of green flower foam into the base of a sturdy heavy set vase. To wedge it in there tightly buy a block slightly larger than the vase and shave off the edges until you can force it into the ceramic pot.
2. Clothes Pins
I love clothes pins! I don’t know if it is the vintage cutesy look to them or what but I love the natural “out of the box” look you can do with them and you can do so much! Just like the photo tree you can have the looser look of free floating memories that wave about in the afternoon breeze. You can hang a string of them from one area to another to create a fun collection. Also you don’t have to use clear strong but you can go all out with fun unique ribbons! You have so many options with a string of pictures, such as twirling around a tree trunk, dressing up a wall by drooping them across it etc!
Since these pictures tend to twirl about then be sure to put two pictures on each clip back to back so your quests will always see a smile an not the back of a photo. You can hang other fun additions too to fit the look of your wedding. For example, origami crane, paper hears, little mirrors etc all make a loves addition. You could even complete your collage with hanging initials or a word such as “love” in their separate letters all strung up!
3. Trees!
First comes love, then comes marriage then comes the baby and the baby carriage! And somewhere
in there something about kissing in the tree… lol.
If you reception is out doors then don’t be afraid to go crazy! With ribbon and pictures hanging from the tree branches. You can hang the pictures by themselves or collect old frames from the attic or a nearby thrift store or antique mall. Oval frames look great! Be sure to have a variety as well. To evenly hang the pictures that are square or rectangle, then be sure to use string for each of the top corners. This will also help avoid a tangle mess.
Depending on the time of day of your reception you may want to think about lighting in the trees as well! Small lanterns hanging among the frames or even candle light would be lovely.
In this photo things get pretty busy pretty quick with all of the string! Which in and of itself is a cool look. However, be sure to think about wind. Or, if you find that once you hang the pictures there just isn’t enough goes on then try mixing in some wide ribbons as well!
If there are large trees at the location of your wedding reception then consider hanging or tying a framed picture to the tree.
To avoid hurting the tree, attach ribbon to the back of the frame and tightly encircle the tree to get it to stay. Look for a bump or groove for the ribbon to rest over to ensure a more secure setup.
4. Frames
This is probably one of the most commonly used ways of showing off all your fun pictures at the reception! But you don’t have to go too far out. If you are thinking of using frames but want to save money they try using frames from friends and family. Simply temporarily put your pictures over theirs until after the wedding! It is easy to mix it up a little too much so depending on the look you would like to go for try to match the frames metal or wood style so you don’t end up with a modge podge of frame decor!
Frames are great for table decor and center pieces for all over the wedding.
5. Take advantage of your surroundings.
Before the wedding when you are touring the venue, take note of the surroundings and where you can hang pictures. You’ll often find there is really so much to work with when you are looking for it!
Here’s a list of just a few unique places you can hang pictures:
Iron gates or fences, wooden fences, trees, arbors or vines, windows, fire places, ledges, banisters…
How adorable would a line of pictures be hung across this scrolly gate!
Whatever you are thinking of doing, be sure to ask permission in advance so there are no surprises on the day of!
6. Go for a scavenger hunt in grandmas attic or at an Antique Mall
You would be amazed at how many cool things you might find to display your pictures on in these sort of places. An old wooden door or metal siding, a decorative divider. Once shopping at an antique mall I came across some old metal siding that came out of an old hotel in Denver and I used if as a child portrait studio backdrop for years to come. Use thick ribbons to hang from the object to tie in your wedding colors.
Such additions can work wonder for decorating your reception, especially if you are wanting to cover up an undesirable area. Even hanging curtains and from the poles pinning up foam board mounted photos an undesired wall suddenly becomes a collage attraction for your quests to look at. If you do have the ability to decorate a large space like a full wall of a reception hall, think outside the box! Consider making a start to finish dating timeline wall with pictures of your courtship.
Gator board or hard board prints are adorable hung with wide set ribbon and a big bow on such decor!
Some items to keep an eye out for when shopping are: Old wood palettes, wood boxes to double as a shelf, old doors, antique room dividers , and mini frames and frame Christmas Ornaments for hanging pictures.
When touring your venue location, look around for trees and areas your can hang these items from. Consider the weight too.
7. Slide shows!
Tell your quests a bit more about yourselves as you great them with a custom made slide show as they wait in the wedding party line, at a sign in table to area of your venue that has a screen available for guests to sit and watch your story. Share a short 10 minute history by starting the slide show off with childhood photos and work your way up to your dating life, engagements and bridal shots. If you are not having a welcome line then simply display the TV in an area quests can enjoy it.
Consider making your slideshow 100 images or fewer as each image lasts about 4-6 seconds and that is a comfortable timing for guests to sit through watching your story.
8. Sign in Guest Books.
A fun and popular way to let your quests sign in! Scrapbook or have a custom sign in book made with your engagements, bridals/ formals and even your favorite dating pictures.
Recommended: do a lay flat option as this will be easier for guests to sign in and have a fine art classic album feel to it.
Also be sure to test the pen you are using in advance that it won’t smudge and smear easy.
9. Photo booths + Scrapbook Sign in Book
Let your quests sign in in their own personal goofy way! Photo booths have rapidly become a reception favorite!
Friends and family can glue their own pictures to an already scrapbook ready page for your fun keepsake when the day is done!
Most photo booth services offer this, so if you want to customize it further just let me know! Be sure to pick non-busy patterned paper so that the messages from your guests will be legible.
10. Edible pictures!
Have your formal/ bridals or engagement pictures printed on edible frosting/ chocolate and attached to your wedding cake! It can make for a very unique touch and a tasty one!
Effervescent Media Works 