Photos (clockwise from top left): 2BSquared Design, Kimberlee Miller Photography, Kaylee Eylander Photography, Jordan Quinn Photography, and Ned Jackson Photography

Table numbers may serve a practical purpose, but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring. Having a little fun with this detail is a simple, inexpensive way to enhance your reception decor. Add a unique, personal touch with any of these fabulous table number ideas.

Spelled out: Swap numerics for letters for a simple, subtle spin. Just make sure to choose a lettering style that suits your overall motif. Convey a classic feel with fancy script or calligraphy, or go with a bright sans-serif for a playful, modern quality.

Hand painted: Paint numbers on cardstock, wood, tin, or glass to give your tablescape a lighthearted touch.

Part of the centerpiece: You don’t have to create a separate table number – just add a number to the vessel! Combine fashion and function with numbered centerpieces.

Framed: Display table numbers in photo frames that complement your wedding style. Go with a pronounced material like weathered wood or colored enamel, or choose a simple frame and mount the numbers on a fun patterned fabric.

Three-dimensional: Make a statement with freestanding numbers made from cardboard, metal or wood. Paint them to match your color scheme, cover them in fabric or natural material, leave them bare, or mix and match different styles.

Photos by (clockwise from top): Lennon Photo; Onelove Photography; Carrie Wildes Photography; RJSTILLS

While having a ceremony program isn’t mandatory, it’s a nice way to introduce your family members and wedding party to your guests, plus explain the sequence of your ceremony. If you do choose to create a ceremony program, you can be as straightforward or creative as you like. Here are some of the most popular ideas:

Board: Instead of having a paper program, many couples are creating large boards (often chalkboards) featuring all of the pertinent ceremony information. The pros: This is a major paper saver and you won’t hear the constant turning of pages during your ceremony. The cons: Your guests won’t be able to take your program home as a keepsake.

Pamphlet or Booklet: The most common program format. You’ll be able to feature as much (or as little) information as you’d like and it makes a nice take-home for your guests.

Fan: Fun and functional, these programs work best at warm-weather, outdoor wedding ceremonies. It’ll help your guests stay cool, but be ready to hear the constant flapping of fans during your ceremony.

Something Different: We’ve seen a wide variety of unique programs, from vintage-inspired newspapers (see above), to nostalgic cootie-catchers, to passport-style booklets.

Are you doing something creative with your ceremony program? Let us know in the comments!

Guest Post by Anne Chertoff

Iconic stationery company Crane & Co. released a number of new designs that stray from the traditional ecru card with small black fonts. Bright colors, bold lettering and mixing of sans serif and serif fonts, laser-cut detailing and die-cut cards were fresh additions to the Crane & Co. Wedding I Album. The new designs will be available starting in July 2012 at retailers around the country.

Engraved Fifth Avenue Fete Wedding Suite by Crane & Co.
Photo courtesy of Crane & Co.

How are you telling your guests to “Save-The-Date”?

Here are a few ideas that are a little bit different from the standard stationery card.

1. The Retro Look

Jennifer Lane Graphic Design

2. The Boarding Pass

The Stylish Scribe, LLC

3. Movie Tickets

Letterpunch Design

4. Concert Tickets

Marit Hanson Weddings, LLC

5. Calendar Date

Minted.com

6. Picture Perfect

Minted.com

Photo Credits:

Jennifer Lane Graphic Design

The Stylish Scribe, LLC

Letterpunch Design

Marit Hanson Weddings, LLC

Minted

It seems these days that people are getting save the dates in the mail almost weekly, and you don’t want yours to get lost amongst the others. So what can you do to set your save the dates apart from the rest? With a little creativity, there are a ton of fun options out there for save the dates. Some of them may be expensive, but not all of them have to be, and some of these you could even do a DIY version of!

Row 1

1. SCRATCH OFF – I love the idea of a scratch off save the date. . .it is similar to a lottery scratch off ticket, and is an interactive way to tell your guests when your wedding date it!

2. LUGGAGE TAG – What a great idea for a destination wedding! This save the date doubles as a luggage tag, and is a cute way to announce your pending nuptials.

3. PUZZLE – This is another interactive save the date. To find out all the details, guests will have to solve the puzzle.

Row 2

1. DOVE CHOCOLATE – Dove Chocolate can customize wrappers to say your message. I think this is such a great, unique way to announce your wedding. . .and I’m sure recipients will appreciate the free chocolate!

Row 3

1. AIRLINE TICKET – This is another great idea for a destination wedding. The save the date is printed to look like an airline ticket, definitely gets creativity points!

2. HANDKERCHIEF – I love this idea for a country themed wedding, it is a dainty way to announce your wedding, and helps set the tone for your theme.

3. BOOKMARK – Everybody loves a good book, and we all need bookmarks! Guests will be reminded of your impending wedding every time they open their favorite book.

Row 4

1. DISH TOWEL – I love this idea! It may be a little pricey, but I think you could easily create this as a DIY project!

2. BABY PICS – This is a little more of a standard save the date, but I love the 3D elements of the ribbon and baby pictures, and it’s more fun then a standard engagement photo!

As you can see, there are definitely some unique save the date ideas out there. There is also the standard, but of course practical, magnet options and sticker options for your calendar.

So what was the most unique save the date that I found?

That would be Erica and Sam’s 164 Days until they tie the knot save the date. This New York couple came up with a very creative save the date, comprised off laughs and lots of TMI. This is a cute, although time consuming way to share a little information about yourselves as a couple with your friends and family. To read the entire save the date card click here.

- Lauryn