Unique Guest Books

Your guest book does not actually have to be a "book." Take a cue from these creative brides & think of a fun, unique way to remember your guests. The following ideas were found at Martha Stewart Weddings.

Set up like a trendy candy buffet, guests are asked to make & take wishes.

Ask guests to type well wishes to the bride & groom.

This Lovebird Tree holds nests of paper birds filled with guests' well wishes.

The next ideas were found at Style Me Pretty.

A guestbook that "rocks!"

Guests write their recipes for love.

Ask guests to paint, stamp, or write their wishes.

A guest book takes flight with paper butterflies used for well wishes!

My favorite idea: have guests write on a wooden bench (what a keepsake!)

So, when you are choosing a guestbook, remember, it's okay to think outside the book!!!

{Cream of the Crop Vendor} ~ 5 Rings Photography

Today's Cream of the Crop Preferred Vendor is Jessi Ringer of 5 Rings Photography. I can testify for her talent because she photographed my family this past fall. She is fun, enthusiastic, and determined to get the best shots (she got in the river to take a picture of us!) :) Read on to see the answers to our questions & see some of my favorite wedding and engagement photos from her site. We would be happy to recommend her to any bride who wants absolutely fantastic wedding photos to last a lifetime!

1. What is your photography style (photojournalistic, traditional, etc.)?

I think a recent client summed it up best by saying that my style was : edgy-stylish photojournalism with a little bit of light-heartedness and fun mixed in.

2. What is your price range for a wedding?

Wedding packages start at $2,500 for the Knoxville area.

3. What do most of your packages include?

All packages include: documentary coverage provided by me, an online gallery for proofing and ordering, and a disk of hi- resolution images for the bride and groom's personal use.

4. How do you keep track of special photos a bride wants taken?

I send out a questionnaire a week or so before the wedding to get all of that squared away with the bride ahead of time and then I make sure I have 2 or 3 copies of that list on me at all times on wedding day.

5. During the wedding & reception, do you offer ideas for creative shots?

Yes and No. I normally follow the lead of the bride and groom. If they are having fun with their guests, I tend to shoot the wedding a little more photojournalistically. If I see that things are starting to slow down a little, I may jump in and try to get the crowd pumped up by having someone do some crazy dance moves, etc.

6. What is your favorite detail of a wedding?

The people. They are the most important detail. Without them, there is no wedding.

7. How long have you been photographing weddings?

I just wrapped up my first year as a wedding photographer and am excited to begin my 2nd wedding season in early May!

Thank you, Jessi, for sharing your amazing talent with us!

{Cream of the Crop Vendor} ~ Hope Photography

Our first addition to our Cream of the Crop Preferred Vendor List is Hope Photography. The photographers are a husband and wife team, Wes & Danielle. As I searched their blog and website, they seem like such a fun couple and would undoubtedly add a creative aspect to your wedding and engagement photos. Read their answers to our questions below and take a look at some of my favorite photos from their blog.

1. What is your photography style (photojournalistic, traditional, etc.)?

Our style started out being primarily photojournalistic (stemming from Wes' 10 year career as a newspaper photographer), however, over the years we strive to change as our client's wants change. Now, we still shoot with the eye of a photojournalist but we also strive to capture some amazing, fashion-style portraits of our couples! We really try to have fun when we work and we want that to show in our photographs!

2. What is your price range for a wedding?

This is a combo of questions 2 and 3:

Our packages start out at $3,000.00 and go on up to $7,000.00. EVERY package includes, full-day coverage by TWO photographers (Wes AND Danielle), an online proofing gallery, a proofbook (the couple gets to keep this) and an album. We also have packages that include engagement session and discs of the wedding images so that the couple can be responsible for their own reprints. All packages are customizable with a whole list of add-ons.

3. What do most of your packages include?

4. How do you keep track of special photos a bride wants taken?

We really try to discuss this at the final meeting that we have with the bride and groom about a month before the wedding. We also have the couple make us a list of those "must have" portraits (groupings with family and friends) that they want. This way we don't leave anyone out :)

5. During the wedding & reception, do you offer ideas for creative shots?

Of course! We try to scout out the wedding venue and the reception venue before the wedding so that we can go ahead and let our creative wheels start turning. We like to go into a wedding with some ideas of ways to be different and unique...different poses and locations so that our bride stands out from all of the other weddings that might have already been photographed at that location. We are also always up for any ideas or suggestions that the bride and groom, themselves, have...this can sometimes lead to some crazy but awesome shots!

6. What is your favorite detail of a wedding?

Oooohhh...this is a tough question. Wes LOVES details. He says that you can tell the entire story of the wedding day by just looking at the details. We really strive to get some great photos of all of the details on the day of the wedding because the bride and her friends and family have spent so much money and time into getting all of the little details perfect and then they don't even really get to enjoy them on the day of. We hope that they can relive the moments in the detail shots that we capture. I think some of our favorite details involve the flowers...flowers and how they are used can really set a scene for a wedding (and they make great props for photos :)

7. How long have you been photographing weddings?

We started photographing weddings in 2000 right after we got married and were so unhappy with our own wedding photos. We knew that we could do a much better job than our photographer had done for us and for a much better price than what we paid. We learned the hard way that "you get what you pay for" and when it comes to the photographs of your wedding you shouldn't go cheap. I mean once the flowers have died and the cake has been eaten, the only thing you really have left to remember your special day by is your photos!

We love our job though! It is so awesome to be a part of a couple's special day. We are SO happy in our own lives together and it is great to share in another couple's journey at its beginning :)

Thanks so much, Danielle & Wes, for sharing your awesome talent with us! We will be happy to refer our brides to you for unbelievably beautiful photography!