January 10, 2024 | By Jacqueline Larcara
Make a statement with a seating chart that will grab your guests’ attention. Opt for a personalized guest book that will have everyone talking. Choose themed decor that people will remember. Get inspired by these fun seating charts, unique guest books and more whimsical wedding decor ideas from real couples.
Couple Alexis Reyes-Jimenez & Michael Jimenez
Venue The Hamilton Manor, Hamilton Township
Inspo âOur guests signed small wooden leaves and dropped them into the frame to fill the branches of the tree,â says Alexis. âWe loved the idea of a tree not only because it matched our fall theme, but it was symbolic of starting our own family tree. Itâs now hanging
in our dining room.â
Where They Shopped Frame, leaves, box for extra leaves, table stand and hanging equipment, Etsy shop SeanOfAngeles.
Couple Sabrina & Justin Salem
Venue Park Château Estate & Gardens, East Brunswick
Inspo âI would describe my seating chart as being a Christmas loverâs dream,â says Sabrina about the decor piece at her early-December wedding. âI truly love the happiness and joy the holiday season brings. I pictured almost a life-sized Santaâs nice list, but instead it would have my guests and their table numbers on it. I knew I wanted it to say âto all a good nightâ to hint at the classic Christmas story.â
Where They Shopped The Jess Press.
Couple Kara & Robert Jameson
Venue The Ashford Estate, Allentown
Inspo âOur seating chart was 14 glass cloches filled with florals, presented upon wooden crates,â says Kara. âEach cloche had hand-calligraphy displaying the table assignments. I was inspired by the enchanted red rose in glass from Beauty and the Beast. A sign that said âBe Our Guestâ beautifully tied it together.â
Where They Shopped Cloches and crates, Michaelâs. Crates were hand-stained by brideâs dad. Calligraphy, the Jess Press. Florals, MDS Floral Designs.
Couple Brittany Botta & Lucas Paez
Venue Crossed Keys Estate, Andover
Inspo âOur seating chart was made up of a beautiful display of colorful noisemakers,â says Brittany. âThe title, âMake a Joyful Noise,â felt so right as it was such a joyous celebration of our love. The noisemakers also had cards attached with our table names, which were states weâve traveled to. They also turned out to be such a fun prop during the reception.â
Where They Shopped Etsy shop AdornMarket.
[RELATED: “The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Venues in New Jersey“]
Couple Taylor & Christopher Bassani
Venue The Park Savoy Estate, Florham Park
Inspo âMy guest book was a picture frame, and on the glass I pasted an engagement photo of us along with our wedding song, âWonderful Tonightâ by Eric Clapton,â says Taylor. âIt looked like our song was playing on Apple Music or Spotify but with our photo in place of the album photo. People signed it with black, gold and silver Sharpies.â
Where They Shopped Frame was spray painted gold, Hobby Lobby. Photo, Shutterfly. Song details, made on brideâs Cricut.
Couple Sarah & Brian Metcalfe
Venue Crystal Plaza, Livingston
Inspo âWe decided to make our seating chart one big book case and each guest got their own book with their table number,â says Sarah. The couple included the lyrics And at every table, Iâll save you a seat at the top, which was from their first-dance song, âLoverâ by Taylor Swift. âIt was perfect because it included my two favorite things: reading and Taylor Swift,â says Sarah.
Where They Shopped The groom built the book case. Books and lettering, Scripted Swirls.
Couple Tara Zahorenko & Steve Gelber
Venue Daymark, Barnegat Light
Inspo âWe had a beach wedding with a nautical theme, so we thought making a card box from a crab/lobster trap was a great and creative option,â says Steve. âMy wife and I love LBI. We were engaged and had our ceremony at the Lighthouse at Barnegat Light State Park.â
Where They Shopped The groom built the card box using pallet wood that he stained blue and painted over with a lighter blue, black and white before sanding it to give it a distressed look. Attached starfish, sand dollars and shells, Things a Drift on LBI. This launched Steveâs creative side gig business, @barksandcraftsnj.
Couple Priscilla & Paul Segars
Venue The Gables, Beach Haven
Inspo âWe were in Berlin, Germany and saw something similar to these drink cards at a bar called Fairytale Bar. I immediately loved the idea,â says Priscilla. âWe created signature drinks and bought beer, created names and put them on the cards. They were a fun way to show the drink menu based on the Alice in Wonderland theme, which was representative of how we wanted the day to beâfun, celebratory and not too serious.â
Where They Shopped Joy Cards in Princeton.
Couple Ellen & Joe Rada
Venue The Water Witch Club, Highlands
Inspo âWe are both nature lovers, so I knew I wanted to incorporate a nature element into our theme. I also studied butterflies in graduate school,â says Ellen. âI liked how each species of butterfly was assigned to each table. This added a bunch of new colors that werenât necessarily in the rest of my theme. The table numbers are whimsical, natural, bohemian, free and represent new beginnings.â
Where They Shopped Documents and Designs Fine Stationery.
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