Comments on: Ask Abby

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Fri, 02 May 2008 02:30:08 +0000

I think either Martha Stewart Weddings or the knot had a grade school themed wedding featured in one of their magazines a while back.

Invites and RSVP cards were themed by having them printed in typewriter font on attendance and report card papers. They borrowed a teacher’s desk to place the red apples set up as table seating. And had one of those little name plaqards of their teacher’s on the desk. Guests could also take polaroid pics of each other in front of a chalkboard, and even write on it and use props (like those tiny student desks) for their pictures to put in the guest book next to well-wishes. I mostly remember daisies, yellow number two pencils and red apples from the pictures.

Ever since seeing those pictures I wished I could do such a cute theme for my wedding….Elementary School theme doesn’t work when you met in your 20’s though. Love the idea of having brown lunch bags too! (luminaries, around vases, as bags for candy/cookie bar, or stuffing with goodies for oot bags or grocery bag folded over for bathroom baskets.)

By: Feather and Ink

Feather and Ink — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:44:18 +0000

I just found this really cool yearbook paper on Paper Source which would be a great way to create invites – the invites could be made like a copybook with this wrapping paper as the cover.
http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/44360650.html?cm_id=3000.340. That would be fun!

By: Robyn

Robyn — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:50:52 +0000

This may have already been mentioned but RSVP cards that incorporate circling their response similar to the grade school ‘will you be my boyfriend? Circle yes or no’. What fun!

By: patti

patti — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:58:42 +0000

these ideas are so FUN!
i’m wondering if i can just rewrite the history of how we met so I can have a school theme too ! i love the popsicles, cheesy school photo session and roll call ideas so much! how about: for your rehearsal, give out your gifts for your attendants and parents, etc. in little brown paper lunch bags. instead of “just married” hang a “out for recess” sign on the car.

By: tien & david

tien & david — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:54:30 +0000

Thank you Abby and all your readers for your great suggestions! We are so touched by everyone’s enthusiasm and can’t wait to start working on many of your ideas! Keep ‘em coming!!
So far, we’re planning to:
-display framed elementary school classwork where D commented on T’s work and vice versa
-name tables after our old teachers and classes, using of course that awesome lined cursive practice paper
-serve colorful popsicles at the rehearsal dinner!
-use a chalkboard to introduce guests to the reception
-ring a class bell to announce the start of dinner (or maybe the start of the wedding party intros)
-definitely have a plate of pretty rice crispy treats and cupcakes alongside cake for all the “kids”

We both love the cigar lounge school bus idea but sadly don’t think our downtown SF hotel will let us park it out front by the Bentleys!

Thanks again to everyone who read and replied to Abby’s post!

T&D

By: Kacey

Kacey — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:04:47 +0000

How about having a hired photographer to sit near the guest book and take seated pictures of each guest in the elementary school picture pose? He could have the fake backgrounds (like the neon lazers on gray or the fall foliage – two that I remember) and hand out combs. And maybe you could have them hold a board that says “Tien and David’s Wedding” with the date, like the board that someone always had to hold with the teacher’s name and grade number on it. He could take the pictures on a polaroid or digital camera directly linked to a printer and print each picture out automatically for the guests to take home or for them to paste into your guest book and sign next to. I think that would be a great keepsake to take away from your wedding. If budget is an issue (as it always is) think about restricting this to just the cocktail hour and making sure guests are directed over to that area within the hour.

Congrats and good luck!

By: Anna

Anna — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:42:23 +0000

I forgot to mention cootie-catchers! What could be more grade-school? Darcy Miller, editor of Martha Stewart Weddings, had cootie-catchers in jars on the bars at her wedding reception with “dares” written inside – such as “kiss the bride” and “introduce yourself to someone new” – but they could also be used creatively for the ceremony program or the menu, or simply an adorable thank-you at the end of the evening!

By: Moodboard

Moodboard — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:28:38 +0000

I believe Budget Living Magazine did a wedding feature where a couple rented out a school cafeteria. They had some cute ideas, and I think they are included in the book http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0399530223/ref=cm_rdp_product

By: Holly

Holly — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:21:38 +0000

i love all the suggestions but I don’t know what school bus company is going to let you smoke cigars in their bus and then return it! Ha

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:14:28 +0000

The first thing I thought of when I saw this was that for the response cards you should use a school “scrawl” type font or even ask a child to write it out for you, and put “We Love You, Can attend our Wedding Check Yes or No” with blocks for the invitees to check, with a more traditional numbered response below. I dont know about everyone else but I vividly remember the “I Love You, Do You Love me” Letters from Elementary school, and it would be great way to set the stage for the wedding, the Invites could even be something like a Hall Pass, or report card, maybe even a homework assignment or a field trip slip! This is such a cute idea and I think everyone will have fun with it!

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:18:48 +0000

What a cute story & save the date! How amazing that they were even sitting next to each other! Some ideas I had for Tien & David…

1. red apples as favors or escort “cards” – as in the old apple on the teachers desk. Could pin a note with name or message in fancy calligraphy to make it more fitting of the ballroom setting

2. a mini blackboard & piece of chalk on each table – could be used for the table number, menu or a message to the guests.

3. Instead of a guest book, a big chalkboard with different colored chalks…let each person write a message and at the end of the night, take a picture of it.

4. Brown lunch bags as favors or escort cards, with pretty calligraphy or ribbon to dress it up & something delicious (and possibly more prettily packaged) inside.

5.If the couple have any old pages of homework or writing from when they were children, scan and print in the wedding colors and use pieces as the back (or faint background) of the menu, program, escort cards etc.

By: cat seto

cat seto — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:43:36 +0000

WOW. Thank you Abby, Lisa and all of the amazing readers for helping out my bridal clients! I am having such a blast reading all of these suggestions and am always floored at the creativity. I LOVE Lisa’s bake sale and school bus cigar lounge idea. And I agree with Anna, I’m getting chills envisioning all of the suggestions for hall passes, chalkboards and “library” themes. That’s just so sweet and sentimental!

By: Cali

Cali — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:19:27 +0000

The stationary could resemble library cards. You could even have your names crossed out several times with the dates in which you met! Chills!

By: Anna

Anna — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:13:18 +0000

My first thought was apples too, especially since the wedding will be in September, which is during apple season. Beautiful shiny red apples could be used throughout the decor – especially in the centerpieces – to great effect! And they could be carried into the menu as well.

Another thought would be a library theme – the escort and place cards could be printed to look like school library cards, similar to this creative wedding: http://speakquietly.blogspot.com/2008/02/library-themed-wedding.html. I saw another wedding on a photographer’s blog where books were used throughout – for instance, the bride and groom each carried a hardbound book from which they read their vows during their ceremony.

By: wanderluster

wanderluster — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:10:23 +0000

Such a cute story and such a fun theme to work with. How about creating a ‘photo backdrop’, with a large chalkboard on wheels and maybe a long bench for group photos (similar to their class picture!). Other thoughts… giveways of the couple’s favourite childhood book, with a library card pocket inside containing a personalized message from the couple; using lunch boxes for the kids’ goodie bags; definitely a photo slideshow of the couple through the years (or even better, a super 8 film of old photos mixed with family videos, playing on a screen); seating cards displayed on a giant corkboard; a quiz where guests would have to pick a category (e.g. history, math, geography) and answer a question (e.g. geography – where did Tien and David have their first official date?) to get the bride and groom to kiss; a treat bar filled with the couple’s favourites, with brown lunch bags to take away; lined note cards in pastel shades which guests can write a piece of advice on – or, an old typewriter where guests can type out their advice. You can really have fun with this theme!