In Nevada, where The Beard grew up, they called them cootie catchers. In New York, they were fortune tellers. In either case, these simple, folded paper sheets make easy DIY wedding programs – or seating cards or recyclable wedding favors or reception menus, for that matter. I’ve even read about some couples putting them at reception tables to help break the ice.

But I still think simple paper fortune tellers make the best wedding programs, especially when done a bit cleverly, since they give wedding guests something not only to read, but also to do. (Even if it is just flipping paper.) Which really comes in handy during that inevitable pre-ceremony delay! Here are some from around the net:

Cute cut-outs on this one - simple paper can get pretty fancy!

Beautiful fortune teller wedding programs spotted on Delightfully Engaged

No time to DIY? Get custom cootie catchers from katskrafts on Etsy

For the DIY set, Ruffled has a fortune teller wedding program template that brides and grooms can download and customize with everything from details about the couple and ceremony to actual fortunes or other conversation starts, though I think it would be sweet to see hand-drawn wedding program cootie catchers. Er, for those who either are having smaller weddings or feel inclined to practice their pretty script on 150 of the things, that is.

Sometimes it’s the tiny touches that make a wedding beautiful – which is good news for those of us who can’t exactly fit the big luxuries into our budgets. What kind of tiny touches, you may be asking.

How about floral ice cubes? Which your wedding caterer may be able to provide. And aren’t that hard if you’re handling your own wedding catering. You can order edible flowers in bulk online, and floral ice cubes can make even simple things like water feel more luxurious.

Easy pretty touches for the DIY bride (or your caterer)

Or if flowers on ice aren’t your thing, consider spicing up your groom’s and groomsmen attire with floral ties for the guys. At one wedding, the groomsmen’s ties coordinated with the maid of honor’s dress, and the effect is really striking and fun.

Floral ties on the guys? Gorgeous!

Tiny touches can be anything, from mismatched, thrifted embroidered linens on your reception tables to something like puzzle place cards. What tiny touches will make your wedding extra beautiful?

Naturally, this being Wedding Photography Week, this edition of LOVE/HATE has to do with photos! Specifically, wedding photographs that are taken in such a way as to… actually, I’m not quite sure how you’d explain what’s happening here. Which I assume is happening on purpose.

Nice pair, er, pears!

The other assumption that I would charitably make is that the couple in question was the sort that would be okay with having a snap in their wedding album that was a play on the whole perfect pear thing. Perfect pear, perfect pair. You see? Or maybe it was just an accident? What do you think of cutesy wedding photos that are vaguely naughty?

Is that Dick Cheney under there?

Whether you’re taking photos indoors or outdoors, you run the risk of seeing a couple of wedding photobombs in your collection of wedding photos. Especially if the bomber is particularly crafty or just not all that obvious, you could even end up with wedding photobombs in your otherwise pretty wedding album! While I’m guessing a guest’s huge grin or, yes, a horse isn’t what you imagined you’d find among your wedding pics, it’s better to laugh about it than to cry about it. Even when a bomber interferes with an otherwise perfect picture. And there’s always Photoshop, right? Until it happens to you (and also when it happens to you) my advice is to have a chuckle at wedding photobombs because they’re all part of the fun.

HEY, GUYS!

(more…)

Wedding bubbles, as photographed by Paul Craig Weddings of the UK

Simple LOVE/HATE today… let’s get the lowdown on wedding bubbles. I know beyond a doubt that the two-year-old La Paloma is always delighted to attend a wedding ceremony or reception that includes wedding bubbles, much like the little one in the photo above. But I’m wondering what the average adult thinks about blowing bubbles at weddings. Is it fun? Pointless? Should couples just stop buying those little bottles of soap, or are you more likely to shout “Bring on the bubbles!”? Me? I like them because my daughter likes them, but prior to procreating, I don’t think I ever cracked open a bottle of wedding bubbles.

This week, I’ve been thinking about things I love – all the things I can’t get out of my mind, all the pretty pictures I’ve been saving in inspiration folders. That sort of stuff. And I thought it would be fun to share some of it with you in short bursts throughout the week so you can get similarly inspired! So I suppose you consider this NtB Loves week. Enjoy!

I grew up around nesting dolls, so how could I not love Matryoshka wedding favors? It’s a wedding favor that guests will be much more likely to keep, I think. More so than an armless bride with fire for a head or towel cake. What’s not to like? Matryoshka are cute and fun and decorative in a way that doesn’t require color matching, so make, I think, ideal wedding favors.

Matryoshka!

How could you not love these?

What do you think… cute or too kitschy?

Wordsmiths and word lovers planning wordy weddings, heads up! Scrabble can play a role in your nuptials if you, like me, love this particular game. Seriously, game themed weddings? Yes, please! What you’ll find below is by no means a full collection of all the scrabble theme weddings ideas out there, but my goal is to get you started. Your imagination – and your wedding budget, I guess – can fill in the blanks as you put together theme wedding based around this classic game. You can even DIY this one with bags of Scrabble tiles!

Scrabble wedding portrait via CapClassique.wordpress.com

Scrabble save-the-dates from MagnetStreet Weddings

(more…)