apple place settings and a wedding tree

My amazing friend, Ashley, was married to a wonderful man, Dave, on October 1, 2011. It was such an honor to be asked to be a part of their day as a bridesmaid. I was able to help with planning for the wedding. (and of course for the bachelorette party!)

I'm a bit late putting up photos, but I wanted to share these cool name settings that Ash had for her Fall wedding. She grew up next to apple orchards and embraced the fall staple as a clever part of her day.

First, baskets of apples were picked locally. Then we sorted through them to find the best of the bunch. After cleaning each of them up, a stick was stabbed into each apple. (You had to be super careful with that part.)

Then a leaf, one with each guest's name and their table, was glued to the stick of each apple. The tables were named after types of apples, 'Gala', 'Pink Lady', etc. And once guests had found their place they could take their apples to the 'Dipping Station' where you could choose a candy or caramel coating! Once the apple was dipped, there was a plastic wrapping provided to save the treat for later.

I loved this idea! It was interactive and a a great way to incorporate the name settings into the fall theme, even better that the apples were local and super fresh! 

Another way Fall was incorporated was through their guestbook and wedding tree to Ashley and Dave, my wedding gifts to the couple. To give them everything they wanted with a 'guestbook', I designed to pieces for them, a guestbook of their engagement photos as well as 'wedding tree' acrylic painting.

A wedding tree is a guestbook alternative that can be nice if you're looking for an item to display as art in your home after your wedding. I painted a large square canvas to match the colors of their home with a leafless tree in the center, their initials painted within a heart as carvings in the tree. Guests were able to write out a personal message in their guestbook saying everything they wanted to the couple, all of their love and advice for the future. 

Then, guests added their finger prints to the painted canvas with one of the Fall themed colors of ink we set out and signed their name under their 'leaf'. Below is a photo of the canvas before the reception with just the bridesmaid's prints added onto it. 

What are some of your favorite creative wedding details? Have you had or seen great original guestbooks?