Guest Blogger :: Gina

A CD of your favorite love songs ("Eternal Flame," anyone?), a heart-shaped wine stopper, chocolate bars with the happy couple's names on them...we have all seen these wedding favors show up time and time again. As an event floral designer, I have often dropped in after weddings and witnessed all the left over favors that never made their way home. Hence my large collection of slow dance numbers and a hefty candy stockpile. At a recent event held by Phoenix Bride and Groom, a fantastic company called Flipbook Memories set up shop with their mobile studio. This was my first introduction to the modern-day flipbooks, and it was a huge hit. Not long after, Cicely, the wedding planning diva, pulled together an event for a 50th birthday party (yes, she does those too) and also contracted the services of Flipbook Memories.

Check out the fun! Pictured below are Chris and Tammie Billey of Largo Photography, Cicely Rocha-Miller of Life Design Event Planning and her brother Nico...isn't he cute?

Image courtesy of Kelvin Photographer

Flipbooks have been around since 1882, when each frame had to be taken individually, and the printing process was time-consuming. Now, a video camera and a 10x10 space is all that is needed to create one-of-a-kind favors for your guests. Flipbook Memories sets up the area and backdrop, provides props (hats, boas, goofy glasses and signs such as "I love him THIS much") and lets the partygoers go wild. Grab your friends and relatives and make your own interactive video. The machine that is on site prints, cuts and binds the book, turning the silliness into your own favor within minutes. Flipbook can churn out 40 to 50 books per hour, so all of your guests can participate. Personalize the cover with a message and date of your event, and you can be sure that no favors are left behind.

Guest Blogger :: Gina

We wedding professionals love to scour the web for great ideas (imitation being the sincerest form of flattery). I came across this unbelievable photo booth idea on Kiss the Groom. Sasha Souza Events created this amazing wall prop for guests to enjoy, which I am sure made for hours of entertainment. Prints could serve as favors--double duty! Have a laser printer on hand, print a photo of each guest, and each couple/partygoer could grab an empty picture frame on the way out to display their memento at home.

Photo courtesy of Sasha Souza and Bliss*

This board was created by the wedding planner at this particular event, and yours may be up for such an endeavor. If not, talk to your photographer about dimensions that would work best and create it yourself!

A big sheet of plywood can have the "picture frame" holes cut out, then cover it in wallpaper to match your wedding colors and style. Hang photos on the wall of family members on their wedding day, snapshots of your pets, or anything that is dear to you. Prop it all up with 2x4's, and snap away!

Of course, having your photographer bring a second shooter would be the best choice for getting this idea going. Otherwise, enlist a friend to hang out and take shots for an hour or so, and then hand the camera off to someone else. Digital cameras make the process easy, and if your friends or family members are gadget-savvy, they can print the photos on the spot. Just like Santa's helpers do at the mall! Now that I think about it, fake beards as props would be fun for the shoot...