"Heartfelt Words from Guests: A Compilation of Ceremony and Reception Ideas Featuring Guest Letters"
2021.01.21 published
I Want Messages from Guests!
At weddings, besides photos, you want something memorable, right?
Something stylish that can be displayed is nice, but...
What’s particularly cherished is likely “messages from guests.”
Opportunities to receive formal letters from guests rarely occur in life.
At a wedding, you can include even slightly embarrassing content.
A collection of messages from guests is a lifelong treasure.
Words from important guests will support the couple in their future life.
As for ways to collect messages from guests, a standard idea is to have them write short messages on guest cards or to sign a wedding certificate...
However, brides who want guests to write substantial “letters” might consider incorporating this as part of the event.
In this article, we will introduce wedding and reception ideas that allow guests to write letters! ♡
Wedding Event Idea #1: Wall Letters
An event where envelopes addressed to each guest are decorated on the wall of the welcome space.
In a typical wall letter design, only letters from the couple to the guests are distributed...
Why not arrange it so that after reading the letters, guests also write replies and return them to the envelopes?
It’s like a diary exchange.
The reply stationery and writing tools can be prepared as escort cards or placed inside the envelope.
The experience of reading a letter and writing a response has a nostalgic charm.
There’s usually a waiting period of about 30 minutes before the ceremony starts, so guests can take their time to write without feeling rushed.
It will be exciting to read the replies at leisure after the wedding.
Wedding Event Idea #2: Letter Tree
An event where a large tree is created in the venue, and letters for guests are hung on it.
This is a version using a tree instead of a wall, similar to the wall letter concept.
This bride had guests search for letters at their preferred time during the party and write replies on prepared cards with pens before returning them to the envelopes.
As the reception lasts 2-3 hours, it’s great for those who want to take their time crafting thoughtful messages.
The letter exchange using the tree concept is wonderful! ♡
Wedding Event Idea #3: Wedding Certificate
Next is the idea of incorporating letters from guests as part of the wedding certificate.
Guests write letters with themes like “This is what the groom is like” and “This is what the bride is like.”
It’s a way to learn about each other from the important people who know them best.
Unlike regular letters, there’s joy in exchanging and reading letters from each other's guests.
Wedding Event Idea #4: Message Round
An event where messages from guests are collected during the reception’s table rounds.
Before the table round, guests are asked to prepare letters.
They can be handed out at the reception or set up on the guest tables.
While collecting messages from guests, it may be nice to exchange letters from yourselves, like a letter swap! ♡
At the end of the message round, the couple can also place letters addressed to each other into a bottle or box.
Many brides might hope to receive a letter from their groom at the wedding. While it can be hard to ask, suggesting “Let’s do a message round” might be easier! ♡
Wedding Event Idea #5: Time Capsule Round
Guests write letters for the future couple, which are then collected during a table round in a “Time Capsule Round.”
This adds even more entertainment and excitement compared to regular letters.
It might be fun to set different years for opening letters at each table. If they’re to be opened on wedding anniversaries, it would make every anniversary something to look forward to!
Wedding Event Idea #6: Wine Box Ceremony
The Wine Box Ceremony is a popular event overseas.
A bottle of wine from that year and letters from guests are placed in a wooden box, which the couple seals with nails.
Like a time capsule, guests are also asked to write letters directed towards the couple to be opened years later.
It's also known as a “fight box” in some places, intended for opening when couples have a spat.
The idea is to read the letters while drinking wine and reconcile! ♡
Most guests will likely never have seen a Wine Box Ceremony.
It’s helpful to provide not just oral instructions on what the event entails and what to write in the letters, but also guiding cards.
Treasure Letters from Guests! ♡
This article introduced various events where guests can write letters at weddings.
Letters received from important people at this significant life event are sure to be ones you revisit throughout your life.
For brides looking to leave behind a memento, this is highly recommended! ♡