As a fellow scrapbooker, I think there have been some great suggestions. I'd like to add a few.

To incorporate the comic book theme, you can take your favorite comics to a copy place and make color enlargements. Granted, these will not be acid-free archival papers, but so far I've not had troubles with discoloration or fading (I think printing technology has improved overall in recent years). Those would make great, colorful background papers.

Then, take these oversized copies and cut them to fit your scrapbook pages. If you don't already have one, invest in a mat cutter. Creative Memories might be a way to get started--there's always someone throwing a party and it's free to go to the party. Their product is high-end (read:a little pricey), but that doesn't mean you have to buy anything. Actually, I loved their scrapbook format more than anything. The pages are sturdy and I paste my decorative page over their page. Then a plastic sleeve covers the whole thing to protect it. Google them and find a party near you--if nothing else the other folks there will gladly give you suggestions! (Disclaimer: I have no affiliation or interest in Creative Memories. I use their stuff. Period.)

Because your background paper will be so colorful, you might consider mounting photos on a solid paper so there is a thin, contrasting color outline around your photo. The lazy way to do this is to simply paste your cropped photo on the solid paper of your choice and then trim around the photo leaving as much or as little solid paper showing as you like. (Some folks go through an arduous process of measuring the photo and calculating the dimensions of the solid paper, cutting the paper to size and then mounting the photo. This is more error-prone in my personal experience, plus it's SLOW!)

For comments from guests, I think that is a GREAT idea. My only caveat would be to provide smaller slips of paper, maybe 3x3 square or even some pre-cut hearts (although that is a little too cutesy). This way, if a great note is next to a post-keg note, you're not trapped putting both in your scrapbook. And this gives you more freedom to format the photos how you want. And don't be shy about putting out different colors of paper--choose a pallette reminenscent of your favorite comic. Many of the classics had a simple 5 color pallete. It would be a neat look to have notes on a solid paper against a comic background. Of course, metallic pens or something that stands out against the paper is a good idea. Test the pens extensively! Otherwise these notes can look pretty shabby if the pens don't behave. Zebra gels have always behaved for me. I would stay clear of the cheaper multi-packs (their performance is iffy). Of course, a nice extrafine Sharpie does the trick too. Most folks have decent lettering with a Sharpie. And the nice solid black line of the Sharpie works with the comic theme too. (Sounds obsessive, but I've had my share of experiences where folks write remembrances only to have the item look horrible due to pen malfunctions!)

Remember, most of those photos are going to look better cropped. Most amateur photographers won't snap the perfectly composed photo--which is just fine. That's why paper cutters were invented! So, my point is that you may end up with photos of different sizes and shapes, which will look great anyway. If you don't already have one, look for a mini-paper cutter. It's about 6x12 and designed for cropping pictures. You want clean straight edges. Your mat cutter works too, but it is really tedious to use a mat cutter for cropping photos.

My last suggestion is to look for some stickers at a craft store of thought bubbles or speech bubbles (the little things used to show speech in comic strips). It could be really fun to create your own comic strip by taking a series of images cropped to the same dimensions (bigger is better on this one--maybe 5x5) and spacing them out like a strip across several scrapbook pages or as a running footer along the bottom of all your pages. Use the bubbles to tell the story of your wedding from start to finish. Include the "bloopers" too--while we want to be dignified, you'll be surprised how much you enjoy remembering the imperfect moments of your big day.

Have a great time! It sounds like you have some great ideas.

Holler if you would like more help.

Cheers,
Renee
3CATFAM

As far as decorating the book, you might also check the scrapbooking papers at Michaels, AC Moore, Hobby Lobby, whatever you've got near you. You might find some papers you can cut up that look "comic-bookish" even if you don't do the real comics. As far as colors of paper, go primary as much as you can. Not traditional wedding book but it should be beautiful with the theme.

Definitely put disposable cameras out for the guests. My uncle did my wedding pictures as his wedding gift to me (that was probably the most expensive gift I got in retrospect).

Knit Wit

If you want specific photos make sure you designate one or two people to definately get thse pic. I'm an event planner/caterer and when I got married... very small... my cousin took our photos. An ex-prof.photograpgher. I had a detailed list of the photos of people I wanted. And the one pic I forgot was one of my husband and myself! If you want a basic list of photos... I can send it to you privately. It might help give you an idea of where to start. If it hadn't been for family taking candid shots... I'd have no photos of my husband and myself other than cutting the cake : )
MFF

i made a wedding scrapbook for my son. They also had a professional photographer and got the obligatory big expensive wedding album.
BUT MY SCRAPBOOK gets looked at much more often. i took pictures of the whole couple of days leading to the event. The rehearsal dinner, the boys trying on the tuxes..yes i was there with my camera, the girls night out. The bachelor party (i sent a disposable with one of the guys). i was constantly taking pictures everywhere and always. Whenever i could get the bride and groom doing something... click. wherever we were i took pictures. I already knew the wedding colors so i was always on the lookout for papers that matched. The rehearsal dinner was at an Italian place so found papers, stickers etc for that.
My advice..start looking now for papers and embellishments.

As others have said designate one person specifically for the "important" pictures the day of.
and make sure someone is taking all the other "important" stuff. ie the kids, the grandparents, the grounds etc. Whenever i have seen the disposable camera pics the pictures always seem to be of people across the table from the camera holder. Boring. Make sure your designators have imagination.

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We're thinking of not having a photographer and relying on our friends sharing their pictures with us (with certain people designated to take the obvious pictures, like cakecutting). I had no idea that photographers cost that much money!! I've been quoted more than the church and reception and dress and food together which is completely unacceptable to me!

If I may add my two cents worth on the subject; don't do it, Dont Do It, DON'T DO IT!

Sorry, that was three cents. I learned from sad experience that if there is only one place that you are going to your money in a wedding it ought to be into the pocket of a great photographer. I had the same experience when my husband and I were married, being absolutely disgusted over the price of a photographer. We opted to hire the "friend of a friend" who also did our engagement pictures. They were good so we had him do the wedding and the pictures are totally awful! He didn't know how to arrange people so we have a bunch of stupidly posed pictures and pics where you can't see half of the people in them. He took no candids at all! I did a wedding scrapbook which I hate and never take it out to look at it. Only one person took additional pictures at my reception and they didn't give them to me for over 2 years. There is no going back and doing it over. You'll be faced with those pictures for the rest of your life. I love the idea of disposable cameras (in theory) however, they don't tend to take very good pictures and cannot ever replace a professional. Put it on a credit card. (And by the way, I never put anything on a credit card.)

K, once a born skimper who is still weeping over my hideous wedding photos, and by the way, don't even ask how my 17 year old brother did on the wedding video! Some things you can't put a price on.

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you are going to end up with a LOT of pictures, because they are all going to get doubles and give them to you.

I think I would have to disagree with this one. I think that most people who are snapping away at weddings are using digital cameras and won't be having anything printed out, let alone doubles. We attended our niece's wedding a few months ago and I took a zillion pics but only printed out about a half dozen that I thought were worthy of being part of her memories.

Is there one of the guests who is a competent amateur photographer? Or alternatively is there a photographic club locally? They might have a member who would be willing to take photographs and would cost a lot less than a professional. They might even be happy for if you pay for the film and processing and give them a bottle or two of something nice to drink. As several posters have already said decide on which shots you really want and ensure that those are covered. It does take a number of shots to get just the angle and expression you want, especially in a large group someone always blinks or sneezes at the wrong moment.

Remember even professionals make mistakes. At our wedding all the shots from one roll of film were slightly fuzzy because the photogragher made a mistake when loading it.

DM

Well, you have a billion ideas so heres mine as well. I love to scrapbook. For our wedding I put out 12x12 papers (since I use that size album) and just let people sign on them. If there is something stupid written, its easy to cover up with a picture. But most of the pages are nice. What I wish I would have done was put 12x12 papers on each table with markers so guests could doodle and write on them etc...They would have been a great addition.

Photos are what lasts. While I think photographers are expensive, its well worth the money to have a ice pic made to hang on the wall. That's what most people see and it shouldbe a good one. The rest of my pics are in an album and I love to pull it out and show it to my children. We handmade the invites, the decorations etc and were pretty scimpy on the wedding costs.....but the photos were worth it!! There is no way to redo them. I love to relive that day. We turned out photos into a video later and again well worth it. We also had people taking pics and incorporated them but I love the moments that the prof photographer caught.

BUT, if it's too expensive, please please please get at least one prof pic for your wall. You'll love it.
The B Hunters

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BUT, if it's too expensive, please please please get at least one prof pic for your wall. You'll love it.

I'm thinking we may do this at this point. We've talked some more about a photographer, and I was informed by my man that since we are inviting the photographer that I wanted (she works with my man) and the other girl who introduced us who is also a photographer.... and apparently they are photographing enemies.... that neither of them can do it b/c he's not having a chick fight on our wedding day. So I think I'm going to sneak one of them to take our formal pic for the wall.

A friend of mine had an idea too, it was to ask for the memory cards in the digital cameras near the end of the night and to place them all on one computer right there at the reception. She has the computer and knowhow, so I think she'll be in charge of that.

I went and looked at the albums last night in the store, they're so pretty and there's so many things for them. My birthday is next week and I don't really want/need anything so I think I'm going to tell my fiance to start me up with that stuff. He's frustrated at my current level of satisfaction, lol, that I can't think of anything I need or want.

Thanks for all the suggestions, they've been great so far and I'm probably going to use A LOT of them!

moonduck

Just remember that when your wedding is all done and over the only thing that you have left is the Photos. I think it is worth the money to have the photos taken by a professional that has years of experience. They knkow how to take the picture without wierd things in the background or the shading going right across someones face.

Also gets all of your photos put on a disc. My kids are now 8,5,and 3. and they watch our wedding photo Cd at least once every 2 weeks. They laugh and like seeing relatives. and we remember those whom have passed.

it was to ask for the memory cards in the digital cameras near the end of the night and to place them all on one computer right there at the reception.<i/>

Just know, to do this you will have to have a card reader that will accept all sizes of memory cards. Every camera tends to use a different size.

I too am one of the ones that wishes wedding photos had been done differently. We used a friend of the family and really wish we had just paid the extra money to have had it done right! That's not something we can go back and "do over". The cameras on the tables is a GREAT idea and lots of fun for guests too.

I did a wedding scrapbook for one of my dear friends. She had no idea I was doing it. Her mom secretly gave me all her shower pictures and invitations. My daughter was in the wedding so I was taking a gazillion pictures and my friend just thought it was for my daughter's album. It turned out really great. We got pictures of her having her hair done, eating snacks etc before the wedding, and even brushing her teeth in her wedding dress. Some of the candids from the table cameras were really good. Stuff the photographer had no idea about. It turned out really nice. She keeps it on her living room table. I don't think she ever even ordered a real album.

Love the comic book idea. You can buy di cuts that look like film frames!

bzmom

<quote/>the only thing that you have left is the Photos.

My family owned a flower shop growing up so when it came to my wedding my mom suggested we buy SILK FLOWERS! I was stunned. Her reasoning, besides the flowers being expensive:

No one can smell the photos!

And she was right. Whenever people see my wedding photos they always comment on how beautiful the flowers were. Beautiful because there were so gosh darn many of them. Do you know how many silk flowers you can buy for next to nothing? Believe me . LOTS!
I did have a real bouquet though. But i made it myself. You could too. Try it.
Hope that helps with you expenses.
Oh and I've got some papers and embellishments of wedding stuff if you want them. What are your colors going to be?

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Oh and I've got some papers and embellishments of wedding stuff if you want them. What are your colors going to be?

We're not really having colors, lol!!! We're both really laid back and just want everyone to have a good time without spending a ton of money. The girls are all wearing long black dresses with no outrageous embellishments (i.e. if there's a fabric fold across the belly, no big deal... a huge diamond circle across it, not cool) and then they're wearing capes. I let them choose the color of their capes, b/c I could care less (so far there's purple, red and silver). The guys are wearing khakis and comic book dress shirts (yes, they exist!). I am wearing a wedding dress and a white cape with it probably (gotta stay warm somehow, it's in November) and my fiance is wearing a suit. Everyone is ecstatic b/c every single one of them has more than one wedding this year and we're the ones that are saying no tux, lol!!! The best man told my fiance that he's more than happy to go buy a pair of dockers and we told him he doesn't have to do that and he insisted, Dockers will get worn again and tuxes don't and then thanked us! My man's sister apparently doesn't feel the need to call people back (well, unless it's 2 am and she's drunk and we don't answer) so we told his mother to tell her to call us. Ridiculous!

But we're really not about the traditional thing so we're not doing colors per se and we're not decorating the church either. The program at the church will be a comic, then there will be another comic at the reception with the menu and layout of the evening on there too. We just see things we like and say, what do you think and go from there.

As you can imagine it's quite annoying to the people who are trying to help us in a way, b/c there's no real system of organization or selection. So people just keep their eyes open for things and tell us and we say yes or no. At the same time, I think they think it's fun b/c they don't really have to follow any rules.

I'm really not girly for the most part, my man has more ideas and opinions about all of it, which is nice for me, I don't have to hurt my brain. I just want to get hitched, lol! We found things at Walmart this weekend and it's like, ooooh, look how cheap it is, I don't care if nothing matches! If nothing matches, technically it all matches right? LOL!

I think after all these posts tho, we're going to have to talk about a photographer more. I have another scrapbook to work on this week tho, I need to get one done for my grandfather.

moonduck

alrighty then. i have some wonder woman paper. just the ticket. and some word balloons that are a must for you.

I just have to say that I would love to see you post some of your pictures somewhere for all of us to look at. All this talk has really made me want to see how it turns out.

bzmom

Listening to you explain (or reading?) your "non-plan" wedding has gotten me reminiscing about a party wedding that my husband and I went to years ago. It was the funnest reception we've ever been to. A friend of ours was the emcee and he'd tell jokes and pick names out of a jar (when you arrived you put your name on a ticket and put it in the jar). The picked persons came up to the front to perform random acts of destruction (playing baseball using a lamp for the bat, seeing how long an iron had to sit on a polyester shirt before it would burn a hole, and dumping a 22 oz. can of peaches into a blender that is running). They had cabbages hanging from the trees for decorations and a dunk tank. They served popcorn, hot dogs, sweedish fish and cotton candy. The reception line included all the wedding party in costume and greeting the guests in record time (2nd try was faster!) and the third time everone went through the line they did their best Katharine Hepburn impression. Then the bride and groom went to change (into wet suits and snorkel gear) and their big send off was a trip across a slip 'n' slide in the front yard (outdoor reception, obviously). It was so fun. We went planning to stay for 15 minutes and ended up being there for almost 3 hours. We were to afraid to miss anything.

Hope your party is just as memorable and unmissable. Good luck!

K

Wow, that sounds like a great party! I am having more and more fun planning this whole "non-traditional" wedding. We just found out the church we wanted is already booked for that day, so now we're moving on to find somewhere else. We are just not willing to bend on the date.

There will definitely be some posting of pics and hopefully the scrapbook pages as well since everyone seems so interested. My mom is even getting into it at this point, she's got some of the craziest ideas of all, now that she's over the whole "my baby's not having a dream wedding."

My man's sister finally got back to me and is going to be a bridesmaid. She's all pumped about the capes and asked if she could dye her hair to match it. So I think there will be a cute little pixie with crazy green or pink or something hair standing up with me.

I went through the scrapbooking stuff at Walmart and Joanns this weekend to figure out what I want and then when I was hanging up pictures in my house this weekend I found all sorts of pictures I'd forgotten I had and then had to go thru all the scrapbooking stuff I already have.... I'm feeling the itch to start working on it, so exciting!!

moonduck

what size scrapbook are you going to use? 12 X12? 8X8? 9 X9? 6 X 6?

I think a 12x12. There were some lovely ones at Walmart (I really liked one that had a place for a picture on the front) and that's the most readily available sizes of paper for my area as well. Everything I've done so far has been 12 x 12 as well. I'm intrigued with the smaller ones but think I'll save that adventure for my pet scrapbooks.

Ok, I must put my 2 cents in...I have been scrapbooking for awhile, and I like the 12x12 the best. Well, good luck on your wedding!

~cg