Instead of a guestbook my guests will make art.

justsuzie

I am an artist and would love to remember my wedding day with a beautiful piece of art.  Instead of a guestbook each guest will create a mini 3x3 inch canvas that will go together in a collaborative piece of art.  Would you be intimidated and pass this over at a wedding you attended?  Many of my guests are also artists, but there are a bunch that are not. Also, should I control the color palette, or let guests go wild?  Finally, should I have them draw hearts or leave it open to whatever?  

AddieCake

I have mixed emotions. I think it's cool and looks neat (didn't Yolanda do this for her daughter going off to school on RHOBH?), but if I were a non-artist I might worry mine looked like shit next to an artist's block. Also, not sure I want to play in paint in my dress clothes. How many guests are you inviting? Do you have space to hang, say, 150 blocks to make the piece?

[Deleted User]

I'm not artistic. I'd do one but it'd be quick work probably- especially if I felt there were people behind me waiting.

Also not sure I want to paint in my nice clothes.

MyNameIsNot

I probably wouldn't do it. I'm a terrible klutz, and painting in a dress would be a disaster. I would also not want to spend the 15-20 minutes that it would take me to create something decent away from the rest of the reception. (Which would also give me pause. There is usually a line to sign the guest book when it's only a signature. How would you keep this flowing?) Some of my more artistic friends would love doing this, though.

Are you having a shower? I could see doing something like this instead of a shower game. At a shower, it would be easier to have smocks or aprons for messy people, and people could take more time to create something they're happy with. 

[Deleted User]

Knottie1427322490 said:

I am an artist and would love to remember my wedding day with a beautiful piece of art.  Instead of a guestbook each guest will create a mini 3x3 inch canvas that will go together in a collaborative piece of art.  Would you be intimidated and pass this over at a wedding you attended?  Many of my guests are also artists, but there are a bunch that are not. Also, should I control the color palette, or let guests go wild?  Finally, should I have them draw hearts or leave it open to whatever?  

Instead of paint on canvas, can you do something like crayons and pastels on wooden blocks painted white or something?  Maybe use one side of the block as an escort card, and the other side has a heart drawn on in light pencil markings.  Also, this way you know who painted which block.  Then there's a pile of pastels and crayons sitting in the middle of the table (it would allow you to limit the color palette if you choose.  I'd be much more likely to sit at my table and color in a heart than I would to stand at a table and paint one.  Just be sure to include a sign (maybe on the back of your table number) saying why the crayons are there and what you're going to do with all the hearts.  And if you have pastels, please include wet-naps on the the tables for those people who use their fingers to blend colors.

JerseyBeachGal22

I totally love that you want to have something different from the typical guest sign-in book! I agree with PPs that since I'm not very artistic, I likely wouldn't create anything very fun, especially in a dress. But what if you had several pieces of larger canvas that might already have a design or something painted on them (by you?) and then guests can sign wherever (and your more artistic friends can create something a little more if they wish). In the end you'll still have several canvas pieces to create the look you're going for but it would be less work for your guests.

Jen4948

It would get messy, and I wouldn't want to paint or use pastels while dressed up.

I'd be okay with crayons, markers, or colored pencils, though.

justsie

Agree with most PPs, I wouldn't want to paint when I'm dressed up. Plus, I'd be really disappointed if I tried really hard on mine and then had to set it down somewhere next to an artists, I know mine wouldn't look as nice. 

lembaslover

It sounds like a really interesting idea however PPs have pointed out the flaws (messy, long line, people feeling like theirs isn't good enough). 

I think if you have them at the tables people will be more likely to do one while they're enjoying a drink and chatting then if they have to stand in a line where they might feel rushed or like people are watching what they are doing. 

Something that might help would be to outline something simple like a heart and then your non-artistic friends can follow in the lines and not feel bad about their work while if you do the outline light enough your artistic friends can take their liberties and create whatever they want. 

You could also do a bigger canvas per table and make sure there's an artistic person or 2 at each table and that might encourage something fun as well with a table collaboration. Those who want to add to artistic part can and those who would rather just sign it and say Congrats on it can. 

climbingsingle

I think if you can work out the logistics (clean up, how not to get messy, etc), this could be a really cool idea. If I were a guest, I'd do it. 

justsuzie

...a lot to think about.  Thanks for all of your input.  I love the idea of having this set up at individual tables using the escort cards doubling as the canvas.  

Viczaesar

Honestly, I would skip it if I were at the wedding.  And I am an artist.

[Deleted User]

It's a cool idea in theory, but I have concerns about how it will work out.  First, do you have space.  Do people have room to spread out and create these?  Second, can this get messy?  Is there potential for people to get paint all over their clothing.  Could this make a mess on the venue tables, chairs, floor and will you have to pay for those damages.  Third, how much time will this take up.  Will you allow people to paint/create all evening and have them potential distracted from the actual reason they attend (which is to celebrate your wedding).  

JoanE2012

I'm lucky if I remember to sign the guest book - chances are good that I'm not going to stick around and do a mini art project.

BrinkyDink16

I would love to do this at a wedding!  I'm not super artistic myself but I would still do my best and it wouldn't matter what it looked like because just like a signature, every piece would come out different!  

Since you're the one setting out the paints you are sort of already controlling the color palate, but I get what you mean.  I'd say if there's a palate that appeals to you more (warms vs. cool) or whatever then only set out those paints.

I would request that people do hearts.  Not because of keeping it cohesive in the final piece per say, but because it's less intimidating for non artistic folks to be given a subject instead of telling them "Just paint whatever!"  I would totally draw a blank if I was given no direction but if you told me "Paint me a heart" I'd have a jumping off point.

PrettyGirlLost

Viczaesar said:

Honestly, I would skip it if I were at the wedding.  And I am an artist.

Me too.  I never sign guests books either ><

I think it's a cute idea, but that it would be more suited at a bridal shower.

[Deleted User]

Depends on how long the line at the art table is. If it's long, there is a good chance I'll skip it. I went to a wedding where the bride & groom did the tumbprint thing but instead of doing a tree, you had to do a page in the book & then make a drawing around your tumbprints. It took people so long to do it that probably only half of the guests did it. Because once dinner was over and dancing started no one went back to do it. If there will be kids at your wedding, I might be a little concerned about the mess they would make, especially if they got over to the art table with no supervision

justsuzie

All excellent points, thanks!