As a photographer I always think about, how can I document the experience of my couples better, what will they want to see? What goes on while they are getting ready or taking family photos that my couples will want to see. A wedding day is full of beautiful happenings one of which is guests leaving their wishes for the newlyweds. And not just in spoken words or toasts given but in a personalized guest book that they sign for the bride and groom.

I often marvel at the genius ideas my couples have for presenting the personalized guest books, wether it is with something custom made or a little more basic but I know it is never an easy task to pick the perfect one in a sea of styles and designs out there. After all it needs to reflect the personality of a couple and be fun enough to stop the guests in their tracks so they leave a message before they proceed to the fun planned activities on the day.

But In a sea of options and wedding day planning, choosing your guest book never seems to be a priority, and too often is left for last minute with left-over budget. But what if there is a way to make it one of the first decisions you make during your wedding planning? What if there was a way to make all of your styling pieces tie together even better and nothing being an after-thought that breaks the bank?

Alas, there is such a way! I recently discovered it for myself when I was planning a styled shoot-like wedding for a couple. We talked a lot about how they didn’t want to have a wedding but wanted gorgeous photos that make it seem like they had a wedding. An exciting memory, styled beautifully. As the planning process went on, I visualized how I wanted to photograph it and what would it look like - of course drawing from all of my past weddings. And as I searched I was overwhelmed with choices until I found a company that made my own planning so easy. Basic Invite has it all - but what is best is that the guest book is styled to match your wedding suite, so anyone invited to the wedding, will quickly pick it out from the decor, and know to sign it. How cool is that? Here is my own personal favorite, out of a multitude of colors and styles.

To me the process of selecting all the pieces seemed so intuitive, and I am sure any bride would feel the same. As you pick your save-the-dates (because we all know that is the first piece of stationary you will think about), all of the options for the rest of your suite are offered right below, and your personalized guest book is one of them. It is truly that easy (all you need to adjust is your names and dates, that’s it!).

And it doesn’t have to end there. Your wedding website is free (and who doesn’t love free)  and is completely customizable! It is mobile friendly and super easy to use. You can instantly upload all of your wedding details, along with images, and a convenient map with directions for your guests. So not only are you going to have an amazing wedding day, but your guests will have a perfect experience.

One more amazing feature on your personalized website is the address collection form. Think how hard it is to get everyone to send you their addresses (especially if they are going to move before your wedding day) and to get people to respond if they are attending your wedding. Well Basic Invite has it all figured out with an address collection form on your personal website AND an RSVP form.

When all is said and done, all of your communication with your guests becomes seamless and fitting. Everything feels personal and uniquely YOU! As a photographer, it is my dream to have all the pieces look like parts of a whole so I can create the most amazing, magazine worthy images of your wedding details.

Check out Basic Invite for all your stationary needs (they offer more than just wedding suits, but all major life events).