Ok so you must know by now how I just love to decide I want something really last minute – especially when it came to the O’Shea Wedding.
There was no change when about a week before the Big Day I decided that I wanted (no actually I will re-phrase)….. desperately needed a photo booth at Notley Abbey.
It all came about in that last minute panic of “Will guests be entertained enough??” which I am sure nearly every bride goes through at some stage during project planning.
( Just to clarify – this is an unnecessary concern, your guests will have a wonderful time at your special day regardless, they are there because they want to share the love after all)
me: “ James I think we really need a photobooth”
James: “ A what?”
me: “ A photobooth – you know like what you have for taking passport pictures, you can hire them for weddings and guests have such a good time taking funny snaps…..provides endless entertainment and we could end up with some fabulous shots…”
James: “ You can’t be serious?! how are we going to find one in less than a week? How much are they anyway?…..and I’m not trying to be all wedding planner sophistication about it ( seriously he actually said that) but where on earth are we going to put a Photobooth in Notley Abbey where it would fit with the surroundings?! – in the Monks Refectory?!”
Ah yes.
Had not considered any of these points.
Was just all jumpy and excited about the prospect of general frivolity ( damn those trendy American blog sites for putting the idea in my head!)
So…..if you can’t buy it/hire it/afford it/find it ( delete as appropriate) then the only answer is ladies……
Do It Yourself.
Nothing like a bit of D.I Y to put a great big personalised stamp on your wedding day.
Oh and don’t worry – I wasn’t about to try and build some kind of fancy pants contraption instead of a proper bonefide photobooth ( God forbid – last thing I made was a Barbie dress shop out of a Walkers crisps crate when I was about 6, poor pneumatically chested dolly had her entire wardrobe fragranced with l’eau de Cheese and Onion – was disaster)
Oh no definitley was not going to attempt anything that creative.
I just had to do a bit of thinking outside the box….or erm ahem…..the booth?
I had seen a picture on a photographer’s website of a bride and groom kissing inside a giant picture frame – was super cute and at the same time very simple to achieve.
I figured if we could find a similar giant frame somewhere all we would need was a few props so guests could really have fun with it “dress up” a bit, get into character…. and effectively create “A picture in a frame” ….this very quickly developed into the “Photoframe Game” and with the help of Adam ( I know I know…. everyone needs an Adam in their life) we also created some funny captions to go with the diverse selection of items.
I have to say the last minute shopping for props was hilarious fun. I think what with the last minute stress and nerves it really took our minds off planet marriage for a couple of hours – I would advise every couple to take time out to be together doing something silly in the last week run up to the big day if you can.
Will put a smile on your face.
Promise.
So then….what on earth did we buy/find for our photoframe game extravaganza??
Giant Frame – Originally Mirror frame – Ikea £20.00
Pirate Hat – fancy dress shop £2.50
Heart Shaped Glasses – New Look £5.00
Hoola Hoola floral wreath – Clinton Cards £1.50
Large dark long haired 70’s wig – fancy dress shop £2.00
Large gold dollar sign Mr T necklace – from a stag do James had been on – about £1.00
Two large fake flowers – Wilkinsons store, £1.00 each
Cowboy hat – James’s sisters from Tenesee – Free to borrow!
Captions – designed by me and made by Adam using foamboard and big bold font…..all Free!
I Love My Wife
Kiss Me Quick
Hello Sunshine
You Rock My World (!)
Gorgeous ( with an arrow pointing left)
I heart you
So the plan was to end up with shots a little something like this…….
see the plan?
Only erm …these is about the only one’s that turned out like that.
Actually using the frame.
Generally our guests took well…… a whole host of comedy/cool/downright silly photo opportunities in various poses
And do you know what?
Out of all the beautiful flowers and posh nosh and all day music fabulousness …..I think our guests most enjoyed….. the “The Photoframe Game”.
And it cost about ….thirty quid.
I’ll add a selection of both professional and non professional pictures – there are loads so you have been warned! I’ll try and begin with a few of Jordan’s but then I’m afraid It’s just a whole load of everyone’s!
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