There are basically endless numbers of relatively small features at weddings which can help to add a personal touch and distinctive element to the occasion – some of which costing nothing more than a little time and imagination.
One extremely cheap and easy option we have sen at weddings is personalised napkins. Personalised napkins are not uncommon and although we supply guests with napkins when we serve crepes at weddings from our mobile crêpe cart, we have never been asked to use modified, unique ones.
The personalised ones we have seen have always been used at the wedding breakfast and we have encountered two different variations. One type is along the lines of the bride and groom requesting that each guest complete a sentence or phrase which has been partially written on the napkin (we are talking high quality, non-paper napkins here, with guests being provided with non-bleed felt pens) with the napkins being collected after the meal as a keepsake. The ones we saw were largely along the lines of suggestions or advice for the happy couple as they begin their married life. Although we didn’t read the guest responses, we’d like to think that most guests took the task seriously, though inevitably a few budding comedians will have cracked a joke or two.
The other type is pretty similar, but guests are left to write their own messages without being prompted on the subject line. So the napkins effectively act as a guest book and the results would be a lot more random – not necessarily a bad thing. For instance, a guest could write words of advice for the future on the napkins, or add messages of congratulation. Others could offer comments on the day, such as “great venue” or “What time are the crepes served?” or “The nutella crepe I had was the best wedding breakfast dessert I’ve ever had.” Things like that.
Personally I’m not sure what happens to the napkins after the wedding, though at a guess it may be that they are stitched into a large patchwork blanket or similar. It would be a shame if they were just put in a box and forgotten about.
