Creating a Unique Wedding Experience with Live Engraving
One of the things I love most about working at weddings is seeing how couples are now thinking far more about their guests’ experience, not just how the day looks, but how it feels to be part of it. More and more, couples are choosing moments and details that are interactive, thoughtful and genuinely memorable. Live engraving fits beautifully into that.
Live engraving is exactly what it sounds like. I engrave names, dates or short words onto glass or metal items by hand, in front of your guests. It is quiet, personal and surprisingly captivating to watch. There is something very special about seeing a keepsake being created in real time, especially when it is being made just for you.
One of the loveliest times to offer live engraving is during the drinks reception. While guests are chatting and enjoying a glass of something cold, they can come over, choose what they would like engraved and watch it being written for them. It becomes a natural talking point, something people gather around, and a gentle form of entertainment that does not interrupt the flow of the day.
I recently provided live engraving at the wedding of Sian and Ed, where guests were surprised with beautiful Bamford candles and reed diffusers. Each piece was engraved with their name and the wedding date, live on the day. It was a joy to see guests’ reactions as they realised the gifts were being personalised just for them. Not only did it create a lovely moment during the reception, but everyone went home with something meaningful and beautifully made.
What I love about personalised, engraved favours is that they do not get left behind. They are not just another item on the table. They are useful, thoughtful and personal. A candle or diffuser with your name and a date on it becomes something you keep, something that sits in your home and quietly reminds you of a day you were part of.
From perfume bottles and candles to glassware and keepsakes, most glass and metal items can be engraved. Champagne bottles cannot be engraved because of the pressure, but they can be hand-painted instead. Leather is better suited to hot foiling rather than engraving. I am always happy to explore different materials and ideas with couples, as the most important thing is that the final piece feels meaningful to you.
Live engraving adds something different to a wedding. It is personal without being showy, and luxurious without being over the top. It gives guests a moment, a memory and a keepsake, all wrapped into one.
If you are thinking about ways to make your wedding feel more personal and memorable for your guests, live engraving is a beautiful place to start.