Live Wedding Engraving: What to Expect and How to Plan
Trending for 2025: More personalization than ever 💥
When it comes to planning a wedding, couples are constantly looking for ways to make their big day unique, memorable, and personal. One trend that’s capturing the attention of brides and grooms alike is live wedding engraving. This interactive service not only adds a touch of luxury but also gives your guests personalized keepsakes they’ll cherish long after the last dance.
But what exactly is live wedding engraving, and how do you plan for it?
Whether you’re a bride to be, wedding coordinator, or the MOB helping plan the big day – let’s dive into everything you need to know to incorporate this elegant experience into wedding day.
What Is Live Wedding Engraving?
Live wedding engraving is as great as it sounds: an engraving artist personalizing items on-site during your wedding. Whether it’s drink ware, candles, accessories, or even leather goods, live engraving offers your guests the chance to take home a customized favor created just for them. This interactive service is a show-stopping addition to any wedding or anniversary celebration, combining entertainment and personalization in one luxurious package.
See photos and more information from a previous wedding: engraved glassware at Biltmore Ballrooms in Atlanta!
Why Choose Live Engraving for Your Georgia Wedding?
Live engraving gives you benefits that go beyond traditional wedding favors. Here are just a few reasons couples are falling in love (pun intended) with this trend:
- Guest Entertainment: Live engraving provides a unique experience for your guests, especially during cocktail hour, reception, or other transitions in your wedding timeline. The fun continues during dancing and dinner to ensure each guest receives their unique party favor.
- Personalized Keepsakes: Each guest receives a favor that’s not only beautiful but also uniquely theirs, making it far more meaningful than standard gifts.
- Luxury Appeal: The artistry of engraving adds sophistication to your wedding, making the entire event feel even more special.
- Unforgettable Memories: Watching an artist engrave a piece live creates a memorable moment for your guests to talk about long after the event.
What to Expect from a Live Engraving Artist
If you’re considering live engraving for your wedding, it’s important to know what the process involves:
Live Engraving SetupÂ
The engraving station is typically compact and requires minimal space, making it easy to incorporate into your venue and floor plan. You provide a table, chair, and any decoration you prefer for my workspace, and I handle the rest.
Hand Engraving Process
Guests select an item to be engraved, such as a stemless wine glass or coffee mug, and the artist personalizes it with their name, initials, or a short message. Together, we can brainstorm ideas to find an item personal to you that is great for engraving!
Timeline for Engraved Wedding Favors
Engraving each item typically takes 1-4 minutes depending on the complexity of the design. With high volume events, I can bring an assistant to help manage the crowd and collect personalization choice, so I can focus on engraving. Discuss your guest count and schedule of events with your artist at the time of booking.
📌 Tip for high guest count: Limit your guests to one name or 3 initials to keep the event flowing and reduce the amount of engraving time per item.
Learn the Difference Between Etching vs. Engraving
While the terms are often used interchangeably, there is a difference between glass etching and engraving. Engraving physically carves into the surface of an item and removes surface material, creating a permanent and tactile design—yes, you can feel it. Etching, on the other hand, uses a chemical process or lasers to create designs on the surface without cutting into the material. Both techniques can result in stunning personalized pieces, but engraving is more commonly used for live events due to its immediate and hands-on process.
How to Plan for a Live Engraver at Your Wedding
Here are some tips to ensure your live engraving experience goes off without a hitch:
- Choose the Right Items: Decide on the items you want engraved. Popular options include wine glasses, shot glasses, whiskey tumblers, perfume bottles, or even leather luggage tags.
- Pick the Perfect Timing:Â The best time for live engraving is during cocktail hour, as guests mingle and enjoy drinks. You can also set it up during dinner or as an ongoing activity throughout the evening.
- Coordinate with Vendors: Work with your wedding planner or venue to arrange a convenient spot for the engraving station. I’m cordless – so no access to power required!
- Inform Your Guests: Use signage to point your guests to the live engraving station. You can also place signage on the table to let guests know this is a complimentary service from you to thank them for celebrating with. You can also share the service ahead of time by including a note in your program. This will build excitement and ensure everyone gets a chance to participate.
Real-Life Inspiration for Engraved Wedding Favors
At a recent wedding in Atlanta, a live engraving station set up during cocktail hour was the highlight of the evening. Guests chose from stemless wine glasses and whiskey tumblers, each engraved on-site with their initials. The process was quick, interactive, and left everyone raving about their personalized keepsakes. Imagine your guests experiencing the same joy as they watch their favors come to life before their eyes.
Why Live Engraving Is Worth the Investment
Incorporating live engraving into your wedding not only elevates the guest experience but also creates lasting memories for everyone involved. It’s a perfect blend of entertainment, luxury, and personalization that sets your wedding apart from the rest.
Ready to make your wedding unforgettable? Send a message to learn more about live wedding engraving services and book your date today!
Wedding Engraving FAQ: Georgia's Live Engraving Artist for Unique Wedding Favors
What type of items can be personalized with wedding engraving for favors?
I engrave on various items such as wine glasses, cigar cutters, champagne flutes, metal tumblers, and even liquor bottles. Almost all glass and metal items can be engraved. If you have an idea in mind, we can make it happen.
How long does the wedding engraving process take for each item at an event?
The engraving process typically takes a few minutes per item, depending on the complexity of the design and the type of glass chosen. You can limit guests to receiving initials only or opt for a more intricate design with silver or gold color fill.Â
Can guests choose their own text for their engraved glass?
Yes, guests can choose their own names, initials, or a short phrase for their personalized gifts, making each one unique and special.Â
Is wedding engraving suitable for all types of wedding themes?
Absolutely! Wedding engraving adds a sophisticated and personalized touch that complements any wedding theme, from classic and elegant to modern and chic. If you're looking to personalize items other than glassware, remember that traditional calligraphy, heat foiling, or painting are options for leather, plastics, or fabric.
Do you provide wedding engraving services at locations outside of Atlanta?
I serve brides in Georgia and beyond! I offer wedding engraving services at various locations and can travel to different venues to provide personalized gifts for your guests.
How do you ensure the quality of each personalized gift during a busy event?
I use high-quality engraving supplies and have years of experience to ensure quality is not sacrificed with high volume events. For support, I can also bring an assistant for events to help the process run smoothly.
What is the most popular item for wedding engraving among guests?
Stemless wine glasses are often the most popular choice for wedding party favors, as they are both elegant and functional keepsakes.
How do you handle a high volume of guests wanting engraved items at a wedding?
I stay organized and efficient with all necessary supplies readily available on the table. My experience with various brand events also gives me an advantage to know how to handle high volume work. Depending on guest count, I can also bring an assistant or full team of engravers to ensure each guest receives their item in your timeframe.
What makes wedding engraving a unique addition to wedding favors?
Engraving is new to many guests, and they're amazed that personalization happens without a big machine or laser with fonts. Wedding engraving adds a personal and artistic touch to wedding favors, creating memorable keepsakes that guests will cherish long after the event.
How far in advance do I need to book a live engraving artist for my wedding?
Just like other vendors, an engraving artist can only be in one place at a time. Many are booked 4-6 months in advance. Reach out as soon as you have a date to secure your live artist.