How many people can say that they put their besties “on blast” on their wedding day and lived to tell about it? In fact, how many people can do that AND get the biggest smiles of appreciation in return for doing so? Not many, we’ll tell you that, but recently we learned about the coolest way that friends, siblings, colleagues, cousins, etc. can gift the newlywed couple - and it involves the presentation of a podcast. Don’t know about you, but I have always wanted to host, be a guest on, or serve some kind of valuable purpose in the production of a podcast, and what we’re telling you about today is pretty epic. Cue that melodic intro, because this is “Artifact: The Perfect Gift for the Couple Straight Off the Aisle.”
Think of your favorite podcast (and we all have them, because there’s legit at least one about every interesting thing in life). Maybe you like betches Brides, maybe you like Couple Things, maybe it’s Why Won’t You Date Me? Now, imagine it as a gift, focused on a person, relationship, event, or question that matters to you. That whole conception, what you’ve packaged up in your mind, that’s Artifact.
It’s customizable, it’s personal, and it has meaning, and isn’t that - ideally - what every wedding gift should be? We think so!
Photo Credit: Kelly Marie Photography; @_kellymariephotography
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU5U-ZwOsPs&t=2s
The "How We Met" Artifact involves an interview with the couple, detailing how they came into each other's lives. It can cover everything from the first kiss to the engagement to the tendency of one side to undercook bacon. From what our friends at Artifact tell us, the “How We Met” is often purchased as a gift for the couple—or by the engaged couple themselves, as something to share with family and friends before the big day. At the end of the session, the interviewer does a short round of questions with each person separately—sort of like “The Newlywed Game” as a surprise for the couple. And we loveee this idea to replace all the basic bridal shower games, like does the bride really know her groom? How well do these kids know each other kind of thing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_Qfrnf9Vko&feature=youtu.be
This "Parents or Families" Artifact features interviews with parents or loved ones from the previous generations on both sides of the couple. The participants can share their own love stories, offer memories of the betrothed, recall first impressions of their future in-laws, or impart advice on marriage and parenthood. We dig this one, because it can be a GREAT icebreaker to kick off the wedding weekend for a couple. Siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, everyone can join the party and take part in the podcast, whether they'd like to talk about what the people getting married mean to them or offer valuable advice for the future.
If you’re the Maid/Matron of Honor or the Best Man (vice versa, too, Man of Honor, Best Woman, what have you), not only do you want to give the couple a great gift for this monumental occasion, you’re also kind of on the hook for delivering a toast that ends, of course, with a mic drop. 🎤💥. Boom. It’s a major undertaking and never something you can just decide to wing. It’s a wedding, there are expectations, and guests WILL remember the speech(es) if they’re catastrophic or really freakin’ good. So, we’re saying be the latter, be good and give the couple something they’ll hold onto. Forever.
It really couldn’t be easier, tbh. Give yourself some time to strategize (3 weeks, to be safe), but don’t worry about the behind-the-scenes production pressure, because Artifact will handle all of the hard stuff. All YOU need to do is:
Tell your Artifact coordinator what to explore and who to talk to.
Artifact will settle up the scheduling and arrange the remote interview session (it happens over the phone btw, so #pandemicfriendly), followed by a professional edit (which includes a narrative introduction from the interview and that can-only-be-a-podcast, curated musical overlay).
Your bride and groom, bride and bride, groom and groom, whoever the lovebirds are, their podcast will be waiting at a dedicated, easy-to-share webpage.
So, in the case of a toast, it'll be longer-than-usual, for sure. But with weddings being a much more intimate + potentially even dance floor-less time these days, the ‘Group Listen’ would actually be a pretty great activity for everyone to take part in and pass [meaningful] time with during the reception.
They can listen to their podcast on every anniversary! We love that. Right now, use the promo code “WEDDINGCHICKS” for $40 off your package purchase. And when you consider how much a typical wedding gift is nowadays, these prices are 👌.
Make history with their love story, in your own words.