Life Size Custom Cutout - Party Decoration Ideas by a Pro

the idea

Have the host greet party guests at the entrance with a life-size cutout paired with a motion-activated voice recorder

senior man in doctors coat standing next to a life size custom cutout standee of himself

senior husband and wife standing next to life size custom cutout standees of themselves on their wedding day

the how

Decide whether to use an old or present day photo of the guest of honor
Can be made from a digital photo or scan of a print
Sizes range from 1 ft to 6 ft tall
Available in cardboard or more durable foam core
Comes with easel so it can stand on it’s own
Option to add a motion-activated voice recording to greet guests as they approach

50 year old man standing next to a life size custom cutout standee of himself

woman standing next to a life size custom cutout standee of herself

the why

welcome area décor & activities

Welcoming; you can’t always greet everyone on arrival, but you can still give them a warm welcome
Efficient; free’s up the host to mingle and enjoy the party rather than monitor the door
Acknowledgement; ensures guests still get a proper reception and feel acknowledged on arrival
Orientation; helps guests know what to do and where to go next (useful in venues)
Informative; time saving way to communicates practical information regarding cloakrooms, bathrooms, table plan, guest book, gift/card table, and the event’s social media hashtag
Flow; diffuses crowds, prevents bottlenecks, and helps manage flow when multiple guests arrive at once by giving them multiple things to engage with
Service; gets a first drink into guests’ hands without them having to wade through to the bar
Ice breakers; allow guests to ease in with a few activities before walking into a room full of people
Introductions; allows guests who don’t know many people or arrive alone to connect with others before entering
Conversation-starters; funny, creative, or quirky welcome activities give guests things to discuss
Atmosphere; a few initial activities, party favors, or photo ops immediately creates atmosphere

senior man standing next to a life size custom cutout standee of himself as a younger man in army uniform

teenage girl standing next to a life size custom cutout standee of herself

the why

this idea

Special occasions should feel special; generic ‘off the shelf’ decorations are lazy and unimaginative
Personalized; customized decorations are more special and show you made an effort
Custom photo; opportunity to show the guest of honor as a younger man/woman
Dramatic; makes a big first impression to wow guests from the start
Sets the tone; signals that it’s going to be a fun event
Funny; quirky, lighthearted, or self-deprecating decorations will make guests smile
Entertaining; guests may not have seen the guest of honor as a younger man/woman
Memorable; guests remember creative, unusual, or unexpected decorations
Photo-worthy; a great photo-op for guests to share and tag on social media
Unusual; a motion-activated voice recorder makes this an unusual party idea to impress guests
Bestseller; an idea that’s proved popular with many of my site’s visitors

middle aged man sitting next to a life size custom cutout standee of himself

motion activated voice recorder and player

ADVICE FROM A PRO

Matt’s tip

“I think these look best when you use a photo of the guest of honor as a younger man/woman.

Everyone already knows what they look like now, so it’s a much more fun for guests to be greeted at the entrance by a life-size cutout of the 90 year old birthday boy as a young G.I. in the Vietnam war or a now-bald 60 year old as a twenty-something upstart in a pastel-colored 80’s power suit and a mullet.

If you’re using an old printed photo, you may need to get it scanned to digital at a high resolution (around 600dpi) first, to avoid it appearing blurry when printed. It’s probably best to take it to a local printer (not an office supply shop) who will have a flat bed scanner specifically for photos.

I’d recommend chatting to the seller first to check their photo requirements or see what they advise.

Alternatively, you could opt for a cartoon-style caricature cutout instead (see below).

Also, don’t forget to pick up a separate motion-activated voice recorder. They only about $25 (link below) and it lets your record a short message from the guest of honor to welcome guests as they approach the cutout. It’s a simple little add-on that lends an extra-wow factor to this idea.“

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