Have you decided whether to have a guest book at your wedding?
Guest books are optional, but they are a great way for the people who care about to share wishes for a happy future, advice, or a humorous message. Years later, you may find yourself returning to their signatures as much as your wedding photos.
And if you are thinking of having a guest book, you have a multitude of options to select from, from traditional books to tech solutions to retro elements.
Here are some guest book ideas for you, including some of today’s biggest trends.
Go with a classic. You can’t go wrong with a lovely ledger-style guest book. It adds to the atmosphere of a formal wedding, and you can find a variety of elegant choices. Linen or even velvet colors are a nice touch, and you can always have your book personalized with your names, wedding date, and location.
Have a Polaroid guest book station. Offer one camera with film for roughly every 40 guests, along with some extra packs of film for people who want to take more than one picture. Place the cameras and film on a table with a photo album, tape, pens, and clear written instructions. You can ask guests to take photos of one another or appoint a few Polaroid photographers to get nice shots of guests as they chat, enjoy their food, and let loose on the dance floor. The Polaroid photos are then taped in the book, and guests sign by their picture(s). This approach is fun for guests and creates a nice collection of visual memories and special thoughts.
Create a scrapbook of photos that guests bring with them. Using your invitations and wedding website, you can ask guests to bring a picture of themselves—maybe something that illustrates a special shared memory with you. On your big day, they can tape or paste their photos in the scrapbook you have waiting for them and sign next to it.
Or… use your photo booth. Ask your photo booth operator to print two copies of each guest’s photo strips, and ask guests to tape or paste a strip into your scrapbook and sign next to it.
Consider a coffee table book. You can select a book about a meaningful subject and invite guests to write notes on the pages. Then, you can display well wishes in your home.
Offer postcards. Arrange an assortment of blank postcards, and invite guests to write a note on one or more. You can always select themed postcards with special meaning, from retro movie star postcards for your cinema theme to images that reflect your love for dogs.
Build up excitement with a Jenga guestbook. This has become a popular guest book option. Create a Jenga display complete with blank blocks and pens. According to a Muslin & Merlot blog, ballpoint pens, dry-erase markers, and chalk markers work for this while paint pens, Sharpies, and felt-tip markers tend to bleed.
Ask for video entries. Create a video station where guests can create video selfies with messages for you. You can set up mini cameras or use QR codes to direct guests to an app that will compile their video messages for you. You also can ask your videography team to collect video messages from your guests.
Ask guests to sign a large, framed photo. This is another way to create a keepsake that you can display in your home.
Use Christmas ornaments. This is perfect for a wedding near the holiday season, and your signed ornaments will become treasured keepsakes.
Go vintage with a typewriter station. Set up the typewriter with plenty of paper, and encourage guests to type their messages for you.
Create a monogram guest book. You can get a wooden sign of the initial of your choice, ask guests to sign it, and display it in your home.
The same idea will work for outlines of a beloved home state, a pet, or other meaningful images. Ballpoint pens and gel pens will work well with your wooden sign.
Display a wedding wish tree. With this lovely Dutch custom, guests write messages for you on pieces of paper and hang them on a tree display. You can buy a wish tree or make it yourself.
Have guests record their messages. One popular trend is the After The Tone Phone. This California-based service brings a retro-style phone to your event and works with out-of-state clients. Guests leave voicemails for you, and the service delivers them to you. You can do the same by setting up a station with mini recorders or phones with recording apps.
Create a fingerprint tree. Provide ink pads for guests to press their fingerprints onto a tree artwork. This creates a lasting memento of all the wedding guests. Be sure to provide wet wipes so guests can clean their fingers.
Ask for messages in a bottle. Give each guest a small bottle to fill with a note for the couple. You can read the messages on your anniversary.
Collect recipes. Ask guests to write down a favorite recipe for the couple to try and compile them into a customized cookbook.
Create canvas art. Pass around a canvas for guests to sign and leave notes on with paint pens. Hang the artwork in the new home.
Consider wedding Mad Libs. Print out funny mad libs cards for guests to fill out about the bride and groom. The results will be hilarious!
Request advice cards. Have guests fill out cards with marriage tips and advice for you to open on your first anniversary.
Engage in a bit of time travel. Bury a time capsule to be opened on a future anniversary with guest messages inside.
The Bell Tower on 34th is a unique Houston wedding venue with a chapel, a grand staircase, and stunning waterwall.
Our elegant venue, designed with Old World Charm, is an affordable option for large or small events.
Learn about holding a wedding here.
The Bell Tower on 34th
901 W 34th St, Houston, TX 77018
(713) 868-2355