Wedding guest books are a common element that couples add in their reception planning. A guest book, which is usually placed near a gift or card table, is a terrific way to commemorate your special day and the loved ones who were present. However, just because a traditional guest book is timeless and customary doesn’t mean you have to choose a plain or superficial book.
Wedding guest book alternatives, such as decor pieces couples plan to hang in their married home, are becoming increasingly popular. While you’ve certainly seen ideas like a tree guest book sign or even a message in a bottle guest book, don’t limit yourself to those concepts—the possibilities for unique guest book ideas are virtually limitless. We’ve compiled some of the most inventive and original ideas available to help inspire you.
Alternative Wedding Guest Book Concepts
Filling the best wedding details ever is part of preparing the best wedding ever. This is where these one-of-a-kind wedding guest book ideas come in. Allow these unique wedding guest book ideas to inspire you as you plan your dream wedding.
Vintage Pink Phone Audio Guest Book
Talk about an out-of-the-box (literally) idea. Guests at this wedding voiced their best wishes into a phone, and the newlyweds finished the reception with a recording they could listen to for years to come.
As this couple did, you can honour Fido by include him in your wedding guest book signage.
While some couples write handwritten cards to their guests and place them at each place setting, this couple turned that tradition on its head. Guests were invited to write a note to the newlyweds and deposit it in an envelope attached to a wood board.
This couple draped a quilt on a wall in their wedding venue, and guests used fabric pens to write well wishes on the blanket.
Guest Book for Piata
The couple at this wedding reception requested guests to write good wishes and place them inside a piata.
Alternative to a Typewriter Guest Book
At their reception, this couple placed out a vintage typewriter and invited guests to punch out a note of love and encouragement.
Guests at this occasion decorated quilt squares using fabric pens that bore an uncanny similarity to adult colouring book pages. The squares were put together into a keepsake quilt after the important day.
Alternatives to the Wedding Guest Book
Celebrate your passion for music by displaying a selection of vinyls from your favourite recording artists, along with markers for visitors to sign.
Tokens in the Shape of a Heart in an Acrylic Frame
Each guest signed a tiny wooden heart before placing it in an acrylic shadow box-style frame.
This couple commissioned a personalised caricature in which guests left well wishes.
Because your professional photographer may need a few weeks to edit your wedding photo album, Polaroid snaps from the day are a terrific choice for couples who want to be able to recall immediately following the wedding day via a DIY photo guest book. Consider combining this guest book idea with your photo booth so that guests can take one photograph home with them and leave another for you to preserve.
Ski-Themed Guest Book Sign Illustration
For their snowy winter wedding, this couple had their stationer create a wedding sign with ski-themed artwork that matched the rest of the stationery. The frame piece was ready to hang in the couple’s newlywed home after guests signed the border.
Hometown Illustration
Because a guest book is meant to be a keepsake of your wedding, it’s a good idea to include a hint to your wedding venue, hometown, wedding date, or even your monogram as part of the guest book.
This couple painted a gazebo in the centre of a wedding sign that also served as their guest book.
Guest Book on a Painted Globe
The best thing about a globe guest book is that it can be customised to meet any wedding design or taste. With their globe, these couple went for a minimalist, modern style. If travel is an important part of your love story, create a globe guest book that may be used as home decor in your new house. You might even ask guests to flag destinations they believe should be on your travel bucket list.
Alternatives for a Rustic Wedding Guest Book
The couple at their rustic wedding requested visitors to write on a wood plank, which they later used as home decor in their new home.
One reason couples choose a customised guest book over a typical guest book that will eventually collect dust on a coffee table is because they want to add a fun activity for guests to enjoy at their wedding reception. Instead of handwriting a note, attendees may send their best wishes using an antique typewriter.
Wooden Rustic Guest Book Bench
Consider creating a seat that can double as both a guest book and future house decor for crafty, DIY couples.
Alternatives for Beach Wedding Guest Books
The couple paid homage to being engaged while surfing at this vacation wedding in Hawaii by asking guests to sign a surfboard.
Guest Book for the Rustic Oar
Boating enthusiasts, look for charming oars that guests may sign at flea markets (or perhaps Etsy or Amazon).
Best Wedding Guest Book Alternatives
Consider your theme.
If you’re having trouble deciding on a unique alternative to a typical guest book, consider your wedding theme or aesthetic. If you’re already incorporating particular elements into your wedding decor, there’s a high chance there’s an on-theme object you could use as a guest book substitute. If you’re getting married on a beach in Hawaii, have visitors autograph a surfboard that you may later display in your home as a reminder of your memorable wedding day. Set up puzzle pieces or even Jenga pieces for loved ones to autograph as part of a puzzle guest book if you and your partner enjoy puzzles and game nights. Consider having your guests write on wine corks or even a wine bottle that you intend to open on our first wedding anniversary. Because having too many options can be overwhelming, let your wedding theme guide your guest book ideas.
Keep high-quality pens on hand.
A good pen or marker is required. Because participants will not be writing on paper, you must be especially aware of the surface they will be writing on and the instruments required to guarantee their names are readable. If you’re dealing with a rough surface, such as wood or enamel, felt-tip markers and paint pens are a suitable choice because ink from a ballpoint pen can smear. While you’re looking for decent pens, keep in mind that you may need to obtain additional items, such as an easel, to complete your guest book setup.
Balance your creativity with your practicality.
Some ideas may appear to be fun activities or photo opportunities, but keep practicalities in mind, especially when it comes to DIY projects. How difficult will it be for guests to write on the item you’re considering using as an alternative to a wedding guest book? Is the item something you’d like to retain and exhibit as home decor? One advantage of a physical book is that it may be stored on a shelf. If your alternate option must be hung on a wall or has a large display area, carefully consider your possibilities.
Keep in mind pre-wedding events.
Many pre-wedding activities, such as a wedding, bridal shower, or even a rehearsal dinner, include a guest book. These unusual ideas would work just as well at a wedding or bridal shower as they would at a wedding reception.
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