Guest books are such a fun token from your wedding day. They’re one of the few things people keep (though I share a million more that I think you should save in this post), and they’re a reminder of your favorite people at that time in your life. I feel like people rarely do old-fashioned guest books anymore, because someone signing just their name on a piece of plain paper is so un-sentimental and will likely never get looked at again.
Luckily, there are sooo many more great ideas out there + the opportunity to create your own guest book alternative. Feel free to see something on this list and apply it to something your fiancé and you connect with. For example, maybe you have everyone sign a guitar or your ask for people to bring family recipes for your guestbook. Do what means the most to you too, so you can ensure that you’ll treasure this memento for years to come.
1.Coloring Page
First of all, this is free. Second of all this the most adorable thing ever! Basically, Something Turquoise created this printable illustration of a generic bride and groom and 100 guests. The guests can use markers to color in themselves and then sign their name below. It’s so cute and unique. If you have more than 100 guests, just print extra sheets. They also made one for a bridal shower guestbook, if you’re looking for that.
2. Bucket List
This is where you let your guests write things that your new hubby and you have to do sometime in your life. It can places to travel, events to go to, things to eat, etc. They can just use their life experience to give you life experience. I think it’s a super sweet idea and can be incorporated in many ways. For example, you can have people write on a map places you should travel or you can just collect scrolls in box… whatever you prefer.
Here’s the usual text that accompanies a bucket list guest book:
Leave a note, an idea, a plan, but most importantly an adventure. We promise this list in a lifetime.
3. Guest book puzzle
I love this, because it lets your guests have creative freedom. They can sign or draw on one piece of a full puzzle, and it can be a great staple on your coffee table throughout your married life.
4. Date Jar
Again, guests use their favorite moments in their life and pass it on to you. This is where they write a date night idea for your husband an and you and place it into some container. Make sure the container has enough room for you to shake it and pull something out, because later your husband and you will use it to randomly pick a date night idea. You can do this with popsicle sticks, rocks, wooden hearts, etc.
5. Anniversary messages
I love how long lasting the surprise is for this one. You can use wine bottles or other jars that you won’t be tempted to look through to collect messages from your guests, but instead of putting them into one bottle, guests will choose from 4 different bottles labeled “1 year,” “5 years,” “10 years,” and “15 years.” That way you can have messages to read for all these big anniversary milestones.
6. Photo guestbook
This is the closest to a traditional guestbook, but also makes good use of your engagement photos. You’ll purchase a bound photo book from somewhere like Shutterly or Artifact Uprising, and guests will get to sign on those pages. Just make sure the pages aren’t too glossy and the pens aren’t likely to smudge or go through one page to another. That’s a quick and easy way to ruin it…
7. Polaroids
This is the guest book we chose, and I’m still soooo glad we did. You just leave out a blank-paged guest book, tape, polaroid cameras, polaroid film and sharpies with some directions. Guests can use the polaroid cameras to take photos of themselves and tape them into the guestbook with messages next to them. We also include wedding-related stickers and washi tape which made the entries even more hilarious and fun. I love that we’ll forever get to attache a message to a face in case we eventually forget the names in our old age…
8. Wedding wishes
Similar to all the other write-a-message-and-stick-it-somewhere guest book alternatives, this one requires guests to write something they wish for the couple. It can just be a sweet message, prayer or hope for the couple. Again, pick your medium for this! Whatever fits you guys works. And if you need a jumping off point, scroll down to see some of Pinterest picks.
9. Wedding Corks
For those of us that are total wine-y’s, you can get a great piece for your bar. Have people sign wine corks (maybe from your engagement year or gathered from your family throughout the year) and place them into a growler. You can keep that near your home wine collection, because likely that’s a place you’ll be hitting up frequently.
10. Sign something for your home
Along the same lines as the wedding cork idea, just pick something you want for your home: a globe, a map print, a custom illustration of your husband and you, a bench, jenga, etc. This helps you know for a fact you’ll use it and will leave you with something you can happily stare at for the rest of your lives.
Photo by Sarah Joy Photo
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