Traditional Wedding Guest Books are often perused after the honeymoon, then placed lovingly on a shelf in the couple’s home and left to collect dust until their golden anniversary. I know that this is the case with mine, at least. I often wish that we had come up with a more original way to commemorate the presence of all of our friends and loved ones on our wedding day. Perhaps if we had, we would have looked at it more than one time since then. I have collected a few ideas that fall into the “Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda Done That!” category for me, and I hope that they inspire you to create a piece of memorabilia that you will treasure!
Idea #1: Get a canvas from a local art supply store, and provide guests with paint brushes and different colors of paint when they arrive for your wedding celebration. Have everyone sign the canvas, and afterwards get it framed so that you can display the colorful memento in your home!
Idea #2: Purchase a large map (poster size) or photo (or take one and have it blown up) of your wedding location, and have your guests sign it. Then, frame and display it as a reminder of your special day and place! This is an especially good idea for destination weddings.
Idea #3: Provide small, pretty pieces of paper or cardstock for your guests to write notes on at some point during the event. Ask for messages of marital advice, thoughts on love, or memories from your wedding celebration. Put the notes in a decorative box or vase to display at home, and pick a few out to read when the mood strikes.
Idea #4: This is a variation on an Irish Celtic tradition that I like. Apparently, when couples were married near lakes or other bodies of water, as was often the case, guests would throw a pebble in the water as they left the wedding ceremony and headed for the reception, and they would make a wish for the couple as they cast the stone. In order to turn this custom into a creative take on the guest book, provide decorative stones for your guests to sign. Have them deposit the signed stones into a vase, which you can have filled with water if you want to adhere to the wish-making tradition (be sure to empty the water before you transport the vase!)
Idea #5: If there is a ‘Glaze-n-Blaze’ shop near you, pick out a piece of pottery that you would like to have decorated by your guests. Have them sign it with different colored glazes, and return the piece to have it fired after your wedding! If you choose wisely, you could end up with a piece that is both memorable and useful. On the other hand, you may wish to choose an ornamental plate or something else that is less likely to be damaged or broken with consistent use.
Idea #6: The ‘Polaroid Album’ guest book is one of my favorite ideas, and it is one of the simplest to create! Purchase or create an album or scrapbook with decorated pages, and provide a Polaroid camera (and photographer!) to snap photos of your wedding guests as they arrive. Have your guest book attendant glue the photos to the pages of the album, and have guests sign on their page with a colorful pen. Have fun flipping through the pages; years down the road when the hairstyles and outfits are out of style, this album will be sure to take you back in time!
Leave a comment