When planning my wedding, I decided that I wanted to do things a little unique. Yes, I wanted to follow most of the usual wedding traditions, but I wanted to do them just a little bit differently. What started out as a vintage theme, turned more into just a random assortment of eclectic items that I liked and kind of lost the theme. In the end, I was really happy with how everything came together on my big day.
One thing that I really wanted to do differently was the guest book.
I have been to a number of weddings in the past 2 years, and I honestly cannot remember seeing or signing a guest book. Now, I am someone that saves everything and feels the need to document all that I can, so I knew that a guest book would be important to me. It was important to me to make sure that I found something that my guests would *want* to sign.
While searching for wedding guest book ideas, I found so many amazing alternatives that I had a hard time picking just one.
Here are my 8 favorite wedding guest book alternatives
1.) Wedding Quilt
I just love the idea of a wedding quilt. It is a beautiful keepsake and one that you can actually use to snuggle up on the couch with. Plus there are so many different designs and quilt selections that you can easily find one that will fit your theme. You can purchase a premade quilt, find a funky vintage one, or have one specially made just for your event. There are even some places on Etsy that will send you the squares to display at your reception, and after they are signed, you mail them back and they stitch the quilt together for you.
2.) Jenga Blocks
This is such a fun idea! Have each guest sign a block to a Jenga game with a permanent marker, and then enjoy reading everyone’s messages while playing the game over the years.
3.) Art Canvas
What better way to remember your wedding then with a beautifully painted canvas, filled with your friends and family members notes? This is the perfect guest book for an artsy wedding, and one that your guests will love to sign.
4.) Monogrammed Wooden Letters
These would be such a neat focal piece over the mantel place, or on an accent wall! Monograms are the perfect way to show off your new last name and your newlywed status :)
5.) Fingerprint Tree
This is another really neat piece of wedding art that would be so fun to display in your house after the wedding. I love the little love birds made out of the newlyweds fingerprints – so cute! Each guest signs the tree with their finger or thumb print. This would look so good at a fall wedding with autumn leaves on the tree.
6.) River Rocks
This is another fun idea and would look great displayed in a pretty bowl or in a glass vase after the wedding. You could easily match the color of the markers used to your wedding colors, or stick with the black and white theme.
7.) Photo Guest Book
Set out a Polaroid camera, have your guests snap a picture and then they can place it in a photo album or a scrap book with a custom caption. This is also a great idea if you are having a photo booth — your guests can place their extra strip of photos in a scrapbook, and then leave a note next to them too!
8.) Typewriter Guest Book
This is the perfect guest book alternative for a vintage themed wedding! Get an extra long piece of paper (or multiple regular sized papers) and have guests type away.
What type of guest book did you have at your wedding? If you are still planning your wedding, what kind of guest book do you want?
Check out even more Wedding Ideas here.
I wish I would have thought to go beyond the traditional like this!
Love the thumb print tree, so cute!
Bride-to-be checking in here – I love these ideas!
The quilt is great.
Funny, my husband and I have had the same idea. Although we were thinking year 5.
I love these ideas! I can’t wait to use one in my wedding. I’ve used photo mattes to have signed at parties to put around a photo before but never the actual painting, genius! I also love the Jenga blocks and stones.