Guestbooks!

There are SO many different ways to do a guest book. They range from a traditional blank book, to book filled with engagement pictures to writing on stones... you name it.


Traditional Books

Photo Booth
Guests take pictures in a booth and paste them in. You can incorporate colored backgrounds in the wedding colors, add props, etc. Very fun. Could also just do polaroid pics.
Pros: Interactive, fun, creative, visual
Cons: Possible unorganized, messy finished project




Engagement Photobook
Easy to make online, a book of engagment photos with white background, perfect for signing!
Pros: Have some of your engagement pictures in a book, too
Cons: Might be a little too much "Caroline and Jon" in yo face



Secret Note Envelope Book

**FAVORITE**! Love this idea - and it is DIY. Small envelopes would be taped in and guests can tuck in their own special notes. I like the example below where the note tucked in is written on special paper with a prompt at the top.
Pros: Very personal, cute, I can make it myself/add my touch to it (I am a big scrapbooker)
Cons: Using a sticker to close the envelopes --> hard to open?/will rip?

Favorite Book

Poor title - BUT what I have seen people do is pick a good coffee table or favorite children's novel and let guests sign the various pages.

Pros: Shows insight into couples interests, sentimental

Cons: Big coffee table book? Messages could get lost in the mass of pages

Alternative Paper Ideas

Jar of Notes

Guests write small notes on colorful pieces of paper and add to a jar. Could be cute in a living room or on a mantle.
Pros: Can be used as a decoration

Cons: Waste of space, not easy to work with if you want to see all messages out on a spread

Postcards

Wishes would be written on postcards addressed to the bride and groom. The mother of the bride would take the postcards and send one or two a week following the wedding so that the B&G can get some words of wisdom long after the wedding is over.

Pros: Different, postcard can represent location of wedding

Cons: Won't get all the postcards for a long time - can't read all messages upfront, could get lost in the mail.

Non-paper Ideas

Platters

**FAVORITE** I couldn't find a picture, but I feel like a couple decorated platters mixed with other beautiful platters would look amazing on a wall in a foyer or living/dining room, or even as an addition to a china cabinet. I wouldn't do heart-shaped like below, thats a little tacky, but more like a few simple, round, gold-rimmed plates. Special markers are used and then the plates are fired in the oven for 30 minutes and wa-la!

Pros: Unique, elegant, multi-purpose

Cons: Delicate, not good for large wedding parties (mine is about 120 people)

Stones

Stones could be put in jars and used as decoration. Could be added to new home garden to make the guests messages a part of your new home.

Pros: Could put to use

Cons: Not the easiest thing to write on