A wedding day is the most special and important day in the lives of many couples. And while everyone wants to make it memorable, there’s no right or wrong way to do that. One great way to liven up your wedding and stand out from other receptions is by choosing an unconventional guest book idea. Whether you’re looking for something more meaningful, personalized, or even light-hearted – nontraditional guest books can provide a unique touch that will reflect both you as individuals and as a couple – allowing guests to share their best wishes in style! In this post, we’ll discuss why it’s so important for you to have a special guest book on your big day, plus 16 creative ideas for alternative notebooks and signature boards that are perfect for any celebration. Ready? Let’s get started!
Unique guest book ideas for your wedding
- Customized Map – Create a customized map with locations special to you and your fiancé, like where you first met, had your first date and other important places in your relationship. Have guests sign the map as their wedding guest book.
- Picture Frame – Create a picture frame with two photos of you and your fiancé. Have your wedding guests sign the frame with well wishes for the happy couple!
- Jenga Blocks – For an interactive guest book idea, get out the classic wooden game of Jenga! Have each guest write something special on one block that joins onto the tower they create together and when it’s time to play Jenga during the reception, pull out the guest book blocks!
- Wishing Stones – Have each guest write their well wishes for you onto a stone or pebble, then drop it into a glass jar or vase as your wedding guest book. This is a special and creative way to capture all the best wishes from your friends and family!
Puzzle Piece Guest Book – Connect all the pieces of your favorite puzzle, have each guest sign their own piece, frame it and place it in your home to remember this special day.- Wine Barrel Signing – If you’re hosting an outdoor wedding with a rustic vibe, why not use an old wine barrel as the backdrop for signatures? Guests can sign the barrel and later use it as a décor item in your home.
- Wood Slice Guest Book – If you’re looking for something completely unique, you can use wood slices or discs with a special message written on each one. Have guests write their well wishes around the edge of the disc and then hang them up around your reception area like bunting!
- Quilt Signature Squares – Create a quilt for two using squares signed by all your wedding guests. Each guest can sign a square that will eventually be pieced together to create an amazing keepsake piece of art!
- Picture Frame Collage – Make a photo collage out of multiple picture frames hung on the wall. Provide a sharpie and ask your guests to write their well wishes for the two of you directly onto the frames.
- Recipe Card Signing – Ask your guests to sign a recipe card or have them write down their favorite recipe for you! Then compile all the cards into a book you can use together throughout your life.
- Message in a Bottle – Perfect for beachside weddings, collect empty glass bottles from around town and have each guest write their own message to put inside one of the bottles as your wedding guest book. You can then store all the bottles in an antique chest that can be displayed in your home for years to come!
- Thumbprint Tree – For a unique guest book, create a tree shape on a canvas and have each guest sign their name or leave their thumbprint in a single color. This is such an amazing way to commemorate the special day!
- Photo Booth Print Signing – Set up a photo booth at your wedding reception with silly props and fun accessories so everyone can snap photos together! Then, have them sign the back of their prints to commemorate the happy occasion!
- Memory Jar – Collect mementos like ticket stubs and other small trinkets from your wedding. Place all these items into a jar as your guest book and ask each guest to write down one memory they shared during the celebration.
- Polaroid Signing – Have a “polaroid signing station” at your wedding reception, where guests can snap photos of themselves and sign the back of the polaroid before adding it to a scrapbook or photo album. This is an amazing way to capture all the memories from your special day!
- Sweet Message Tree – Instead of having guests write their names in a traditional guest book, set up a tree with small cards hanging off its branches that are printed with sweet messages like “love” and “happiness”. Ask each guest to select one message that they feel best represents your relationship and add it to the tree as your wedding guest book.
DIY guest book ideas for your wedding
Creating a DIY guest book is one of the most creative and meaningful ways to capture your wedding day memories. Not only can it be customized to fit your exact tastes, but it also serves as a wonderful keepsake that you can treasure for years to come. Here are some fun and unique DIY guest book ideas perfect for any wedding celebration:
- Polaroid Guest Book – Create a scrapbook-style guest book by having each guest sign their name next to an old-fashioned polaroid photo of themselves at your reception. This is an especially great idea if you have an outdoor or vintage-themed wedding.
- Picture Frame Guest Book – Have guests write messages in special frames with slots for photos. These can be placed around the reception area so guests can browse through them during downtime.
- Puzzle Guest Book – For a fun and interactive way to capture your wedding memories, have your guests sign individual pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Once all the pieces are collected, you can assemble them into one big picture!
- Quilt Guest Book – Have each of your guests sign fabric squares that you can later sew into an heirloom quilt that will serve as a beautiful reminder of your special day for years to come.
- Wine Bottle Labels – An ideal option for couples who love wine, have personalized bottle labels made with “Sign Here” printed in the corner. Guests can sign the labels, and you can use them as decorations at your wedding reception.
These are just some of the many DIY guest book ideas to help make your wedding memorable! Have fun coming up with something unique that guests will enjoy signing, and you’ll be able to treasure for years to come.