The day of your wedding can FLY by. There is so much to do, so many people to talk to, and so much to enjoy, all wrapped up into a small amount of time. One way to ensure that you remember your special day forever [even though we already know you will never forget marrying your BEST friend], as well as involve your guests in your day, is by having a guest book to capture the “day of” memories. Historically, wedding guest books were simple books with blank pages for guests to sign a note of well wishes for the newlyweds. Throughout our time as wedding coordinators, we have seen lots of CREATIVE guest book options that stray away from this tradition, and make it a little more EXCITING. We thought we could put this all into a TIPS & TRICKS article for our favorite people!

WOODEN TREASURES

Jumbo JENGA: First of all, who doesn’t love Jenga? With the latest craze of “jumbo” size yard games, we’ve had a few previous couples [Anne + John & Amy + Sas] who had their guests sign a note to the bride & groom on each piece of their game. Now, whenever they play Jumbo Jenga, they are reminded of their special day, and the people that celebrated with them!

Shadow box [with wooden pieces]: Shadow boxes are another CUTE way to get your guests involved. A few of our couples have used a shadow box with a small hole in the top, and little wooden circles [Emily + Kyle], or hearts [Amy + Kevin], for guests to sign, and then place in the shadow box. This keepsake would look GREAT anywhere in your home.

Letter at Last: Now that you & your partner [most likely] share the same last name, another FUN idea is to purchase or create a wooden letter with the first letter of your new last name, and have your guests sign it. That way, you can use it as a decoration in your home, and always know that you are surrounded by the LOVE of all your wedding guests for years to come.

SPECIAL State: Whether it’s the state you are married in, or the state you’re living in, another idea for a guest book is to have a wooden cutout of the state of your choice. We had a couple do this [Rachel + Brad], and it turned out BEAUTIFULLY.

Decorative wooden sign: Purchase or craft a wooden sign with your favorite custom quote, and have your guests sign a note on your it. Maggie + Corey decided to do this, and the finished product was nothing short of AMAZING.

ANNIVERSARY IDEAS

Let’s WINE about it: Do you and your partner love wine? If you answered yes, this guest book idea is PERFECT for you! Purchase some wine bottles, and update with cute labels for your 1 year, 5 year, 10 year, etc., anniversaries [you can find ADORABLE ones on Etsy] that guests can sign. We had a couple do this [Kristina + Derek] and guests could not stop commenting on what a fun way it was to celebrate the anniversaries to come!

SIMPLE, but perfect: Add a mason jar with popsicle sticks for guests to sign a note on. Have a sign next to the mason jar explaining to guests that you and your new partner plan to read these sticks on your first anniversary, and cherish them for years beyond.

PHOTOS TO CHERISH

Photobooth BOOK [of memories]: If you have a photobooth at your wedding, opt to have the machine print out TWO copies, and have a blank guest book where guests can paste in their photobooth memories and sign a fun note to the happy couple.

Oh SNAP! [Polaroid Cameras]: Have a few Polaroid cameras on a table, along with a blank guest book. You can have guests paste their snaps into the guest book, along with a note that you will cherish forever. If you wanted to enhance this photo station, consider adding a rustic frame with string and clothespins [hey - Rustic Elegance has one to rent!]. We had a couple [Andy + Stephanie] use polaroid cameras, and we are sure that those memories are still FUN to look at!

MAKE IT YOUR OWN

Hobby Decor: If there’s something love to do as a couple, try to incorporate that into a fun guest book idea. For example, we had an AMAZING couple [Kate + Nick] who love to kayak, so they decided to find small paddles and have their guests sign the paddles [what a FUN keepsake!].

WANDERLUST: If you love to travel, think about having your guests sign a globe. We haven’t seen a couple do this, but thought it would be a UNIQUE idea for anyone with the itch to explore the world. You could even pair it with a cute sign saying “You mean the WORLD to us!” [punny, we know!].

Quit HORSIN’ Around: Do you have a love for animals like Christine + Jeremy? This CREATIVE couple decided to have guests sign a saddle, to further embellish their love for horses [& we loved how special it was to them].

OTHER NOTABLE IDEAS

FAMILY First: Another idea that we have seen from a few couples [Kailee + Derek & Katie + Danial] is having guests stamp their thumbprint on a family/friend tree! This is another keepsake that would make for GREAT home decor, and memories for a lifetime.

PICTURESQUE paintings: If you and your partner love art, or are looking for something different from the rest, consider providing a painting of something special to you, and having your guests sign it. Amy + Sas did this with a picture of the barn they were married in, so they won’t ever forget the place where two became ONE. Mel + Chris also opted to have guests sign a cartoon picture of them [& their adorable pup] that will look GREAT in their home.

Staying COZY [& warm]: As we work with couples in MN/WI with GRUELING winters, Lauren + Drew opted to have guests sign quilt squares that would be made into a wedding quilt for them to use [how adorable is this?!]. We are sure that it still keeps them warm in their hearts too!

Guest books are a FUN + MEMORABLE keepsake to revisit the details from your special day for the rest of your lives. As a couple planning your wedding, choose something that shows your personality, and have your guests add their special touch. We absolutely adore all of the creative ideas that we have seen throughout the years at Rustic Elegance, and continue to be AMAZED by our couples and what they come up with each time.

Wedding Tips | Guest Book Ideas

WOODEN TREASURES

ANNIVERSARY IDEAS

PHOTOS TO CHERISH

MAKE IT YOUR OWN

OTHER NOTABLE IDEAS

Abby + Casey | Rolling Ridge

Paige + Steve | Camp Chaos