Your guest book doesn’t have to be an actual book that your guests sign. Have your guests sign something that is meaningful to you, that you can use your wedding guestbook as art, home decor or anything that you will enjoy looking at for years to come.
Hot tip for guest books: Designate someone to go around the room and ask guests to sign the guest book.
Vintage or custom skis
Popular among winter brides marrying at a ski area, vintage ski guest “books” make beautiful and memorable home decor. These can be hard to come by and somewhat expensive as the popularity of vintage skis has taken off. An awesome alternative is to have custom wedding skis with your names and wedding date made at Community Skis in Mammoth Lakes, CA.
Guitar or other musical instrument.
Musical instruments are a fun a personal way to capture the most precious thoughts and moments of your wedding day while making a statement about your passion. Stringed instruments such as guitars, violins, cellos are easy to sign. Other instruments may be more difficult to sign. Opt for signing your favorite sheet music or the case for your instrument.
Coffee Table Inspiration.
Coffee table books are such a delight to browse through. I delightful combination of gorgeous images and compelling information, coffee table books are perfect for indulging your passion for, say, food, adventure, sports (like skiing or rock climbing), travel, art, or the mountain town you married in. Alternately, you could simply make a coffee table out of your guest book. A raw piece of wood with your names and wedding date burned or carved into it makes a perfect palette for guest signatures.
Globes, Maps and other means of way-finding
Life in the mountains is full of maps. Weather topographical maps, ski trail maps or maps for hiking and biking trails, maps are a part of mountain life. Commemorate the day and your passion by having guests sign a map, ski trail or other way-finding object (like a globe for travel enthusiasts). Keep the glob in your office or frame you guest-signed map for posterity.
Chalkboard Photobooth
Elevate your photo booth by making it into a guest book. Offer guests chalkboard that they can write a message on and have someone else a picture. For more formal weddings, just the chalkboard will do. For relaxed and festive weddings, add props that guests can wear and interact with.
Quilt squares
Ever since I saw the wedding quilt from my blogger friend Cris from Kiss My Tulle, I’ve been obsessed with this highly personal and amazingly useful wedding memento. You can do a wedding quilt one of two ways. The first way is to buy fabric you adore and have guests sign the pieces. The second, which is my favorite, is to ask guests to send in a piece of special fabric when they RSVP. They will often send in mementoes and fabric scraps that are significant to their lives (and possibly yours). I think creating and sleeping under a quilt that was created from the beautiful scraps of peoples’ lives is absolutely amazing. Get DIY tips and Cris’ story HERE.
Image credits
Butterfly Wedding Guest Book Cladon Home | Vintage Skis Photo via Style Me Pretty | Guitar Wedding Guest Book via Offbeat Bride| Wooden Coffee Table Guest Book via WeddingColors.net | Globe Guest Book via Ruffled Blog | Chalkboard Photo Guest Book via LLN Paper Goods on Etsy | Quilt Guest Book via Glendalough Manor Bride