Guest books...waste of time??

I think we're going to get a finger print tree for guests then we can frame it after the wedding.

We already had plans to do a Polaroid type thing in a nice album. We were given a lovely leather bound album as an engagement present so sticking to that idea. The idea is people can take Polaroids of themselves then put them in the album and right a message next to it. I love the idea of having some sort of record even if it's just full of silly, slightly drunken notes.

Whenever I've been to a wedding I've always made the effort to write in the guest book. Not much remains after the day itself so I would go for something. I think you will regret it if you don't.

We did an instax camera photo book guest book, and although there were some issues with it (someone reloaded the film wrong in one of the camera and it got stuck!), there were some lovely photos and messages throughout the book. Because people left some large and glaring blank spots, though, I think we plan to print out some wedding photos to add into the same album to make it a mix of traditional photos and guest book pages. I made it using scrap booking materials from hobby craft, so can easily add moreover and swap them around within the book. I know it's not something we will look at all the time, but I know it's something our future children will find one day and absolutely love!

We are having a Signing Bench for the guests to sign.

When we are old and wrinkly we can sit on it in our garden and read all the messages. x

Were planning on doing this. I am slightly worried that the film will be wasted? By drunk people...

We've been thinking the same thing.

I did think a fingerprint tree would be nice, but our house is quite minimalistic so we don't have a lot on our walls, and this would look out of place.

So I thought of having chalk boards for people to write messages and then have their pictures taken with it, bit more fun too.

We have got a guest book too, but think I might just scrap it altogether, although old people tend to like more traditional things like that.

Our daughter just had a big red book:-

and it was full by the evening. People drew lots of pictures, doodles, poems, lovely messages and both pens ran out quite quickly so we had to get more from the bar. Some of the things that their friends and family wrote were tearjerking and even now, she and hubby can't read them without filling up. It's something they can treasure forever whereas I think photos get uploaded onto a computer and then somehow get either forgotten about or lost if the computer dies! I am a bit of a traditionalist though and prefer actual photos to uploaded ones - but I think I fit into the 'older people' category you mention ?

Lets say mature then? :-) I see what you're saying, but at the same time, what if the house burns down?

At least if you have pictures you can upload them to a website, which will be there forever, and other people can keep a copy for you on a disc?

No bugger (almost) used our evening one. They all used the photo frame though.

Ecery day guest contributed to our version of a guest book because it was fabric bunting triangles and they hung them up during the ceremony. Everyone did an amazing job, and we were blown away that even those we thought were not creative did an excellent job. Can't wait to get home, sew them together and hang the wedding bunting in the house!!

This seems to go aginst the grain, but we did the standard guest book for people to sign. And a year on, I love it, is is the lasting gift we have from everyone with their well wishes. It wasn't exciting for guests I'm sure, but it means a huge amount to me!

My cousin is an artist so I'm thinking of asking him to do a picture of us in our wedding clobber on a massive canvas and then people can write messages around the pic.

One quick tip: if you have a guest book, don't just hope people will write in it - get someone to take it round your guests whenever there's a lull in proceedings.

I have bought a standard guest book, I like the thought of getting it out every one and them to flick through. Like guy said I think I'll get my SIL to harass ask people to sign it.

eta, one and them?? ha I mean now and then....only had a couple honest...?

This ! Make sure people know you have one and that it's on its way round each table. A work colleague of the B&G went round each table and kept the supply of pens coming too!

We're having a 'wishing tree' - people will write on tags and hang them onto the tree.

Its in december so the venue will have Christmas trees up inside.

We have decorations for the tree (as they are branches only ans would look a bit sparce next to the christmas trees!

We're asking the ushers/bestman and MOH to get people to write messages during the break between the meal and the evening.

im debating whether to double-up the name settings by using large tags and asking people to write messages on the back of those? Not sure....

It all depends on the crowd at your wedding and if you delegate someone to do guest book duty.

Signature frames work well, so do fingerprint trees.

We're having journalling cards with hints 'a drawing for the bride and groom' 'where will we be in 1 year' 'a special memory' etc. These are going in a lockable postbox to be opened on our first anniversary (time capsule style) we figure we'll have enough to read and go through immediately after the wedding.

These will then be scattered throughout the scrapbook I will make from professional and non-professional photos (we are having a professional photobook but nothing beats going through everything again to make your own perfect book!)

We had a signing frame which now hangs in our bathroom ?

As I guest, I always find wedding guest books a bit cringe...it's hard enough trying to come up with something meaningful and non-cliched at the best of times, let alone when you've had a skinful! The pressure of thinking of something to write other than 'Congratulations' is too much.

I actually had a bit of a revelation this morning; when I had my 18th birthday party someone passed a dictaphone around the club and loads of random people left snippets of conversations and drunken birthday wishes on it. I still have the tape to this day and it still makes me laugh listening to it! So, I'm going to do the same at the wedding- buy a cheapo dictaphone, pass it around and then listen back the next morning. Hopefully we should get some comedy gold!

Short answer - yes.

Long answer is no one likes completing them, it's awkward and takes up valuble eating/drinking time.

This was my first thought as I do not like guest books as everyone writes the same thing.

http://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/108693880/guest-book-alternative-balloons-on-a?ref=sr_gallery_29&ga_search_query=balloon+signature&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=GB&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=balloon+signature

We bought this for our day guests so we can hang it when we buy our first house.

We did though buy a guest book for our evening guests but we are not concerned if it gets signed, we just wanted to include everyone.

We also had the ideas of a polaroid picture book.. but settled with our choices and after receiving them from Etsy I am very happy with them.

I struggle with writing in guest books, as I have usually written something personal and meaningful in the card, and I don't like to repeat myself, so end up writing something bland like "Hope you have had/Thank you for a lovely day..." We didn't have one at our wedding, though this was more because I hadn't thought of it than because I definitely didn't want one.

I loved your idea of a signed bench Frogface, I mentioned it to my chap yesterday and have come home tonight to find he's made a bench!

So thanks for the inspiration!

Oh that is brilliant!! I don't think I would trust my OH to make one, definitely not one that would last us until we keeled over! I have to get a move on and get someone to make ours.

Glad I helped!

Thank you for your replies ladies. Have decided to go for a fun memory of the day that will be a talking point, and not too cringe for guests! Ruled out books for definite, so will have a good think.

thanks again. xx

Hiya

If they are done right then they are SOOOO worth it ?

Guests usually need some sort of encouragement to sign something so doing something quirky original can make the job of filling it up so much easier.

There are some great ideas out there. I offer Guest Book Puzzles. They are sooo much fun and do get the guests talking at the wedding. They make great heirlooms as they last for generations and can either be kept in a box and made up together on your anniversary or framed and hung on the wall.... The comments I have received about them are only good. Every puzzle I have seen has been full.

Nat

My brother does not have a role as such so it will be his job to take it around and get it signed. He will be well versed in what we expect, I want drawings, poems, anything really. Will be a fab momento looking back on in a few years time. Depending on gaps may get some wedding pics put in there after.