Wedding-Guest Book Alternatives: Notecards, Vases, Quilts and More

The guest book is an important part of your wedding. You will want a record of who attended. However, you are not limited to using a traditional guest book. There are many unique ways to cherish the signatures of your wedding guests.

Note Cards
Provide pretty note cards that match your wedding décor and theme for your guests to write on. Note cards are a great way to inspire your guests to write a personal message. There are a few ways you can handle these. You can stack the note cards on a table in the entrance for guest to sign when they arrive. Display a picture from your engagement portrait session and a box to collect the note cards on the same table. If you are having a formal dinner you may choose to leave a card at each place setting. Invite your guests to write a message and tell them where they may put their cards when they are finished. After your wedding you will have fun reading through the cards and the sentiments of your family and friends. Store them in a decorative box in your new home.

Signing Mat
Having guests sign a mat to go around a picture has become very popular. Many photographers will carry these and some will provide one in their wedding packages. Make sure you pick a mat large enough to accommodate the signatures of all your guests. Leave the mat on a table at the entrance with pens. Leave the mat out of the frame and don't put your picture in it yet. You don't want it to get ruined. After the wedding insert your mat into the frame with either a picture from your engagement session or from your wedding. This will make a cherished heirloom for your new family.

Picture Book
If you like the idea of using a book you can do so with a unique twist. Prior to your wedding have a book made with pictures of the two of you. You can mix both engagement pictures taken by your photographer and candid pictures taken by yourself and friends or family. You may also want to include pictures from both of your childhoods Leave large spaces for your guests to sign. There are many options for your book. You can make it yourself in a scrapbook style or have it professionally designed, printed and bound. Your guests will enjoy flipping through your book and looking at your pictures when they sign it.

Vase
You may decide you would like your guests to sign something that can be displayed in your home. Try an etching pen and provide a vase or something else that can be engraved for your guests to sign. Your guests will have fun with this novel idea and you will have a real treasure.

Quilt
A very creative option is to have your guests use fabric markers to sign a quilt. You can either have the quilt made and ready before your wedding or you can have your guests sign blocks that will make a quilt. Choose big solid colored blocks that will be easy to write on. Avoid using printed fabric since the signatures will be harder to read.

Tips
Make sure your guests understand what they are supposed to do. You can either have someone tending to your guest signing table or leave printed instructions on an easel. If you are using pens make sure they are archival quality so the writing will last for years. Have fun being creative and making the guest signatures more personal.