Wedding Receptions;
your glorious wedding party

Wedding Receptions - Guest Books

In this segment about wedding receptions, we're going to talk a little bit about Wedding Guest Books and Displays.

One of the cardinal rules when planning a wedding reception is that you must remember the wants and needs of your guests!

Usually, your wedding guests will have some time to fill between the ceremony and the reception while the bridal party is having pictures taken. Your guests will need something to do at the reception venue while they're waiting for the stars of the day to show up, and for the formal part of the reception to begin (especially if the bar isn't yet open and the hors d'oeuvres aren't yet being served!).

One of the things that your guests can do is to sign the guest book and enjoy some displays that you have set up in the lobby or reception area.


Guest Book Ideas & Concepts

A guest book doesn't necessarily have to be a book. It can take many forms.

Of course, you can purchase a traditional wedding guest book from a stationery store or bridal shop for a ridiculous amount of money and be just like everyone else. Or, you can use your imagination and come up with a different, memorable, useful way for your guests to acknowledge their presence at your wedding.

If there is a theme in your wedding, try to keep the theme in mind as you decide what you want to use for a guest book. The big thing, of course, is to make sure that all of your guests sign in.

Put the guest book in a convenient location and have the Master of Ceremonies remind people who have not yet signed, during his/her speech, to do so before they leave.

Some examples of guest books and alternatives are:


Use an old fashioned photo album;

You know, the kind with the black pages and black corners to hold photos - and put one black and white photo of the bride, groom or bride and groom together, on each page. All photos could be current, or, go back in time and get some pictures of them as children. Date and explain each picture. Provide a silver or gold or white pen for guests to make comments, wishes, advice and to sign in right on the black pages.


Along the same vein, have a picture guest book;

Appoint a person to photograph each guest with a Polaroid camera, attach each picture to a page in a scrapbook or artists drawing book and have the guests sign and write a message on the page with their picture.







Get a current picture of the newlywed couple;

One with a HUGE matte around it and ask guests to sign in on the matte. The picture then can be framed and becomes a souvenir for the bride and groom. Take a picture of the finished product and print it on your thank-you cards.


Get a plain tablecloth;

And some narrow-tipped fabric markers and ask guests to sign the tablecloth, and maybe include their handprint too. At a later date, you can have each signature and handprint embroidered to make them last even longer.


Have precut quilt squares;

Make them available for each guest to sign and decorate. (Signed handprints work here too.) Again, narrow tipped fabric markers are good for this. Have your quilt sewn together and put it on your bed or use it as a wall hanging or curtain.*


Use your wedding theme to decide on a guest book;

For example, if your wedding has a beach theme, ask your guests to sign large shells and place them in a tall glass bowl. If it's a nature theme, ask your guests to sign cardboard leaves and hang them on a tree, or smooth rocks to put in a bowl.


More Guest Book & Display ideas here.







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