Wednesday, November 18, 2009

My Idea for a Unique Guestbook (Part 2)

So as a follow up to yesterday's post, here's more info on my thoughts on our guest book.  I knew I wanted something very different, unique, creative and personal and it definitely had to have pictures of the guests, not us in it.  I mean afterall, we will have plenty of freakin' pictures of us from the engagement session, wedding day, honeymoon, showers, parties, etc.  I want to remember what my guests looked like on my big day and I sure as heck don't want to ask my photog to run around my reception snapping "Smile!" pics of the guests at their tables.

So I came up with a few ideas:

1) The photo album/book that has pictures of us in it that people can sign on blank areas and pages. (This is a great idea, especially if you want to show off your engagement photos.  But like I said: I don't want pics of us in my guest book - it's about the guests!)


2) The polaroid book where a friend takes polaroids of each guest (couples/families) as they arrive or approach the guest book table and then places the polaroids in a book for guests to write a nice message to us next to it.
3) A scrapbook that my sister creates of wedding themes and leaves blank places for us to add photos of the guests later. They sign a card that has a specific question or two for them to answer and then put it on the different scrapbook pages. A friend takes a digital snapshot of them and we later print the digital images to place in the scrapbook next to the cards the guests signed. The questions would be things like * What's your best advice for the bride and groom? * How did you meet the bride and/or groom? * What is your favorite memory of the bride and/or groom? * Where did you travel from today to attend the wedding or who/what were you most looking forward to about the wedding? (I loved this idea but after talking it through with my sister, the scrapbook was going to be very expensive and HUGE for 200 guests.)



4)  Another take on the scrapbook idea is having a book full of little envelopes with cards/tags for the guests to write on and insert into the envelope.  KMattso over at Happily After All took on this idea as a DIY project and posted about it here
5)  I also had heard of things like the wish tree or a vase or platter that your guests can sign.  (This also follows with the signature photo of the bride and groom that is then framed with a large mat for the guests to sign around).



Very sweet...I do want my guests to give me their advice and wishes. But I find that at weddings I've been to when you do this you get the same generic "Wishing you years of happiness and lots of babies!" Or "We are so glad to have been here on your special day. Can't wait to celebrate your 25th anniversary with you." Those are real nice and all, but there's not a whole lot of originality in them.   I wanted something like my scrapbook idea that would actually 'direct' my guests with some specific questions that I would get personal and unique answers from them.

And then I found it! The perfect combination of everything I was looking for...stay tuned for part 3!  :)

12 comments:

very married said...

Halmark has a pretty cool box filled with cards asking for wishes. They suggested that put a few at each table so the guests have time to think about it. I'm seriously considering buying it despite the fact that I already have a guest book plan...

Can't wait to see yours!

Kim said...

I'm dying of suspense! Can't wait for Part 3!!!

Nicole-Lynn said...

I really love the blurb books with engagement pictures.. but looking forward to seeing what you are deciding to go with1

kmattso2 said...

I can't wait to see what you've come up with! Thanks for linking over to my post =]

A Los Angeles Love said...

Those generic response or just-sign-your-name issues are why a guest book is a lower priority for us. However, I love seeing people with creative ideas that inspire genuine communication. And I love the prompt idea to get people thinking. And I love that you're avoiding the mememe in the guestbook photos and thinking about your guests instead. I'm looking forward to the conclusion!

megan marie said...

i can't wait to see what you have found! i really wanted a polaroid guestbook, but couldn't justify the cost of film, since we had already decided to have a photobooth!

Chocolate Lover said...

Can't wait to see! I like where this is going so far!

Morgan said...

Still can't wait to see!

Mrs T said...

Ahhhh waiting......

I like those little Martha Stewart cards you can download - I posted about them a while back.

Also saw a similar idea to the pocket/envelope book which we're thinking of using - You stick the envelopes on and each page is an anniversary - eg. 5th Anniversary - and people stick their messages into the envelopes and seal them and then you can't open them until that anniversary. It's like the gift that keeps on giving. But I would want to open them all straight away. Hmmmmmm

Gracie said...

I always find it hard to know what to write in guest books so I think giving a type of prompt would be very helpful.

Mariposa said...

Those are all wonderful ideas! I have thought of doing a scrapbook type thing too. It's hard to decide!

Anonymous said...

hi such an amazing theme...
really awesome

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