Wedding guest books are a traditional and beautiful way to capture your guests’ thoughts, feelings, and advice on your special day. But you’re here because you don’t want a guest book like everyone else’s. You’re here because you want something creative, unique, and different. Let’s not beat around the bush — join us as we explore 35 unique wedding guest book ideas and break down exactly how you can make these funky and fresh keepsakes a reality on your big day!
And if you’re not sure what kind of message to write in a wedding guest book, be sure to check out our dedicated post.
What is a wedding guest book?
A traditional wedding guest book is a bound book with blank pages which wedding guests can fill with signatures, well-wishes, and advice during the wedding reception. It’s kept as a keepsake by the newlyweds and serves as a happy reminder of everyone who attended their wedding.
A unique wedding guest book is anything but traditional. You can mix it up with photos, doodles, and interactive elements. If you’re quirky, different, or a fan of the unusual, a unique wedding guest book alternative could be right up your street.
35 wedding guest book alternatives
If you’re looking for classic but creative alternative guest books for weddings, check out this list of 35 fun ideas!
Paper-based guest book ideas
These types of guest books blend the classic aspect of book-signing with a creative twist.
1) Thumbprint tree guest book
A thumbprint tree guest book is a creative and unique way to remember who attended your wedding. Instead of guests simply signing their names, they use ink pads to leave their thumbprints on the tree branches. Each thumbprint represents a leaf on the tree, and guests can then use pens to sign their names next to their prints.
Consider using two ink pads in complementary colours or colours that match your wedding decor.
2) Message in a bottle guest book
Message in a bottle guest books invite guests to write their names, special memories, and advice on pre-cut cards before storing them in a glass bottle. Guests should then cork the bottle to prevent any peeking on the big day itself. The happy couple can then uncork each bottle after the wedding and enjoy the well-wishes.
Although this is a beautiful wedding guest book alternative, storing these bottles may take up a lot of space in your cupboard. Consider displaying the messages in a scrapbook after the wedding to prevent clutter.
We also recommend that you source glass bottles from charity shops, pubs, recycled wine bottles, and more. This will help keep the cost down and ensure your collection of bottles is varied and eclectic, adding to the whimsy of your display.
3) Recipe card guest book
This wedding guest book alternative asks guests to share their favourite recipes with the happy couple. You can then combine the recipe cards into a personalised cookbook to help nourish married life.
Each guest is provided with a blank recipe card upon which they can write out the instructions for their favourite meals, puddings, and snacks. If you’re going to use this style of wedding guest book, we recommend letting your guests know beforehand. Few are likely to know the recipes for their favourite dish off the top of their heads, and you might end up with a lot of recipes for ‘Spag bol’ or ‘Tuna pasta’!
4) Postcard guest book
A postcard guest book is a beautiful way to incorporate your special memories and photographs into your big day. Simply collect your favourite digital photos of you and your partner, make them into postcards, and ask guests to sign the back of the postcard. They can also add a special memory, a piece of advice, or some well-wishes. This is great for couples who love travelling or who are holding a destination wedding.
Make sure you have enough postcards for each guest in attendance, and consider providing a pretty display or postbox where guests can drop their completed cards.
5) Advice cards guest book
You’re embarking on one of the biggest journeys of your life, and the advice of your friends, family, and other guests will be invaluable. Create advice cards which guests can fill out with their pearls of wisdom, words of encouragement, and heartfelt guidance. These cards can range from lighthearted tips for a happy marriage to more profound reflections on love and commitment.
Set up a designated table at your venue with a stack of advice cards, pens, and fun stickers. You should also have a decorative box where guests can deposit their cards.
Once the wedding day is all said and done, you can sit down with your new spouse and re-live the magic by reading everyone’s sage advice.
6) Wishing tree guest book
A wishing tree is similar to an advice card guest book, where guests write their wishes for your married life on pre-made wishing cards. These cards will need a space for guests’ names, their messages, and a piece of string so you can tie the card to your tree. You can then tie them to either a real or synthetic tree and present it as a beautiful centerpiece at your wedding reception.
This will also make for a beautiful conversation piece in your home and serve as a constant reminder of your special day.
7) Message bunting or garland
Lean into a tea party or garden party theme with wedding guest book bunting. Have your guests sign a paper or fabric triangle and attach them to a string, creating a decorative bunting. These triangles can be pre-cut in various sizes and colours to match your wedding theme or colour scheme.
Throughout the event, the bunting will gradually fill up with heartfelt messages from your guests, creating a beautiful and interactive display that adds to the ambiance of your whimsical wedding.
Creative guest books ideas
Creative wedding guest book alternatives are perfect for arty couples who want to add a personal touch to their wedding day. These 7 creative guest book alternatives may require a little forward planning, but they’ll be a special and memorable part of your day.
8) Vinyl record guest book
If you’re big music buffs, having your guests sign a copy of your favourite vinyl or a portable vinyl case is a unique and meaningful guest book alternative. Guests can leave their signatures and well-wishes directly on the record’s surface, turning it into a lovely memento of your special day that you can display in your home.
9) Guest book bench
Having your guests carve their name into a bench for your garden is a unique and nostalgic take on a traditional guest book. Choose a bench made of robust wood, and you’ll have a one-of-a-kind piece of furniture that is both a functional addition to your garden and holds special significance from your big day.
If you’re not confident in your guests’ ability to carve their names legibly, consider hiring a professional carpenter to pre-engrave the bench with spaces where guests can inscribe their names or leave messages. This ensures a uniform and polished look while still allowing for personalisation from your guests.
10) Message board
A message board is a fun way to display your guests’ well-wishes while adding an interactive element to your wedding reception. Instead of a traditional guest book, put out some brightly coloured markers and invite your guests to write their messages on a giant poster board. If you like colourful and chaotic, this is the wedding guest book alternative for you.
Pro tip: Put your wedding guest book in a prominent place during your wedding reception. For example, near the entrance, the gift table, or the bar. This will prompt guests to sign your book and ensure it isn’t overlooked during the celebration.
11) Wishing well guest book
First things first: you’ll need a wishing well for a wishing well guest book. This can be a (clean) bin made to look like a well, a pretty container, or even a large, covered bowl for smaller receptions. Provide guests with small cards or pieces of paper where they can write down their wishes for you as a couple.
Encourage guests to drop their wishes into the well throughout the reception. Watching the well fill up with special messages from your loved ones adds a touch of magic to your celebration and creates a visual representation of the support surrounding you on your special day.
After the wedding, you can gather all the wishes from the well and keep them in a special keepsake box or album.
12) Scrapbook station
If your guests are especially crafty or enjoy expressing their creativity, a scrapbook station can be the perfect addition to your wedding reception. Set up a designated area with a variety of scrapbooking supplies like photos, glue, pens, glitter, washi tape, and more.
Encourage guests to unleash their inner artist by creating personalised scrapbook pages for the newlyweds. They can include well-wishes, drawings, or even small photos taken during the wedding festivities.
This interactive activity provides guests with a fun and engaging way to participate in your special day, and results in a unique and heartfelt keepsake for you and your partner to treasure for years to come. Just make sure no one closes the book before the glue is dry! What a disaster.
13) Jenga guest book
Buy a wooden Jenga set with giant blocks and ask your guests to write their names and well-wishes on each side of the blocks in permanent marker. Your guests can then play this timeless game during cocktail hour, and you can be reminded of everyone’s love and well-wishes every time you play together as a couple.
14) Wine label guest book
This is a at option for those who enjoy a tipple. Ask your guests to bring their favourite bottle of wine to the wedding reception, and then ask guests to write their congratulations directly onto the labels using metallic or permanent markers. This guest book alternative will require a little more planning, but it’s a great option for nearly-weds who don’t plan on asking for wedding gifts.
Photo guest book ideas
A picture is worth a thousand words, so a photo album must be the greatest guest book of all, right? Try these fun alternatives if you’re looking to shake up a regular photo guest book.
15) Polaroid guest book
Polaroid guest books are an instant and fun way to capture those who attended your wedding. Simply set up an area with a few Polaroid or other instant cameras, some fun props, pens, and a photo album, and have guests snap pictures of themselves in the moment. Place the instantly developed pictures into the album and ask guests to write a few words of congratulations or well-wishes next to their photo.
16) Photo booth
Photo booths are another great and instant way to capture your guest’s likenesses while adding a touch of entertainment to your wedding reception. For a DIY approach, set up a designated area with a backdrop, props, and a digital camera. Encourage guests to step inside and strike a pose, creating fun and memorable snaps which they can pop into your photo album as a token of the special day.
Alternatively, you can hire photo booths that will send you a link or QR code to any photos taken in the booth on your wedding day. Guests can also follow this link to download their photos as keepsakes of the big day.
17) Doodle or sketch guest book
You can hire incredibly talented artists to create sketches, doodles, or drawings of your guests in their wedding attire on your special day. The drawings can be more lifelike or cartoony depending on the style of the artist, and either way will add a unique and personal touch to your wedding festivities. Guests will be super excited to have their portraits created on the spot, and to receive a one-of-a-kind keepsake by which to remember your wedding day.
The artist should have the tools and means to create a duplicate of each drawing, meaning guests can take one home, while you can store a copy in your own album as a memento from your special day.
18) Selfie station guest book
This is similar to a photobooth, but the selfie-station nature makes it even more interactive and personal. Set up a designated area with a backdrop, props, and a selfie stick or two. Encourage guests to snap their own selfies or group photos throughout the reception, capturing candid moments and silly poses.
Consider adding a cohesive prop to add some uniformity to this chaotic guestbook. For example, ask guests to wear the same pair of sunglasses, use the same sign, or wear the same themed accessory in all the photos to tie the album together.
19) Photobook app
You can download photobook apps where guests can follow a link or scan a QR code to upload their personal pictures from the wedding. This is a candid and stress-free way to create a guest book. Plus, it’s nice to see your big day through the eyes of your friends and guests.
These apps will usually allow you to print a physical copy of your guest book for a small charge so you can have a tangible keepsake to cherish for years to come.
20) Mugshot wall
This is a tongue-in-cheek way to add some humour and entertainment to your wedding reception. Set up a designated area with a backdrop that resembles a police lineup, complete with height markers and numbers.
Encourage guests to strike a pose and have their “mugshots” taken by a photographer or with a selfie station. Guests can get creative with props such as fake handcuffs, police hats, or “Wanted” signs. After the photos are taken, display them on a wall or bulletin board for all to see. Guests can have a laugh as they browse the lineup of silly and playful mugshots.
To turn it into a guestbook, provide markers or chalk so guests can write a brief message next to their photo, adding a personal touch to their “arrest record.”
21) Giant polaroid frame
This was a popular photo style a few years ago, and it’s still a charming addition to any wedding celebration. Set up a large polaroid frame prop, either made of lightweight wood or cardboard, in a prominent area of your venue. You can also encourage guests to pass it around the dance floor for a fun twist on traditional guest book photos.
Encourage guests to step inside the frame and strike a pose, capturing candid and memorable moments with their friends and loved ones. Snap a photo with an instant camera, pop it in a photo album, and encourage guests to sign their name and some words of wisdom for a fun guest book wedding alternative!
Collectible guest books
Collectible guest books involve either customising or creating collectible items to help remember your big day. Collectible guest books are a great option for maximalists or anyone who wants a tangible reminder of the big day.
22) Wishing stone guest book
Wishing stones are large, smooth pebbles upon which guests can write their blessings using permanent markers or paint pens. These stones can then be displayed in your home or garden as a unique and meaningful keepsake from your wedding day.
Be sure to put a bowl near the wishing stone so guests can easily differentiate between decorated and non-decorated stones.
23) Customised ornaments
If you’re having a winter or festive wedding, you could ask guests to create a customised ornament or decorative bauble as their guest book entry. Provide plain ornaments along with an assortment of decorating materials such as paint, glitter, ribbons, and pens.
Guests can let loose their creativity by personalising their ornaments with their names, congratulations, or even a special message for the newlyweds. Whether they opt for elegant designs, beautiful words, or quirky illustrations, each ornament will be a unique reflection of the guest who created it.
After the wedding, you can hang these custom ornaments on a special tree or display them in your home during the festive season.
24) Miniature canvas paintings
Ever heard of a paint and sip? Paint and sip events are popular gatherings where participants enjoy painting while sipping on beverages. For your wedding, you can adapt this concept by providing miniature canvas paintings as a guest book alternative.
Set up a painting station at your reception venue with small canvases, paintbrushes, and a variety of paint colours. Encourage guests to unleash their inner artists by creating miniature masterpieces which reflect their personalities or convey their well-wishes for the newlyweds. You could ask them to recreate their favourite part of the day, paint a portrait of themselves, or to even just paint a simple heart for those who aren’t too creative.
As guests complete their paintings, they can sign their names or write messages on the back of the canvases. This adds a personal touch to each artwork and transforms them into unique and meaningful keepsakes. You can then display these canvases on a shelf in your home.
25) Customised playing cards
If you’d like to keep your wedding guest book low-key, consider asking guests to sign a pack of playing cards for a fun and practical twist on the traditional guest book. Simply provide a deck of playing cards and a permanent marker, and encourage guests to sign their names, write messages, or doodle on the cards.
Guests can take their time to personalise their chosen card, whether it’s the Ace of Hearts or the Queen of Spades, adding a touch of whimsy and personality to their contributions.
Once all the cards are signed, you can gather them together and keep them in a special box or pouch as a memento of your wedding day.
26) Customised guitar picks
If you’re musically inclined, consider asking guests to sign guitar picks as an alternative to a traditional wedding guest book. Guests can personalise their guitar picks with their names, thoughts on love, or even drawings that reflect their personalities or your wedding theme.
Don’t use the guitar picks to actually play an instrument. Instead, collect them in a dedicated photo album or shadow box display. This will mean you can keep them safe and enjoy them for years to come.
27) Time capsule
If you’re having a back garden wedding, you could consider creating a time capsule of the big day with all your guests. Ask everyone to write a piece of advice or a happy memory from the day on a piece of card, enclose it in a time capsule, and then bury it in the ground.
Agree to open it again in a specific amount of time. For example, 5, 10, or 15 years. You’ll need to own the land or have permission to bury the time capsule at your wedding reception, which is why we only recommend this for back garden weddings.
Opening the time capsule after a designated period of time will allow you to reflect on how your lives have changed and grown since your wedding day. It’s a beautiful opportunity to reconnect with your loved ones and reminisce about the love and joy that surrounded you on that momentous occasion.
28) Customised ceramic tiles
If you’re redecorating, or a fan of home decor, consider having customised ceramic tiles as a unique and decorative guest book alternative. Provide plain ceramic tiles along with paint markers or pens in various colours.
During the wedding reception, invite guests to decorate their own ceramic tile with their names, well-wishes, or drawings that reflect their personalities or your wedding theme. Whether they’re budding artists or simply enjoy expressing themselves creatively, guests will appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this personalised guest book.
Once the tiles are decorated, allow them to dry completely before sealing them with a clear coat to preserve the designs.
Interactive guest books ideas
Interactive guest books are an alternative to traditional guest books in that they encourage guests to play and engage with them. Check out the following interactive guest book ideas.
29) Audio guest book
30) Jigsaw puzzle guest book
You can buy blank or custom-made jigsaw puzzles online. Consider using a photo from your engagement shoot or a couple’s selfie to create a personalised jigsaw puzzle guest book. Encourage guests to write a message on the back of the jigsaw pieces to add a personal touch to your jigsaw puzzle.
Make sure that the pieces are quite big so people can write freely, and that there are enough pieces for everyone to leave a message!
31) Typewriter guest book
If you can find a vintage typewriter, consider setting it up at your wedding so guests can write a sweet message or offer sincere wedding advice in a classic way. This is a beautiful, unique, and nostalgic way to engage your guests and capture their sentiments. Try hunting around resale sites, antique shops, or asking around trusted friends. You might be surprised who has an old typewriter just gathering dust!
After the wedding, you can collect the typed messages and compile them into a guest book or keepsake album.
32) Chessboard guest book
If you’re a fan of chess, try asking guests to write a message within the individual chess board squares. This unconventional guest book idea combines your love for chess with the sentiments of your guests, creating a one-of-a-kind keepsake that reflects your personality and interests as a couple. If you pick an especially beautiful board, you can keep it out as a home decoration or display it in a shadow box as a unique piece of art.
You’ll need either a glass paint pen or a permanent marker to ensure the messages don’t rub off. Consider glazing the board with resin or clear epoxy to protect the messages.
33) Personalised board games
If you and your partner share a love of board games, consider asking guests to customise a blank board game for you.
The technicalities of this will depend on your favourite types of board game. However, if it’s a game like Monopoly, you can ask guests to name the properties, customise chance cards, and even create unique playing pieces that represent different aspects of your relationship or interests.
For example, guests could name the properties after where you met, got engaged, or plan to honeymoon. They could customise the chance cards with inside jokes, personal anecdotes, or words of wisdom. Additionally, they could design player tokens to resemble symbols that hold significance to you as a couple, such as your favourite animals, hobbies, or shared passions.
34) Wedding bingo
Wedding bingo is a fun and slightly cheeky game where guests are provided with bingo cards featuring various wedding-related scenarios, traditions, or events. Throughout the wedding reception, guests mark off the squares on their bingo cards as they observe or participate in these activities. Make one of the squares ‘write a message on the back of this card’ for an automatic point and a fun way to collect guest book messages!
The scenarios included on the bingo cards can range from spotting the bride and groom kissing, catching the bouquet, or witnessing a dance floor mishap. Guests can play individually or in teams, competing to be the first to complete a row or fill their entire bingo card.
Whoever fills their bingo card first should win a prize like a bottle of champagne, but you can also have prizes for whoever fills a line first or achieves a certain pattern on their card, like a heart. Collect all the cards at the end of the night and organise them into a photo album for a unique and fun guest book idea.
35) Date night jar
Ask guests to fill in an advice card with their name and a date night idea for your new life as newlyweds. You can then put all the cards into a jar or postbox to enjoy in the future. This thoughtful and practical guest book alternative encourages guests to share their wisdom and creativity while providing the couple with a treasure trove of date night ideas for their married life.
The bottom line on wedding guest book ideas
Although a classic wedding guestbook is charming and beautiful, infusing your personality, hobbies, and personal love story into your big day makes it all the more special. However, with so much to think about running up to the wedding day, it’s easy to overlook more creative or unique wedding guest book ideas.
So, take a moment to step back from the hustle and bustle of wedding planning and consider how you can make your guest book truly reflective of you as a couple. There’s nothing wrong with using a classic wedding book or a more low-key idea. However, if you’re looking for something unique or creative, try any of these 35 guest book alternatives for a wedding. Whether you fancy creating a beautiful keepsake or having a more candid reflection of your big day, there’s something for everything in this comprehensive list.
You Might Also Like…
- 20 Wedding Guest Book Ideas
- What to Write in a Wedding Guest Book?
- How to Make a Wedding Guest List (Who to Invite & Who Not To)
- How Many Guests Should I Invite to My Wedding?
Happy Planning!
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