It is customary to have a guestbook out at the wedding ceremony to record all the guests in attendance.  The guests are asked to sign their names and write a small sentiment for the bride and groom to keep and read later. In the traditional format, the book can be put on a shelf by the couple and forgotten about over the years, only being brought out on a rare occasion. In an effort to make sure that the newlyweds can enjoy all the kind thoughts and words of their loved ones, more and more couples are choosing variations of the classic guestbook signing.  This also encourages guest who might feel like they can’t think of just the right thing to say to participate by providing them an alternative. The following is a list of inspirational ideas for a non-traditional wedding guestbook:

Fingerprint: Provide Ink pads in the colors of your wedding and have your guests add their fingerprint and signature to an illustration of your choice. We have seen variations where the fingerprints are leaves in a tree, birds on a wire, wings on butterflies, petals on flowers, or a cluster of balloons.

Framed Photo: Have a picture of the happy couple framed with a large mat that will give room for all of the guests to sign and write a little sentiment. A black and white photo framed with a white mat and black ink signatures looks good with most any décor.

Puzzle Pieces: Your guest can sign individual puzzle pieces for the couple to put together. The puzzle can be sealed together and framed for display if the bride and groom prefer.

Jenga Blocks: Along the same lines as puzzle pieces, the Jenga blocks are fun to bring out again and again on game night. Adults and children will enjoy them, they are very durable, and they pack away nicely!

Bottles of Wine:  Have wine bottles out marked for 1^st, 5^th, 10^th, 25^th,50^th, etc. representing the couples anniversaries in the future. Guests can use a paint pen to sign the bottles to be viewed and enjoyed on these future occasions.

Quilt Swatches: Provide fabric piece to you guests for signing. When they are patched together they can be used as a keepsake quilt and displayed on a couch or bed for enjoyment year-round.

Instruments: If the couple is musical, it might be appropriate to have guests sign a guitar or other musical instrument. It will look great displayed in the house and be appreciated every time they pull it out to play.

Please stay tuned for additional inspirational ideas for wedding guestbook alternatives!