Wedding Guest Books
Guest books have become ubiquitous and one has to enter so many at just about every occasion to which one is invited. It is a good way to preserve for posterity all the people who attended the important occasion but do they have to be so boring? Most are so dull and unimaginative. Is it not time that we made them as striking as the bride on the wedding day? Can we do something that will make the guest book make a statement? Let us explore some ways to do something different.
· A photo record guest book – just position some one with either a Polaroid or digital camera near the table with the guest book. Have this attendant cheerfully greet each guest and explain that the guest book will in fact, be an album and take a photograph. The guest will see a space earmarked for the photograph to be affixed later on the guest book near the space for signature.
· If you want to economize, get 3 x 5 or 4 x 6 loose-leaf note cards of a color that will match the general décor. Place these cards attractively on silver trays or baskets with a placard in the background, requesting guests to fill them up with their names and comments. These can later be collated and made into an album.
· Make a scrapbook of the event and place a sample each of all the wedding supplies received in a scrapbook. Things like invitation cards, programs, printed napkins, bills and invoices etc can be included. Get your guests to sign the pages and add their comments.
· Take a deep breath – do away with the guest book. There are some modern substitutes that are gaining in popularity. Get an engravable platter or a picture frame mat. The former is a great alternative. It is beautiful, permanent and can be displayed on a mantle for decades as a memento. Made of either ceramic or silver they are accompanied by a marker or an engraving tool respectively for the guest to use to sign and add comments.
· The latter, the photo mat, too is a powerful device to act as a displayable memento subsequently. Just frame an engagement photograph of the two of you together, leave a lot of space around for guests to sign and comment. This can later be mounted and hung in a prominent place in your home.
· Want something still more sophisticated? Try a piece of flat driftwood or an old barn door. Get your guests to sign on it and comment. It will make an unusual and rustic wall hanging for your home.
Use your imagination. Try anything out of the ordinary that can be written on by your guests. Have fun with it and let your guests too enjoy the experience. You will not need to pack it away in a trunk in the attic later but it can be proudly displayed in your home.