The best unique wedding guest book ideas have one thing in common: you will use them after the wedding. A signed platter that comes out every holiday, a piece of art you hang in the hallway, a keepsake that holds your ceremony sand. Each one asks a little more planning than a paper book, and each one earns its place.
At The Potter’s Hands Studio in Oxford, Mississippi, April Dupuis makes handmade wedding pottery, so we have a clear favorite. But a good guest book is the one that fits your day, so here is an honest look at several options and what each one takes.
What makes a guest book worth keeping
Before you pick, ask yourself three questions:
- Where will it live? On a shelf, on a wall, or on your table. The ones that live where you can see them get looked at.
- How easy is it for guests? Your great-aunt and your college roommate should both be able to sign it without a tutorial.
- What does it need before the day? Some ideas are ready in an afternoon. Others need weeks of lead time.
With those in mind, here are the ideas that hold up best.
A signature guest book platter
This is the one we know best. April throws and carves a stoneware serving platter with your names, wedding date and florals from your bouquet, then ships it to you before the wedding with signing pencils and simple instructions.
Guests sign the platter at the reception. You send it back to the studio, and April seals the signatures under glaze in a final firing, so they are permanent and food-safe. From then on, it is a platter for your holiday table.
What it takes: plan on 6 to 8 weeks, counted back from your wedding date, since the platter has to arrive before the reception. You also ship it back afterward for the final firing. Our full walkthrough of the signature guest book platter covers each step.
Best for: couples who host, or plan to. If your family gathers around food, this is the guest book that will be in the middle of it.
Other guest book ideas that come off the shelf
Not every couple wants a platter, and that is fine. These are a few other ideas that hold up well.
A signed canvas or print.
Guests sign the mat around an engagement photo, or a canvas painted with your venue or a simple design. It goes on a wall afterward.
What it takes: ordering or making the art ahead of time, and a frame afterward. Make sure the pen you provide works on the surface.
Wooden drop box or puzzle pieces.
Each guest signs a small wooden heart, block or puzzle piece and drops it into a box or frame.
What it takes: buying enough pieces for your guest count plus extras. It is easy for guests, though the pieces tend to stay in the box.
Photo guest book.
Guests take an instant photo, tape it in an album and write a note beside it. You end up with faces and handwriting together.
What it takes: a camera, plenty of film, tape, and a friend to keep the table running. It is the most fun on the night and the most work to manage.
Recorded messages.
A phone or recorder where guests leave a spoken message. Hearing your grandfather’s voice years later can mean a great deal.
What it takes: a rental or purchase, a quiet corner, and a plan for saving the files after the wedding.
Keepsakes that hold the day itself
Some couples skip the signatures and keep the things from the day instead. The studio’s bouquet keepsakes take your real wedding flowers, preserved in resin and inlaid into a carved platter, cup set or matching earrings. Ceremony sand and other small mementos can be inlaid too.
You can pair this with a guest book rather than replace it. A signature platter for your guests’ names, and a bouquet keepsake for the flowers you carried. If that sounds like you, read how to preserve your wedding bouquet before the wedding, so you know what to do with your flowers when the night ends.
How to choose
If you are still deciding, this quick sort usually helps:
- You want something you will use: a signature platter.
- You want something on the wall: a signed canvas or print.
- You want the simplest table possible: a drop box.
- You want faces and voices: a photo book or recorded messages.
- You want to keep your flowers: a bouquet keepsake, alongside any of the above.
Whatever you choose, decide early. The guest book is easy to leave until the last month, and the most meaningful options are the ones that need a little time.
Questions people ask
What can I use instead of a traditional guest book?
Popular options include a signature guest book platter, a signed canvas or print, a wooden drop box, a photo guest book and recorded messages. Choose one that will live somewhere you will see it after the wedding.
How far ahead do I need to order a signature guest platter?
Plan on 6 to 8 weeks, counted back from your wedding date, because the platter must arrive before the reception. Busy seasons can add time, so earlier is safer.
Can we keep our wedding flowers along with the guest book?
Yes. The studio preserves wedding flowers in resin, inlaid into a carved platter, cup set or earrings. Ceremony sand and small mementos can be inlaid as well.
When you are ready, start a commission and tell April your date, or browse more wedding pieces first.