Show Off The Signatures – A Wedding Guestbook You Can See

At weddings, it is customary to sign a guestbook, but the wedding guestbook you choose can be far from traditional.  Though some couples still opt for a book full of their engagement pictures with some blank spaces for wedding guests to leave messages, many brides and grooms are getting more and more creative in terms of what they consider a guestbook.  Before writing off the guestbook as something your wedding doesn’t need because you won’t use it again, consider guestbooks that are easy to display, adding to the atmosphere of your wedding and later your first home.  By choosing items that work with your wedding’s theme and can be hung as a work of art in your house post-wedding, you might discover that a guestbook could be a good use of a small portion of your wedding funds.

For more conventional couples who want to show off their favorite engagement photo, think about featuring a great picture in a signature frame like this one for under $20 on Amazon.  If you are willing to splurge, you can get an even more elegant look by buying one with a metal mat and an engraving pen in order to preserve the signature surround, but these can be upwards of $100.

Wooden guestbooks are a great, affordable way to add a rustic element to your wedding or home decor.  You can order a custom wooden pallet sign through Etsy or DIY it using reclaimed wood if you or a relative is handy.  For the same look, you can pick up a pre-made pallet at home improvement stores or craft stores, like Michaels, for under $10. You may want to pick up stencils to add hearts, the names of the bride and groom, or a shape that ties to the theme, like an anchor for a nautical wedding or flowers for garden nuptials.  Another variation on the wooden guestbook is to use wooden letters or monograms for a personalized touch. Select the letter of your new last name for an easy, inexpensive option from Michaels or Hobby Lobby.  When using a monogram, you can expect to spend a little more money, but you will also have more control over customization.  For a monogram, think about how much flourish the font has or how modern the font is.  The font will create a certain level of formality, and you want the guestbook to match your wedding and your home’s overall feel.  Think about where you will want to later put it in your home, like hanging it on a wall or door, when contemplating size and color.  For both letters and monograms, leave the wood natural for a rustic vibe or paint it in your wedding colors to make it more eye-catching.  Remember to make sure that the color pen your guests use contrasts enough with the color of the wood or paint.

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Another option is for guests to sign a custom canvas.  For a simple, modern look, this personalized canvas is on sale for just over $30.  If you like the idea of using fingerprints but would rather have it framed instead of on canvas, visit Etsy, where you will find a variety of fingerprint posters, from trees to balloons and everything in between.

Objects that symbolize a mutual passion that you and your future husband share could also make unique guestbooks.  If you two love traveling or are having a destination wedding, you may want to have guests sign a globe or a map.  For sports lovers, guests might sign hockey sticks, rowing oars, or home plate.  Have your guests feel like the MVP of a game by signing a ball or a jersey.  If you want to go the extra mile, have the jersey customized with your new last name.  Are you both more interested in music than sports?  Using vinyl records complete with your guests’ signatures would make beautiful artwork in your home.  For winter wonderland weddings or weddings taking place around the holidays, have guests sign individual ornaments.  Christmas ball ornaments are very inexpensive and come in large packs, which you could use to decorate your home during the holiday season.

There are so many options available, so don’t skip or settle when it come to your guestbook.  Selecting the right guestbook can add to your wedding and to your home, without adding enormously to your wedding budget.