Unique Wedding Ideas: Guest Book Alternative

There are weddings all the time, everywhere, every day. Finding a unique way to celebrate and put your own special touch on your wedding is a continual challenge for couples. I recently attended a wedding of a mature couple whose family had some very special and unique ideas for the wedding of their parents. I would like to share with you one special one of their Unique Wedding Ideas: Guest Book Alternative.

Traditional wedding guest books are a small, simple book filled with pages for guests to sign on to show they attended the event. Some Brides use their Wedding Book as the guest book. Guest books are typically watched over by an adorable attendant whose job is to see to it that each and every attending guest signs the book. Guest books can be as simple of elaborate as the Bride chooses and often have feathery or flashy oversized pens to accompany them. These books tend to make their way to a shelf or drawer just to be pulled out for a 25th or 50th anniversary. Today, however, Brides and Grooms are getting more creative and are finding ways to make the guest book reflect the memorable occasion in a more practical way. I recently attended one such occasion.

As a Guest Book, the family had a pen and ink print created by a close friend. The scene was of a tree with branches and a tire swing suspended from it. In the trunk of the tree, a heart was carved with the initials of the bride and groom. A Guest Book Attendant gave each guest a choice of colors of ink pads from which to choose a color for their "leaf": brick red, mocha brown, golden amber and moss green. They were then asked to place a thumbprint "leaf" on the branches to create a beautiful tree with fall leaves hanging from the branches. Guests are then given a wipe so they can remove any remaining traces of ink before entering the wedding venue. Be sure to keep a trashcan or basket handy for the used wipes. It was a lovely memento and everyone was more than willing to accommodate the wedding couple's request.

It was a small wedding, but the tree had a wealth of individual thumbprints decorating its branches. The leaves were customized by the guests. Some branches were full and lush and some guests left thumbprint leaves falling creating a colorful ground cover. As a fall wedding guest book, it was perfect. The bride and groom had a beautiful reminder of their wedding day to hang on their wall while offering each guest a special place to give their "stamp of approval" on the wedding!

For winter, the tree drawn on a blue background with white fingerprints would leave the impression of snow. For spring, the use of pink would leave the impression of cherry blossoms. For summer, shades of green would fill it full and lush.

You can opt to have the thumbprints only, or to have guests add their names to their "leaves". It is up to you! It is your guest book, your memento from this special day. Think about what you would like and be sure to give your guest book attendant specific instructions. It was a lovely way to provide an alternative guest book for a unique wedding!

My son and daughter-in-law used this idea to create a print to hang in their first home. We began with the thumbprints of the Bride's parents and the Groom's parents for examples for the guests to follow. A simple printed out sign gave guests the information they needed to create their own unique "leaf" on the print. Many combined their print with that of their spouse to form a heart which gave a romantic twist to the print. For years to come it will be enjoyed by every guest to their home, whether they attended the wedding or not! In addition, the momento becomes a treasured part of the home décor, keeping friends and family close no matter how far the couple's lives take them!

Must it be a tree? NO! You are only limited by your imagination! Think about the décor of your home and find a way to blend it with your wedding. Big or small....wedding guests of any number can participate in helping create a one of a kind wedding guest list that will be enjoyed for years to come!

Photo and Text Copyright 2011 Deborah M. Carey Updated 2015.