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Just Said Yes October 2020

Guest Book required?

Danielle, on September 11, 2019 at 7:53 AM Posted in Wedding Reception 0 24

Hi all- I am getting married in October 2020! I am almost solely using Etsy for extra wedding decorations. I am going back and forth on having a guest book. On one hand, it seems like another item to buy on the long list, and its usually only half filled. On the other hand, I worry about regretting not having one to look through once the wedding fun is over. Any suggestions welcome!

24 Comments

Latest activity by Courtney, on December 14, 2019 at 2:17 PM
  • Cyndy
    Master May 2019
    Cyndy ·
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    There are lots of other unique “guest book” ideas now. We did a guest board and we got it from Etsy. Check out all the cool ideas.

    Guest Book required? 1
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  • Jordan
    Expert September 2019
    Jordan ·
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    I’m having 2 guestbooks. The first one will be a gold rugby ball (FH plays) with our name and wedding date in it. The second one will be a photo booth guestbook. When guests use the photo booth the attendant will put a copy of the picture into a book for us and the guests can written messages under the pic.
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  • Krysta
    Devoted September 2019
    Krysta ·
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    This is our guest book alternative. I also ordered ours off Etsy. Love it & can't wait to have our guests sign it.

    Guest BoardGuest Book required? 2


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  • Amber
    Master February 2020
    Amber ·
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    While it's definitely not required, I think guestbooks are a great idea. I'm going to have my DOC urging people to sign and take a photo with our second photographer during cocktail hour. Like PP said, there are soooo many guestbook alternatives now. I'm considering doing a canvas!

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  • Potato
    Savvy October 2019
    Potato ·
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    Definitely not a requirement, my FH and I were thinking about not bothering with one at one point. But then we talked about it and it'll just be another memory we can look at! We're gettting a canvas we can hang up on the wall. I'd rather look at it every day than lose it in a box in the attic!
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  • M
    Legend June 2019
    Melle ·
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    I had two. One at ceremony and one at reception but the ceremony one was really only because I was given one already
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  • Sara
    Super October 2019
    Sara ·
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    I agree that a traditional guest book can be kind of boring, and you're realistically not going to get close to filling it unless you have a massive guest list. As other PPs noted, I'd definitely consider getting a more unique "guest book" - we're getting married at a distillery and using a barrel head as our guest book.

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  • Ivy ORP
    VIP October 2019
    Ivy ORP ·
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    If guest books were still the standard where guests simply put their names, I would have skipped it. We found a wood puzzle in the shape of a tree we had personalized with our names and wedding date. Our guests have room to write a small note on the puzzle pieces and we get to put it together to hang on our wall. I like the idea that we will have something to look at, along with our wedding pictures, to remind us of a special day. It's up to you if you think that is something you would enjoy for years to come.

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  • Formerbride
    VIP June 2019
    Formerbride ·
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    We did not do one. I do not regret it. I don't even like the guest book alternatives. Nope.
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  • Caytlyn
    Legend November 2019
    Caytlyn ·
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    I agree with PPs that alternative guest books can typically be more practical. At least you can hang them on the wall or put them on display instead of tucking them in a drawer somewhere. We made a personalized whiskey barrel head.

    Guest Book required? 3
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  • V
    Rockstar July 2019
    Veronica ·
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    While they aren't required they are nice to have. We had nontraditional guest books. Ours were New Jersey Devil's and Baltimore Orioles' jerseys. We also did a message in a bottle and we will read the messages people wrote to us on our one year anniversary.
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  • Cher Horowitz
    Master December 2019
    Cher Horowitz ·
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    I'd look into something other than a traditional book! We're having a mint-green world map for our guests to sign and display in our house

    Our map guestbookGuest Book required? 4


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  • Julianasantos
    Savvy September 2019
    Julianasantos ·
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    I think a guest book is wonderful to have to look back on! There are a number of alternative things you can do instead of purchasing a traditional guest book which can be expensive. For instance, I had my guests use their place cards as a place to write their well wishes and advice. The place card was a postcard and I had them sorted in a small box with alphabetical tabs. I put a sign with the place cards instructed guests to find their seat and then to sign the card and drop it in our mailbox. I have added some photos so you can get a better idea. This exact idea might not work for the theme of your wedding depending on what it is but just get creative with it! Try to find something different that works for your theme. I did put all of the place cards in a photo album so that they are all in one place and I can look back on them.


    I got the box from Hobby Lobby for less than $10.00

    The post cards were an editable template (templett.com) I purchased through Esty for $3.00

    The dividers were $4.00 from Staples

    Place card boxGuest Book required? 5Place card/guest book signGuest Book required? 6Post cardGuest Book required? 7


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  • Mcskipper
    Rockstar July 2018
    Mcskipper ·
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    Definitely not required. We’re not “guestbook” people. I really don’t care about signatures of guests— messages, cool, but I have no interest in a big book of signatures. I know who was there AND have pics that to me are worth more than a name in a book.
    We DID set up a “message in a bottle” for people to leave us messages for our first anniversary. Not many people actually did it, but it was still a cute fun alternative that I found more interesting than a guestbook.
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  • Kelly
    Champion October 2018
    Kelly ·
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    We didn’t have a guestbook and we don’t regret it!
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  • Samantha
    VIP October 2020
    Samantha ·
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    Ooh! I love the world map idea!
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  • Cristy
    Master May 2021
    Cristy ·
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    Wow!! I LOVE this idea! I've been picking everyone's brain and searching for alternate ideas, as I think a traditional guest book isn't really our style. So, I next thought about something we can hang on the wall afterwards. But this is so unique!! I never would have thought of this, even though I'm a huge fan of maps, and already have a couple hanging at home! duh. Where did you find this?

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  • Cher Horowitz
    Master December 2019
    Cher Horowitz ·
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    Etsy! We custom ordered from CoffeeandCatsDesign. If the color you want isn't listed, the seller is happy to make any color you want!

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  • Megan
    Expert October 2019
    Megan ·
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    My FSIL had everyone sign a white matte that goes around pictures and then they put their wedding picture behind it. It's in their living room.
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  • Courtney
    Master December 2019
    Courtney ·
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    We're chose to have one. We're doubling ours as a photo album once our pictures come back.

    Guest Book required? 8


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