Point of a Guestbook?

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Yes, you can skip it--it's just a keepsake record of your guests.

There are some great alternatives to a traditional guest book. I know I personally won't flip through a book so we ordered a guest book board for people to sign and then we will hang it in our room. You can also have guests sign a jenga piece, wine bottle, puzzle piece, bench, etc.

It's a keepsake item but not necessary. We just made a shutterfly book with engagement pictures and people wrote messages in that. I don't flip through it too much, but it looks nice on our entry table and I know I would have regretted it if I hadn't done it. Our wedding was one of the only times our two families will probably ever be together so it's nice to have a memento of that.

Like pps have said, it's just a keepsake item/record from your wedding. You can totally skip it or find a fun alternative!

In addition to writing their names, guests usually add their best wishes and sometimes a few words of advice.

I don't get it either, though I do like the "wish walls" and other variations that let people leave you a message or advice.

Just for memories sake... I don't like the guest books where there are only lines to write name, address, or whatever. I feel like I know who I invited, I don't need a list of names! lol I got a book with poems and quotes about love with open spaces to encourage people to write more. Some did, some didn't. We framed a little poem about leaving well wishes and marital tips! IT was nice to read little messages.

Personally, if I had done one of the trendier things where people get canvases signed, or the like, I would probably never have hung it up and it would have stayed stored away as someone else mentioned!

Totally skippable if it isn't your thing

It's not necessary. I know I'd never read a book with names and maybe a well wish or two so we're doing a Photobooth and the guests will sign by their picture.

I saw something and it was like a little card people fill out with their best memory of you and some other info, that looked cuter but knowing some of my friends they'd just draw a penis on it

Since we had an informal smaller wedding, we chose to have everyone write us a word of advice or well wishes that we will open on our 1st anniversary.

We're doing a book with engagement photos and blank spaces between photos - my hope is people will leave messages, not just sign their names. I think pictures and messages give you a reason to look through it from time to time (a nice anniversary activity). I don't see the point in people just signing their names or initials to something either.

I don't get the point either. You know who you invited, who RSVP'd. I'm skipping it too.

I agree with @Flavia. FH and I don't like a lot of clutter, so I don't see us opening this book (or anything else) to remind us of who was there. We're skipping. Plus I'm curious about the percentage of guests that actually sign anything. My guess is not everyone does.

We got two old-fashioned looking maps that we're having everyone sign. If we hadn't found something that we would have wanted to hang in our house anyways, we would have skipped it altogether. I don't think I would ever flip through an actual book.

We're doing a wishing tree I think; I can take the tags they've written on later and scrapbook a few of them as a keepsake, without having to haul around an entire book or a poster that I absolutely know I'd never hang up or look at again.

We also have a poster of a map. I agree with it not being necessary. Our map is cute and we like maps in general, so we would have hung up the poster even if it didn't have signatures.

I think I am skipping it

I didn't want one either. I did find a 2ft letter at Michaels and decided to paint it and have people sign it. I propped it up on a table against the wall in our living room. It was fun but still not everyone signed it. When I'm done using it for decor it will disappear.