Like your high
school yearbook or that T-shirt your pals signed on the last night of
summer camp, your wedding guest book is a piece of memorabilia you'll
return to over the years. It's a great way to remember not just the day's
festivities but the people who celebrated with you. Four tips to make
yours special:
1. PUT IT IN A PROMINENT PLACE
The reception is often the best place to display your guest book, because
guests have more time and inscriptions will tend to be detailed and
heartfelt. Designate a convenient station near the place card table, or at
the beginning or end of the receiving line. Place the guest book on a
small table dressed with an antique lace tablecloth (a family heirloom,
perhaps?), a striking floral arrangement, or beautifully framed wedding
day portraits of your ancestors. Have a friend or relative on hand to
ensure guests don't miss their chance to sign. Alternatively, you could
have an usher direct guests to the book as they arrive at the ceremony.
After they sign, another usher can seat them.
2. PUT YOUR STAMP ON IT
As with all wedding-day props and accessories, the guest book design
should reflect your style and who you two are as a couple. If classic
white leather with gold engraving seems more "mom" than "modern," seize
the chance to be ultra-creative. Bookbinders (who do just what their title
suggests) are accomplished artisans who can create unique guest books
(usually with unlined pages of fine paper) while incorporating ornate,
elegant details. Or create your own book (stock up on construction paper,
glitter, and glue)! Envision your guest book as a collage or scrapbook,
not as a roster of attendees. For more, check out these imaginative
Ideas and Trends.
3. PUT IT IN WRITING
Why not think about using a fabulous fountain pen or beautiful ballpoint
as your official wedding-day writing utensil? Some come gilded in
mother-of-pearl, others in gleaming gold and silver. Check out Waterman,
Mont Blanc, Tiffany's, and Beverly Clark in our
Resources article. Black ink is the classic choice, but ask about
silver, gold, or other colors that strike your fancy.
4. PUT IT TO THEM
There are always those who stray from the pack (especially when they're
making a beeline for the hors d'oeuvres). Throughout the reception, you
might have one or two friends or bridesmaids approach each table and
invite revelers to sign the guest book, if they haven't done so already.
Another route? Appoint a "guest book captain" to pass the guest book
around the reception (instructing each table to deliver it to the next
one). The captain can also retrieve the book at the end of the reception.
