Wedding guest books used to be a classic signature book that no one really looks at after the wedding day. Many couples have new takes on how they can really remember all of their favorite people that were able to celebrate with them, but it’s hard to know what is going to actually stick and be something you actually want to look at over and over! Here are some ideas for alternative wedding guest books that we see that are huge hits for your wedding day in Chicago.

Photo booth

This one is a classic, but it’s a classic because everyone loves them! It is really nice to be able to take one set home and leave the other for the couple. Many people will keep theirs on their desks or fridges, and you can keep a book of all of your favorite people photographed together!

2. Border on a Photo

If you have engagement photos, you can either use one printed photo and have your guests sign the border, or you can print a full photo album that your guests can sign in the negative space! We have seen both of these options and these are cute ways to have your own photos together on display while still getting to see the signatures and notes from all of your favorite people.

3. Polaroids

This option has gained a lot of popularity over the years because it’s very similar to the photo booth. Your guests can take their own photos as well as putting one into a book you have and they can write little notes on there too! It’s more fun than your boring signatures because you can actually see your guests having fun.

4. Personal to You

This kind of idea requires your personality to shine a little bit! For example, we did a wedding where the couple met and started dating because of their love for Bob Ross, so they had a paint by number for the guests to participate with painting! You can also do other things to suit your personality, like vinyls, a quilt, baseballs, a globe, corn hole/bags boards, an Adirondack chair… the possibilities are endless! They can be items that you hang in your home, use frequently… but you can really find anything that is near and dear to your heart.

5. Audio Phone

If you like the idea of something different than signatures, an audio guest book is a great idea for you! They are phones that your guests leave a voicemail on that they enjoy - you can get sweet, emotional messages, or fun, crazy messages from your friends later into the night. We love that you are able to hear your loved ones voices for years to come as a sentimental piece too.

6. Your Welcome Sign

If you want something a little more focused on the wedding day itself, you can always have your guests sign your welcome sign! More often than not, your welcome signs are trashed anyway, so it’s nice to be able to make them have more meaning after the wedding day! This can be on wood, acrylic, mirrors… whatever suits your fancy!

7. Anniversary Wine Bottles

Some couples opt to have wine bottles that are opened on each anniversary they have in the future, so your guests can sign those bottles to make sure it is something you see again! This one is more of a one-time use, but you can put a bottle on each of your guests’ tables and make a sign that says you will open them on that year’s anniversary (table 3 is on your 3rd anniversary, for example).

There are plenty of specific ideas online, but these ones might get the ball rolling on an alternative guest book that actually means something to you and your future spouse. If you’re still looking for ideas and can’t come up with anything specific, you can reach out at our contact page and we can help you come up with something that is perfect for you!