Guest Book Alternatives

We’ve all signed the guest book at a wedding. Some are just notebooks, while others are picture books with empty spaces to sign. Oftentimes guest books can be overlooked, so it’s becoming more and more important to create a meaningful opportunity of connection with your guests. Creating a meaningful opportunity for guests to share advice, remember a fond memory of you and your partner, and get creatively involved in the guest book process is key. So, let’s dive into some of our favorite, new and old, guest book alternatives! 

01: Leave Us a Tip or Advice! 

This is one of our favorites. Not only can it be insightful, but some of your guests’ tips are just downright fun. Think of a creative way to create a space for guests to leave you advice or a tip. You can leave it in a notebook, or create a jar with little pieces of paper. Whatever you choose, give your guests an opportunity to share their words of wisdom. Not only will it create a fun interaction for your wedding guests, but it will give you and your partner something to dive into post wedding. Open a tip weekly or monthly! Make it a game – there’s always value in your loved ones’ advice! 

02: Photo Fun 

Everyone loves a good selfie. Create a fun and lively space for your guests to spend some time in, with a photo booth! You can create your own DIY photobooth with a backdrop of your choice and props, or you can hire a professional to run the photobooth stand. Even as wedding professionals, we can’t help ourselves but take some cute photos in the photo booth. Guests will be able to take home a memory of your wedding day and you will be able to have memories of your guests. Don’t forget to leave out some props, everyone loves a good prop! 

03: Bucket List 

This one is similar to the advice/tip jar, but have your guests help you create a bucket list of items to complete as either a newlywed couple or throughout your marriage! This can be date ideas, places to travel, or even locally eat! You can have a physical bucket, with slips of paper for your guests to write on, or an outline of a bucket on a canvas to hang in your home. Your guests will have a blast creating your bucket list items and it adds a little spin to the traditional guest book. 

04: Notes for Years Ahead

Have your guests write notes for milestones in your marriage! You can have guests write “messages in a bottle”, write on a letterhead, or even write on a bottle of wine to open. Your guests can freely write their thoughts, whether advice, tips, or fun bucket list items, this will be an opportunity for you and your partner to reminisce down the road! It’s also a fun and simple idea to tie in any wedding themes or design you  may have. 

05: Wedding Video 

Your guests can sit down in a cozy space and leave a special message, through video, for your and your partner! This is an intimate idea that will produce memories of your wedding day, featuring those who love you. You can record it on a phone, or set up an ipad to receive all of the messages. This option allows you to see your loved ones, and let’s be real– you can never have too many videos of your family and friends. 

06: Find your Favorite Passage

Bring a book, or even your Bible, to act as your guest book. Whether it is a book filled with your favorite poems, or a journaling Bible, your guests can look through the text and highlight a passage or phrase that is meaningful to them. They can write a note, express their love and thoughts, and it’s something for you and your partner to cherish down the road. 

07: Statement Wall Piece

Whether you purchase something on Etsy, or at your local craft fair, many couples are choosing or creating a statement wall piece that they can hang in their home and having their guests write loving messages on it. This is a fun, but simple way to remember your wedding, see all the guests in attendance, and feel the love on a daily basis. You can also get creative with this idea, and hey – it wouldn’t hurt to have it match your everyday decor. 

Whatever you decide, when creating or choosing your guest book, keep a few things in mind. 

First, make sure that it is interactive and something more than just blindly signing your name. Next, make it meaningful to you and your partner. You want this to be something you cherish for years to come. Last, make it accessible and in a space that your guests will visit and complete. You don’t want your guest book to be overlooked in all the wedding day fun! 

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Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Seattle Wedding Planner with over 17 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.

Modern + Sexy | Natalie + Andrew | Alderbrook Resort

Photographer & Videography: NW Film Co. |  Wedding Planner: Elegant Affairs  | Venue: Alderbrook Resort  | Florist: Oak and Fig Floral | Rentals: Cort Party Rental | DJ: Otto Olson | Dessert: Shugs Soda Fountain | Beauty: KLS Makeup Artristy | Wedding Dress: The Dress Theory Seattle

Now, we have to say that we love every single wedding we plan, but sometimes there are weddings that just take our breath away. Natalie and Andrew’s wedding was one of our owners, Lori Losee’s, favorite weddings and designs of all time. Not only were Natalie and Andrew so much fun to work with, but the overall design and color scheme was class, modern, sexy, and of course with a touch of sexy. Throughout the wedding day, guests saw white with black details – talk about classic! 

Natalie and Andrew have to be about the cutest couple. Now, we may be a little bit biased, because Natalie is an Alpha Phi. And let’s be honest, we’ve got a long history of not only having Alpha Phi planners, but planning dozens of Alpha Phi weddings. The bride and groom had the most epic grand entrance, there was plenty of champagne sprayed to go around, the couple featured an old-fashioned ice cream cart for dessert, and the DJ, Otto Olson, created the ambiance for the most epic dance party.

Now, let’s take a moment and talk about their drop-dead gorgeous decor. The ceremony altar was adorned with sexy, yet whimsical, modern columns of cascading white flowers. Oak and Fig Floral created a beautiful backdrop for the couple to say their nuptials. Not only was there the magnificent altar, but white florals provided contrast against the green grass down the aisle. It was absolutely breathtaking. And, it didn’t stop there. The reception centerpieces were big, bold, and beautiful. They remained classic with touches of white roses and baby’s breath. But there was absolutely no rustic here – it was done with a classic design with a modern spin. We’ve never seen a baby's breath like this! Cort Party Rentals provided white linens with contrasting black linen napkins. 

Make sure to catch your breath as you scroll through Natalie and Andrew’s pictures. Because, folks, we mean WOW

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Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Seattle Wedding Planner with over 17 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.

What to Expect the Day of your Wedding

I attended a wedding this weekend, as an actual guest. Although I did help the bride with coordinating the ceremony and various aspects of the design and decor process, I was able to sit back and be a guest. Yes, that means that I was able to actually have some time, “off” the clock. As I sat there and talked with bride throughout the day, it hit me. There are a lot of expectations leading up to your wedding day. You have spent countless hours planning your day and your expectations are high. But, out of these expectations, what are hopes and what is reality. Yes, you can try to plan every last detail, but there are some things that may run unexpectedly, or not turn out how you had hoped. There are always things on your wedding day that you may run into, unplanned. As I sat there talking to my bride, as her friend, I found myself reminding her that your wedding will be memorable, no matter what. The most important thing is to enjoy, and ask yourself if you enjoyed your day. So, let’s talk about some real truths on what to expect your wedding day. 

01: Your Guests

Your guests play an important role in your day. You’ve invited your nearest, dearest, or maybe your whole family to your wedding day. We’ve coordinated weddings that host an intimate group of 30, to a party of 500. Whatever your guest count is, don’t let your guests dictate your enjoyment for the day. As time and society changes, expectations and reality of guests have changed. So here are some guest realities: 

• Guests will not show up. Yes, even though your guest list RSVP’d, there are still  5%-10% of guests that will not attend your day, even with that RSVP. 

• Guests may be late to your ceremony. Don’t prolong walking down the aisle for hours waiting for 100%. Start your ceremony with at least 80% of your guests. 

• There will always be risk takers with your seating chart. Some people prefer to sit at other tables, others will pay no mind to the seating chart. Be prepared that your DJ or coordinator will need to remind guests to follow the seating chart. Fact of the matter, sometimes guests will do what they want. 

• Sometimes the biggest disappointment for a couple is the guests that leave following the wedding reception events. Your guests have ate, watched the cake cut and bouquet toss and they’ve decided it’s their time to go. It is discouraging to see your wedding reception numbers dwindle. But, there are a couple of factors to consider. First, what age group did you mostly invite? Are they folks that are typically in bed by 8PM? Second, if you notice guests are leaving, ask you DJ to switch up the music. Sometimes, your music selection will need to be adjusted to create a more lively atmosphere. Typically, guests spend 3 hours at wedding, from ceremony to reception. It’s hard to not be disappointed when your guests leave, but try to make the most of the guests you have still in attendance and don’t let them stifle your fun. 

02: Gifts

Times have definitely changed with gift giving. Some couples receive everything and more off their registry, while others only receive a few items. There are some important factors to think about when planning your registry that can determine whether your items are fulfilled or not. As you register for items, choose more than one place, for example Target and Amazon. Giving guests the option of where to shop can sometimes help increase your registry numbers. You’re also going to want to think about who you are inviting. Think about your guests budgets, what can they actually afford? Your guests that travel a distance to attend your wedding, may just not have the budget to get you a gift – and that is ok. Add items to your registry that vary in prices. Items can be as low as $5 dollars up to asking for that new Dyson vacuum you want. But, be realistic on what you ask for. You want to include items that are affordable by all. Last, send different reminders, you may want to include a registry card in the invites to remind guests. Sometimes, information can be lost if guests do not look up your wedding website. Don’t rely on the website alone. 

03: The Dreaded Curveball

Things on your wedding day may run according to planned, or let’s face it, they may not. This is where a coordinator really steps up and helps with all of the dreaded curveballs that may come your way on your wedding day. You may need to adjust the timeline, depending on how fast or slow things are running. The wedding I coordinated last week had to be adjusted by a full hour, because things were moving too slow, and we wanted to keep things moving swiftly for guests’ entertainment and delaying any additional wait time. Be prepared to roll with the punches and think quick on your feet with decision making. If a problem does come your way, ask for support, think and execute the best solution and move forward – don’t dwell. 

04: Think Positive Thoughts 

Most importantly, don’t dwell on the little things, and do your best to control any anxiety you may have. Your wedding day is important for one reason only, it is to celebrate the love that you share with your partner. Don’t let the little things bother you or ruin your day. We promise you that no one notices, and everyone is having a fabulous time. The most important thing is that you and your partner are married and that YOU both are having the best time. 

So, as your wedding day approaches, or you’re planning to be a guest for a friend, be sure to keep in mind some of these realities for the couple. Remember to make happy, long lasting memories, and work to decrease the anxiety and stress on your wedding day. 

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Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Seattle Wedding Planner with over 17 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.