I have been seeing a lot of cool ideas for guestbooks lately on Pinterest and wedding blogs. I even give some rather cool suggestions in my book "Planning Perfect Parties", but the question of whether or not a guestbook is still important comes up time and time again. Is it dorky to have people sign their name on something to show they were at your event? Do you really want to ask your friends to stop what they are doing and write you a message?
In my experience, yes. Think of it this way, at the end of they year you have a lot of fun going around and asking al your classmates to sign your yearbook. Why? Because you like to look back at it and see all the fun notes people wrote to you! "You are such a great friend" "H.A.G.S" (have a great summer) "I hope we have class together next year" and all the other fun messages are not only fun to read, but fun to write.
A guestbook is just like that! It doesn't have to be boring at all. Like I said, there are so many ideas out there, and here are a few of mine.
If you have a very specific party theme at your next get-together, you will want a guestbook that reflects that. For example, if you want a totally fun music theme, like "Party Like a Rock Star", think about a music themes guestbook. My favorite idea is signing a guitar! Don't worry, you don't have to go out and buy a guitar for your friends to sign, just head to the local thrift shop or craft store to pick one up. A thrift store may have an old broken guitar they are selling for cheap. Craft stores sometimes have fake guitars you can paint fun colors and then hang on a wall.
Here is an example of a guitar guestbook from a Rock n' Roll Nashville wedding.
Another idea for a guestbook (if you don't have a particular theme) is a puzzle. Find an old puzzle, spray paint the pieces white, black, or a vibrant, fun color, and then have your friends sign them. You would be amazed at how cool it will look once you put the puzzle together! If you want a little extra flare, use metallic or sparkly glitter pens to help the notes pop on the background.
So you see, guestbooks can be fun! They don't even have to be "books" at all. For more ideas on guestbooks, and all other party ideas, take a look at "Planning Perfect Parties" availiable online and in bookstores!
xoxo,
Mizz Manners