If you were a guest at a wedding which would you rather sign?

Question

A scrapbook where you can write a little blurb, or a card you could toss into a fish bowl later. If you choose the fish bowl, would you actually toss it in there later? Any other unique wedding guest book alternatives are welcome.

I would eventually add the cards to a scrapbook. I want to know if the guest would rather just sign a book or if they would get funny or more personal with private cards.

Answer 1

I was just at a wedding where they had scrapbook paper for guests to write on. Hardly anybody did unless the bride's mother begged them to. It seemed awkward, and difficult to come up with something clever or beautiful on the spot. I think if anybody had anything truly menaingful that they wanted to say, they probably would have written it in the card they gave with the gift. I wouldn;t count on getting a lot of stuff here.

Instead of a signed guest book, we're having some friends take Poloroid pictures of the guests. We'll put a few marker pens on each table and ask each guest to sign, or write a note on, the developed photo. We'll collect those into a photo album. That way, if people have something clever or sentimental to say, they can. If not, they can just sign their name. No pressure to be witty or eloquent, like with the scrapbook paper.

Answer 2

All of the above sound better than the standard guest book. Honestly, I know I still have my guest book, but never, ever read it, and couldn't tell you right now where it is stored.

My daughter will be getting married in October. The photographer's package includes a copy of their engagement photo, blown up to 11 x 16, with a large matte that all of the guests can sign. I think this will be a great way to show off the bridal couple, and remember all of their important guests!

Answer 3

Ive been to many weddings this year and i thought the photo scrapbook was cool, as your guest come in the main entrance someone takes a poliroid picture of them then the guest puts the pic into the photo scrapbook and writes a little note next to it. as far as the fish bowl, no one ever remembers to toss it later. if drinks are involved then theres no "later" for your guests they will forget..

Answer 4

I like the ones where you sign the mat around a picture of the couple and they hang it in their home or the wish tree.

Every guest book I've ever seen always end up in the cabinet or the attic collecting dust.

For ours, I am having a tree at the site and am sending out pages to the guests in advacne. They will decorate them however they want then drop the finished pages off at the reception. I will put them in a book later.

Answer 5

I would prefer the scrapbook...It's a little more meaningful to the two of you-and more organized. Maybe lay out glitters, stickers, glue, etc. so they can really personalize their page!
I used 6" fabric squares in my colors. I laid them out with fabric markers and a little page explaining that the pieces will be sewn together to make a quilt for display/family heirloom. It worked out great but took a little more time to plan out than a scrapbook fishbowl,or a standard guest book.
(I always hate those things...nobody ever looks at them later, do they?)
Good Luck and Congrats!

Answer 6

I've seen the wish bowls done...they're really nice!

Here's my idea for a $$ saving alternative that you could do that would "kill THREE birds with one stone":
Centerpieces, Guest book, and your Seating!

1-Get SMALLER actual fish bowls OR other container of your choice...one for each table.

2-Fill the bowls 1/2 full w/either rose petals, floral marble, riverstone, sand...whatever would fit your wedding decor.

3-Decorate the outside by tying a ribbon around the neck of the container, and even tossing some of what you used as filler on the table around the base.

4-Make your table "designators" either by using:
a)table number cards that you can purchase or print your own
OR
b) print out different "labels" for each bowl w/words such as
Love, Happiness, Live, Joy, Laugh, Cherish, Honor, Forever, Special, Teasured, Unity, Always, Promise, Together, Magic, Memories.
You can either put these "labels/tags" on a 6 to 8 inch "stick" (thin dowl rods are CHEAP and can be cut into the length you need) - place them into the bowl, the filler you use will keep them standing upright. OR you can affix it to the out side of the container OR you can hole-punch them and tie it on w/the ribbon you use around the neck for decor.

5-Print up cards that on ONE SIDE have the guests name and the number (or "word") that matches the table they are assigned to. On the other side, in small font at the top of the card, print "Share your wish for the Bride and Groom".
Place all these cards, naturally-name side up at a table as they enter, so they may find their name and their seating.

This would be optional should you feel it's necessary:
--On each table, next to the container, have a little note, placed either in a small frame, or folded into a table-tent card giving some brief instructions on what they are to do on the back seating card and to place it in the bowl for you to treasure forever.

If I would've come up w/this sooner I would've done it myself, but my centerpieces have already been purchased!

Answer 7

I had personalized pens put at each place setting, that had our names and date in our colors. Since I personally don't like assigned seating I used place cards as 'save the seat' cards, rather than having purses all over the table and chairs tipped up. After dinner, each guest was asked to write us a note on their name card and place it in a large footed glass vase. I still pull them out once in a while for a good laugh - we had some interesting comments!

I still get comments 5 years later about the pens and that they are still writing!

Answer 8

I am having a picture frame with a matte and guest sign aroung the matte in fine point markers.

Teh scrapbook idea is so cute!

Answer 9

Are you actually going to sit down and dump out the fishbowl and read your messages? With everything else going on I don't see this being an enjoyable activity.
The scrapbook idea is so cute. I would enjoy signing that. My sister in law had the large blank matting around her engagement photo. The plates you write on in special markers are my all time favorite,

Answer 10

The cards in the fish bowl are a lovely idea but I think I would prob get too pisst to remember to throw it in, go with guest book xx