George Boyle
A wedding guest book is a great way to cherish memories of your special day and capture the love and joy shared with your guests. While traditional guest books are familiar, there are many creative alternatives that reflect your wedding theme or personality. For instance, you could use vintage postcards as your guest book, or have guests sign a vintage typewriter or rotary phone. If you're looking for a DIY project, you can even make a guest book out of vinyl records. For a vintage wedding, consider a guest book with a retro or rustic design, featuring elements like lace, florals, or a cassette tape motif.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type | Vintage, retro, rustic, minimalist, elegant, romantic, chic, whimsical, modern, traditional, luxury, shabby chic, etc. |
| Colors | Gold, blue, white, silver, beige, green, ivory, burgundy, red, pink, black, cream, etc. |
| Materials | Paper, vinyl, wood, leather, linen, cork, dictionary, canvas, etc. |
| Design | Floral, lace, geometric, monogram, postcard, Polaroid, cassette tape, etc. |
| Additions | Markers, paint, glue, scissors, heavy paper, sketchbook, thread, etc. |
What You'll Learn
Vintage postcards as a guest book
If you love vintage charm, consider using postcards as your wedding guest book. Start collecting postcards before the wedding—opt for vintage designs or postcards from your favourite international destinations. Display the postcards on a card fixture or near a mailbox for a nostalgic touch. Ask your guests to write their well wishes and travel recommendations on the postcards. This is a unique and sentimental way to gather memories from your loved ones.
You could also include a custom mailbox for guests to post their postcards in. This adds an interactive element to the guest book and will be a fun surprise for you and your partner to open after your wedding.
If you want to add a modern twist to this vintage idea, you could ask guests to attach a polaroid photo of themselves to the postcards. Provide craft tape and pens so that signing the guest book is a playful, interactive experience.
For a cohesive look, you could also match your vintage postcards to the rest of your wedding décor. For example, if you have a garden-themed wedding, you could use postcards with plant illustrations.
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Vintage typewriter for guest messages
A vintage typewriter guest book is a fun and unique way to collect messages from your wedding guests. Here are some tips and ideas to make it a success:
Choosing the Right Typewriter
First, you'll need to source a vintage typewriter. You can find these at antique stores, thrift stores, or online marketplaces. Look for a typewriter that is in good working condition and has a nice aesthetic that fits your wedding theme. You may want to purchase it well in advance of your wedding to ensure it's in proper working order.
Providing Instructions
Keep in mind that many of your guests may not be familiar with using a typewriter. Consider creating a cute, brief instruction sign to display next to the typewriter. This sign can include basic instructions on how to use the typewriter, as well as any specific instructions for your guests, such as where to leave the finished message or how many messages to write.
Paper and Message Spot
Provide a stack of paper for guests to use, preferably a type that is suitable for the typewriter you've chosen. You can also pre-cut the paper to a specific size if you want to ensure uniformity. Designate a spot for guests to leave their finished messages, such as a basket or tray next to the typewriter.
Encouraging Interaction
To ensure you get plenty of messages, consider leaving pens and blank cards or paper nearby for guests who prefer to write by hand or are unsure about using the typewriter. You can also hire a typewriter poet to transcribe guests' messages and have them sign the typed notes.
Display Ideas
After your wedding, you can bind the typed messages into a book, as a keepsake. You could also frame some of the most memorable messages or display them in a scrapbook along with photos from the wedding.
Considerations
Keep in mind that young children may be fascinated by the typewriter and might want to play with it. You may want to place it out of their reach or have someone supervise the area to prevent any damage or mishaps.
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Vintage vinyl records as a guest book
If you and your partner are music lovers, incorporating vinyl records into your wedding guest book is a creative and personal touch. Here are some tips and ideas to achieve this unique guest book:
Choosing and Preparing the Vinyl Records
Start by choosing random vinyl records or records with songs that are meaningful to you as a couple. Consider the number of guests you'll have and aim to provide enough space for everyone to sign. For example, if you're expecting 90-100 guests, prepare 3 records, as most people will likely write something short. You can also have a small book alongside the records for guests who want to leave lengthier messages.
To address the issue of markers smudging or bleeding on the vinyl, it's recommended to coat the records with a spray like Krylon Low Odour Clear Spray in Matte finish. This provides a more writable surface, and markers like Metallic Silver Sharpies work well without smudging.
Presentation and Display
For a neat presentation, you can adhere the vinyl records to 12x12 scrapbook sheets using glue dots or a glue gun. This also helps keep everything centered. You can then place these inside record frames, which can be hung up as decorations during the wedding and in your home afterward.
Customization
To add a personalized touch, create custom labels for the records. Design software like CorelDraw can be used to make labels that are slightly larger than the existing ones on the records. Print these on full-page label sheets, ensuring they fit the records nicely.
Guest Instructions
Provide clear instructions for your guests to ensure they know what to do. You can place a sign near the records that says something like, "For the record, please sign our guest book!" or "Please sign our record to be a part of our collection."
Cost
The cost of creating vinyl record guest books can vary depending on the materials and your location. One person from Canada shared their breakdown, which totaled to approximately $90 for three records, including frames, labels, markers, and other supplies.
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Vintage mirror guest book sign
A vintage mirror guest book sign is a unique and elegant way to welcome guests to your wedding and can be a great keepsake after the event. Here are some ideas and instructions for creating your own:
Design and Materials
Vintage mirrors come in various shapes and sizes, from large, ornate standing mirrors to smaller, handheld vanity mirrors. Choose a mirror that fits your wedding aesthetic and has enough space for guests to write on. You can find vintage mirrors at antique stores, thrift shops, or online marketplaces.
For the writing instrument, you can provide guests with a permanent marker, or you can get creative and offer gold or silver paint pens, or even white chalk for a true vintage feel.
Customisation
To add a personal touch, you can decorate the mirror with flowers, fairy lights, or other embellishments that match your wedding theme. You can also add a decal or sticker with a message such as "Please Sign Our Guest Book" or "Snap a Photo and Leave a Message". These can be purchased or custom-made from online craft stores.
Display
When displaying your vintage mirror guest book sign, consider a table or easel that complements the mirror's style. You could use a rustic wooden table or a sophisticated gold easel, depending on the overall vibe of your wedding.
Additionally, you can add a small table with polaroid cameras and extra film, encouraging guests to snap photos of themselves and stick them on the mirror with a message. This adds a fun, interactive element to the traditional guest book.
Post-Wedding
After your wedding, you can display the mirror in your home as a special reminder of your big day. It will also serve as a beautiful piece of décor, especially if you opt for a vintage mirror with an intricate frame.
If you wish to preserve the messages, you can always take photos of the mirror before cleaning it, ensuring you can cherish those memories forever.
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Vintage book centrepieces
There are many ways to create vintage book centrepieces for your wedding. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Stacked Books
A simple yet effective idea is to stack a few pretty antique books together and top them off with a small flower arrangement. You can also tie the stack of books with burlap and lace for a rustic look.
Hollowed-Out Books
For a romantic look, hollow out a book and fill it with flowers and succulents spilling out of the pages. This idea can be adapted to fit your wedding theme, such as using colourful wildflowers or elegant roses.
Table Number Holders
If you're feeling crafty, you can make table number holders by fastening numbers to a book cover with screws. Alternatively, you can cut out letters with a box cutter, leaving the bottoms attached, to create pop-up table numbers.
Book Folding
Book folding is an art form where you create 3-dimensional sculptures by folding the individual pages of a book. You can form shapes or letters to spell out words, such as "love" or your initials.
Glass Cloche
Create an eclectic vintage vibe with a glass cloche filled with books and greenery. You can also include a gold vase or white taper candles for a touch of elegance.
Vintage Accents
Incorporate vintage books into your wedding decor by using them as centrepieces on a sweetheart table with macrame and other vintage accents. This will give your wedding a quirky and unique vibe.
Feel free to customise these ideas to fit your wedding theme and colours!
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Frequently asked questions
To make a vintage wedding guest book using vinyl records, you will need a handful of materials and a little bit of time. First, measure out an 8.25 X 8.25-inch square on two vinyl records and carefully cut out the square using a heat knife. Next, break off the edges of the records and mark 8 evenly spaced holes about 1/4 inch from the edge of both records. Then, sand the edges of the records and drill the holes using a very small drill bit. Cut heavy paper to size, divide it into even stacks, and line up the paper with the holes in the records. Use an awl to punch holes in the paper, and then bind the book together using the coptic stitch method with waxed thread. Finally, trim any loose threads and wipe off the record covers with a damp cloth.
There are many creative ways to make a vintage wedding guest book. One idea is to use a vintage typewriter and have guests type out their messages. Another option is to set up a Polaroid camera and invite guests to snap photos and write messages on them. You could also use a vintage postcard guestbook, a rotary phone with a voice message guest book, or a vintage mirror guest book sign.
To display your vintage wedding guest book in a unique way, consider using a vintage book centerpiece with flowers, a vintage ski lodge entrance table, or a shabby chic guestbook table. You could also use a vintage candle holder and guest book, a quilt square guest book, or a vintage mirror guest book sign.
