Personalize your Reception...Part 2

We have all seen the standard guest book at weddings and well...they are just that, standard. Does anyone really ever look at them again?  If you are wanting to remember the guests who came to celebrate your wedding day why not kick it up a notch an introduce something that you will actually look back on over the years?  Get creative and have some fun with it.  Your guests will appreciate the extra effort and you will have a keepsake that you will actually treasure (and not something that just sits in a box collecting dust).

1. Engagement Photo Guest Book

This is a great way to display (and show off) your engagement photos.   Your guests will enjoy flipping through the pages selecting just the right spot to leave their well wishes.  Most photographers offer an engagement guest book option in their a la carte section.  You can also DIY at places like picaboo and My Publisher.  If you want to be really creative you can even help your guests with ideas by including headers such as: Give Us an Idea for a Date Night..., When Did You First Know that We Were Meant to Be Together..., Share Your Advice for a Strong Marriage..., etc. 

Photo: Kimberly Brooke

2. Photo Booth Scrap Book

Rent a Photo Booth or have your photographer set one up in a corner of the room.  Have your guests leave a copy of their photo along with their comments in a blank guest book.  This idea also works well if you want to create a Polaroid guest book.  You can provide questions (or missions) for your guests (ie. Find someone who has travelled to Calgary, Scotland and take a picture with this person).  It gives your guests something to do during the cocktail hour and allows guests to mingle who might not otherwise.  You end up with a great scrapbook as well. 

Photo: Wedding Bee

3. Type Writer 

Provide a type writer and some blank paper and let your guests fingers to the talking!  This would be great if the bride or groom was a writer or if you were planning a vintage inspired wedding.
Photo: Wedding Bee

4. Wish Tree

This is a great option as it can add a decor element to your room and can be rustic, whimsical or elegant depending on how you choose to accessorize.   
Photos: Here Comes the Guide 

6. Wish bowl 

This is the same idea as the Wish Tree just using a glass vessel instead.

7. Signature Mat 

This is another way to display one of your engagement photos and you can proudly display it in your home following the wedding.

8. Wine Bottle

Pick a favourite vintage or perhaps a specialty wine that you have selected to serve at your wedding.  Have your guests sign all around the bottle and then save it for your 1st or 10th anniversary.  If you are having a large wedding you could have several bottles available for guests to sign and then open them on different anniversaries.  This would also be a nice keep sake from your rehearsal dinner with the signatures of your wedding party and close family.  
Photo: Knottie - andrea88

9. Signature Platter

This is a great idea, especially if you like to entertain.  You can pull it out whenever you host a special get together.
Photo: Say Anything Ceramics

10. Wedding Quilt

This takes some organization and additional effort on the part of your guests but the rewards are well worth it!  Creating a quilt with different squares crafted by your guests is sure to be a family heirloom that will be passed down through the generations.  If you can arrange to have your guests send back their squares well in advance of the wedding you could have the quilt assembled and proudly displayed on your wedding day for all of your guests to see.   
Photo: Lara Swanson Photo via Life Love Lipstick

11. Cookbook or Recipe Cards

If you love to cook then how about providing one of your favourite cookbooks with beautiful pictures for your guests? Your guests could then sign on pages that have some of their most treasured recipes.  If you're lucky they might even share some of their tips and tricks for elevating the recipe to the next level.  Then each time you pull out that cookbook over the years you will be reminded of the love and good wishes of your very special guests. 

Alternatively you could ask guests to bring their favourite recipe (on a recipe card you mailed out with your invitation) and leave it in a recipe box provided on the welcome table.  You could have some spare cards available for guests who don't bring a recipe card with them...perhaps they will be inclined to share their recipe for a successful marriage.  Following the wedding you can try out the recipes your guests so thoughtfully shared.

12. Travel Book

Why not pick up a coffee table book featuring stunning images of the destination you plan to honeymoon at?  Guests can sign pages of the book or leave comments or suggestions about the best sights, sounds and eats if they have travelled to the region before.  It is sure to be a great keepsake that you will look back on fondly over the years.