So you have your nearest and dearest gathered for your wedding, your marriage ceremony has been just as you wanted it to be so now it is off to celebrate. In the joy and jubilation how do you capture the sentiment, experience and expressions of your guests? Traditionally it was a guest book - people putting pen to paper (gasp! really how quaint!?). To be honest it is still my preference, I love stationery and having something tactical to reminisce with. But, times have changed, wedding vendors are embracing tech and there are new options available to enable your guests to share their thoughts, wishes and feelings without requiring space on a shelf. So, here are a few ideas for different solutions for your wedding day guest book.
Recorded Messages: These little fabulous phone concepts are popping up at wedding receptions all over the place. They are fun, interactive and versatile from a styling point of view. Personally, I love the vintage vibe of a phone to capture content that you can have forever without needing physical storage space. So here are a couple of vendors I have met or found that are worth checking out for a audio guestbook option at your wedding after party or reception.
@the_message_co have gorgeous vintage style telephones that do the magic tech stuff for your guests to record their message to you - I have met these folks at various wedding expos, lovely people! Two national hire companies to check out are @offthehook.au and @guestbook.hotline.
Digital Guest Book: Why not capture all the guest content you can, those shots you missed and even videos (think vox pops and candid statements) simply set up a QR code and link it to a file sharing service (Google is super simple) so your guests can upload their videos, photos etc from your wedding day. Canva, Vistaprint or My QR Code are platforms that you can use to DIY. Or use a service that specialise in it, even better (less stress). Here is one I found to check out @guestpix
Wedding Day Painting: Get your guests to contribute to something that you will have in your home forever, a piece of art. This emerging trend is involving guests alongside a live wedding painter to essentially crowd source a piece of art to capture your big day. Here are a couple of vendors I have found in my research @iampoppydesigns @ashleybuntingstudio @weddingpaintingaustralia
Art Intervention: Another idea is to ask your guests to make a finger print on a canvas, sign a canvas that has been pre painted or printed for you or even just to make a mark on a canvas if you are wanting an abstract painting from the day. Simple choose your colour palette, provide instructions, ink pads or paint palette with brushes and a canvas then leave the rest up to them. Check out @daisywood_designs for fingerprint guestbooks or browse Etsy for various options including digital downloads to print yourself.
Or if you are like me and you love things to be beautiful and tactile try a guest book taken to the next level, check out @theguestbookcollective they do coffee table worthy guest books. These guest books are a thing of beauty and something that will not gather dust on a shelf. They are gorgeous - check them out.
As always, I have found the vendors via search or expo chats. No affiliation. No association. Just a small wedding business owner supporting others and helping out engaged couples find their way to creating the wedding they really want. Happy wedding planning!
