2 Questions: Wishing Tree & Guest Book

Bonnie27

1) What is the wishing tree?  What does it symbolize??  I've been to many weddings but this one is a first for me.  Or maybe I just didn't notice but now looking at venues it gets mentioned a lot.


2) Is it ok to not have a guest book?  What would I do with it when we are done and what's the purpose???  Just seems like a dust collector to me.

Thanks!!!

melntaitt

From what I've gathered a Wishing Tree is an alternative to the guest book - you provide the guests with bits of stationery "leaves" which they write well-wishes on and pin to a tree at the reception. Not to be mistaken for a money tree.

There are other alternatives to guest books - we're using a wedding tree with preprinted leaves for guests to sign and we're framing it and putting it above our television in the main living room. I agree that guest books can be a waste - people sign them and you put it away and maybe never look at it again. Not until a significant anniversary anyway.

If you choose neither, people probably wouldn't even miss it.

::Edited for spelling::

toothpastechica

dunno about wishing tree, but agree with pp, there are other ways that are not as dull to do a guest book. Lots of people do mixbooks with thier engagment photos and then put it out at the wedding and get people to sign the pages, or get a meaningful home item to get people to sign, or we are putting out scrapbook pages and markers and crayons and asking guests to illustrate thier signature (stick people just fine!). I wouldnt do a traditional guest book, but I would do SOMETHING, guests do like to be rememebred and know thier specific presence was noticed.

Bonnie27

That's a good idea - maybe once I get the engagement photo's I can make a mini guest book with our pictures.  That way the guests still feel appreciated and I have something that I will actually enjoy more.

Thanks for your help! 

ChristineNB

I had the same concern that a traditional guest book would just gather dust somewhere.  So I came up with the idea of having guests sign a matting that will go around a picture of the city of Pittsburgh (where I'm getting married), and after the wedding we will hang the picture in our home.  Fiance and I both think this idea will go over well with our guests.

Lisa50

I've never heard of a wishing tree.  It is perfectly fine to skip having a guest book.