Is a guest book necessary?

ldcf11206

I'm thinking of skipping out on having a guest book.  I guess I just don't understand what the purpose of it is.  People just sign the book and that's it?  Just to show that they were there?  Well, won't I already know that they were there because they were part of the final head count and they will be in pictures?  I'd like to hear some ideas that might convince me to have a guest book.  Thanks!

adamnkel

We are having our wedding in NY and when I mentioned a guest book to my FI he looked at me like I had 10 heads because he has never been to a wedding that has done one. I am currently on the fence about having one though because when I mentioned to my mom that we were not going to have one she had the opposite reaction of my FI. My mom thinks its a nice keepsake and that people can write you nice notes in them.  Rather then an actual book you can do a picture of the two of you with a white border and have people sign around the border. Look at peoples bios I have seen some good idea but I can't think of them off the top of my head.

ldcf11206

Thanks!  I think the past 2 weddings that I have been to had guest books, and no one had written anything other than their names in the book.  I just don't see the point of that.  My fiance and my mom don't care either way, so I guess it's up to me.  I have seen some pretty ones that I really like, but I just don't see the point in having one. 

danieliza1127

We made a photobook full of pictures of us over the 8 years we've been together.  Each page had only one or two pictures with lots of space all around.  So each guest signed their names and left us a little message or well wish.  I really like it and even now, over a year later, it's on our coffee table and we still flip through it or someone else will flip through it when they come over to our house.  I could see why you wouldn't want a typical guest book where the people just sign their name and that's it, but a fun creative one can be a good memento from the wedding.  You won't necessarily know exactly who all is there just based on your final head count and pictures.  It's a busy hectic day and it's easy to miss people or forget people.

SarahPLiz

IMO, unless someone famous is coming and I want their autograph, then its just another piece of paper that I have to box up and move at some point in the future, I'd rather not have it. That being said, the last wedding I attended used the picture fram idea, where we all signed a little note on the matting of the photo, and it was really neat. I could see us doing something like that.

laurening

FI and I probably won't have one because we know it's just going to end up in a box somewhere. But we're not the overly sentimental sort either. If it's not your thing, you don't have to do it. It's also a good way to save some money. As PPs mentioned, there are other ideas rather than a standard guestbook. I've heard of people using a coffee table book that has some kind of meaning to them (pics of hometown, fave vacation spot, fave sports team etc,) and having people sign the pages.

ldcf11206

Ok well I'm glad to know that I'm not the only person who thinks a guest book is stupid.  I kind of like the idea of a photo book where the guests sign the pages, so that is something I'll consider. Thanks for your help ladies!!

aerinpegadrak

We definitely didn't want a book type guest book.  Right now it looks like the plan will be to have the guests all sign some sort of board game, unless I can find a poster we like that isn't too busy.

ffmaid

Honestly I think they are a waste and we skipped it. Half the time I do not even sign even if they are there because I hate my handwriting

Lasairiona

It's not required. Most people have it as a record of who all attended. Even then a majority of guests won't sign anything you have, no matter how outgoing your guestbook attendant is or how big your instruction sign is on the table. If you don't want one, then don't have one.

lilcassers

yea I think a GB is pretty pointless. Not only will I have pics, but I will have a video which also has my guests saying personal messages too.

LilyAnna06

Recently, my parents got out stuff that my mom had saved from their wedding in 1974. They just celebrated their 35th anniversary. Aside from the pictures, the guestbook was really the neatest keepsake. It was cool to see all the signatures of all of those relatives, particularly because 3/4 of them have now passed away and we miss them. My mom was on a de-cluttering kick at the time, and of the rest of the stuff in that box, she threw away the Unity candle, the cake topper, the dried bouquet flowers and the champagne flutes, but kept the guestbook.

Chezz88

I also skipped the traditional guestbook.  Instead, we had a wishing bowl where people could drop in notes of advice or wishes to the couple.  People thought it was a creative idea and it was fun going through the notes the next day!