We are all about personal touches and attention to detail here at Bayside Bride. Guest books often fall under the radar and have a tendency to get pushed off of extensive wedding to-do lists. Today we thought we’d share with you some alternative guest book ideas- ideas that are easy to create and easy on the eyes.

Bayside Bride Loves: Personal Keepsakes

This genius guestbook, shot by Teri of TPoz Photography, memorializes the song that the bride and groom chose for their first dance. The couple had their guests sign both the record and the cover of The Zombies, “Odessey and Oracle” album. Another idea similar to this that has us swooning is signing a bottle of wine and saving it for your first anniversary together. How sweet and romantic would it be to look back and read well-wishes while sipping some vino or taking a twirl around the living room to your song.

Bayside Bride Loves: Photo Booth Guestbooks

Photo booths seemed to pop out of no where a few years ago and now brides just can’t get enough of them. Here’s a secret- we can’t either! While photographing weddings Caroline Fontenot is often asked to take pictures of guests in the photo booth. She captured the essence of a pictorial guest book perfectly!  The bride and groom simply provide their guests with silly props along with either a dry erase board or these cute chalkboards. We can’t think of a more fun guest book to create or enjoy laughing… I mean looking at!

Bayside Bride Loves: Letters of Love

Isn’t this display positively radiating vintage charm? We’re loving all of details from the old suitcases to the crocheted bunting to the cute little “LETTERS” box. This creative couple that Marcella Treybig worked with used their collection of postcards as a guest book. Using something as personal as a collection shows that you care enough about your guests to share that with them. An idea that we love is having a friend take all of the post cards and mailing them to the couple’s home for when they return from their honeymoon. What a wonderful homecoming present!

Bayside Bride Loves: Quilted Cuteness

We are truly in love with every single detail of Sara’s wedding, shot by Krista Jones. Sara definitely strayed from the typical guestbook and instead opted for linen squares and fabric marker. The bride will be using these squares to create a guest book quilt! We fully anticipate it looking absolutely adorable and full of love. After the guests wrote their well wishes, they were asked to hang the messages up on a clothesline. This guest book is full of heirloom potential and is a great and easy alternative for run the mill books.

Bayside Bride Loves: Bright and Cheery Guest Books

Krista Jones Photography shot another wedding where the bride decided to break the stereotypical guest book boundaries. Attaching small envelopes to photo album pages is a quick fix to make a book look more homemade and special. You can even choose envelopes that match your color scheme and have guests write their names on the outside flap! We love this idea because it allows guests to get creative. They can write well wishes on one card, advice on another, and a funny memory on a third, but by placing them all in the same envelope helps foster a sense of unity.

Bayside Bride Loves: Rustic Writings

You can’t get any more rustic than using part of a tree as your guest book! We’re so glad that Frest Photo shared their work with us because this signature slab is the perfect marriage of rustic and polished romance. The couple’s monogram in the center is one of several ways to personalize this keepsake. You can add detailing with a wood-burning tool, which can be purchased at most nearby craft stores. After your guests have signed you can add a clear coat of varnish and display it in your home as a piece of art. If you’re feeling extra handy you could even attach it to a base and use it as the top of a side table.

Bayside Bride Loves: Photo Posters

Looking for a way to use some of your lovely engagement photos? Why not use them as the centerpiece of your guest book! Wendy of Weswen Design chose to do just that for her own wedding. Using a large poster with your photo in the middle adds color and interest to a blank page, but still allows plenty of room for guests to write ‘til their heart’s content. This is a guest book that any couple can be proud to hang in their home.

Bayside Bride Loves: Engagement Albums

Borrowed Blue Photography presents us with yet another option for using your engagement pictures. This printed album can be bought through most professional photographers and allows you to have all of your engagement pictures presented at once. Guests get a chance to browse the images as they sign in the margins. WARNING: excessively adorable pictures may cause a back up at the guest book table!

Additional Bayside Bride Inspired Ideas

Above from the Seed and Planter Guest Book from our  Vintage Garden Styled Shoot.
Photograph by the talented Lisa Marie of Sweet Tea Photo.

The Ship Blue-Print Guest Book from our Patriotic Shoot.

The Rustic Wooden Guest Board from our Autumn Shoot!

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*A few of today’s featured photographers are members of our Fleet Crew! For more information, make your way to the Photography or Invitations sections of our Vendor Guide!