You’ve heard it before, but you may not know what it means. The Wedding Guest Book is an essential component of any wedding ceremony and should be the focus of your guests throughout the event. In this guide, we’ll cover what exactly makes up the Wedding Guest Book, why it’s so important, and how to create a Wedding Guest Book that will make all your guests want to use it in the long term. Let’s dive in!
What Are Wedding Guest Books?
The tradition of signing a wedding guest book is an old one, dating back to Victorian times. In that era, guests would sign a family Bible or other heirloom as a means of expressing their joy and support for the newlyweds. Today, however, it has become more common to sign a simple guest book instead. It’s important to note that you can do no right or wrong things in terms of your wedding guest book.
Why Have One At Your Wedding?
A wedding guest book is a book in which your guests can write their names and leave a message or two for you on your big day. One of those small, sentimental things tends to make people more reflective and sentimental about weddings and marriage itself. Some wedding guest books feature pre-printed pages with lines, which makes it easy for guests who aren’t comfortable writing in blank spaces or don’t know what to say on such an occasion. Having a guest book also gives you something physical to keep from your wedding, which can be great if you’re not fond of digital photography.
How Many Pages Should Your Wedding Guest Book Have?
Having a guest book with ample room for all of your guests to sign is a fantastic thing, but sometimes it’s a little much to invest in a hundred-page guest book if you don’t need that many pages. Luckily, you don’t have to choose just one! Consider combining two books—one with plenty of room for signing and one with plenty of pages for captions or photography.
What Size Should Your Wedding Guest Book Be?
The size of your Wedding Guest Book is also important. It should be small enough to easily carry around but large enough that you won’t run out of room for guests to sign in. The standard size for a guest book is 5 x 7 or 8 inches. If you know that many people will be travelling from out of town and flying in, a larger guest book might be more appropriate to accommodate all those signatures. However, keep in mind that larger books tend to get heavy and cumbersome for guests carrying them around while attending events at your wedding. The best thing to decide on a reasonable guest count and go with a book that fits within those parameters.
When Should You Get Started On Your Wedding Guest Book?
Starting on your Wedding Guest Book as soon as possible can make all of your wedding planning go more smoothly. Instead of scrambling at the last minute, you’ll be able to ask for and gather information and ideas. If you’re having a destination wedding, beginning your guest book early enough will also keep you from forgetting any friends or family members that might be out of town or out of state. You don’t want to end up with a guest book full of signatures and nothing else!