5 Reasons Guests Won't Sign the Guest Book
Are you worried guests won't sign the guest book at your wedding or party? Are you cringing at the thought of walking away with a book full of nothing but signatures?
It may be tempting to bypass the whole guest book thing, but before you do, consider why guests might not want to (or know to!) sign the guest book.
1. Your guest book is hidden
This is probably the biggest reason guests won't know to sign the guest book! Make sure your guest book is in a high traffic area at your event and displayed in a way that is eye catching. Include a "sign our guest book" sign if you feel your guest book needs a little help attracting guests.
Quick Tip: Are you too late in the planning stages and forgot to designate a visible location for your guest book? Have it displayed on the same table as the gifts or the escort cards. Guests always gravitate to these areas before they take their seats.
2. There's no example of how you want your guest book signed
Have your bridal party and/or family members sign first. Let them know what you intend for your guest book. Maybe you want people to give marriage advice, or write their favorite memories spent with the party's honored guest. Choose some creative friends who you know will jazz up the pages and inspire those that sign after them.
3. Your guest book isn't fun
In order for your guests to feel inspired to write more than their name, your guest book concept needs to be fun! Hosting a shower? Have guests bring favorite recipes and provide recipe cards for them to put in the guest book. Having a photo booth? Take it one step further by putting out a photo guest book and a few Fujifilm Instax cameras for guests to take photos of each other.
Include a decorative dish filled with pens and adhesive so they can write messages next to the photos and place them in your guest book
Photo Guest Book Tip: Don't be tempted to use a standard guest book as a photo guest book. They aren't made to handle 3-dimensional items such as photographs.
If you don't like the idea of using a full size photo album, consider one of our post-bound photo guest book (you can even take the pages out!) or our elegant artisan books. The artisan books have watercolor grade paper. Guests can even add art to your guest book pages!
4. The pages are too pretty
Having a printed photo guest book filled with your engagement photos is a great idea, but no one wants to write all over the newlyweds' faces; they'll stick to that small white space on the side of the page, and sign their name. After all, they don't want to take up all the room on one page.
5. Your guest book alternative is too modern
Don't get us wrong; we LOVE guest book alternatives, but don't forget that even guest book alternatives turn into a large collection of signatures, or go half signed. Make sure that what you have guests sign is something you'll be sure to display.
Going the garden rock route? Keep in mind those rocks may get lost in the yard over the years. Maybe you're thinking of guests leaving wedding advice on custom letterpress coasters? Remember that drink glasses can sweat, and the words may fade, making your chances of looking back on them as a guest book alternative nearly nonexistent.
Also keep in mind that you may have older family members or friends that won't understand why you want them to sign an expensive guitar with permanent marker. They may decide to bypass signing your alternative guest book altogether. Be sure to include clear instructions to ensure guests leave their signature!
Photo courtesy of YouAreRaven, featuring our leather rustic guest book.
It may be tempting to bypass the whole guest book thing, but before you do, consider why guests might not want to (or know to!) sign the guest book.
Photo Courtesy of Tiffani Jones Photography, featuring our Leather Rustic Guest Book
5 Reasons Guests Won't Sign the Guest Book
1. Your guest book is hiddenThis is probably the biggest reason guests won't know to sign the guest book! Make sure your guest book is in a high traffic area at your event and displayed in a way that is eye catching. Include a "sign our guest book" sign if you feel your guest book needs a little help attracting guests.
Shown: White Washed Chalkboard Sign, Burgundy Feather Quill Pen, Velvet Ribbon Guest Book
Quick Tip: Are you too late in the planning stages and forgot to designate a visible location for your guest book? Have it displayed on the same table as the gifts or the escort cards. Guests always gravitate to these areas before they take their seats.2. There's no example of how you want your guest book signed
Have your bridal party and/or family members sign first. Let them know what you intend for your guest book. Maybe you want people to give marriage advice, or write their favorite memories spent with the party's honored guest. Choose some creative friends who you know will jazz up the pages and inspire those that sign after them.
Shown: Message cards for our post bound Memorial Guest Book, Keepsake of Memories
Quick Fix: Worried your chosen people won't have time during the wedding? Bring your guest book to the rehearsal dinner. The rehearsal dinner is a time for reflection and showering the couple with love. Your bridal party and family will be more than thrilled to take the time to get the guest book started in a more relaxed setting.3. Your guest book isn't fun
In order for your guests to feel inspired to write more than their name, your guest book concept needs to be fun! Hosting a shower? Have guests bring favorite recipes and provide recipe cards for them to put in the guest book. Having a photo booth? Take it one step further by putting out a photo guest book and a few Fujifilm Instax cameras for guests to take photos of each other.
Shown: French Lace Guest book, Rifle Paper Co Recipe Cards, Feather Quill Pen
Include a decorative dish filled with pens and adhesive so they can write messages next to the photos and place them in your guest book
Photo Guest Book Tip: Don't be tempted to use a standard guest book as a photo guest book. They aren't made to handle 3-dimensional items such as photographs.
If you don't like the idea of using a full size photo album, consider one of our post-bound photo guest book (you can even take the pages out!) or our elegant artisan books. The artisan books have watercolor grade paper. Guests can even add art to your guest book pages!
4. The pages are too pretty
Having a printed photo guest book filled with your engagement photos is a great idea, but no one wants to write all over the newlyweds' faces; they'll stick to that small white space on the side of the page, and sign their name. After all, they don't want to take up all the room on one page.
Shown: Metallic Gel Pens, and Post Bound Black Page Photo Album
Quick Fix: Have a photo book made of your engagement photos, but don't use it as a guest book. Instead, consider designating spots on your guest book pages for photos to be added later. Once your photographer delivers your photos, add photos of guests that were taken throughout the event.5. Your guest book alternative is too modern
Don't get us wrong; we LOVE guest book alternatives, but don't forget that even guest book alternatives turn into a large collection of signatures, or go half signed. Make sure that what you have guests sign is something you'll be sure to display.
Going the garden rock route? Keep in mind those rocks may get lost in the yard over the years. Maybe you're thinking of guests leaving wedding advice on custom letterpress coasters? Remember that drink glasses can sweat, and the words may fade, making your chances of looking back on them as a guest book alternative nearly nonexistent.
Also keep in mind that you may have older family members or friends that won't understand why you want them to sign an expensive guitar with permanent marker. They may decide to bypass signing your alternative guest book altogether. Be sure to include clear instructions to ensure guests leave their signature!
Feb 16th 2015
