As a wedding consultant one of the things that makes me the craziest is a detail as tiny as a guestbook.

 

Ok, I know it’s silly…but the reasons it makes me crazy are really good…

 

Well they are to me and since it MY blog that makes them good reasons.

 

I see ton of brides who spend big bucks on satin covered guest books with big satin bows and lots of details on the front…

 

First thing people do is open the book flat, no one looks at the cover and people then proceed to do something that is the second thing about guest books that makes me crazy.

 

They have a single sign in line for your name…. like the ones at a funeral… it’s the biggest day of someone’s life and you are signing in your name…

 

To the brides- you know who these people are- you invited them – you know if they didn’t show because you saw the empty seat and someone said what a waste of money it was that they RSVP’d and didn’t show!

 

You then proceed to take the book home and stick it in a drawer somewhere, where the bow gets smashed and it turns yellow…

 

Option #2 – the ever popular sign in board…. – of all the things one could do with a great engagement photograph – blowing it up and having 180 people who you knew were at your wedding-cause you invited them * (see above) write their name around it is not at the top of my list…

 

OK, so I don’t get the putting a 20×24 matted, framed photo of myself on the wall in my house…..

 

So here’s my idea du jour…

 

My clients love it….

 

Go to your favorite discount book store, or online book retailer and find a beautiful coffee table book that reflects your interests…

 

I had a couple who was traveling to Africa, another who loved to cook and another who had a golden retriever…

 

These books have HUGE color photos, wide borders and great blank spaces for your guests to write personalized messages in… supply fine line permanent marker ( so they won’t smear) AND LET THEM HAVE FUN.
You’ll have a great coffee table book for your home, and will always have it were people will pick it up and comment on what a fun wedding you had.

 

As opposed to your kids finding a slightly yellowed, kinda crushed satin covered book with a list of people’s names in a box somewhere when you clean out the basement for a garage sale….