Signing the wedding guestbook has long been a tradition. In the past, guests signed the book after the ceremony, acting as witnesses. Today, guests are signing the book before the ceremony, providing a record of their attendance and offering their good wishes to the couple. While guestbooks continue to be popular, many couples are breaking out of the box and having guests sign something different.

Almost anything can serve as a wedding guestbook, as long as guests can sign it. Couples can set up a memory jar in lieu of a guestbook and have guests tuck good wishes inside it. They can set up a recipe box and have guests tuck a recipe, along with their good wishes, inside it. They can set out some self-addressed, prepaid postcards and have guests mail the cards to them on their honeymoon.

Fabric can easily be signed and makes a wonderful wedding guestbook alternative. All guests need are some fabric pens and a blanket, pillow, quilt or quilt squares to sign. T-shirts are another idea. Couples can set out a few inexpensive T-shirts for guests to sign.

Furniture is another great guestbook alternative. Almost anything will work for the project from benches to chairs to tables. Guests could sign an old steamer trunk, for example, and the couple could finish it by decoupaging it with postcards from their honeymoon travels. When selecting a piece of furniture to serve as the guestbook, couples need to make sure there is plenty of space for guests to sign it.

Couples having a themed wedding will want to look for something that fits within the theme. Seashells, for example, work well for beach weddings. Guests can turn the shells over, sign them and slide them into a wicker basket or a shallow bowl. Couples end up with a great accessory for their home and a memento of their wedding.

Couples who are sports fans might want to look into having a jersey, pennant or some sort of equipment signed. Who could resist smiling during a game of bowling when using a ball, shoes and bag signed by the guests who attended their wedding?

Ceramics are another idea. Couples could drop by a local pottery shop and arrange for a large platter, bowl or a set of coffee mugs for guests to sign. When the wedding is over, couples could return to the pottery shop to have the pieces fired.

These are just some ideas for guestbook alternatives. There are many others from wine bottles to rocking chairs. Whether you choose to go the traditional or alternative route, you will have a nice memento of your big day and all of the people who took time out of their busy lives to wish you well.

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