Guest Books

  • Review spotlight

    Learn More About Guest Books

    While you can use a guest book for any time people come and go, the most popular time to use a guest book is at weddings. Letting guests sign their names creates a written record of everyone who attended, and it frequently becomes a treasure trove of thoughtful marriage advice bestowed by guests of all experience levels. Wedding guest books have long been a tradition at wedding ceremonies to let guests share their wisdom and wish the couple a happy and successful marriage.


    Many renters and homeowners love to put a coffee table guest book in their home for people to sign when they come to visit, while others may use them for significant life events such as a milestone birthday or a memorial service. Graduation guest books are great for university, college, or high-school grads and often work similarly to how you would use a school yearbook. Restaurant and cafe owners may put out a guest book to track reservations or as a compelling welcome to their grand opening at a location. If you’re a hiker, you may have come across a guest book at the top of a mountain, and if not, you can start a local tradition by leaving one behind and being the first to sign it.

    As your guest book will likely become a memento you save and look back on, choosing a book that people want to sign is key. When choosing your guest book, consider the size and how many pages. Ensure each guest has an opportunity to sign their name and maybe jot a little thoughtful message for you to read later. Think of the book style and whether you want to tie it into your event theme and if you’re likely to display it openly on a shelf or coffee table.


    For guest books you’ll want to show off, consider ones with pictures or unique designs that aren’t books at all. Non-books could be something like puzzle guest books, which create a collage of names and messages from multiple puzzle pieces. If you prefer something more traditional, elegant bound guest books are classic favorites for weddings, with hardcover options including engraved wood or metal.

    Making a personalized guest book is easy with shops on Etsy. Find a shop or a design you like and look for the “add your personalization” on the product page. The seller will work their magic to turn an ordinary guest book into a prized keepsake branded with your request. Find shops that can add your new couple's name to a personalized wedding guest book or a monogram to your graduation guest book.


    Some shops offer customizations from text and photos to book size, number of pages, font styles, or book material. Photo guest books allow you to add your own photos to decorate the cover and inside pages.


    However you choose to do it, making your guest book uniquely yours is a surefire way of turning it into a keepsake worthy of looking back on long after the music fades away and the party decor has been cleaned up.