Once a cut and dried element of the wedding, the classic guest book could often be substituted by a copy of the guest list, if it is simply approached by guests as an invitation for each person to sign their name.  

An enlargement of your engagement photo can be displayed on an easel with a mat designed to hold signatures and sentiments of those who attended your event. These products are usually available through your photographer and are also advertised in bridal magazines.  

Notecards and pens can be left on a table at the reception entrance or placed at each persons place setting. Make certain that there are several people dedicated to spreading your intention by word of mouth. Ask for a good wish, a piece of advice or other acquired wisdom. The finished cards might be tucked away in a special box and ceremoniously reviewed for anniversaries or other occasions or formally incorporated in a custom album.  

Products are also available for which guests can have a Polaroid photograph taken and put into a individual book page on the spot. Then they can memorialize their written sentiments on that same page.  

If you are fond of journaling, you could purchase leaves of paper and capture the special moments that occur between you and your fiance from the moment of the engagement. Don’t be afraid to document the details as you wind your way through the planning stages. Remember that this is all part of the process and is the beginning of how you learn to share your lives. On your wedding day, loose pages can be made available to your guests with the requests mentioned above. Finally, a journal of your honeymoon will polish off this “Book of Us” and can be custom bound, a memento to be passed down for generations to come.  

Consider having a tablecloth and fabric pens available for your guests. Their signatures and good wishes can later be embroidered for a family heirloom.  

One caution to be mentioned: if your reception is to be held in a party atmosphere, ask someone to monitor the photo mat or tablecloth and remove it later on, ensuring that your treasure is maintained.  

These tokens have the magic to take you back to that very first day, the day you said “I do.”