Wedding Blog
We went through a million ideas for our guestbook - from an adorable “wish tree” to a typewriter tell-all, to everything in between. We finally settled on the Polaroid guestbook. It incorporates Mr. S’s love of photography and it’s an interactive element with our guests.
Since we knew we wanted to do one of these:
We went on Amazon and got one of these (and later picked up a second at a garage sale for $5, and it works!):
We then bought plenty of packs of these from Amazon (our high end was 120 guests, so we bought 6 packs, or 60 exposures. We used one pack to test out the cameras and bought another to replace it, and now our guests count is hovering closer to 100, so we’ll have plenty to spare!):
Later, I searched high and low for perfect place to put the pictures. We finally settled on this album from Jenni Bick - I had a hard time finding an album with black pages that was the right size with the right amount of pages. We paid around $40 for the 14 1/4″ x 11 3/4″ album, but now it’s on sale for $20, argh! There’s an array of colors (we chose the green, in the second picture) and you can even have a message embossed on the front for an extra fee (we didn’t).
This weekend I picked up some great white gel pens from PaperSource for our guests to leave their messages. I bought some white photo corners and using a Polaroid picture, Mr. S and I adhered the corners to each page, so guests can slip their pictures in.
We’ll include a sign by the book that says something along these lines (I know I stole this from somewhere - thanks if it was from you!):
Please find your picture,
place it in the guest book,
and leave us with your words of
wit, wisdom and well wishes
to help us commemorate our wedding!
Word to the wise - a Polaroid guest book is a significant investment between the camera and film, unless you’re lucky enough to have all of that on hand. In retrospect, we may have done something different and put that money elsewhere, but we know it will be a cute keepsake, in the end.
So, buying things, I can do. But when it came down to the logistics of it all, I was flabbergasted! When do we do what, and how will we make sure our guests will jump on board?! I finally settled on this:
Hopefully having all of the pictures taken at one time when everyone is congregated together will be easiest. That will only leave out the wedding party, who may have to do theirs after the cocktail hour (if we make it back too late). Then, it’s just as easy as encouraging people to circle back, find their pictures, and sign!
How have you managed the logistics of unique guests books? Do you have any suggestions for me to make sure it runs smoothly?
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I think this is a great idea. I think it’s going to make an awesome keepsake. I think it’s smart to have your ushers and coordinator maintain this project so everything runs smoothly on the day of the wedding.
this should make for a fantastic keepsake! it’ll be nice to actually see who was at your wedding and how they looked that day when you flip through years from now
very cute! I wish I would have done something like this. my grandfather has a polaroid and he would have been willing to take the photos (though not let any one else handle the camera)
We ended up with no guest book at all 
i’ve always loved the look of polaroid guestbooks! i think your guests will have so much fun with this 
Oh, that’s so fun.
We’re going to do a giant canvas for our guestbook. I’m not really sure how I’m going to pull that one off without it being a huge messy disaster. :p
what a cute spin on the photo booth. i love the way polaroids look…so old fashioned and romantic!
you’ll need the extra film - a lot of our guests took the polaroids home as souvenirs. We put our polaroid table by the bar which worked really well since most people pass by there at some point during the night. Also- have your DJ announce that people should sign the book. Finally- if you get a chance, take photos of yourselves with the polaroid as well. We took a couple and used them for the covers of the albums. You can also use them for that cheesy picture where you hold up a polaroid of both of you while you’re kissing in the background. 
It is a big investment but looking back we’re really glad we did it! It turned out great.
I think your guests will love that you chose this. It’s so fun for them and you!
We are planning on doing exactly this for our guestbook, except they will be taking the photos themselves. Only problem I’ve encountered - Polaroid cameras and film have gotten RIDICULOUSLY expensive and will be even more scarce by my June 2010 wedding, so we may have to forgo the traditional Polaroids
I was just at a wedding a few weeks ago where they did this! The bride and groom did a great job of making certain people “in charge” so that helped with any confusion (especially older people).
that is so cool that you already have the cameras and film, I think your logistic is perfect! LOVE it!
We are doing this too! I found an etsy seller (KC Scrapper) to custom make a book with black pages for us.
Daniellemybelle: Try looking on craigslist, or wedding planning websites. I purchased three cameras for under $30. I found two from a bride at project wedding! The film, on the other hand, that hurt… the things we do for memories!
This is a great idea… you may want to purchase extra film though, as expensive as it is, you don’t want anyone to go “un-shot” so to speak. You’ll want it for some fun bridal party pics after the cocktail hour I’d guess…better to have too much than too little; have fun!
Actually, we are doing the same thing. I bought a Polaroid camera on ebay and one pack of film, to test. Ah, good expensive times. When we got our eng. photos done, the photographer was packing up and spun around to snap a last photo of us. With an instant camera that is not a Polaroid. After acosting her to find out more info (!!!) I learned that Fuji had just put out an instant camera. An AFFORDABLE instant camera. Called the Instax, sells for about $50, but the film is widely available! Exciting!
Great idea-cute book! I know, I HATE it when things go on sale after the fact. We used a photobook that we pre-made @ CVS. It was just photos of us, our families & our bridal party, but it was a huge it & a great keepsake. It’s a bit of a cheaper way to do a photo guestbook.
Thank you! This was right on time - especially considering our budget is shot!!! This adds that casual, fun, yet exotic piece I was looking for. I just purchased a book and looking for camera’s now!
Thanks for sharing the link to the album- I have been looking for a journal with thick black pages and this was perfect!! I just ordered mine
I think it will be a big hit! You could always just have everything set up, and then get a couple of key players to make the rounds during cocktail hour and remind everyone to take their photos and write in the guest book?
[...] 4, 2009 by weddingwriter Here’s a fun twist on the traditional guest book: Polaroids! That’s right, the instant camera could be the perfect [...]
The Impossible Project means that affordable-ish polaroid film will soon be a reality again. I highly suggest you google it!
My advice to you is to plan this out and make sure you STRUCTURE the photo-taking aspect of it. I’d also consider a small announcement at the end of your ceremony or beginning of your reception.
My cousin and his now wife used this idea, only with a digital camera, and a guest book. They had me take the pictures, and didn’t structure it at all. They just said ’stand by the guest table and take pictures as people walk in’. It resulted in a very clogged entry way (sounds like you have a plan in place to avoid this, already!) and since I wasn’t part of the wedding party, people didn’t understand what I was doing.
Many people refused to have their picture taken, others only after I cajoled them and explained it was for the bride and groom… I was not impressed with having to guilt trip guests into allowing me to take their photographs for the bride and groom. The couple also didn’t think or imagine this would be an issue, and I sort of sense that they were a bit miffed with me at the outcome of it all. But what can ya do, you know? So yes - structure it, wait until people have had a drink in them, prepare your helpers to be a bit assertive, and if you’re concerned about people making off with your photographs, perhaps have the photographers tape down the polas as soon as they’re developed, so they’re firmly attached in the book!
good luck I LOVE polaroids!
I just wanted to add that my statement ‘I was not impressed with having to guilt trip guests into allowing me to take their photographs for the bride and groom.’ was not meant to indicate that my dissatisfaction was with my cousin and his now wife, but with the guests.
To me it seemed so selfish for people to decline having their picture taken at a wedding, and vain as well. Especially when the day is not about them at all. While I wish I had received more information or advanced notice about this, the happy couple were obviously busy/swamped the weeks before, so what can you do.
Please, can you tell me few more thinks about this, I am really fan of your blog…gets solved properly asap.
I think it helps to have one person in charge of the guest book. If you have multiple, there could be confusion who gets what responsibility. Or if you have multiple, make sure its clear. Another thing about a guest book attendant, make sure it is someone who is not the most popular person… they will end up doing more socializing then helping with the book even if their intentions are good. People will want to talk to them and then the line gets long or that person doesn’t want to interupt the person speaking to them to flag down the next person. This is advise coming from the “always the guest book attendant… and never a bridesmaid” person.
After all that said, I think guest books that also make for keepsakes are a key element to a wedding. You have the photos, the video and a great keepsake guest book. I would go through the logistical trouble to have this keepsake. Afterall, the trouble won’t be yours on your day… it will be the attendants. ; )
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Mrs. Stiletto, Chicago
Age and Occupation: 26, Non-Profit/Fundraising
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Engineer and Photographer
Engagement Date: March 2, 2008
Wedding Date: September 2009
Venue: The 19th Century Club
About Me: My fiance and I love living in the city of Chicago with our cats Basil and Linus, and vow to never move to the suburbs if we can possibly avoid it! We’ve poured ourselves into planning a wedding that reflects our personal style - modern and high contrast with a vintage twist. Blogging keeps me creative, baking keeps me happy, and grande nonfat no foam sugar free vanilla lattes keep me sane.
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