The guestbook is a bit of a weird tradition, in my opinion. Yes, it is a great way of making sure you remember all of the people who were at your wedding, but it seems to be a book that often gets put away on a shelf, never to be seen again. Furthermore, I feel like many different, more unique guestbook ideas often confuse the guests, and no one participates.
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Image via Style Me Pretty / Photo by Color Me Rad
As soon as I first saw a thumbprint tree, I knew I wanted to have one for our wedding. Growing up, I used to love to make thumbprint things, and it is a very cute way of incorporating our garden theme into the guestbook. Yeah, I know it’s been completely overdone in the wedding world, but given that we are the one of the first of our friends to get married, I just want it to be new to them.
There are a lot of really nice thumbprint options on Etsy.
You can get a gorgeous painted tree.
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Source: CottageCreekArts on Etsy
Or a watercolor tree:
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Source: PaperTwig on Etsy
However, I wanted a really simple tree, where the leaves were the focus.
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Source: MadeByMalachi on Etsy
However, at $50 or more, these trees weren’t really in my nonexistent guestbook budget. Furthermore, I needed a couple more items in my Vistaprint order to get free shipping. Thus, I decided to make my own. I found a free drawing of a thumbprint tree.
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Source: One Fab Day
I took the drawing and added our names and date on the bottom. I added a drawing of a shoelace sleeping under the tree, from my favorite comic of all time, Extraordinary.
I uploaded it onto Vistaprint and upgraded to the poster stock.
Easy peasy. This has to be the easiest project I’ve done yet. I think this was the first and only iteration of the design I went through. I can’t wait to get some ink and try it out.
Hopefully with the sign I made, people will actually do it, and we will have a nice picture to hang on our wall. Did anyone else do a thumbprint guestbook with success? What kind of wipes work well with ink?
I’m using that same drawing! I just haven printed it 
I would use archival ink so that the color stays and won’t fade after a few years and keep purel or another alcohol based wipe on the table. The alcohol in liquid hand sanatizer will take off any permanent ink but it may smear the ink as well, so a wipe version would be better. I think you can get them in packs at the dollar store.
We used a shutterfly discount and made a guest photobook so people could sign names or write thoughts to us.
Can’t wait to see how yours turns out
This looks great and will look even better with your guests’ thumbprint leaves on it!
Did you just use the small size poster (11.25″ x 17.3″) and upgrade to the Premium Poster Card Stock? I’m looking to print my guestbook tree using VistaPrint as well and am worried that (1) the cardstock will have a sheen and won’t take the ink or (2) that it will be an odd size that I can’t find a frame for…
We used distress ink (which was recommended by the artist that did our tree) you can find it at the local craft stores.
We also used a archival pen. Don’t use a sharpie! It will made into a yellowish color and will eventually destroy your print. We also had the ‘leaf us a print’ sign, and also included a few pieces of paper so folks could test it. The hubby and I did a few of our fingerprints on the test sheets so people could see examples. We had baby wipes that I took the labels off of so they just looked like white boxes. It was a big hit.
http://www.joann.com/tim-holtz-distress-ink-pads-1pk-many-colors/prd28860/
http://bdthandmade.blogspot.com/2011/03/all-pens-and-inks-are-not-created-equal.html
I just went to a wedding with one and I think they had pretty generic wipes. Say pick your ink pads, test making thumbprints on paper, and test out a pack. If it works well, then you’ve solved your problem. If not, test another one!
Thats awesome! I agree that they are overdone in the wedding world but most of your guests probably didn’t throw themselves into the wedding world like you or I! I love the design you chose!
I love this idea!! Did you use the A3 or A4 template? My wedding is expecting about 160 guests, not sure which size to use. Also, which size did you print out on?
I had a thumbprint tree and it was a huge hit. I think the key is having someone very engaging and poised to man the table where the tree is, so they can make sure everyone is comfortable with it.
I LOVE this idea and the budget savings by going through vista print. Great idea!!
I just ordered the same one from vista print too.. used a groupon and it cost me a whole $4.00 for the poster print yay..
@ alison I used the higher grade one I believe it was A3 just for more details..
I think you’ll have more success with something novel to guests (thumbprints) rather than a book where they may feel pressure to write something witty/memorable.
Sorry for the very late responses. I’ve been out of town for almost a week and are just getting back into the flow of things.
@Miss Toadstool: Yay! I can’t wait to see how yours turns out
@Highness: good call on the archival ink. I have to keep that in mind. I was thinking of possibly using gel pens. I know in my old job, we used gel pens whenever we needed archival ink, since it’s harder to remove.
@sarahblais: @alison: I used the small 11.25″ x 17.3″ premium posterstock from vistaprint, I don’t remember if that’s the A3 or A4. I think I just the bigger one, and shrunk it to what I need. (not helpful, I’m sorry =/) and I think it’s probably the perfect size for about 60 fingerprints. it is a little shiny, but not overly. I bought an extra poster, so I could try it out, and it seems to take the ink okay. The ink I got does seem to take some time to dry, so maybe I got the wrong kind of ink? I got some kind of chalk ink, and it might not be the right ink for the job.
@Soon2BeMrs7913: yup! vistaprint is awesome for these cheap things! yay for cheap guestbooks!
Definitely use the archival ink and pens. I got the pens at Blick’s in Central Square.
I also second asking a specific person to man the table and make sure people sign/know what to do. I asked all of my BMs to take turns, but in the end no one person felt responsible, so no one did it. I freaked out a bit when I saw it with only 6 prints after the cocktail hour, but I had my DJ make an announcement, and in the end about 2/3 of the people ended up doing it.
Miss Panda, Boston, MA Age and Occupation: 26, Graduate Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Graduate Student Engagement Date: June 27, 2011 Wedding Date: June 2013 About Me: I love window shopping, cute animals, crafting, baking, and most forms of procrastination. I tend to be overly meticulous with choices to a point of complete and total indecision. Mr. PBear and I met and live in the amazing city of Boston. We are big nerds who love trying new foods, playing video games, and cuddling with our adorable hamster. After 5 years together, we are planning an intimate, DIY-heavy, vintage garden themed, nonreligious wedding in the city where we fell in love.
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