This is a series of posts currently being featured on the Real Weddings Magazine blog and was previously posted on February 20th.

Recessionista Bride Stevie wanted something special for her guests to sign as they arrived to her wedding extravaganza – and a simple guestbook wasn’t going to cut it! We poured over concepts until we came to the conclusion – the Guestbook Quilt was the ONLY way to go for Stevie!

When guests arrived, they were greeted with a guestbook attendant that explained the rules:
• Take a pre-cut pinking-sheared square,
• Use a fabric safe pen,
• Remember to write your sentiment in the center, and
• Pin it to the clothesline!

We set the table with a custom-designed Guestbook Quilt sign, filled a golden vase with gilded clothes pins and set a tray full of quilt squares topped with fabric pens.

The clothesline kept its shape, weighed-down by interspersed photos of the bride and groom. This kept the squares on display so that guests could view the couple’s photos while reading sentiments left by others throughout the evening. Stevie’s aunt would collect the squares after the wedding, as her gift, and create a custom heirloom wedding quilt that could be enjoyed for years to come!

If you are inspired to do a Guestbook Quilt and plan to sew the quilt yourself, the true price of the guestbook can be considered a deferred cost – you can budget for the remainder of the quilt after the expense of the wedding has passed. A quick tip:  keep the signing squares in a neutral color so that sentiments are easy to read and they can be paired with fabrics that match your home, not just your wedding palette.

Inspired to do a non-traditional guestbook? Here are a few ideas to get your brainstorming started:

For the Wine Lovers: Purchase a giant bottle of your favorite vino or champagne and have your guests sign directly onto the bottle using a glass pen in a pretty metallic color. Bonus: pop the cork on your anniversary to celebrate!

For the Music Lovers: Have your guests sign a guitar (acoustic or electric) using a Sharpie in your favored colors. The instrument can be mounted on the wall in your home to be enjoyed where you play or listen to music together.

For the Food Lovers: For a guestbook that can be displayed in the room where you spend the most time, your kitchen, purchase a large ceramic platter. Make sure to use a permanent ceramic paint pen, so the loving words aren’t washed away. Post-wedding, place your platter on an easel to proudly display it a la countertop.

For the Art Lovers: Turn your guestbook into a custom work of art by allowing guests to color in portions of a custom canvas. Create a faint grid using a pencil and surround the canvas with your choice of medium: markers, crayons, colored pencils. Make sure that the art won’t make a mess, as your guests will most likely be dressed in their best!

The options are endless!  Can you think of a non-traditional guestbook that reflects the hobbies of you and your fiancée’s unique hobbies?

Tune back in to the Real Weddings Magazine blog on February 27th or to the KME Blog on February 28th for the next installment: Recessionista Bride Series: One Room Wonders