Wedding guest book sign wording: what to write on the sign and on the board
Murat · from our family workshop ·
Most guest book tables have two pieces of writing on them: the small sign that asks guests to sign, and the guest book itself, which on a wooden sign carries your names, your date and sometimes a short line. They do different jobs, so they need different words. Here are the lines we would use for each, plus instructions for photo and puzzle guest books, from the workshop that cuts them.
The short answer
Keep the "please sign" sign to one short request, and keep any line on the board itself to a few words. Guests read the first in passing and live with the second on your wall for years, so the board line should still mean something the morning after.
Please sign our guest book: short lines
The small sign next to the guest book only has to tell people what to do. Our optional mini sign reads "Please Sign Our Guestbook"; if you are making or ordering your own, these work well:
- Please sign our guest book
- Leave us a little love
- Sign here, and stay on our wall forever
- Help us remember today
- Leave your mark on our first day
- A few words for the newlyweds, please
- Leave a wish for the Mr & Mrs
- Your name here, our home tomorrow
If the guest book is a sign or a puzzle rather than a book, say so: "Please sign our guest book sign" is clumsy, but "Leave your name on our sign" tells guests exactly where the pen goes.
Lines for the board itself, under your names
On a wooden guest book sign the center carries your names and your date. Some designs add a short line: on our mountain signs it sits under the peaks, and you can keep the pictured wording, write your own (up to 25 characters) or leave it out. Short lines that fit:
- Our Forever Adventure (21 characters)
- The Adventure Begins (20)
- Our Greatest Adventure (22)
- And So It Begins (16)
- Here's to Forever (17)
- Better Together (15)
- Two Hearts, One Home (20)
- Happily Ever After (18)
- The Best Is Yet to Come (23)
Count spaces and punctuation as characters. The palm tree island board allows a longer line, up to 35 characters; its pictured wording is "Together, we can weather any storm".
See the mountain and adventure guest books, or the round guest book signs and rectangular boards with your names and date.
What guests can write
People freeze in front of a blank board. A small card with a few prompts gets them writing:
- Your best advice for our first year
- A wish for us, big or small
- Your favorite memory of one of us
- Where you think we will be in ten years
- The song we should dance to on our anniversary
On a sign, a name and a short line is plenty; the handwriting is what you will look at later.
Instructions for a photo guest book
A photo guest book needs a line of instructions next to it, because guests do three things instead of one. Keep them in order:
- "Take a photo. Stick it in. Leave us a note."
- "Snap a picture, add it to a page and write us a few words beside it."
- "One photo, one page, one wish. Photo corners and pens are right here."
Our photo guest book pages have no pockets, so leave photo corners or photo-safe tape on the table. More on the table set-up in how to set up a photo guest book, and on which instant photos fit in this guide.
Instructions for a puzzle guest book
Our wooden puzzle guest book comes with a sign that says "Our puzzle would not be complete without you" and a pen engraved with your names. If you add a line of your own, make it about the action: "Take a piece, sign it, put it back" is all anyone needs.
Wording for showers, graduations and memorials
- Baby shower: "Leave a wish for the baby", "Words of wisdom for the parents-to-be".
- Graduation: "Sign for the graduate", "Advice for what comes next".
- Retirement: "Wishes for the next chapter".
- Celebration of life: "Share a memory of [name]", "Please write a favorite story". Keep it gentle and let people write as much or as little as they like.
Length, spacing and pens
Guests sign around the lettering, so a short line leaves them more room. Test the pen on the back of the sign before the day; our guide to wood colors and the right marker explains which inks show on light and dark stains. Every sign is made to order in 1–3 business days, ships free with express delivery and arrives in about 3–4 business days. If you want to see your wording before we cut it, ask for a free digital proof in the notes and we email it within a business day.
Questions
Is it guest book or guestbook?
Both are correct. Merriam-Webster gives it as two words, guest book, and the one-word guestbook is common too; some dictionaries list it that way. On a sign, choose whichever looks better in your lettering. Our Please Sign mini sign uses the one-word form: "Please Sign Our Guestbook".
What should guests write in a wedding guest book?
A name and one warm line is plenty. A few that always work: "So happy to celebrate you both today", "Wishing you a lifetime of adventures together", "Here's to many more dances", or one piece of advice for the first year. Sign with your first and last name, or the name the couple calls you, like "Aunt Carol", so they know exactly who wrote it.
When do guests sign it?
Usually on the way in, before the ceremony, and again during cocktail hour. Put the table where everyone passes, near the entrance or the bar, and leave the guest book out until the dancing starts so late arrivals can sign too.
