At one time each guest at the wedding was required to sign the marriage document as a witness of the event. Although laws have since changed, the tradition of the guestbook continues.

Many couples have discovered that there are many alternatives to the traditional book filled with guests’ signatures. Before you shop for a guestbook, consider a not-so-traditional book and you may find that it will hold much more meaning.

Put together a scrapbook filled with photos of the bride, groom, family and friends – a book that will tell the story of your lives before each other and after. Leave open areas throughout the book for the guests to sign.

Choose a book that has special meaning to you. Perhaps this is a coffee book of classic cars, a passion of both the bride and the groom. Have the guests write a message throughout the book.

Have your guestbook attendants take Polaroid photos of each of your guests. The guests can then sign the photo with a special message to the bride and groom. These can be placed in a photo album after the wedding.

Give each guest a quilt square and fabric marker to fill out a message that can later be pieced together into a beautiful, sentimental quilt.

You may choose to purchase a ready-made guestbook with a twist. For example, Guestbook Store (www.guestbookstore.com) offers a guestbook that prompts special messages from guests, with questions such as “how do you know the bride and the groom” and “your specials wishes for us.” Each guest is given an individual sheet to fill out at their leisure.

“A guestbook can be more than a record of those who attended your wedding,” says Ann Sandler of GuestbookStore.com. “We encourage couples to give their guests an opportunity to make the guestbook a keepsake, rather than just a book of signatures.”

Take the opportunity to make a traditional book a timepiece and it will be treasured for years to come.