Why did people want a wedding guest book in the first place? The answer might surprise you!
Hey, Kathy!
I’m planning my wedding next year at Ainsworth House & Gardens and questions came up: When did having a wedding guest book start?
Why?
Are there any trends in guest books for next year?
Thanks in advance!
–Olivia, Overwhelmed in Oregon City
Hey, Olivia!
We are happy to help! I’ll answer these history questions and let Christie answer the trend question since that’s her area of expertise.
When did having a guest book at a wedding start?
The tradition goes back to the Victorian era. At the time in high society, there was a competition to attract the highest born members of the aristocracy to attend your wedding. The guest book—which the guests signed with their names and all their titles—was a record of who attended. The book, usually bound in the finest of leather, then became a keepsake which was treasured by the newlyweds and their descendants in generations to come.
As the custom of having a guest book filtered into the general population, the purpose of the guest book changed: Guests were now asked to list their names, addresses, and any messages or good wishes for the bride and groom. Later, this was used as the source for addresses when thank you notes were addressed to guests at their most recent location.
Now, the wedding guest book allows the guests to share their contact information and any beautiful memories they have of the bride or groom or both, leave bits of advice, or add a personal note. It becomes a record of who attended your wedding.
The next blog post will be from Christie on the upcoming trends for wedding guest books.
If you have additional questions, ask! We’re happy to help you!
Your friend in the wedding history business,
Kathy Bazan
The images above are courtesy of Pixabay.com.
The images below are courtesy of the Ainsworth House & Gardens Wedding Gallery.
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