What should you write in a wedding guest book?

If you Googled this page, you’re probably at a wedding right now, about to write something in the guest book, and more or less desperately asking your phone for advice. Don’t worry—we’re here for you and will give you ideas for guest book entries that the bride and groom will love.

Types of Guest Books

Every guest book is structured differently; there are types of books that remind you of your school days and those legendary “friendship books.” In these, many fields are already pre-filled, and all you need to do is quickly enter your information and a few personal words. Quick to do, cute, not too challenging. Then there are also guest books where guests have already had the chance to fill out a page before the wedding. All you have to do on the wedding day is insert that page. So easy! But here’s the real challenge: In the entrance area or the reception hall, there’s a beautiful, multi-page album with blank A4 pages just waiting to be filled with creative drawings and exciting texts. Today, we’re focusing on this last category of guest books. And yes, we know—you’re at a wedding and have the book (whatever form it takes) right in front of you. So now you need to get it done fast…

Leave a message of congratulations in the guestbook

Congratulations to the newlyweds are probably the most common messages written in a guest book. But just because they’re common doesn’t mean they’re necessarily appropriate. “All the best,” “heartfelt congratulations,” “love,” “a long life,” and “many children”—the newlyweds will read all of these as they flip through the pages. If you want your message to stand out, tailor it to the couple.

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• What makes them special?
• What else do the newlyweds have planned together? A trip around the world? Opening a café together?
• What would make them happy? Maybe you could wish them a concert tour by their favorite band or a Champions League victory for their favorite team?

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Not sure exactly what these personalized messages might look like? We've put together a few examples based on the questions listed above. Of course, you'll need to personalize these as well.

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• Hey, you lovable sports fanatics, we wish you all the best and, above all, lots of strength and energy for your marriage marathon! You’re our power couple—but with all your love for sports, don’t forget to celebrate the small milestones too and enjoy every stage of life together.
  
  
• Dear sister, dear brother-in-law, your love is like a rare wine from the best of all years (1980, the year I was born!), because it gets better and a little stronger with every passing year—even if it causes a slight headache now and then. Despite this poor analogy, I’d like to wish you all the best and nothing but the most wonderful times ahead. Follow your path, and walk it together with a zest for life. I love you both!

• Dear Bride and Groom, your upcoming trip around the world is the perfect symbol of the journey you are now embarking on together as a married couple. With every new place you explore and every experience you share, your love will grow stronger. May the paths you choose lead you not only to the wonders of the world, but also to yourselves. We wish you much joy on your shared journey through life and on your grand trip around the world!

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As you can see, couples and their passions, hobbies, and even your connection to them often vary greatly, so your congratulations can be just as personal.

Funny Sayings for the Wedding Guest Book

Even weddings don’t always have to be highly emotional. Sometimes, fun can—and should—take center stage. When it comes to the guest book, you can achieve this with a dash of humor and the right saying. “Right” is the magic word here. Don’t fall for run-of-the-mill sayings like “Any man can have the last word with a woman—as long as he says ‘I do.’” Not only are they overused, but they’re also pretty outdated.

Instead, choose a quote that suits the bride and groom, their interests, and their sense of humor. Luckily, we’ve put together a huge collection of wedding quotes for you. And the best part is: You can filter them by topic.

For example, you could write in the guest book of a musical couple: “What makes your marriage special is that you can swing even without other people around.”

Signing the guest book as the parents of the bride and groom

Parents have almost complete freedom when it comes to the guest book—it can include embarrassing little stories about their son or very formal congratulations. And since even parents don’t always have an immediate answer for everything, we’ve created a few congratulatory templates for parents to pass on to their beloved children and in-laws:

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• With love: Hey , you two, what an incredible day! We’re so proud of you and wish you a marriage full of laughter, love, and adventure. Always keep this special day and your beaming faces in your hearts. With love, Mom and Dad
• Formal: Dearest [bride] and [groom], on this wonderful day of your union, we would like to wish you all the best with all our hearts. May your love bloom as eternally as the most beautiful flowers in spring. May you always remember the joy of this day. With love, your parents

Dear [ Names], we wish you all the very best on your wedding day from the bottom of our hearts. May your journey together always be filled with love, understanding, and shared laughter. Let’s raise a glass together to many happy years ahead. With all our love, your parents

Write shared memories in the guestbook

You probably aren't at the wedding just because you happened to be walking past the wedding venue. You've been through a lot with the bride and groom. Make the most of that. Remind them of your first outing together, the evening they first came to visit you, or all the things they've already done for you, and assure them that you'll always be there for them.

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Wise sayings you can write in the guestbook

In addition to congratulations and funny sayings, little nuggets of wisdom about love and life are among the most popular guestbook entries at weddings. Just as with funny sayings, the same goes for wise ones: Make sure they’re a good fit for the couple.

Let’s say you know the bride and groom because you serve together in the volunteer fire department—in that case, a saying like “Some things you just have to let burn—like your love” fits better than a quote from Hermann Hesse or Wilhelm Busch. And travel enthusiasts will probably appreciate something like, “The best thing about traveling together is that you can’t get lost. You’re always exactly where you want to be.”

You'll find quotes like these in our extensive collection of wedding quotes.

Great Quotes for the Wedding Guest Book

Last but not least, let’s talk about quotes. Why reinvent the wheel when someone else has already found the perfect words? But you’ve probably already guessed it: if the words are to be truly perfect, they have to suit the bride and groom. Fortunately, that’s pretty easy: just choose a quote from one of their favorite movies, one from their favorite author, or quote a song they both love.

For example, the author of this text wouldn't know what to make of the line, "All the time in the world with you wouldn't be enough, but let's start with forever." Twilight fans, however, would see it differently.

You can also find quotes in our collection of wedding sayings.

Have fun!

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