One of the best things about weddings and other special events is being surrounded by people you love and enjoy. Finding ways to capture their presence that day that are unique and fun will help you, as the Bride & Groom or guest of honor, remember long after the event who was there with you to celebrate on that day. It’s also a rare chance to solicit advice or other best wishes from those you most care about. Here are some clever ways from both Rex & Regina events and other sources to offer some inspiring ideas to help guests “make a wish.”

A popular trend at weddings these days is to have guests sign a picture frame mat which can later be added to a framed photo of the Bride & Groom.

Signature mat - photo courtesy of Aigner Weddings

At a recent wedding in Chevy Chase, MD (recap blog post to come soon!), the Bride and Groom invited guests sign His and Hers adirondack chairs which will later grace their front porch or yard.

For a Bon Voyage party, we set out a collection of assorted postcards and asked guests to fill in their best wishes for the guest of honor. Get creative with respect to which postcards you use according to the theme of your party. Vintage, letterpress or stamped options, like the one below, can be fun.

postcard by seasonaldelights, available on Etsy

For a 50th Birthday Bash, we selected vinyl albums of the guest of honor’s favorite tunes and artists and invited guests to sign them. We later placed them in a fabric covered album frame to be displayed.

A retro twist on capturing memories

If you like the idea of a more traditional guest book but want to capture more than just a guest’s John Hancock, these wish books with envelopes for wish cards are perfect. The first is from the wedding of a wonderful couple, Jae & Raj, at River Farm in Alexandria, VA.

Wish guest book; photo courtesy of CB Photography

best wishes card & envelope guest book from Wedding Things

If you (or a relative or friend) is a quilter, I love the idea of having guests’ wishes and advice grace a beautiful, handmade quilt.

Wedding Guest Wish Quilt; photo by Agnes Lopez Photography, Jacksonville, FL, courtesy of The Knot

I ADORE this clever idea captured by Paul Johnson Photography and posted on The Knot of asking guests to type a message to the Bride & Groom on an old-fashioned typewriter (man, I miss those!).

Photo by Paul Johnson Photography, courtesy of the The Knot

How fun would it be to customize a corkboard with the guest of honor’s initials (or even spell out a word) and invite guests to pin up wishes?! Perfect for an office anniversary or retirement party.

Monogram Corkboard inspired by Martha Stewart