You need a surface for your guest book — that’s a given. What kind of surface, though, is entirely up to you.
Some couples go full vintage with ornate console tables or antique sewing machines. Others keep it simple with a white cocktail table and a few well-placed flowers. The table itself matters less than how you style it, which is good news if you’re working with whatever your venue provides.
We’ve rounded up guest book tables in every style, from minimal setups to over-the-top displays, to show you what’s possible. And if you fall in love with any of these looks, click through to see the full wedding! For even more inspiration, browse our Real Weddings directory.
Our Favorite Guest Book Tables
Burlap Runner with Mailbox Guest Book
A white folding table got the full treatment with a burlap runner, green mason jar bursting with yellow and pink flowers, and a chalkboard sign directing guests to the silver mailbox guest book. Sometimes it’s not about the table itself — it’s about the styling that makes it memorable.
See Matt and Kyan’s Outdoor BBQ Wedding with Fall DIY Inspiration →
Football Guest Book with Lavender
A simple white table held a football wrapped with lavender ribbon, dried lavender bundle, and photo frames — proof that your table can be minimal and still look intentional.
See Ally and Ian’s Intimate Bowen Island Wedding with Rustic Charm →
Turquoise Typewriter at Night
White table outdoors at night with a turquoise vintage typewriter, mason jars holding pink and white flowers, and mini wooden easels with handwritten quotes. The nighttime setting and that pop of teal make this one stand out.
See this Rustic Whidbey Island Wedding →
Wood Bench Sign-In Station
Natural wood bench with burlap runner and a white framed chalkboard that says “Please sign our bench.” When your guest book IS the table, you’re working smarter, not harder.
See this Rustic Country Barn Wedding →
Pig Themed Display
Dark wooden table with bronze pig figurine, white ceramic pig bank, and navy chalkboard with a sweet message about balloon wishes. Theme carried through even to this small detail station.
See this Pig Themed Barn Wedding →
Rustic Wood with Tulips and Burlap Sign
Rustic wood table with white and orange tulips, small chalkboard “Guestbook” sign, and blue photo album. Plus a second display with an “EAT DRINK & BE MARRIED” burlap sign and white place cards on wood. Two table setups, one cohesive look.
See Marisa and John’s Winery Wednesday: Stone Tower Winery Wedding →
Vintage Window Frame with Chicken Wire
Outdoor table with burlap runner, vintage gray-blue lantern, and a white vintage window frame with chicken wire holding wish cards. The window frame is genius — functional and decorative in one piece.
See Caroline and Robby’s Romantic Garden Wedding in NC →
Blue Floral Tablecloth with Lemons
White round table outdoors with blue and white floral tablecloth, weathered wood sign, blue wire basket holding pens, photo frame, fresh lemons, and lavender sprigs. The lemons are an unexpectedly fresh touch.
See this Blue and White Country Wedding →
White Cocktail Table with Puzzle Guest Book
White floor-length draped cocktail table with puzzle piece guest book, white decorative birdcages, and pink and cream roses. That dramatic draping turns a basic cocktail table into something special.
See Alex and Alonso’s Vineyard Mountain Wedding at La Caille →
Vineyard Window View
White table at a large window overlooking the vineyard, light wood crate, burgundy flowers in a mason jar, chalkboard sign about wine corks, vintage lantern with pink flowers, and corks scattered across the table. That window view does half the work for you.
See Ashley and Andrew’s Blush Pink Vineyard Wedding near Cincinnati →
Wine Bottle Signing Station
Burgundy draped table outdoors with a woman signing a large wine bottle and a wood-framed calligraphy sign. Wine bottle as guest book is a keeper — literally.
See this Burgundy Dahlia + Black Tie Backyard Wedding →
Ornate White Baroque Console
Stunning white ornate baroque-style console table with decorative carved legs and scrollwork, peach roses, framed photos, and vintage boxes. When your table is this gorgeous, you barely need to decorate it.
See Valentina and Roberto’s Romantic Wedding at Villa Ponti Greppi, Italy →
Chippy Painted Table with Barn Door Backdrop
Rustic white painted wood table outdoors against a gray barn door, copper lantern filled with pinecones and greenery, burlap sign, and mint green ornate photo frame. That chippy painted table is doing all the heavy lifting here.
See Emma and Kaleb’s Outdoor Wedding & Rustic Barn in Minnesota →
Round Glass Table with Turquoise Ampersand
Round glass or mirrored table with turquoise ampersand piñata decor, “Share the Love” floral sign, colorful chalkboard, and red heart marquee light. Playful, unexpected, and impossible to miss.
See Vanessa and Chance’s Colorful Rooftop Wedding In Downtown Los Angeles →
Reclaimed Wood Pedestal
Unique reclaimed wood pedestal table with weathered white paint, copper mason jar with baby’s breath and cream ribbon, white guest book with twine binding and monogram, and burlap pen holder. That pedestal table is a showstopper.
See Valaree and John’s Rustic Glam Wedding Day at Carlee Farm →
Ornate Cream Console with Gold Details
Ornate cream painted vintage console table with gold floral details and curved legs, decorative box, silver pen, and vibrant pink and purple flowers in terracotta pots. This table has main character energy.
See Nillie and Ehab’s Persian Themed Wedding at Private Vineyard Estate →
Round Table with Purple Runner
White round table with sheer purple organza runner, wood framed signs, sunflowers in a glass vase, and a white feather pen with black holder. The sheer runner adds elegance without hiding the table underneath.
See Andrew and Heidi’s Vintage Inspired Military Aviation Museum Wedding →
White Cocktail Table with Wooden Sign Board
White round cocktail table with a large wooden sign board on easel featuring couple photo and names. Simple setup, maximum impact.
White Cocktail Table with Geometric Terrariums
White round cocktail table with two white signs featuring copper calligraphy about the puzzle guest book, geometric gold terrariums with moss and puzzle pieces, and “hello” and “love” gold script signs. Geometric details tie the whole look together.
See Eva and Josh’s DIY Geometric, Blush, & Copper Wedding →
Framed Monogram Guest Book
White table with framed monogram guest book in weathered wood frame, gold-framed calligraphy sign, and flowers in glass bottles and a green vase. Monogram frames never go out of style.
See Emily and John’s Boho Chic Pond View Farm Wedding →
Cake and Guest Book Combo Table
Rustic wood table against knotty pine wall featuring a two-tier semi-naked wedding cake, Polaroid camera, guest book, flowers, multiple chalkboard signs with timeline and hashtags, and a card box. Multitasking table done right.
See Amanda and Ben’s Gorgeous Jewish Winter Wedding →
Vintage Door Backdrop with Pedestal Table
White pedestal cocktail table outdoors with vintage cream doors and greenery garland backdrop, gold tufted velvet chair, “Polaroid guest book” chalkboard sign, gold hoop photo prop, and baskets. That door backdrop is giving Pinterest perfection.
See Rachael and Nick’s All Outdoor Boho Wedding During Summer →
Polaroid Clothesline Display
White table with two large weathered wood frames holding Polaroid photos clipped to twine with mini clothespins, Polaroid camera, and eucalyptus leaves. The clothesline-style photo display is genius.
See Elizabeth and Andrew’s Gorgeous Kentucky Wedding at Lexington Racetrack →
Turquoise Painted Console
Turquoise painted vintage console table with curved front and brass hardware, photo guest book album open showing couple photos, and a pen. Statement furniture in an unexpected color.
See Nikki and Matthew’s Beautiful Rainy Day Wedding at Tangelwood Plantation →
White Table with Rosette Tablecloth
White table with white rosette tablecloth outdoors, card box, guest book, gold candles, framed couple photos, and potted plants. That rosette cloth adds major texture.
See Nicole and Andrew’s Classy Lord of The Rings Wedding in Houston →
Mint Polaroid Cameras with Christmas Tree
White table with Christmas tree backdrop, weathered wood “Photo Guest Book” sign, and two mint blue Polaroid cameras with instant photos. Holiday timing worked in their favor for built-in decor.
See Megan and Jerry’s Roaring 20s Themed New Years Eve Wedding →
Family Photos Backdrop
White table with knotty pine backdrop, dark wood framed family photos, and a sign directing guests to sign the wedding guest frame. Family photos make it personal.
See Courtney and Ben’s Outdoor Wedding at Historic Venue in Virginia →
A and M Letters with Instagram Sign
White table outdoors with fountain backdrop, large “A & M” letters, “We ♥ photos” Instagram sign, open photo guest book, framed couple photo, and votive candles. Instagram-worthy before Instagram existed.
See Alli and Matt’s Fun, Romantic Wedding in Orange County →
Wooden Cabinet Photo Display
White cocktail table with purple ribbon, wooden arched cabinet backdrop filled with family photos and flowers, and framed seahorse art on an easel. The cabinet backdrop creates dimension.
See this Classy Spring Wedding with Garden Party Feel →
Wooden Paddle Nautical Theme
White table with wooden paddle for signing, metal “gratefully” script sign, bouquet with white and pink flowers, and pens. Nautical without being over the top.
See Sarah and Rich’s Classic and Bright Maine Island Wedding →
Gold Baroque Frame on Wood Table
Natural wood round table with ornate gold baroque frame holding a couple photo, white flowers in a gold ribbed vase, gold-framed “Guestbook” sign, and silver cups. Gold accents everywhere without feeling overdone.
See Mary and Ben’s Elegant Gold and Greenery Wedding at Bavaria Downs →
Vintage Singer Sewing Machine Table
Antique Singer sewing machine table with ornate black iron base, vintage tan suitcase filled with baby’s breath flowers, white guest book, and vintage typewriter on the grass nearby. This setup tells a story all on its own.
See Billy and Courtney’s Vintage Outdoor Community Park Wedding in Virginia →
FAQs
What should I put on my guest book table?
At minimum: your guest book (obviously), a pen or two, and clear signage so guests know what to do. Beyond that, add personality with flowers, photos, candles, or decorative items that tie into your wedding theme. Just keep it functional — guests should be able to sign comfortably without moving a bunch of stuff around.
Where should the guest book table go?
Near the entrance to your ceremony or reception, but not blocking traffic flow. You want it visible enough that guests notice it when they arrive, but out of the way enough that it doesn’t create a bottleneck. If you’re doing a receiving line, place it after that so guests aren’t juggling hugs and signatures.
Do I need a special table for my guest book?
Nope. A standard cocktail table, folding table, vintage furniture piece, or even a sturdy bench can work. What matters more is how you style it. A basic table with intentional decor beats a fancy table with nothing on it every time.
How do I make my guest book table look good?
Start with a cohesive color palette and stick to it. Add height with flowers, frames, or a sign on an easel. Layer in textures with linens, ribbons, or natural elements. Keep it balanced — not too sparse, not too cluttered. And make sure the guest book itself is the star, not buried under decorations.
Can I combine my guest book table with other things?
Sure, if space is tight. Guest book plus card box works great on one table. Guest book plus a small cake table can work too, as long as the table is large enough to keep things from feeling cramped. Just avoid combining too many functions — your guests shouldn’t have to solve a puzzle to figure out where to sign.
Should I use a tablecloth on my guest book table?
If the table itself isn’t pretty, yes. A tablecloth, runner, or draped fabric can instantly upgrade a basic folding table. But if you’re using a beautiful vintage piece or a table with interesting wood grain, skip the cloth and let the table shine.
What’s the best height for a guest book table?
Standard table height (around 30 inches) or cocktail table height (around 42 inches) both work fine. Cocktail height looks more elegant and takes up less floor space, but requires guests to stand while signing. Standard height is easier to write on comfortably. Your call.
How many pens should I provide?
At least two, preferably three or four. Pens run out of ink, roll off tables, or mysteriously disappear into purses. Having backups means your guests won’t be left standing there awkwardly with nothing to write with.
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