How to Set Up a Polaroid Guest Book at Your Wedding—Plus, 13 Ideas That Prove How Fun This Interactive Trend Really Is

After you tie the knot, one of the only tangible keepsakes from your big day (besides your wedding photos, of course) will be your guest book. By setting up a station with a bound book at your nuptials, complete with writing utensils, your guests will be able to jot down their well-wishes or words of wisdom, plus their names, a heartfelt way to record the day and remember those who shared it with you. While handwritten messages from your loved ones are a special, personal way to capture the spirit of your celebration, they're one-dimensional. To provide even more personality and detail, consider a unique alternative: a guest book with Polaroids.

A Polaroid guest book takes the idea of a traditional guest book, featuring thoughtful words to the newlyweds, and elevates it by providing Polaroid photos of each guest beside their name. To enact this concept, the idea is to have each invitee take a photo of themselves with the Polaroid camera, paste it onto the page, and polish it off with a message from the heart. That way, whenever you flip through this compilation after your nuptials, you’ll put a face to a name and recall what each person looked like at the time. Plus, with Polaroids, you’ll have a visual of each individual guest, which professional wedding photos don’t often capture. And for your wedding guests, the activity will be a lot of fun: It encourages them to let loose, strike a pose, and mix and mingle with fellow attendees.

Wondering how to pull off this unique idea? Read on for a guide to setting up a Polaroid guest book, plus 13 inspiration photos to replicate.

Materials You'll Need to Set Up a Polaroid Guest Book 

Setting up a Polaroid guest book is an affordable and relatively painless DIY project you can take on yourself. To jumpstart the process, first, you'll need to accumulate all of the necessary materials.

Polaroid Cameras

The first item on your checklist is a no-brainer: a Polaroid camera. As a general rule of thumb, Jessie Whitfield, founder of MISGIF, recommends following a ratio of one Polaroid camera for every 40 guests attending your nuptials. So, if you're throwing an 80-person wedding, two Polaroid cameras will suffice, but for a group of 200 family and friends, you'll need to stock your setup with five cameras. That way, there will be enough cameras available for everyone to snap a picture without waiting an extensive amount of time for their turn.

Film Packs

Film is also a must for your Polaroid guest book table. Since your guests will probably make a few attempts at their photo, you'll need to purchase more packs than expected. Assuming that your loved ones will take about two or three photos each, multiply that by the number of people making an appearance at your wedding to ensure you have enough film for everyone. Different brands provide varied quantities of photos per film pack, so make sure to read the description carefully before swiping your card. It goes without saying that buying more film is always better than sticking with the bare minimum.

A Guest Book

Another essential item on your list will be a hardback guest book. This is a memento you'll want to keep forever, so be sure to opt for a high-quality bound book. To keep with the aesthetic of the day, choose a hue that coincides with your color palette (and will look beautiful on display in your home, too). Whitfield also recommends stashing some extra pages in the back of the book in case your guests need more space to write their well-wishes and attach their photos.

A Display Table

You'll need a station to set up the utensils. A table will always do the trick, but you can also choose a wooden shelf, an ideal option for a rustic affair, or even a bookshelf, a great choice for literary lovers. It's important that the display area is large enough to accommodate all of the materials—but not so large that it becomes an obstruction. When choosing the right vessel, keep your reception layout in mind. To eliminate long lines from forming and to expedite the process, you might also want to provide a few separate tables.

Permanent Markers

Provide plenty of writing utensils at your Polaroid guest book table, so guests can add a note and sign their name. Whitfield recommends permanent markers, so the ink won't smear as loved ones record their message—plus, it will provide "a nostalgic vibe," she says.

Double-Sided Tape

Your invitees will need an adhesive to paste their image inside of the book. Whitfield advises supplying double-sided tape, which is easy to use and results in minimal mess. Steer clear of glue, as it has the potential to soil your guests' outfits.

Hand Sanitizer

While it's an optional item to include, hand sanitizer is a thoughtful addition to any Polaroid guest book table. Since your friends and family will all be sharing the same markers and cameras, giving them the option to sanitize their hands will go a long way. It's also a quick, easy solution to removing black ink they might have gotten on their skin. Whitfield suggests providing an on-theme dispenser to make it aesthetically pleasing.

Tips for Setting Up a Polaroid Guest Book 

After you've gathered all of the essentials to make your vision a reality, it's time to set up your Polaroid guest book table. Here are some expert tips to keep in mind as you create your display.

Choose an Accessible Area

The best place to set up a Polaroid guest book is in a visible, highly accessible area that won’t obstruct passageways, such as next to the seating chart, per Whitfield. Natasha Miller, owner of Tashography, recommends that you avoid congested areas, like beside the bar or band stage. Other variables to pay attention to? Whitfield suggests a spot that's dry and not prone to wind.

Pay Attention to Lighting

When scoping out your spot, lighting is another factor to prioritize—the last thing you'll want is harsh shadows ruining the photos. For a reception at midday, place the setup in front of a window with natural light for indoor functions or in a shaded area for outdoor festivities, according to elopement photographer EJ Dilley. If your post-ceremony party is taking place at night, provide a constant source of light, such as a ring light, Miller suggests.

Offer Instructions

Upon seeing a guest book and a Polaroid camera, your guests will probably put two and two together, but they shouldn't have to decipher the purpose of your Polaroid guest book table or suss out what to do with the provided materials. To guide the group, Dilley advises providing a list of instructions. “For example, ‘Stand six to 10 feet away from the camera, take one picture, glue the image in the guest book, and sign a short message under the image,'" Dilley offers.

Appoint a Monitor

Since not everyone is familiar with Polaroids, a novice could ruin an entire pack of film, Dilley notes. To monitor the photo station, Dilley encourages you to enlist a trustworthy person in your wedding party (or a few people) to keep an eye on the situation.

Track the Expenses

Although creating your own Polaroid guest book may be more affordable than another alternative, you'll still need to pay attention to the associated costs, making sure the total doesn't exceed your budget. Polaroid cameras can range from about $65 to several hundred dollars, so be sure to buy one (or a few) that suits your allotted price point. Film packs start at around $15, but the price varies depending on the number of photos per pack and brand, so choose wisely.

Consider Hiring an Expert

The most budget-friendly option is create the station yourself, but if you have a little extra money to spare and you're hoping to delegate, you can always hire an expert. "If you're able to hire a photo booth company to run your Polaroid guest book experience, we highly recommend that because it will streamline things and ensure you have a high-quality guest experience,” Whitfield says.

Polaroid Guest Book Ideas

Looking for some inspiration to help you along the way? We've got you covered. Here are some of our favorite Polaroid guest book examples to get your creative juices flowing.