Add a photo of you and your fiance by a heart, your intials, or even the words "Our Guests" written in sand to personalize your book.
Any bride knows that it's all the details that make a wedding memorable. Whether you do a destination wedding in Honolulu or just have a Hawaiian theme, your guestbook will be a lasting keepsake to remind you of the friends and family that came. There are many creative options to give your guestbook some Hawaiian flair. By drawing on different sources for inspiration, it is easy to create a guestbook that is unique.
Instructions
1. Collect your centerpieces, invitations and other wedding materials. You'll want your guestbook to work with the feel of your wedding. For an evening wedding with formal invitations, use the organza and sand for an elegant look. If your wedding is more luau themed, why not paint a colorful surfboard on the cover? Recycled paper and coconut cloth give an organic, natural look, the perfect complement to a beach wedding.
2. Add text to the inside. Before you decorate the outside, make sure your guestbook is complete. You'll want to preserve the inner pages by wrapping them with plastic wrap once you bring out the paint and glue. Your guestbook should include a space for the names of your guests, including room for a short message. Some are lined, but they don't have to be. You can also add a handwritten Hawaiian phrase on the bottom of each page or as a title page. Some examples include "o makou mea i kono `ia" - our guests and "He `olina leo ka ke aloha" - Joy is in the voice of love.
3. Cover your guestbook. If you plan to add sand, shells, organza or a lei, the existing simple white cover will work. For a more authentic feel, you can use recycled paper as a cover. You can even print your names or a Hawaiian phrase on the paper before using it. Cut your chosen paper into a rectangle about two inches wider on each side than the guestbook laid open, spine up. Crumple the paper into a ball, then lay it flat under a heavy book until the creases are set in. Then, spread craft glue lightly over the paper and apply it to the guestbook, starting on the left hand side. Allow a little slack so that the book can close. If you do need to cut the paper around the fold, use coconut cloth to cover it. Cut a strip to fit the spine of the book, leaving the long sides slightly ragged. Then secure with craft glue. To give the look of binding, add twine down the edge of the spine.
4. Nothing is more Hawaiian than the rich flowers in a lei!
Decorate your guestbook with Hawaiian elements. For example, use brightly colored paint to turn your guestbook into a surfboard. You can even round the corners with scissors to give your book the illusion of a surfboard shape. Look at images or photographs online to sketch your design, then paint directly on the cover. Be sure the inside pages have been securely covered with plastic wrap. Alternatively, you can use a floral lei for a simple decoration. It's best to use fake leis so that your guestbook will hold up, but avoid the crinkly plastic types from party stores. Instead, find a lei with Hawaiian flowers. Staple the lei around the front of your guestbook for a fun and beautiful border, or separate each flower with scissors and attach them with craft glue or a staple inside one of the petals in a pattern of your own design.
5. Incorporate sand into your guestbook design. Lay a strip of organza ribbon flat, and coat with craft glue. Then, on a covered surface for easier cleanup, sprinkle sand over the ribbon. Add a second ribbon on top and tie the edges together. Then wrap around the front cover of your guestbook and either glue or staple the edges to the inside of the covers. When secured across the front of your guestbook, this makes for a beautiful conversation starter, especially if you use sand from the beach where you were married or engaged! You can add an organza bow, shells, rhinestones, beads or fake orchids or plumerias in the center for a more eye-catching book.
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