While you already know who has promised to attend your wedding, that doesn't mean you'll know who all actually did arrive. Plus, you probably want something a little nicer than a box of response cards to remember who shared your special day. That's why a guest book is such an important idea.

Like most parts of your wedding, you'll find plenty of choices for a guest book. Traditional brick and mortar stationery stores usually carry some very formal looking ones but you're selection will be limited to only a couple of options. Online vendors will have more to pick from and will provide you with some unique options you won't find elsewhere.

One idea for your guest book is to have it monogrammed. Add the initial of your last name to the front cover in swirly letters – maybe using the font style you've used for your invitations and other stationery. This personalization will make the guest book even more special.

You may also want to purchase a guest book that matches the rest of your wedding colors. Brick and mortar stores probably won't carry them, but you'll have a good chance tracking some down online. Stores that specialize in engraving can sell you a guest book that can be personalized with your names and the date of your wedding.

Of course, traditional guest books are not your only option. You could purchase a silver serving platter – make sure it's very large – and an engraving tool (possibly two). Have each guest engrave their name onto the platter so at the end of the event you have a beautiful keepsake that has been personalized by all of the people who shared your special day with you.

If you're having a less formal wedding, you could use a table cloth, poster board, or even white T-shirt then purchase markers in your wedding colors and have everyone sign their name and leave a message for you on the item. Later, you can either put it away for safe-keeping or you can have it framed and displayed in your home as a keepsake from your wedding.

Regardless of what type of guest book you choose, there are some important points you need to keep in mind. First, the guest book should be located in a prominent position at the entrance of the ceremony location. You should have someone from your family stationed by the book to ask guests to sign in. They can also be responsible for passing out wedding programs or asking people to wait for the ushers before being seated. They may also be given the duty of decorating the guest book table with flowers, a tablecloth, or other items and for making sure fresh writing utensils are available steadily. Before you go to the reception, this same person should be in charge of collecting the guest book and other items from the table, taking it to the reception location, and setting it up in a designated spot there as well.

Additionally, you'll want to provide guests with very nice writing equipment. If your wedding is formal, then you might choose to use a quill and ink set. Since those sets can be messy and hard to write with, you might prefer ordinary ballpoint pens but choose some that are nice looking and that match your wedding colors (if possible). Black ink is a better choice than blue or red ink. Make sure to either buy plenty of pens or refills. Of course, if you prefer to purchase ordinary cheap ink pens you can still decorate them a little with pieces of ribbon or other items so they don't look so plain.

At the end of the day, no matter what choices you make regarding your guest book, you'll be happy that you spent the money to preserve these memories of your wedding.