suggestion for wedding guest book pen

[benvh]

Getting married next month. For our guest book we found an old guest registry from a New England hotel from the 1930s (it's a vintage wedding). The idea was to have our guests sign among the historical signatures. There are random blank pages throughout and a few extra from the rebinding. With the old book it would be nice to have an old pen to accompany it.

A fountain pen in a stand would probably look the best and match the vintage theme. A dip pen is out due to ink spillage, ease of use for the non-FP people, etc. I was thinking of an Esterbrook desk set since it has a stand and has an ink sac (see picture).

There are other concerns as well...a slow-drying ink that will smudge a lot, people not knowing how to properly write with a FP, ink running, out, etc.

Any ideas? There are so many variables I'm thinking it might be best to go with a nice-looking rollerball, but I don't want to give up too easily. It'd be nice to pick a nice ink color as well.

Ben

 

[andrew98]

Legal Lapis ink by Noodler is as permanent as it gets for ink. Blue-black inks like that one always look vintage to me, and that's my favorite color.

I like the fountain pen idea, but I would recommend someone who knows about FPs manning that station to help take care of refilling the pen or helping if there's a problem with the pen (also to give help to those using the pen). Honestly, most folks these days have no idea how to write with a FP and would probably be a little worried about using one for the first time to sign your guest registry, especially a vintage one. You could have a pad of practice paper by the registry in case people want to practice first.

I hate to say it, but I would probably go with a ball point or roller ball. I'd at least have one available as a backup.

-Andy

 

[benvh]

If a ballpoint or rollerball is what I go with...any suggestions on that front? Something that looks vintage maybe?

 

[Uncle Erik]

No, go with fountain pens. But don't get anything nice. See if you can get a box of Hero pens on the cheap. If you don't have a lot of guests, you might even be able to give them away as gifts. If not, get 10 or 15 of them in case they get lost or damaged. You could give them to the wedding party afterwards.

X2 on Noodler's. Pick over their colors - they have a lot of them. As much as I love Legal Lapis, I don't know if I'd go with a permanent ink. There's a chance guests might get ink on their hands or good clothes. The washable formulations ought to hold up and make sure no nice dresses or suits are ruined.

If you go with ballpoints or rollers, look into having a box printed up with your names and the date. Give those to your guests as they sign the book and let them keep the pens.

 

[ouch]

I used a pencil for mine.

 

[Austin]

I used a pencil for mine.

With an eraser?

 

[andrew98]

I don't know how Nooder's non-permanent inks hold up, but I had a notebook I used for work for 3 years, and I used black Pelikan (or was it Waterman?) ink in the beginning, which faded and turned purple after a couple years. I wouldn't want that to happen to someone's wedding registry, unless you want that to happen as part of the vintage theme.

-Andy

 

[Psicko]

Congrats on that marriage thing. How about a magnum 44? j/k

We did a vintage esque wedding as well, but we just had normal pens for our guest book.