Crafting A Wedding Guest Book With Photos: A Creative Guide

A wedding guest book with photos is a great way to remember your special day and the guests who were there to celebrate with you. There are many ways to create a personalised guest book, from using a photo guest book service to making your own from scratch. This introduction will cover ideas for how to make a guest book with photos for a wedding, including the steps to create your own and the materials you will need.

Choosing photos

• Select photos that showcase your relationship and tell your story as a couple. These could include selfies, travel shots, and engagement shoot pictures.
• Opt for images that evoke emotion and highlight important milestones in your relationship. These types of photos will not only be enjoyable for you but also for your guests to look at.
• Gather photos from various sources, such as your own collection, friends, and family. You can set a deadline and ask them to share their favourite photos of you as a couple via text, email, Dropbox, or Google Photos.
• Consider using your engagement photos as a theme for your guest book. These photos will add a personal touch and are a great way to showcase your love.
• When designing your guest book, remember to leave enough space for guests to leave their signatures and messages. Balance your images with ample white space on each page.
• If you want to include a variety of photos, you can arrange them according to groups such as friends, family, in-laws, and coworkers. This will create a fun and dynamic layout.
• You can also get creative and use instant cameras, like the Fujifilm Instax, for guests to snap candid shots of themselves at the wedding. They can then add these photos to the guest book along with their messages.

Selecting a paper type

• Thickness and Quality: Opt for thick, high-quality paper that will enhance the visual appeal of your photos and make the book more durable. Look for paper with a weight of at least 200gsm, such as the 220gsm Kodak luster photo paper mentioned in one review.
• Finish: Choose between a glossy or matte finish. A glossy finish, like the Lustre Photo Paper option from Artifact Uprising, has a light sheen similar to traditional photo prints. On the other hand, a matte finish, like their Superfine Eggshell Paper, has a textured finish that is ideal for both photos and handwritten notes.
• Durability: Consider the longevity of the paper. You'll want to ensure the paper can withstand frequent handling and potential spills or smudges during your wedding celebrations. Opt for smudge-resistant and archival-quality paper to ensure the longevity of your guest book.
• Colour: Decide if you want bright white paper or something more natural or off-white. Keep in mind that bright white paper can be harsh on the eyes, while natural or cream-coloured paper may better complement your wedding aesthetic.
• Texture: Consider the tactile experience of your guests as they sign your guest book. A lightly textured paper can add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your book. However, ensure the texture doesn't interfere with the legibility of handwritten notes.

When selecting a paper type, it's always a good idea to request samples beforehand to ensure the paper meets your expectations for quality and appearance. This will allow you to test different pen options and ensure that the paper is compatible with various writing instruments.

Picking a pen

A permanent marker is a good option as it dries quickly and won't smudge. The Sharpie Ultra Fine Point Permanent Marker is recommended by several sources, including one which has tested several pens on similar paper. This pen comes in a variety of colours, so you can choose your wedding colours or another colour that suits your theme. However, if you're using black backgrounds in your guest book, avoid a black marker as it won't show up.

If you're looking for something a little fancier, gold or silver Sharpies are also an option, and these will work well with a canvas guestbook. You could also consider a metallic Sharpie with extra fine point, or a Sakura Pigma Micron Fineliner.

If you're looking for a ballpoint pen, the Cambond Ballpoint Pens Gold Pen is a nice option, with smooth writing and black ink. This pen also comes in silver. For something a little more fun, you could try a gel pen, such as the Sakura gel pens, which come in an array of colours and sparkles.

If you're concerned about the potential for pens to be taken, you could consider decorating the pens to fit your theme. For example, you could cover them with patterned washi tape, or spray them with an enamel in a colour of your choice. You could even attach faux flowers to the ends using green floral tape, creating a little pen bouquet!

Designing the layout

Choose your photos

Select photos that showcase your relationship and evoke emotion. These can include selfies, travel pictures, or images from your engagement shoot. Ask your friends and family to contribute their favourite photos of you as a couple, and don't be afraid to include images that might not have perfect composition but capture special moments, experiences, and milestones.

Balance images and white space

When designing the layout, remember to balance your images with ample white space for guest signatures and handwritten notes. If you want to feature a full-page spread, pair it with a smaller image on the opposite side. Play with the orientation of your photos to create a dynamic look, and feel free to mix and match for a carefully crafted feel. Ensure you have enough pages to accommodate your guest count.

Select a paper type

The choice of paper for your guest book will impact the overall aesthetic and writing experience. Lustre Photo Paper has a light sheen similar to traditional photo prints, while Superfine Eggshell Paper has a textured matte finish. The matte option tends to work better for both photos and handwritten notes, ensuring the ink doesn't smudge or bleed.

Choose a pen

A fine-point pen is the best option for your guest book to avoid bleeding and smudging. Slick Writer Pens are a great choice, as they dry quickly and have a tip width that leaves plenty of room for guests to write their messages. While felt-tip pens are recommended for the matte paper, you can also use ballpoint pens.

Add personal touches

Consider adding romantic graphics, text art, or stickers to your guest book design. You can also create a custom cover with a linen fabric colour of your choice and foil stamping to match your wedding theme. Don't forget to include your engagement photos and other special moments throughout the book.

Remember to leave enough space for guests to sign and write their well wishes. You can arrange photos according to groups, such as friends, family, and coworkers, or mix things up however you like. Enjoy the process of designing your unique wedding photo guest book!

Adding personal touches

A photo guest book for a wedding is a wonderful keepsake and a chance to get creative. You can add personal touches in many ways, from the photos you choose to the overall design and layout.

Firstly, decide on the photos you want to include. A mix of selfies, travel pictures, and engagement shoot photos will add variety and showcase your relationship. You could also ask friends and family to contribute their favourite images of you as a couple, creating a collaborative feel to your book. Leave space around the photos for guests to sign, and consider adding blank pages for guests to write longer messages.

When designing your book, think about the layout and how you want to group your photos. You could arrange them by theme, such as friends, family, and coworkers, or chronologically to tell a story. Leave space for signatures and messages, and consider adding romantic stickers or text art to complement the images.

You can also personalise your book by choosing a linen cover fabric colour and foil-stamped title to match your wedding theme. Select a paper type that will showcase your photos and messages clearly, and don't forget to pick a fine-point pen that will dry quickly and not bleed through the pages.

Finally, add extra special touches like a photo dust jacket or a custom foil-stamped title in your choice of foil colour. You could even create a matching wedding photo album to display alongside your guest book.

Frequently asked questions