Short answer: the guest books couples actually go back to are the ones that capture voices, faces or something guests made: an audio guest book, a video guest book, a typewriter, or photo booth strips in an album. A signed book is the cheapest option and the one that gets opened least.
Guest books that capture voices and faces
1. Audio guest book
A vintage phone on a table. Guests pick up, hear your greeting, and leave a message. You get toasts, advice and the grandparent who talks for four minutes, in their own voices. See the audio guest book, and borrow a script from our greeting examples.
2. Video guest book
A kiosk with a camera. Guests record a message on screen, so you get their faces and their voices. Best for couples who want something to replay on anniversaries. See the video guest book.
3. Typewriter guest book
A working 1950s manual typewriter and a paper roll. Guests type a note one key at a time, and the slowness is the charm: people think about what they write. You roll it up and keep it. See the typewriter guest book.
4. Photo booth strip album
Guests stick one photo booth strip in an album and write a line beside it. You end up with every face and a note from each, on one page. The step-by-step is in how to make a photo booth guest book.
Guest books guests make by hand
- Sign a puzzle. Each guest signs a piece; you assemble it later and frame it.
- A wooden drop box. Guests sign wooden hearts and drop them into a frame you hang at home.
- A fingerprint tree. Guests add an ink thumbprint as a leaf and sign beside it.
- Sign a globe or a map. Good for travel-loving couples; guests sign where they are from.
- Advice cards in a jar. Printed prompts (“Best date idea”, “Advice for year one”) that you read on your first anniversary.
- Wine bottle time capsule. Guests sign the labels of bottles you open on set anniversaries.
- Signed records or books. Guests sign the sleeves of albums or the pages of a favourite book.
- The classic book. Still fine, especially when a parent asks for one. Put it beside something guests already visit.
What they cost with a photo booth
| Guest book | With a Snap & Go booth | Without a booth |
|---|---|---|
| Audio guest book | Included with Complete ($599) | $399 with the typewriter |
| Video guest book | $99 with Complete, $199 with Snap or Snap & Print | $399 |
| Typewriter guest book | $99 | $349 |
| Photo strip album | Strips are unlimited with Snap & Print and Complete | Not available |
Prices are plus HST, delivered and set up anywhere from Mississauga to Fort Erie. Full details are on the pricing page.
Audio, video or typewriter: which one is right for you?
| Audio | Video | Typewriter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| You keep | Their voices | Their faces and voices | A typed scroll of notes |
| Best for | Sentimental couples | Replaying on anniversaries | Framing on a wall |
| Guests | Pick up, talk, hang up | Tap and record | Type a note |
| Put it | A quieter corner | Near the booth or the bar | Beside the card table |
| You get it | Gallery, within 7 days | Gallery, within 7 days | The roll, at pickup |
Can't pick? Choose by what you will actually do with it: listen in the car (audio), watch on an anniversary (video), or frame on a wall (typewriter).
Use two together
They suit different guests, so pairing two gets you more messages, not the same ones twice.
- Audio + typewriter, no booth: $399. Voices and paper notes side by side. The easy pick if you already have a photographer and want a keepsake table.
- Complete + video: $599 + $99. The booth, unlimited prints and the audio guest book, plus the video kiosk. Voices from the quiet corner, faces from the party.
- Complete + typewriter: $599 + $99. Photo strips, voice messages and typed notes: three keepsakes from one setup.
- All three: $599 + $99 + $99. Complete with the video and typewriter guest books added.
Prices plus HST. Every option is delivered, set up and collected the same night.
Where to put it so guests use it
Next to the photo booth, the bar or the card table, never in a corner by the coat check. Ask your DJ to mention it once after dinner; that one announcement makes the biggest difference. Check your date and tell us which guest book you are leaning toward.
Quick answers
Do we still need a traditional guest book?
No. Many couples skip it entirely and use an audio or photo guest book instead. If a parent wants one, a small signing book beside the booth covers it.
Which guest book gets the most entries?
The one next to the photo booth or the bar. Guests use whatever is in their path. An audio guest book in a quiet corner gets fewer messages than one beside the card table.
How much does an audio guest book cost in Niagara?
Standalone rentals typically run $250 to $400. Ours is included with the Complete photo booth package at $599, or paired with the typewriter guest book for $399 without a booth.
Still have a question? See the photo booth FAQ, or browse booths for birthdays, proms and parties.