Where should I put my audio guestbook?

So you've got an audio guestbook for your wedding/special occasion. Great idea! You are planning where everything goes at your venue. The tables are set out, there's enough space for a dancefloor and there is even a corner for a kids play area. But where should you put your audio guestbook phone?

That's an easy question to answer, but it can be different for every venue. You want your guests to be able to see where the audio guestbook is. Somewhere with easy access and where your guests will feel comfortable using it. It should be somewhere that's not too loud, so not right next to the band, DJ or speakers, and not right next to a bar.

Cream audio guestbook phone in the entrance at Mellville Castle Hotel.

If your venue has an entrance hall, this can be a good space for your audio guestbook because it ticks all the above boxes. Especially if you have too pass through there for the toilets, because all your guests will have to go sometime. Don't worry that the guest book phone is too 'out of the way' because having reminder cards on tables is a perfect way to show guests what they are looking for.

Or having the phone situated just inside or at the back of the main hall of your venue can also be a good location for it. The audio guestbook phone should be visible here and will attract people leaving messages and telling other guests about it.

An audio guestbook phone sat in a pod at an outdoor wedding.

Some barn/outdoor venues will have a small wagon, cabin or pod on site that will be available for use during a wedding, party or event. These are also great spaces to host your audio guestbook as it allows your guests privacy to leave messages if they feel a little self-conscious. It's usually a space that's shielded from external sound too. Adding a sign to the outside of the wagon/pod/cabin is an ideal way to draw guests attention to where the guest book is.

If your venue has none of the spaces I've mentioned an ideal places to put an audio guestbook, don't worry! Even if you have to put the guest book phone next to a bar or somewhere noisier then because your guests will be speaking straight into the phone their messages should still be clear. You might hear a little more background conversation or the song that was playing when the message was recorded. I can also work a little bit of editing magic in some instances to reduce the background noise.

To summarise here's a quick do's and dont's list for where to put an audio guestbook phone.

Do

Put the guestbook in a quiet area

Make sure the guestbook is clearly signposted

Use reminder cards on tables to help encourage your guests to leave a message

Don't

Put the guestbook somewhere that's hard to find

Forget you can leave a message too

Worry too much! The location doesn't have to be perfect to capture heartfelt messages from your guests

Wherever you decide to put it, an audio guestbook is a perfect addition to your wedding, party, christening/naming ceremony or wake. Your guests are sure to engage with it more than a traditional guest book and you can relive the event from your guests point of view. Combine the messages with the soundtrack that made your day special with an audio guestbook from Time Capsule Productions and that's a perfect keepsake.

A black audio guestbook phone at the back of a room.