voicemail guestbooks: why you should have one at your wedding and how to make the most of it
When planning our wedding, I booked the first two vendors in this order: #1 our venue #2 an After the Tone voicemail guestbook. You wouldn’t expect a guestbook to be #2 on the list of priorities for planning a wedding, but I was so moved by the concept I knew that it was a must have for us. Since discovering After the Tone at our wedding, their voicemail guestbook has made appearances at all of our friends’ weddings, too. Whether you’re having a 200 person wedding or a small, intimate elopement, this concept brings such a unique and special touch to any celebration.
Because I was such a fan at our wedding, I’ve partnered with After the Tone to give my followers 15% off using code SQUID15. Using this code gives you a great discount and supports me too, so thank you!
Here’s why I loved having a voicemail guestbook:
Spoken messages > written messages: Let’s face it, asking your guests to sign a traditional guestbook usually results in them writing something like: “Congrats! We love you. Love, Uncle Joe and Aunt Sharon.” Which is all fine and dandy, but why stop there! By not limiting your guests to a piece of paper or page in a book, you are opening up the possibilities of the types of messages you receive. My favorite love language is words of affirmation, so this was right up my alley. From tear-jerking, sentimental messages to hilarious, drunk mumbling to live updates of the night: the possibilities with a voicemail guestbook are endless. Having the recording of your loved ones’ voices creates a time capsule for the wedding: when we listen back, it feels like we are there again. I think this reason speaks for itself (literally!).
Unique, memorable and stylish: If you’re planning a wedding, you’ve probably heard all about voicemail guestbooks, but to many guests it’s still a new and exciting concept! Pick your favorite color to match your wedding decor and you’ll have some beautiful detail photos, too.
Organized and easy: The week of your wedding can be an incredibly stressful time, so the process of receiving After the Tone, setting it up, and sending it back being so streamlined was a breath of fresh air.
Wedding mementos: After your wedding, you can press your voicemails into a vinyl record so it can hold a physical space in your home! You can design your own cover and turn it into the perfect anniversary gift.
Affordable price: Compared to virtually everything else in the wedding industry, the price of renting a phone compared to the value is so worth it.
Some people online have had issues getting results out of their phone, but we had over 40 minutes of messages to listen back to, so here’s how we did it! Here are a few tips on how to get the most out of your voicemail guestbook at your wedding:
Location, location, location: The first step is making sure your phone is easily accessible for guests to find and take their time leaving a message. Ask your wedding coordinator or a bridal party member to pick it up and bring it around the venue to follow where the action is if neeeded! I’d recommend somewhere not incredibly close to speakers so you can hear the messages clearly, too.
Provide clear instructions: Signage is super important here so that guests don’t think this is just a piece of decor! After the Tone offers signage but you could also easily DIY your own in Canva or from an Etsy template.
Choose your trusted guides: Designate ushers or trusted members of your bridal party or family to set the tone (ha) for the guestbook. Once people see others leaving a message, they’ll be more likely to try it out themselves!
Make announcements: Once you’ve walked down the aisle and the guests are milling about, have your officiant make an announcement asking everyone to make a stop by the phone at some point in the evening to leave a message for the newly married couple! You can do this a few times throughout the night wherever it feels right. I definitely recommend a “last call” announcement as well for the guestbook so you can have those procrastinators get their final opportunity at the end of the night.
Encourage multiple messages: We noticed a super sweet shift in messages before and after our ceremony (it was a tear-jerker!) and of course, if you have a guest list that likes to party, you are guaranteed to see a hilarious shift in messages throughout the night. Encourage people to leave 1 or 10 messages!
Leave a message for yourself: How often do you get to hear a message from your past self! Share what you’re feeling at that moment on your wedding day so you can remember it for the rest of your life.
Hope this helps and you’re able to capture those extra special moments and memories on your big day! If you have any questions please comment below or message me at @squidwestra :)
