It's often offered as an add-on to a photo booth, and we can usually find one for your date through the same partners.
How audio guest book hire works
The phone arrives ready to go, usually with a recorded greeting that you can swap for your own. It sits on a table with a little sign telling guests what to do. Many run on batteries, so you don't always need a socket nearby.
Afterwards, the recordings come to you as audio files, or in some cases you keep the phone for a few days and pull them off yourself. We'll confirm how it works for yours.
Phones come in different looks, from cream rotary dials to bright red retro models. We'll send you a picture of the one on offer, tell you how you'll get the files and whether an edit is included. As with any booking, nothing's confirmed until you say yes.
Why voices beat handwriting
A written guest book gets 'Congratulations! Love from Sue and Pete'. A phone gets Sue welling up, Pete telling a story about the groom from 1998, and your best mate rambling at midnight. Completely different.
And you get to hear people's actual voices years later. Often it's the messages from older relatives that turn into the real keepsake.
Where to put the phone
Somewhere fairly quiet. Next to the dance floor, the messages get drowned out by the music. A corner near the bar or the entrance usually works, ideally with a chair and a small sign.
In a big room, a little table with a lamp and a couple of photos of the two of you makes it feel like a proper spot, rather than a phone someone's left lying around.
Put it out from the start of the reception rather than just the evening, so day guests and older relatives get a go before they head off.
Getting people to use it
The phone needs a bit of help. On its own, a vintage phone on a table looks like decoration. A clear sign saying 'Pick up and leave us a message' makes all the difference, and some partners supply one.
A good greeting helps too. Keep it short and warm, in your own voices. 'Hi, it's us, thanks for coming, leave us a message after the beep' does the job nicely.
Ask the DJ, host or best man to mention it during the evening. A nudge at the right moment usually brings a rush of messages.
Pairing it with a photo booth
An audio guest book and a wedding photo booth make a nice pair. One catches the faces, the other catches the voices. Booking both through us means one quote and one point of contact.
Adding the phone does add to the price. We'll show you the booth with and without it, so you can decide.
Not just for weddings
Phones work at 40ths, 50ths, retirement dos and anniversary parties as well. Guests leave birthday wishes, embarrassing stories and questionable advice for retirement. For a milestone party, the recordings make a lovely present to hand over afterwards.
Leaving dos work well too. Colleagues are far funnier into a phone than they ever are in a card.
Tell us your date and venue and we'll get you a quote.
