Personalized Guest Book

Guest Books for Weddings, Memorials, Anniversaries, and More

When wedding season comes around, we find ourselves making more guest books. We think, though, that guest books are also a great way to preserve memories and personal notes from any event.

What to look for in a guest book:

• Do you want your guest book to last? Opt for archival materials.
• Choose a book with matte pages. Shiny pages are more likely to smear.
• Personalization! A guest book with your name on it is extra special.
• We like books that lie flat when opened (that's what we typically make.)
• Match your event. An elegant event deserves an elegant, coordinating guest book.

We really like guest books with blank pages, as they leave room for notes and even drawings:

We also just added a guest book with lined pages to our website. This offers a little more structure, and can be great for larger events, or times when you want to collect guests' addresses:

If you'd like to add photos to your guest book, choose a book with enough room to add content so the pages don't fan out. (You're really better off going with a photo album for this.)

Or perhaps you're interested in a completely custom guest book. Whatever you choose, we think a great guest book is a wonderful memento.

Handmade Book Structures

Binding Styles for Handmade Books

When clients ask us to create a book or portfolio, their book's content usually dictates its binding style. Below are some of the binding styles that we build most often, along with a short explanation of how they function.

Western Case Binding

When you think of a traditional hardcover book, this is the style you're likely thinking of. The spine is encased, the book opens to lie virtually flat, the presentation is traditional. However, photos and ephemera cannot be added to the book, or else it will fan, or "yawn" open.

Long Stitch Binding

We choose to make our product line using this binding style because the books lie flat, but can accommodate added dimensional ephemera and photos. The exposed spine stitching adds a decorative element.

Stab Binding

A traditional Japanese binding style, Stab Binding is useful for binding flat (versus folded) pages into a book. Stab binding can accommodate photos, but only if spacers are added to the spine. This style of book doesn't lie flat when opened, but a longer horizontal dimension can minimize this issue.

Post Binding

Much like stab binding in structure, the difference with Post Binding is that posts can be removed so content can be added to the book. This style is great for portfolios with rotating content.

Accordion Binding

Just like it sounds, pages are folded into an accordion, a cover is added to both ends, and the book can be held closed with a ribbon. A fun binding style, accordions are great for guest books as they can be laid open across a table and multiple people can sign at once. Photos can be added to accordion books, as they have no spine.

Coptic Binding

One of the oldest binding styles, coptic is different in that the signatures (folded page groups) are exposed on the spine of the book. These books open flat, photos cannot be added (or they will yawn), but the knotted sewing threads have a wonderful look to them.

Whew! That's it for now. Coming soon, Handmade Box Structures! (For now, you can check out our post on Clamshell Boxes.)

Guest Books with Blank Pages

Blank Pages in Guest Books = Creative Guests!

Here at HSS we're big fans of guest books with blank pages. Lines are confining, and usually result in guests signing only their name and address. (Bo-ring!) We find that when guests are faced with a blank page, they often rise to the occasion, writing heartfelt notes and even drawing pictures. Here's a peek inside a full wedding guest book with blank pages:

Warm wishes, funny greetings, and kid drawings. What could be better?

Take a look at other custom guest books here.