Digital guestbook
The guest journey: message, signature and selfie
Each step as the guest sees it, the settings that change it and tips for a full, polished guestbook.
Mode being rolled out. Depending on your version of BoothX, the order of the steps and the available settings may differ from this description.
The guestbook journey is deliberately short: a guest should be able to leave a note in one to two minutes. Here is each step, and what you can adjust.
Overview
| Step | What the guest does | Optional? |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Welcome | Taps the screen to start. | — |
| 2. Message | Writes their message, with the keyboard or by hand. | Depending on your settings |
| 3. Signature | Signs with a finger or a stylus. | Depending on your settings |
| 4. Selfie | Takes a photo of themselves with a countdown. | Depending on your settings |
| 5. Preview | Sees their guestbook page and confirms it. | — |
| 6. Thank you | Thank-you screen, back to the welcome screen. | — |
A Back button returns to the previous step; a Cancel button abandons the page without saving anything.
1. The welcome screen
The welcome screen invites guests to start: “Leave a note for the newlyweds”. Take care with this text: it's what draws guests in. A photo of the hosts in the background works very well.
2. The message
Depending on your settings, the guest writes:
- with the keyboard: the on-screen keyboard opens automatically. A maximum number of characters prevents essays that wouldn't fit on the page;
- by hand: they write with a stylus or a finger in a writing area, as on paper. An eraser and a Clear button let them start over.
The guest's first name can be asked for separately so the page is signed neatly.
Tip: offer a prompt (“A memory with you…”, “My wish for you…”) to help those who don't know what to write.
3. The signature
A signature area appears, with Clear and Confirm. The signature is saved as an image and placed at the bottom of the page.
Tip: a stylus tethered to the booth gives clean signatures. With a finger, enlarge the signature area in the settings if it's too small.
4. The selfie
- The camera preview appears, mirrored.
- The guest taps Take the photo: a countdown starts.
- They can retake the photo or keep it.
The selfie is taken with the booth's camera (webcam or Canon camera). If no camera is available, the step is skipped automatically and the page is created without a photo. See Use a webcam.
Tip: soft light from the front and a simple background make the pages consistent in the final PDF.
5. The page preview
The guest sees their page as it will appear in the book: message, signature, selfie, date. They confirm it or go back to make corrections. Once confirmed, the page is saved immediately on the booth.
6. The thank-you screen
A thank-you screen appears for a few seconds, then the booth returns to the welcome screen for the next guest. Depending on your settings, it can:
- print a keepsake card (the selfie and the message) if a printer is connected;
- display a QR code to the event gallery, if you have enabled it (pay-as-you-go service).
Inactivity timeout
If a guest walks away in the middle of their message, the booth returns to the welcome screen after a period without any touch. The abandoned page isn't saved: the book doesn't fill up with half-empty pages.
Moderating pages
The organizer sees all of the event's pages in the guestbook area. They can delete an inappropriate page before exporting. Deleted pages don't appear in the PDF.
Accessibility
- Large touch areas and text readable from a distance.
- Typing the message with the keyboard suits guests who find handwriting difficult.
- The selfie and the signature can be made optional.
Tips for a well-filled book
- Announce it: a word from the DJ or the master of ceremonies doubles participation.
- Place it where people pass, near the bar or the entrance, not at the back of the room.
- Combine it with the photobooth: after their photo, the guest can move on to the guestbook (see Multi-mode event).
- Check the stylus regularly: it often goes missing!
Frequently asked questions
Can children draw? Yes, in handwriting mode, the area also accepts drawings.
Can several people write on one page? Yes: a couple or a family can leave a shared message and a group selfie.
The touch screen doesn't respond well to the stylus. See Screen, touch and display problems.