A wedding guest book is one of the few objects from a wedding that gets used after the day itself. It sits on a shelf, it gets taken out and read, it gets passed to children eventually. It is worth thinking about carefully, which is why we ask a lot of questions before we start making one.

Size: bigger is not always better

The standard A4 format is popular because it feels substantial, but a square 250x250mm book often works better on a table at a reception: it is easier for guests to write in, it does not tip over, and it photographs well. A5 is a good choice if the guest list is small and you want something that will fit on a bookshelf without dominating it. Think about where the book will live after the wedding, not just how it will look on the day.

Paper: lined, blank, or dotted

Most guests write a short message rather than a long one, so the paper choice matters less than you might think. Blank pages are the most versatile. Lined pages make it easier for guests who are self-conscious about their handwriting. We do not offer dotted pages in our guest books because the dot grid tends to look busy in photographs. We use 120gsm cream cartridge as standard, which takes ballpoint, gel pen, and most fountain pens without bleed-through.

Cover material: leather vs cloth

Full leather is the traditional choice and it ages beautifully, but it is more expensive and more sensitive to heat and direct sunlight. A cloth-covered board binding in a good book cloth is more practical for an outdoor summer event and still looks considered and serious. We have a sample book of cloth colours and leather swatches that you can look through when you visit. Most couples choose cloth in the end, usually in a natural linen or a deep colour that matches the wedding palette.

Personalisation: foil blocking and labels

We can foil-block names, dates, and short phrases on the cover or spine. The setup cost is £20 for a single die, and the result is clean and permanent. For a single book, a letterpress label from our printer in Bristol is a more economical option and looks just as good. We can also add a ribbon marker in a colour of your choice, which is included in the standard price.

Lead time: the thing most people underestimate

Six weeks is the minimum lead time for a full-leather guest book. Four weeks for a cloth-covered book. These are not padded figures. The leather needs to be pared, the boards need to be covered, the text block needs to be sewn and pressed, and the adhesive needs to cure before the book is handled. We have had requests with two weeks' notice and we have had to say no. Please get in touch as early as you can.

If your event is in the next three months, now is the right time to get in touch. We will tell you honestly whether we can fit it in and what the options are.