Engagement album/guestbook

larrygaga

I want the guestbook to be the engagement album. I think I want to do it with shutterfly, unless you guys think other services are better? The big question I have right now is if you guys think we need layflat pages. It doubles the price of the book, and I don't really care about layflat pages. I just worry about the writing smearing? I know I will have to get ultra fine quick dry sharpies. For about 160 guests, about how many pages do you think we need? I think each page will be half photo half blank space for writing, in an 8x11 book. I will also have a few completely blank pages here and there. I have no idea how to judge how much space I will need.

I would post this on the photography board, but it's slow and I like you guys better anyway.

lc07

-You need less space than you think. Oftentimes couples and families sign as a group. Some people will just sign instead of writing a "yearbook" style message

-layflat pages don't matter especially since it's a fairly large book

-fine sharpies won't smear

-I wouldn't do more than 20 pages total including pages that have pictures taking up most of them

lc07

Are you making it soon? I also found this on retailmenot but it expires soon

lc07

OOH here's a better coupon maybe - up to 50% off hard cover books til 12/14/14

holyguacamole79

[IMG]http://i58.tinypic.com/5vyhq9.jpg[/IMG] We did this!

We have a 12" by 12" book of 20 pages and we had 210 guests RSVP.  

We had PLENTY of extra space in the book. Let me know of you'd like for me to send more pictures of how it was laid out.

larrygaga

lc07 I'm not sure if I will have it done by then, but now i will try!!

holyguacamole79 that is pretty close to what I want to do!!!

I "wrote" a little blurb on the first page

TO OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY:

We are so grateful that you could join us today as we become husband and wife.  Please help us to remember this day with your words of wisdom, well wishes and favorite memories. Thank you for being a part of this important day in our lives.

I kind of stole it from a basic stock shutterfly blurb. I am obviously not the most amazing writer so if this needs any changing please tell me!

holyguacamole79

@larrygaga‌, let me know if you want me to scan some more pages for you to get layout ideas.

larrygaga

holyguacamole79 said:

@larrygaga‌, let me know if you want me to scan some more pages for you to get layout ideas.

Hey if you feel like doing it I would welcome it!!! 

luckya23

I got a free guest book code for shutterfly.  I think it was from offerpop.com - let me see if I can find it.

ETA: https://offerpop.com/Contest.psp?c=619816&u=1127867&a=194975693850063&p=9131624063&rest=0&v=After&k=fJbW5cNHXmorGUsP

Although it says expires in July, it did bring me to the page, though I already got my code.  Let me know if it works!

charlottesmom0626

I make books on shutterfly all the time!!

I designed one for our guestbook with our engagement photos too. I did 20 pages (that's what they give you standard), but with photos on each page/large photos across two pages. There's a lot of "open" space for people to sign, but also if they choose not to sign, there's a photo there to take up some space.

I'm going all out and getting the lay flat pages as well as a leather cover because with the discounts that pop up on there it's worth it to me to have a special keepsake album.

Also depending on how much time you have, they are constantly running specials. 40% off, 50% off photobooks, etc.

kat1114

I bought our guestbook from Shutterfly a few weeks ago. I waited until they had 50% off, and I used a gift card coupon from David's Bridal. For a 28 page lay flat book, we paid $44. I really like the way the lay flat pages look, but I have nothing to compare it to.

I also bought special photo markers on Amazon. I read that while Sharpies won't smudge, eventually they will yellow overtime.

theartistformerlyknownas

I would just do the photos full page. People can sign in the lighter spaces but if they don't, you have a nice picture instead of an empty page.

luckya23

I just had this come up on my mobile Facebook again.
http://offerpop.com/Contest.psp?c=686083&u=1180351&a=161033847281768&p=9131624063&rest=0&v=After&k=ASBFdoPqJUruLIZl

Kauris

We registered at Macy's and they offered us a free shurtterfly book, I waited until shutterfly had a 40% off discount on photo booths. We ended up getting our book with lay flat pages and the upgraded matte finish, with all the discounts, our book ended up being $18. They are good about allowing multiple discounts on items.

charlottesmom0626

Hey OP: this is a bit of a bragging post, but Ithink today would be a gold day to order!!! I got an email this morning for 50% off books (code monstersale) and free shipping over $39 (ship39). I also found a coupon for 10 free cards (blackfriday)... So I ordered my guest book (leather cover, glossy pages) 10 Christmas cards, and free shipping- came to $40 total. Savings of over $75

princessleia22

I did a Shutterfly photo book with my engagement photos with leaving every other page blank.  We also had a polaroid camera and had guests include their own photo with their message or advice. We did 8x8 book with the lay flat pages.  We easily fit 2 photos/signatures per page, so I would assume around probably 6-8 per page for 8x11 book... and most people sign per couple or family, so that would be 6-8 families per page, not 6-8 guests. 

I did really like the lay flat pages and would recommend them, but don't think it's super critical if you want to save money.  But, I figured that it is a lifelong keepsake, especially since it has photos of all our guests, so I wanted to go with better quality.  I also did a wedding album, with photos of our wedding & honeymoon, to match it so we have a 2-book set now, both with lay flat pages. I like that they show that extra bit of quality and importance with the thicker pages. I did photo albums for both set of parents with standard pages and they turned out fine too. 

I tested out a lot of various markers.  If you do white pages, regular fine point sharpies are fine. If you do dark pages, it gets harder to find a silver marker that won't smear and it limits the choices a lot. None of the metallic Sharpies dried super quick. The best pens/markers I found were Prismacolor metallic silver/gold.  They dried instantly and were really awesome... my book came out absolutely free of smears.