Ring, Ring, Ring: It’s your wedding phone

Leave a message after “I do!”. Welcome to the hottest trend in telecommunications: The wedding phone audio guest book. That’s right. Now, instead of guests signing a boring old guest book, they can sing you a song, tell you a joke, rehash old memories, and tell you a story.

The guest book, once a pretty straightforward practice, is getting a facelift. Gone are the days of a traditional pen and paper book. Wedding phone guest books are having a moment with everyone from The Knot to Brides featuring them. So, what are they, and how can Ooma help?

What is a wedding phone guest book?

The wedding phone guest book trend goes along with weddings going higher tech. Instead of guests signing their name and writing a quick note, they can now leave you a message. It’s an audio file of messages your guests leave you at your reception. It can be done in two ways:

• Guests call a specialty number to leave you a message.
• Guests use a vintage phone at your reception to record a message for you.

In both instances, Ooma can provide the phone. A chrome or black retro kettle phone for use costs just $149.99 at Ooma–much cheaper than the $300 to $500 price range we are seeing to rent one. And bonus, you own the phone and get free VoIP home phone service (you just pay the applicable taxes and fees) from Ooma.

Pros of an audio guest book

The guest book is just a small part of your wedding, but a great way to capture messages to the bride and groom. As you debate a phone guest book, consider why documenting memories that aren’t stagnant on a piece of paper makes sense:

• Captures the moment: A wedding phone can be so much more than a place for guests to leave you a message. You can stage it to make the perfect photo opportunity and capture the moment with a combo of audio and visuals.
• Shares personality: Not only can your guests leave you a sweet message, but audio allows their personality and sincerity to shine through.
• Versatile memories: Audio messages can be used in many ways, from wedding video commentary to being made into keepsakes or used in thank-you notes.

Cons of an audio guest book

While it’s a great idea to use a phone guest book, there are some things that can go wrong, so proper planning goes a long way. It doesn’t hurt to put out a traditional guest book, too, to give guests options and as a backup if something goes awry. Here are some downfalls to consider:

• Price: An audio guest book phone is considerably more expensive than a traditional guest book. If the budget is tight, this might be a place to save on costs.
• Technical issues: As with most technology, you run the risk of problems like the messages corrupting, the phone getting bumped and unplugged or simply the technology not working as it should.
• Background noise: Placement needs to be thought out with a wedding phone, as it has the potential to pick up a lot of background noise and muffle out the messages your guests are leaving you.

Steps to set up your audio guest book

Once you decide a wedding phone is what you want, it’s time to get it set up. Follow this step-by-step guide:

1. Step 1: Pick the type of voicemail guest book you want, between a special phone number or a retro wedding phone. Keep in mind that wedding phones are different than using a phone number. Getting an Ooma phone number that guests can call from their own phone numbers or a provided retro phone at the venue could be more affordable than buying a specialized wedding phone.

2. Step 2: Coordinate with a vendor in the industry to ensure the technology is set up and ready to go.

3. Step 3: Record your greeting to your guests. (“Hi, it’s the happy couple—leave your love after the beep!”).

4. Step 4: Place the phone in a visible, fun spot at your wedding. Choose one that gets traffic but isn’t in the middle of all the noise.

5. Step 5: Create and post specific instructions so guests know what is expected and how to use the phone (or how to call the specific phone number you’ve set up.)

6. Step 6: Collect and save the recordings.

Bonus tip: Designate a time for your VIPs – like your wedding party and parents – to leave you a message. They can get just as busy at your wedding as you, so designating a time for them to leave messages to the bride and groom ensures you don’t miss messages from them.

Make your wedding phone fun and memorable

Now for the fun part! A wedding phone adds a bit of personality to your special day. Consider how you set it up. Create a theme around it that complements your wedding. For example, are you having a vintage-themed wedding? A chrome wedding phone is perfect. We’ve even seen couples use a phone booth or backdrop to make it a photo opp, which can liven up the whole experience. You can also have your videographer record people leaving you a message to use in your wedding video, creating even more lasting memories.

What to do with the messages after the wedding

After your big day, you (or a vendor of your choice) can transfer your messages to your computer or save them as an audio file. Your messages can be mixed into your wedding video or turned into a keepsake of your special day. If you aren’t tech-savvy, don’t fret; there are many companies in the wedding industry that can help.

A guest book that truly speaks from the heart

If you’re ready to capture the personality and emotions of your wedding guests as they experience your wedding, Ooma can help. We would love to be even a small part of your special day by providing the phone that captures all the love.