16 Exclusive Guest Book Templates – Editable – Word

A guest book is a hardcover book with pages inside meant for guests to sign who are attending an event or function.

When creating this book, you must ensure that there are lines where the guests can write and sign their names. There should also be space for their contact information and comments or good wishes. This book is used at funerals, weddings, seminars, baby showers, meetings, birthdays, anniversary celebrations, resorts, and even rental properties.

While creating this book, customize it to suit your purpose. The common design of this book is that it should be blank and have a beautiful cover with its purpose imprinted on top. You can also make it look fun and unique by using colored letters or a vintage typewriter as the book. Another option is using postcards that will be collected after the event or function.

In this article, you will learn more about what you should include in this book, why it is necessary, the steps of creating it, and the practices you should observe to create a great one. You will also learn how to create it using a template to ensure that you save time and effort. In addition, the book template will guarantee that you have an accurate document. 

You can download the following templates for free:

Why Do You Need a Guest Book For Your Event? 

You need a guest book for your event to allow your guests to share their wishes and thoughts regarding the event. With this book, you will have a reference point for your event in the future. For some events like weddings, you need this book since it is a beautiful tradition that is embraced by many. 

Also, having it gives you a memory keepsake and helps you make connections. That means you will remain with the book, which will act as a souvenir of the event. Moreover, you can easily refer to the book to identify all the guests who attended your event and even appreciate them for attending. For instance, it is thoughtful to thank guests who attended a funeral event to support you.

Tip: Ensure that during the event, you place your guest book where the attendees will see it, for instance, at the entryway or near the restroom. Putting a few nice pens next to the book is also essential. You can also assign someone to take the book around to the guests for signing.

Although you can access pre-made books or templates online, creating them from scratch is thoughtful and acceptable.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make one on MS Word:

Step 1: 

Open Microsoft Word and click the File Tab. Proceed to click New and type Guest Book into the search office.com templates. Double-click on the suggested option to open the template. 

Step 2: 

Highlight the placeholder present, such as Name, and include your preferred text, such as Guest Book. Also, highlight other placeholders and include details like Your Name Here, Full Address, and Contact Information such as phone number. Finally, do not forget to include a section for Sign in and even Comments.

Step 3: 

You can also add the detail of the event on the top part of your books, such as Happy Birthday (Name), Happy Anniversary (Name of Couple), or other details you might prefer. Just click on the top placeholders and indicate these details.

Step 4: 

The next step is to add lines for the guests to fill in the required details. You can click the Home tab, then Copy and Paste. This will make it easy for you to copy and paste the existing lines into a space on the page. 

Step 5: 

If you want to change the text style, ensure that you click on the Home tab and then Font to make the font, font color, and size changes you wish to make to the text. This way, your book will suit your event or function.

Step 6: 

You can also change the background color of the pages by clicking the Page Layout tab, then the Page Color button, and choosing the color that matches your event. If you are printing your guest book, you will have a white border around the page since printers do not print “bleeds” (color around the edges of the paper).

Step 7: 

To make your edges better and more attractive, click the Page Layout tab, then the Page Borders, to add a design to the edges of your page. 

Step 8: 

You can add clip art by clicking the Insert tab and then Clip Art. Ensure you type the phrase or word whose image you want to include on your guest books, such as wedding, birthday, or balloons.

Step 9: 

You can add images to your guest book page depending on your needs. Click the Insert tab, then the Picture button, and browse the available pictures before double-clicking on the picture you like.

Step 10: 

Finally, click on the File tab, select Save As, and choose where you want to save it. Enter the name in the File name textbox and click Save to save your guest book. 

When making the book, there are practices that you should observe if you want to create a good one.

Below are some of the best practices to consider:

Identify the purpose

Start by establishing the purpose of your book. You need to know whether you are creating it for an event, a particular function, or a special occasion. With this purpose in mind, you can easily choose an appropriate design and layout for your book.

Choose an accessible and appealing format 

Ensure that the format you choose for your book is appealing and attractive. It should also be easy for guests to use and understand. For most cases, it is preferable to use a table or list format for easy filling.  

Add prompts or questions 

In your book, you can add prompts or questions. These are meant to encourage the guests to leave meaningful comments, share beautiful memories, and include heartfelt wishes for you as they sign their names. 

Customize the design 

Ensure that you customize the design of your book to match the theme, color, and style of your event. Also, customizing guarantees that the fonts and images you use are visually appealing to the guests.

Provide enough space to write 

Another critical practice you should observe is leaving enough space for each guest to write their details and comments. It will be sad and disappointing if there is not enough space in your book for all your guests to sign. 

Use digital guest book

Finally, it is advisable to use a digital guest book if possible. These virtual books have become a new trend that will offer your guests a unique and exciting experience. Digital book quickly and effectively organize information, can include maps and other essential instructions regarding your event or function, and can be remotely updated. They also guarantee enough space for guests to sign their names and include their comments.

Whether it is an event or a function, you need to have a guest book. This book allows your guests to sign in and share their comments about your occasion. It is a way for you to have a memory keepsake that you can review after the event and in the future. In addition, with this book, you can identify everyone who attended your function and thank them for attending.

Remember that it should contain enough space for guests to write their name and contact information, sign in and share sweet memories, comments, or wishes with you. You can download the book template online or create one from scratch on Microsoft Word. The idea is to ensure that you have a unique and appealing book that the guests will be interested in filling. Also, you can use a digital book to eliminate the issue of space and storage.