Planning a memory book for an event: Our Memory Book

Whether it's a wedding, a milestone birthday, a retirement dinner, or a graduation party, an event memory book gives the people who were there a way to leave something lasting. A note, a photo, a story the guest of honor will read for years. Here's how to set one up from start to finish.

Before the event

Give yourself a week or two. You don't need much time, but a little breathing room helps.

Create your book with a clear, warm title. Something like "Sarah & James: Wedding Memories" or "Dad's 60th" tells people exactly what they're contributing to. Add a short description that sets the tone; guests will see it when they open the submission page.
Set visibility to link-only. For most events, you don't want the book publicly listed. Link-only means only people with the link (or QR code) can find it. You can change this later in book settings.
Turn on manual moderation. This is important for events. You probably don't want every submission going live immediately, especially if there's a toast or a surprise involved. Manual moderation lets you review everything first. See reviewing submissions for details.
Customise your book code to something short and memorable, like DADS60TH or SARAHANDJAMES. Guests can type this into the site or text it via SMS. See using book codes.
Test the flow yourself. Open the submission link in your phone's browser, write a quick test entry, and make sure it feels right. Delete it afterward.

At the event

The biggest factor in how many submissions you'll get is how visible the book is during the event.

Print QR codes. Put them on table cards, a poster near the entrance, or even the invitation itself. The QR code downloads as an SVG, so it prints crisp at any size. See sharing via link and QR code.
Add a short message next to the QR code: what the book is for and what you'd love people to share. Something like "Scan to leave a memory for Dad" is enough.
Set up SMS as a backup. Some guests, especially older relatives, may find it easier to text a message than scan a code. If you've enabled the SMS channel, include the phone number and book code on your signage. See SMS submissions.
Have the host mention it. A quick announcement ("There are cards on every table with a QR code, we'd love you to leave a memory") makes a real difference. People are happy to contribute when they're asked.

After the event

This is where the book comes together.

Review the moderation queue. Approve the submissions you want in the book. You can do this at your own pace; there's no rush. See reviewing submissions.
Rearrange the display order if you want a narrative flow, perhaps chronological, perhaps grouped by theme. See curating display order.
Pin the best submissions to the top so they're the first thing anyone sees. See pinning submissions.
Export as a PDF. Choose a theme that matches the occasion and download or print the book. It makes a beautiful gift. See exporting your data.
Share the link with the guest of honor, or gift them the printed version. Either way, they'll have something to revisit whenever they need a reminder of how loved they are.