Printing guestbook entries

Learn how to print all your guestbook entries or save them as a PDF to create a lasting physical keepsake of guest messages.

Want a physical keepsake of all your guestbook messages? You can print all entries at once! Create a beautiful printed record of every message and photo your guests have shared.

What printing does

The print function creates a print-friendly version of all your guestbook entries:

Includes:
- All guest names
- All messages
- Submission dates
- Photos (if uploaded by guests)
- Formatted for clean printing

Perfect for:
- Wedding albums and scrapbooks
- Thank you card reference
- Physical keepsakes
- Backup of memories
- Sharing with family who aren't online

It's a permanent record of your digital guestbook!

How to print guestbook entries

  1. Go to Site → Guestbook
  2. Click the Print button (printer icon) in the header
  3. A new tab opens with print-friendly view - use your browser's print function (Cmd+P on Mac, Ctrl+P on Windows) and choose your printer or save as PDF

Your guestbook entries are now on paper!

Print-friendly format

The print view is optimized for printing:

Formatting:
- Clean, simple layout
- No navigation or buttons
- White background
- Black text
- Proper page breaks

Content:
- Each entry clearly separated
- Guest names as headings
- Dates shown
- Messages fully displayed
- Photos included

No clutter:
- No website chrome
- No edit buttons
- No unnecessary graphics
- Just the essential content

Perfect for printing!

Print vs Save as PDF

When the print dialog opens, you have two options:

Print to physical printer:
- Select your printer
- Choose number of copies
- Pick paper size and orientation
- Print on actual paper

Save as PDF:
- Select "Save as PDF" as the printer/destination
- Creates a digital PDF file
- Can print later
- Easy to share digitally
- Archive electronically

Both options work from the same print dialog!

Saving as PDF

To save entries as PDF:

  1. Click Print to open print-friendly view
  2. Open print dialog (Cmd+P or Ctrl+P)
  3. In the printer dropdown, select Save as PDF (or Microsoft Print to PDF on Windows)
  4. Click Save or Print
  5. Choose where to save the file
  6. Name it something like "Wedding Guestbook Entries.pdf"
  7. Save!

Now you have a PDF archive!

What's included in the print

For each entry:

Guest name:
- Displayed prominently
- Like a heading

Submission date:
- When the entry was submitted
- Format: "Jan 15, 2024"

Message:
- Full text of the message
- All line breaks preserved
- Complete formatting

Photo (if applicable):
- Guest's uploaded photo
- Printed at reasonable size
- Maintains quality

Everything is included!

Print settings

When printing or saving as PDF, you can adjust:

Paper size:
- Letter (8.5" x 11")
- A4
- Legal
- Or custom

Orientation:
- Portrait (vertical) - recommended
- Landscape (horizontal)

Margins:
- Default usually works
- Adjust if needed for your printer

Color:
- Color (if you have color printer and photos)
- Black & white (for text-only or saving ink)

Pages:
- All pages (prints entire guestbook)
- Specific pages (if you only want certain entries)

Customize to your needs!

How many pages?

The number of pages depends on:

  • How many entries you have
  • Length of messages
  • Number and size of photos
  • Your font size and margins

Estimate:
- Short messages: 2-3 entries per page
- Long messages: 1-2 entries per page
- With photos: 1 entry per page

Check the print preview to see total pages!

Organizing printed entries

Ideas for organizing your printed guestbook:

Wedding album:
- Include in your photo album
- Interleave with wedding photos
- Create a memories section

Scrapbook:
- Add to wedding scrapbook
- Decorate pages around entries
- Add your own notes

Binder:
- Put in a three-ring binder
- Add dividers by date or theme
- Easy to add to later

Frame favorites:
- Print special entries on nice paper
- Frame and display
- Rotate throughout the year

Get creative with how you preserve them!

Printing multiple times

You can print your guestbook as many times as you want:

Why print multiple times:
- To share with parents or family
- After collecting more entries
- For different family members
- As gifts
- If you lose the first copy

Just click Print again anytime!

Printing specific language entries

If you have multiple languages:

  1. Select the language from the dropdown in Guestbook entries
  2. Click Print
  3. Only entries from that language will print

Or:

  1. Don't filter by language
  2. Print all
  3. Get entries from all languages in one print

Your choice!

Photo quality in prints

Photo quality depends on:
- Original upload quality
- Printer capabilities
- Paper quality
- Color vs black & white

Tips for better photo prints:
- Use color printer for photo entries
- Use photo paper for best quality
- Adjust printer settings to "high quality"
- Make sure originals were high-resolution

Photos might not be as crisp as on screen, but they'll print!

Black and white vs color printing

Black and white:
- Cheaper
- Text-focused
- Photos will be grayscale
- Good for basic archiving

Color:
- More expensive (ink/toner)
- Photos look better
- More vibrant
- Better for keepsake quality

Choose based on your budget and goals!

Printing private entries

If you've set entries to private:

  • You'll still see them in Guestbook entries
  • Clicking Print will include private entries
  • They print just like public entries
  • Only you (logged in) can see and print them

Print includes everything you can see!

Formatting issues

If the print looks weird:

Check:
- Browser zoom level (set to 100%)
- Print preview before printing
- Paper size matches your printer
- Margins aren't too large or small

Try:
- A different browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)
- Adjusting print settings
- Removing headers/footers in print dialog

Most issues are print settings related!

Printing from mobile

You can print from mobile devices too:

iOS:
- Open print view
- Use AirPrint to print to compatible printer
- Or save as PDF to Files app

Android:
- Open print view
- Use Google Cloud Print or compatible printer
- Or save as PDF to downloads

Mobile printing works!

Printing for scrapbooking

To print specifically for scrapbooks:

  1. Save as PDF first
  2. Open PDF in photo editing software
  3. Crop or resize entries as needed
  4. Print individual entries on cardstock or scrapbook paper
  5. Cut and arrange in scrapbook

More control over layout!

Including in thank you cards

Printed guestbook entries help with thank you cards:

  • Reference specific messages when writing cards
  • Quote memorable lines
  • Remember who gave what advice
  • Personalize each thank you

Keep printed guestbook nearby when writing!

Archival quality

For long-term preservation:

Paper:
- Use acid-free archival paper
- Photo quality for photos
- Heavier weight for durability

Storage:
- Keep out of direct sunlight
- Store in cool, dry place
- Use archival-safe album or binder
- Consider making a backup PDF too

Preserve these memories properly!

Digital backup

Even if you print, keep a digital backup:

  1. Save as PDF
  2. Store in cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud)
  3. Back up to external hard drive
  4. Email to yourself for extra security

Don't lose these precious messages!

Printing after the wedding

You can print anytime:

  • Right after the wedding
  • Months or years later
  • Whenever you get new entries
  • As a anniversary tradition

The print function is always available!

Sharing printed entries

Ways to share your printed guestbook:

  • Make copies for both sets of parents
  • Include in thank you gifts for wedding party
  • Share at post-wedding gatherings
  • Create copies for anniversary celebrations
  • Pass down to future generations

Spread the love!

Print quality checklist

Before printing:

  • ✓ Check print preview
  • ✓ Verify all entries are included
  • ✓ Test print one page first
  • ✓ Adjust settings if needed
  • ✓ Make sure photos look good
  • ✓ Check that text is readable
  • ✓ Confirm page count is reasonable

Then print the full set!

Cost considerations

Printing costs depend on:

Number of entries:
- More entries = more pages = more cost

Color vs black & white:
- Color ink is expensive
- BW is cheaper

Paper quality:
- Standard printer paper is cheap
- Photo paper or cardstock costs more

Where you print:
- Home printer (ink/toner cost)
- Print shop (per-page fee but better quality)

Budget accordingly!

Professional printing

For highest quality:

  1. Save guestbook as PDF
  2. Take to professional print shop (FedEx Office, local printer)
  3. Request:
    • High-quality paper
    • Color printing
    • Binding options (spiral, perfect bound)
    • Cover page

Create a professional keepsake book!

Printing your guestbook entries gives you a tangible, permanent record of all the love and well-wishes your guests shared on your wedding website!