Funeral guest book

What you print

The download is one PDF on US Letter paper: the cover, 10 sign-in pages and 5 memory pages. The cover is the front of the matching funeral program, so the photo, colors and lettering match. Each sign-in page has two columns, for a name and an address or how the guest knew them, and you can rename both. Each memory page has three boxes with lines, where guests can write a story or a note to the family.

Print the cover on card stock and the other pages on regular 24 lb paper, which takes ballpoint and gel pens without bleeding through.

Setting up the table

Put the guest book near the entrance, where people stop anyway, with two or three pens and a small sign. A welcome sign on an easel next to it helps people find it. If you have the space, add a bowl of blank cards for memories and a basket for sympathy cards. Ask a cousin or friend to keep an eye on the table and swap in fresh pages if it fills up.

Guests often aren’t sure what to write. See what to write in a funeral guest book for simple examples you can print and leave on the table.

Questions families ask

How many guest book pages do I need?

Each sign-in page has 17 lines, and couples usually share a line. The download includes 10 sign-in pages, enough for about 170 entries. Print more of that page if you expect a large crowd.

Should guests write their address?

It helps when you send thank-you cards later. If you would rather not collect addresses, change the second column to "How you knew them" in the editor.

Do I still need a guest book if there is an online memorial?

Many families do both. Older guests often prefer to sign by hand, and the pages make a keepsake to keep with the program.

What kind of binder works best?

A 1 inch three-ring binder with a clear front pocket. Slide the printed cover into the pocket and punch the inside pages. A clipboard works too for a small service.