Sweet 16 and Quinceañera Sign-In Board Ideas Guests Will Remember

Every big party has a guest book, and most of them end up in a drawer. A sign-in board fixes that: guests sign around a big piece of art, and after the party it goes on the wall. Here is how to choose one for a sweet 16, a quinceañera, a bar or bat mitzvah, or a graduation.

What makes a great sign-in board

• It is about the guest of honor. A board with their face or name feels personal; a generic design does not.
• It is big enough. For 80 to 200 guests, 24×36 inches leaves room for everyone to write a short message.
• It has open space to sign. A white border around the art works best for markers.
• It still looks good after the party. That is the test: would they hang it in their room?

Idea 1: A portrait of the guest of honor, filled with everything they love

This is the one we make. The birthday girl or boy is hand-drawn, and their face is filled with their world: their friends, their music, their sport, their pet, their favorite places and colors. It is printed on a 24×36 inch board with room around it for every guest to sign.

At the party, guests find their own "piece" in the portrait (the team they play on, the inside joke, the trip they took together), which gets everyone talking. After the party, it is a one-of-a-kind piece of art on the wall.

It costs $550 and includes a sketch to approve, the printed board shipped to you, the digital file, and a time-lapse video of it being drawn, which is great for the party slideshow. See the sign-in board.

Idea 2: A photo collage board

Baby photos to now, printed as a collage with a border for signatures. Easy to make, very nostalgic.

Idea 3: A name or monogram in the party colors

Clean and simple. Matches the decorations, though it is less personal once the party is over.

Idea 4: A canvas guests paint on

Fun for creative crowds. Plan for drips, a table, and someone to supervise.

Tips for the day

• Put the board near the entrance on an easel, with 4 to 6 fine-tip markers in a cup.
• Ask one friend to invite guests to sign during the first hour, before everyone is dancing.
• Silver or gold markers stand out on darker art; black works on white borders.
• Order early. For a hand-drawn board, allow about 4 weeks before the party for the sketch, approval, printing and shipping.