Getting Started with Lovestory: A Complete Guide

Setting up Lovestory for your wedding takes about as long as choosing your first dance song. Maybe five minutes if you're decisive, ten if you're not. The goal is simple: give your guests an easy way to record 5-second video messages that you'll actually want to watch years from now. Here's how to make it happen.

Creating Your Event

The first step is creating your account and event. Head over to getlovestory.com and sign up with your email. You'll verify your email address, and then you're in. Click "Create Event" and you'll need to fill in a few basics:

Event Name: Something like "Sarah & James' Wedding"
Event Date: When's the big day?
Custom URL: Keep it simple, like "sarah-james" rather than "sarah-and-james-johnson-wedding-2025"

You can add optional settings too. PIN protection is useful if you want to keep the event private and only share the code with actual guests. An expiration date will automatically close recording submissions after your wedding, which prevents random internet strangers from finding your link three months later. And if you want to collect guest names alongside the videos, you can toggle that on, though we've found that making it optional gets better participation rates.

Getting Your Link Out There

Once your event is live, you'll have access to a QR code and a direct link. The QR code is your secret weapon for in-person engagement. Print it on table cards at dinner, include it on your wedding website, display it at the venue entrance, or even add it to your physical invitations if you're planning ahead. The beauty of QR codes is that guests can pull out their phones, scan, and start recording in about 15 seconds.

The direct link works better for digital communication. Share it in your wedding WhatsApp group, post it on Instagram stories leading up to the day, include it in your email invitations, or add it to your wedding planning app. The more places you put it, the more likely guests are to actually use it.

Testing Before Launch

Before you blast your link to 150 wedding guests, test it yourself. Pull out your phone, navigate to your event page, and record a test video. Check the preview to make sure it looks good. Try both the front and back cameras to see how they work. Test the upload to confirm it goes through smoothly. This five-minute test run will catch any issues before your guests encounter them, and it'll also give you confidence that everything works as expected.

Maximizing Guest Participation

Here's what we've learned from hundreds of weddings: placement matters way more than you'd think. Put QR codes where people naturally gather and have downtime.

Best Placement Spots

Cocktail hour tables (guests are relaxed, drinks are flowing)
Near the bar (high-traffic spot, people are in good spirits)
Guest book table (people are already in "leave a memory" mode)
Bathroom mirrors (surprisingly effective for selfie videos)

That last one might surprise you. People pull out their phones anyway, and a mirror selfie video message feels natural in that setting. One couple printed small QR code stickers and placed them on bathroom mirrors, and they got 40% of their total videos from that single placement.

Timing Your Reminders

Don't just set up the QR codes and hope for the best. Mention your Lovestory event at key moments throughout the reception:

Welcome speech: "Hey everyone, we'd love to capture a 5-second memory from each of you tonight. Just scan the QR code on your table and hit record."
Between courses: People have natural downtime during dinner
During dancing: Capture the high-energy, champagne-buzzing moments
Late in the night: When inhibitions are low and emotions are high

The key is to mention it multiple times without being annoying. Two to three reminders throughout the evening is the sweet spot. Leading by example helps too. If you and your partner record a quick message early in the evening and show it to a few tables, people will see how easy and fun it is.

Handling Common Issues

The most common problem guests face is camera permission errors. When someone says their camera isn't working, walk them through tapping the browser address bar, finding the camera icon, and allowing access. Then refresh the page. That fixes it 90% of the time.

Upload failures usually mean weak WiFi. Wedding venues are notorious for spotty internet, so encourage guests to switch to their mobile data if the upload gets stuck. If someone's video file is too large (which occasionally happens with newer phones recording in 4K), ask them to try recording again.

If the link itself isn't working, double-check that your event is still active and hasn't expired, verify the URL is correct (typos happen, especially after a few drinks), and make sure guests are using https:// rather than http://.

After the Wedding

Once your wedding is over and you've returned from the honeymoon, log into your dashboard and download all your clips. You'll get a ZIP file containing every single video, organized, labeled, and ready to keep forever. From there, you can:

Create a highlight reel
Post your favorites on social media
Send personalized thank-you messages with specific clips
Compile everything into a private YouTube playlist to share with family

The free plan gives you 100 video clips and 14 days of storage, which is plenty for most weddings. But if you're expecting a big crowd or want to keep your videos forever, the premium plan offers unlimited clips and permanent storage for $99. You also get priority support and a custom end screen for the recording page.

What Real Couples Have Learned

Sarah and James put QR codes on every single table at their reception. By the end of the night, they had 147 clips from guests. "Worth every penny," Sarah said. "We watch them on every anniversary."

Maya and Alex initially put out QR codes but didn't mention them during dinner. They had maybe 20% participation. Then during their toast, Alex took 30 seconds to explain what Lovestory was and why they wanted everyone to participate. Engagement jumped to 80%. The lesson? Don't assume people will figure it out on their own.

Tom and Lisa told us their favorite clips were the messiest, most spontaneous ones. "My best man's video is him mid-dance move yelling 'I LOVE YOU GUYS' and nearly dropping his phone," Tom said. "That's the one we'll remember forever, not the carefully composed messages."

Getting Help When You Need It

If you run into issues or have questions, we're here to help. Email us at support@getlovestory.com or use the live chat on our website. We typically respond within 24 hours, though during peak wedding season (May through October) it might take a bit longer. Most couples find that everything works smoothly without needing support, but it's there if you need it.

The bottom line is this: Lovestory is designed to be invisible technology. Your guests shouldn't need a tutorial or a manual. They should scan, record, upload, and get back to celebrating. The simpler you make it, the more participation you'll get, and the better your collection of memories will be.

Ready to start collecting memories? Create your event now →