GuestbookEvents

Brand Guidelines

Version 1.0

2026

The Brand

Guestbook Events is a premium social members group curating unforgettable experiences across dining, sport, travel, wellbeing and culture — launching in Brighton & Hove.

Our brand is rooted in warmth, quiet luxury and genuine human connection. Every touchpoint — from an email subject line to an event poster — should feel considered, unhurried and refined.

Colour Palette

Obsidian Black

#0a0a0a

Primary background, main UI surface

Charcoal

#1c1c1c

Cards, panels, secondary surfaces

Gold

#c9a96e

Primary accent, CTAs, highlights, links

Ivory

#f5f0e8

Primary text on dark backgrounds

Warm Cream

#faf7f2

Light background on public pages

Deep Gold

#b8935a

Gold hover state, buttons

Mid Grey

#6b6b6b

Secondary body text, supporting copy

Border Grey

#2a2a2a

Dividers, borders, rule lines

Usage Rule

Always use dark backgrounds (#0a0a0a / #1c1c1c) as the primary canvas. Gold (#c9a96e) is used sparingly — only for accents, calls-to-action and headings. Never use gold as a background colour for large areas. White is avoided entirely; use Ivory (#f5f0e8) for text.

Typography

Display / Serif

Cormorant Garamond

Elegant. Timeless. Expressive.

Weights used: 300 (Light), 400 (Regular)

Use for: headings, event titles, pull quotes

Download from Google Fonts →

Body / Sans-serif

Inter

Clean. Functional. Legible.

Weights used: 300 (Light), 400 (Regular), 500 (Medium)

Use for: body copy, labels, buttons, UI text

Download from Google Fonts →

Type Scale Examples

H1 — Page Title

An Evening at The Grand

H2 — Section Heading

Upcoming Experiences

Eyebrow Label

PRIVATE DINING · BRIGHTON

Body Copy

A handpicked selection of intimate experiences for our members.

CTA / Button

BOOK YOUR PLACE

Logo Usage

Standard (Left-Aligned)

Dark Background

GUESTBOOKMEMBERS CLUB

Light Background

GUESTBOOKMEMBERS CLUB

Centered

Dark Background

GUESTBOOKMEMBERS CLUB

Light Background

GUESTBOOKMEMBERS CLUB

Rules

  • — Always maintain clear space equal to the height of the "G" around all sides of the logo
  • — Never stretch, rotate or apply effects to the logo
  • — Never change the typeface or letter spacing
  • — Never place the logo on a busy photographic background without a dark overlay
  • — Minimum size: 80px wide (digital), 25mm wide (print)

Creating the Logo in Adobe Illustrator

  1. 1.Set up your canvas: Create a new document. For standard orientation, use 160 × 36 artboard. For centered, use 160 × 50.
  2. 2.Add "GUESTBOOK" text: Use Cormorant Garamond, 22pt, Regular weight, letter-spacing of 4px. For dark versions, set fill to #f5f0e8 (Ivory). For light versions, use #0a0a0a (Black).
  3. 3.Position the main text: In standard alignment, position at x:0, y:22. In centered, position at x:80 (centered), y:25.
  4. 4.Add "EVENTS" subtext: Use Inter, 7pt, Light weight, letter-spacing of 5px. For dark versions, use #c9a96e (Gold). For light versions, use #b8935a (Deep Gold).
  5. 5.Position the subtext: In standard alignment, position at x:1, y:33. In centered, position at x:80 (centered), y:42.
  6. 6.Convert to outlines (optional): Select both text elements → Type → Create Outlines. This converts text to vectors for print-ready files.
  7. 7.Export: File → Export As → Choose format (SVG for web, PDF for print). Ensure "Create PDF compatible file" is checked for print use.

Tone of Voice

Warm & Inviting

We speak like a trusted friend who happens to know all the best places. Never cold or corporate. Always welcoming.

Understated Luxury

We don't shout about exclusivity — we let the quality speak. Confident without being arrogant. Refined without being stuffy.

Considered & Concise

Every word earns its place. We avoid filler phrases, buzzwords and padding. Short sentences. Clear intent.

Human & Personal

We address our members as individuals. We use 'you' and 'we' freely. We avoid jargon and never talk down to our audience.

✓ Do say

  • "Join us for an evening of…"
  • "A few tickets remain."
  • "We'd love to have you there."
  • "Exclusively for members."
  • "A curated evening of…"

✗ Don't say

  • "Don't miss out!!!"
  • "LAST CHANCE — Buy NOW"
  • "Luxury lifestyles for the elite"
  • "Book your ticket today!"
  • "This is an unmissable event"

Email Style Guide

Subject Lines

  • —Keep under 50 characters where possible
  • —Sentence case only — never ALL CAPS
  • —No emojis in subject lines
  • —Use intrigue over urgency — e.g. "An evening worth saving" not "Book now before it's too late"
  • —Pre-header text should complement, not repeat, the subject

Email Structure

  • —Open with a warm single-sentence greeting or scene-setter
  • —Event details in a clean, scannable block (date / time / venue / price)
  • —One clear CTA per email — gold button, short label
  • —Sign off with "The Guestbook Events Team" — never a first name alone
  • —Footer: unsubscribe link, address, social handle

Visual Style

  • —Dark background (#0a0a0a) with ivory body text
  • —Single hero image — full width, high quality, landscape format
  • —Gold (#c9a96e) CTA button — no rounded corners
  • —Cormorant Garamond for headings (fall back to Georgia), Inter for body (fall back to Arial)
  • —Generous white space — never cramped or cluttered

Advertising & Social Media

Photography Style

Mood

Warm, intimate, candlelit. Low ambient lighting with golden tones. Avoid harsh flash or overly bright, clinical imagery.

Subjects

People enjoying themselves naturally — not posed. Beautifully presented food, drinks and table settings. Architectural details of venues.

Editing

Warm colour grade with slightly lifted shadows. Desaturated highlights. Film-like texture preferred over over-processed looks.

Social Media

Handle

@guestbookevents

Posting Tone

  • — Aspirational but accessible
  • — Short captions — let the image lead
  • — Hashtags kept to 3–5, always at the end
  • — Stories: event previews, behind-the-scenes, member moments

Ad Creative Rules

  • — Always include the logo in a corner
  • — Dark overlay on any photographic background
  • — Headline in Cormorant Garamond, max 6 words
  • — Single CTA: "Apply for membership" or "Book your place"
  • — No stock photos — original photography only

Print & Collateral

  • —Paper: uncoated, cream or natural white stock. Min 120gsm for flyers, 350gsm for cards.
  • —Ink: black or dark navy base with gold foil or spot UV for accents where budget allows.
  • —Layout: generous margins, portrait orientation preferred. Let content breathe.
  • —No borders or decorative frames — simplicity signals quality.

Brand Positioning

We are

WarmRefinedConsideredInclusiveCuratedIntimateAuthenticSocialAspirational

We are not

FlashyExclusivePretentiousLoudCorporateGenericUrgentElitist
GUESTBOOKMEMBERS CLUB

Brand Guidelines v1.0 · Confidential