The Backstory: How Voast Came to Revolutionize Wedding Guest Books

Founders Max (left), and Ben (right), testing the latest version of the Voast Video + Photo Booth.

Two Innovators Joined Forces

Voast’s journey begins with Max Losee of The 5000 Days Project, a groundbreaking interactive video journaling initiative that captures the stories of kids from kindergarten through high school—roughly 5000 days of their lives. As part of the project, Max developed a video journaling kiosk to collect these stories, amassing over half a million video entries from around the world.

In 2013, Max decided to bring one of his video journal prototypes to his own wedding. He thought it would be a unique way to capture heartfelt messages from his guests. It worked—despite a few hiccups, the video guest book was a total hit. But with his focus still on The 5000 Days Project, the idea of adapting the kiosk for weddings and events remained just that—an idea.

Fast-forward to 2018, and Max found himself in conversation with Ben, an engineer and expert tinkerer he had previously hired to design the third version of the video journal kiosk. Ben saw the potential for a wedding rental version and kept bringing it up. Max had been dreaming of this for over half a decade, but Ben had the technical expertise, drive, and logistical know-how to make it happen. Their combined skill sets formed the perfect partnership, and Voast was born.

How the name "Voast" came to be

Before they could officially launch, they needed a name. Testing their concept at a dozen weddings, they set up an early prototype—a bulky contraption affectionately nicknamed "Ankle Weights" due to the 20-pound gym weights securing it in place. As they observed guest interactions, they eventually retreated to the parking lot to brainstorm name ideas with their friend Will, an early supporter and creative mind.

During that session, someone referred to the concept as "leaving a video toast." Will, known for his knack for wordplay, mashed the words together, and Voast was born—a fusion of "video" and "toast." The name stuck, and the brand was officially on its way.

The "Aha" Moments That Proved Voast Was Something Special

For Max, the realization of Voast’s impact came when he watched the guest videos from his own wedding. He hadn’t been sure how well the idea had worked in the moment, but as he and his spouse watched the videos afterward, they laughed, cried, and cherished every second. Any product that evokes that kind of emotion is worth pursuing.

Ben’s defining moment happened at Voast’s first major wedding expo. As he explained to engaged couples how Voast was different from a traditional photobooth, he saw their expressions change—eyes lighting up as they realized the profound experience Voast could provide. Time and again, he repeated the same key phrases:

• "You're lucky if you get 30 seconds with each of your wedding guests. You're even luckier if you remember ANYTHING of what was said."

• "A photobooth is for your guests. A video guest book is for you and your guests because you get to go home with all the memories they share."

Once people caught the vision, they were hooked. And so were Max and Ben.

Scaling Voast from a Concept to a Nationwide Business

After testing Voast at local Seattle-area weddings, they refined the design, moving away from the cumbersome "Ankle Weights" prototype to a sleek, shippable, and easy-to-set-up kiosk. Their first out-of-state rental was in Chicago. As the event wrapped up, they anxiously logged in to check whether it had worked. The screen showed two hours of guest videos—captured entirely without their presence or oversight. Voast had proven itself.

That moment signified the true turning point: Voast wasn’t just an idea—it was a service people needed. From there, they were all in, determined to make Voast the go-to solution for capturing meaningful wedding memories.

The Future of Voast

Today, Voast continues to redefine the wedding guest experience, ensuring that couples don’t just remember their big day—they relive it through the words, laughter, and heartfelt messages of the people who matter most.

As Max and Ben put it, Voast isn’t just another wedding trend; it’s a way to capture the voices of the people who love you most—forever.

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