The Guest App Alternative for Weddings (2026)

The Knot closed The Guest, its wedding photo sharing app, to new events in October 2022. Lense takes over that job: put a QR code on the tables and every guest gets a digital disposable camera on their own phone. All their shots land in one album that belongs to you.

What happened to The Guest app?

The Guest helped couples collect the photos and videos their guests took at the wedding. The Knot made it free in 2018 and stopped new events on October 12, 2022, citing low usage and new App Store limitations. Downloads from past events were offered until June 2024, so if you still need photos from an old event, check with The Knot.

How Lense's disposable camera app works in 4 steps

Your event is set up in minutes. Guests capture the day with a disposable camera, and every shot lands in one shared album.

Set up your wedding event
Step 1

Set up your wedding event

Add your names, date and a cover photo on our website. About two minutes later, your wedding has its own QR code.

QR code card
QR code card
QR code card
Step 2

Share your custom QR code

Print it on table cards, a welcome sign or the invitations. Our free QR templates help, and guests join without an account.

A disposable camera for every guest
Step 3

A disposable camera for every guest

One scan opens a disposable camera in the browser, with as many shots per guest as you allow.

Your shared wedding album
Step 4

Your shared wedding album

Show photos live, hide them until the morning after, or keep the album to yourself. Download everything with one click.

A disposable camera, always within reach

Event photo album

A disposable camera right on guest's lockscreen

Event photo album

Experience the fun of delayed album revealing

All your guests' photos on the big screen

Put guest photos on a TV or projector while the party is still going, so the whole room sees the day through each other's eyes.

New photo!

Scan & add!

New shots show up seconds after they're taken.
Runs on a TV, projector or LED wall via a link.
Part of every Lense event at no extra cost.
Learn more about Live Photo Wall

What couples say about Lense

Rated 4.9 based on 3500+ ratings. Read reviews

“This is hands down the best disposable camera app around. The pricing is perfect and the add-ons are wonderful. Everyone loved being able to see the photos taken by the other guest. ”

KE
Kellee
United States

“We used Lense for our wedding, and we absolutely love to see all the pictures our guests took during the day. Lense is amazingly simple to set up and I would recommend to anyone who wants to keep many memories of a special day.”

AH
Anne Harryman
Bath, UK

“This was a great addition to the traditional wedding photography! Everyone enjoyed it, will cherish these photos”

SC
Sarah C
USA

More than just a The Guest replacement

The Guest gathered the photos your guests had already taken. Lense also gives them a reason to take more.

A shot limit that makes every photo count

Give each guest a set number of shots, just like a real disposable camera, or let them shoot without limits.

One tap from the lock screen

On iPhone the camera stays on the lock screen after the first scan, so nobody has to go looking for the QR code again.

Candid shots from every table

Guests catch the speeches, the first dance and the late-night moments from exactly where they were standing.

Camera roll photos welcome

Shots taken with the regular camera app can go into the same album, so nothing gets left out.

After the last dance

A reveal worth waiting for

Keep the album hidden and open it together the next morning, or let photos appear as they come in.

Everything in one download

Save the whole album in full quality whenever you like during the 12 months it is stored.

Ready to set up your Lense event?

Your QR code is ready in about two minutes.

Frequently asked questions

Is The Guest app still available?

No. The Guest stopped accepting new events on October 12, 2022. According to its announcement, downloads from past events were possible until June 2024.

Why did The Guest app shut down?

The Guest named low overall usage and new App Store limitations. No exact reason was made public; The Knot, which ran the app, appears to focus on its other products.

What is the best alternative to The Guest app?

For weddings, Lense covers what couples used The Guest for, getting every guest's photos in one place, and adds a disposable camera experience, a choice of reveal moment and a live photo wall. Nobody has to install an app.

Was The Guest app free?

Yes. The Knot dropped the $100 fee in 2018. Lense costs nothing for up to 7 guests and $34.99 for a wedding with up to 100 guests.

How is Lense different from The Guest?

Unlike The Guest, Lense is still open for new events. Besides collecting photos from guests' camera rolls, Lense gives each guest a digital disposable camera with a shot limit you set, and you choose when the album is revealed.

How quickly can I set up a replacement before my wedding?

Fast enough for a last-minute switch: creating an event takes about two minutes. If you'd like printed QR codes on your tables or invitations, set it up a few weeks ahead so there's time to order prints.

Can I try Lense before my wedding?

Yes, at no cost. An event with 7 guests or fewer is free, which is enough for a test round with a few friends before the big day.
📸 Try the demo camera