Bookgush celebration FAQs

How many people can I invite?

As many as love them. Plans start at up to fifteen Celebrators and range to unlimited — see Pricing. Five heartfelt books make a beautiful celebration; so do fifty.

How do I invite people?

One shareable link. Send it by text, email, or the group chat — anyone with the link can pick a prompt, choose their book, and record their video. No accounts, no app.

Do Celebrators need to create an account or download anything?

No. Celebrators do everything through the link in their browser. Only you, the Chief Celebrator, have an account.

What does a Celebrator actually have to do?

Three things: pick a prompt, choose a book whose title completes it, and record a short video on their phone. Most finish in under fifteen minutes. Then they get their book to you — in person on the day, or shipped ahead.

Can I see who has and hasn’t submitted?

Yes. Your dashboard shows every Celebrator’s status — book chosen, video in, note written — so you always know where the celebration stands.

How do I remind people who haven’t submitted?

Your dashboard shows exactly who’s outstanding, so a quick personal text does it — and a nudge from you lands better than any automated email.

Can two Celebrators choose the same book?

It’s rare — different prompts pull toward different titles — but if it happens, we’ll help you resolve it before the reveal.

Does Bookgush ship or sell the books?

No. Celebrators buy their own books wherever they like — new, used, or straight off their own shelf. Each Celebrator brings their book to the celebration or ships it to you ahead of time. Bookgush handles everything else: the prompts, the videos, the shelf, and the reveal.

What happens if a book doesn’t arrive in time?

The reveal happens anyway. If a Celebrator’s book is delayed, Bookgush prints that book’s cover so it’s still in the stack and still on the shelf. The Honoree picks it up, guesses, and gets the full reveal — and the real book joins their shelf when it arrives. This has been part of Bookgush since our very first celebration, when it happened to us.

Do the books have to be wrapped?

No. Wrapping every book in the same plain paper adds a beautiful layer of mystery — but it’s entirely optional, and Bookgush doesn’t wrap or ship anything. The secret was never the book. It’s who chose it.

How long should videos be?

Around thirty seconds to a minute is the sweet spot — long enough to say something true, short enough to keep the reveal moving. Videos upload directly from any phone (up to 100MB), or Celebrators can paste a link to a video hosted elsewhere.

Can a Celebrator change their book or re-record their video?

Ask them to contact you, and we'll update their submission — reach us at info@bookgush.com.

What kind of book should a Celebrator choose?

Any real book whose title completes their prompt in a way only the Honoree would understand. It doesn’t need to be new, long, or literary — the title is the message. Some of the best choices are used paperbacks with the perfect six words on the cover.

How does the reveal actually work?

The Honoree sits in front of the stack of books. They pick one up, find that same book on the Bookgush shelf on screen, and tap it. The prompt appears, completed by the book’s title, with the author’s name. They guess who chose it — out loud is best — then tap Reveal. The Celebrator’s name, video, and note appear. Then the next book.

What’s the best screen for the reveal?

A desktop — or better, mirrored to a TV so the whole room can watch. The reveal is designed as a shared moment: the guessing out loud, the room reacting, the face when the name appears. Phones are perfect for contributing; the reveal deserves a big screen.

What if a Celebrator can’t be there in person?

They’re still in the room where it counts. They ship their book to you ahead of time, and their video plays at the reveal like everyone else’s. If their book runs late, the printed cover stands in.

Does the Honoree need an account?

No. You open the reveal and hand it over — the Honoree just picks up books and taps.

Can we rewatch the celebration afterward?

Yes — every plan includes a full year of access after your reveal: rewatch the videos, reread the notes, and share the shelf with family and friends who couldn't be there. On the Forever plan, access never expires — and on Celebrate or Gather, you can add Keep it forever(+$49) at checkout, or contact us any time during your year of access and we'll make it permanent.

How much does it cost?

Plans start at $59: Celebrate ($59, up to 15 Celebrators), Gather ($79, up to 40 Celebrators), and Forever ($199, unlimited Celebrators, and the celebration stays online for good). Every plan includes the full reveal experience, video messages, occasion-curated prompts (or write your own), the live dashboard, cover backups, and a full year of online access after the reveal. The Forever plan never expires.

Are there add-ons?

Two: Keep it forever (+$49) makes a Celebrate or Gather celebration permanent, and Custom URL(+$10) gives it a link with the Honoree's name on it. Custom prompts aren't an add-on — writing your own is included on every plan.

Who pays for the books?

Each Celebrator buys their own — so the real cost of the gift is shared across the whole group, and every book is genuinely from the person who chose it.

Who can see the videos and notes?

Only your celebration. Everything Celebrators submit is private — never public, never shared, never sold.

What if I need help while planning?

You'll never be stuck. Write to info@bookgush.com and a real person — for now, the founder — will help you get every book on the shelf, usually the same day.