diff --git a/app.py b/app.py
index 96393ee..94429a3 100644
--- a/app.py
+++ b/app.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ def init_db():
             id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
             first_name TEXT NOT NULL,
             last_name TEXT NOT NULL,
-            email TEXT NOT NULL,
+            email TEXT,
             location TEXT NOT NULL,
             timestamp DATETIME DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
         )
@@ -42,11 +42,11 @@ def index():
         email = request.form.get('email', '').strip()
         location = request.form.get('location', '').strip()
 
-        # Basic validation checks
-        if not (first_name and last_name and email and location):
-            error = "All fields are required."
-            logger.warning("Validation error: Missing required fields.")
-        elif not is_valid_email(email):
+        # Basic validation checks (email is optional)
+        if not (first_name and last_name and location):
+            error = "First name, last name, and location are required."
+            logger.warning("Validation error: Missing required fields (first name, last name, location).")
+        elif email and not is_valid_email(email):
             error = "Invalid email address."
             logger.warning("Validation error: Invalid email address '%s'.", email)
 
diff --git a/templates/index.html b/templates/index.html
index 6c10d9d..4abf49c 100644
--- a/templates/index.html
+++ b/templates/index.html
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
         .scrolling-content {
             display: inline-block;
             padding: 10px;
-            /* Adjust the animation duration to control speed */
             animation: scroll-left 20s linear infinite;
         }
 
@@ -42,6 +41,12 @@
     <div class="container mt-5 mb-5">
         <h1 class="mb-4">Museum Visitor Guestbook</h1>
 
+        <!-- Brief instructions for the form -->
+        <div class="alert alert-info" role="alert">
+            Please fill in your details below. First name, last name, and location are required.
+            Providing your email is optional, but it helps us follow up if needed.
+        </div>
+
         {% if error %}
         <div class="alert alert-danger" role="alert">
             {{ error }}
@@ -58,8 +63,8 @@
                 <input type="text" class="form-control" id="last_name" name="last_name" required>
             </div>
             <div class="mb-3">
-                <label for="email" class="form-label">Email:</label>
-                <input type="email" class="form-control" id="email" name="email" required>
+                <label for="email" class="form-label">Email (Optional):</label>
+                <input type="email" class="form-control" id="email" name="email">
             </div>
             <div class="mb-3">
                 <label for="location" class="form-label">Location:</label>