How to Make a Wedding Photo Album

Guide Note

In addition to the professional wedding album you receive from your photographer, you may want to create a keepsake to preserve the photos that you took throughout the event. Our guide, How to Make a Wedding Photo Album, will show you how to incorporate your photos in a book that tells the story from start to finish. Learn how to print, gather and organize your memories to capture the details of your special day.

Table of Contents

Wedding Album Tips

  1. Preview any wedding snapshots you took yourself. Opt to print only those that best represent your wedding memories.
  2. Print pictures with a personal photo printer or through a photo lab or online developing service.
  3. Back up all of your images, especially those that you didn't print, on archival quality compact discs.
  4. Gather photos taken at your wedding by family and friends, along with memorabilia that you'd also like to include.
  5. Choose an archival quality album with enough room to house your photos and wedding tidbits.
  6. Put the contents into categories or chronological order before you add them to the album.
  7. Leave slots open in each section as you fill the album since you may receive additional photos later.
  8. Adorn the cover with wedding-related embellishments and label the spine as a helpful and decorative touch.

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Introduction

  • Your wedding day is filled with so many memorable moments that pass so quickly, a photo album is a simple way to capture and relive them for years to come. Gather any snapshots taken throughout the event (along with wedding ephemera and written memories) to build an album that will tell the story of your special day from start to finish.

Step 1: Preview Your Wedding Images

  • (Creative Commons photo by Avinash Meetoo)
    (Creative Commons photo by Avinash Meetoo)
    Choose only the best, most evocative images from your camera's memory card to prevent unnecessary printing costs.
  1. Before deleting any files from your camera's Secure Data card, Compact Flash card or memory stick, download the contents onto your computer hard drive.1 It's far too easy to accidentally erase your entire card, so it's important to have a backup of the images.
  2. Preview the photos and delete any from the memory card that are practically duplicates. If you have 20 shots of your husband tossing the garter, for example, choose two or three that best capture the moment. This will not only cut down the size of your album, but also keep it more interesting.
  3. Delete any shots that are completely out of focus, too dark or overexposed.
    • -Remember, you don't have to print every photo you take. However, you may want to keep some shots that aren't technically perfect if they're the only ones you have of a cherished moment from the wedding.
  • Note: If you took candid wedding shots using a film camera as opposed to a digital model, you won't be able to preview the images before the film is developed. As an alternative, find a developer that allows you to pick and pay for only the shots you like.

Step 2: Print Desired Photos

  • Consider these convenient options to print the photos you want to preserve in your wedding album.

Select a Printer

  1. Print pictures whenever the mood strikes with your own photo-quality printer.2
    • -Save space and money by purchasing a compact, portable version that prints photos up to 4 x 6 inches.
    • -Some models give you the option of previewing, adjusting, cropping and printing straight from your camera's memory card rather than using a computer.
    • -You may prefer a professional style large-format printer if you want to print photos up to 13 x 19 inches.3 This would come in handy when outputting images of the entire bridal party or your extended family.
  2. Visit a local photo developer or a store such as Walmart, Costco or Target that features an inexpensive and quick developing service.4 5 6
    • -Taking your camera's memory card in for processing is an economical option if you don't think you'll need a home photo printer in the future.
  3. Get the convenience of custom photo developing without leaving home by uploading your photo files to a website like Snapfish or Shutterfly.7 8
    • -The online developing services will print and mail snapshots to you in a few days.
    • -The sites also let you share the images with family members and view and print any wedding photos uploaded by your friends.

Remember Archival Quality

  1. Use archival safe photo paper if you're printing photos at home or ensure that the lab you've chosen does the same.9 Opt for glossy or matte photo paper—the colors on glossy prints may appear more saturated, but matte prints are better at concealing fingerprints.
  2. Choose printer ink recommended by your printer manufacturer if you're outputting pictures at home. Using compatible photo paper, printer and inks will not only generate the best images, but also keep them smudge-free and prevent fading.10
  • Note: Backup all of your wedding photos onto long lasting, archival quality compact discs.11 This is especially important for the images you didn't print.
    • -Use photo editing software to make an index print of the discs' contents so you'll be able to find shots later if you decide to include them in another album.12
    • -Be sure to keep the discs in a fireproof safe or safety deposit box, somewhere away from your printed photos. This safeguard will allow you to make new prints if your wedding album is lost or damaged.

Step 3: Gather Additional Photos and Memorabilia

  • (Creative Commons photo by Sean Aldrich)
    (Creative Commons photo by Sean Aldrich)
    Compile the rest of the items you'd like to add to the album, including any photos taken by family and friends, flat memorabilia and written notes, quotes and memories.

Track Down Photos

  1. Call or email wedding guests to let them know you're completing a wedding photo album. Ask them to send you any great images from the event. Give them a mailing "deadline" so you won't have to put your project on hold indefinitely as you wait for photos.
  2. Ask your professional wedding photographer for smaller prints of your favorite formal shots, if you'd also like to include them in this album.
  3. If you left disposable cameras on each table at your wedding reception, ensure your maid of honor (or the family member in charge of getting them developed) gives you the resulting prints.13
    • -You may only get a few "keepers" from this batch, particularly if the tables didn't know what the cameras were for, had a prankster in their midst or left the kids in charge of taking the shots.

Find Memorabilia

  1. Gather small, flat items such as matchbook covers, napkins, ribbon, bits of wrapping paper, receipts or business cards that will help you remember the day.
  2. Retain any cards sent with flowers or personal notes included with your wedding gifts.
    • -If your bridesmaids collected cards with "advice for the future wife" at your bridal shower, this is also a great place to preserve them.
  3. Photograph or scan large pieces of memorabilia (like your bouquet, garter or party favors) to display the bulky objects in your album.14
  4. Treat any paper items with Deacidification spray to keep them from yellowing and turning brittle.15 The spray can also stop acid migration, a process that can harm neighboring photos or elements in the album.16

Collect Your Thoughts

  1. Trim pieces of acid-free cardstock into 4 x 6 inch pieces that you can slip into the album's photo sleeves.17
  2. As you sift through the photos, use a photo-safe pen to jot down your memories from the day.18 This is a great way to capture moments that your photos may have missed.
  3. Turn the pen over to your husband so he can record his thoughts, too.
    • -Give cardstock and pens to your family members at the gift opening so they can add their memories or inscribe their well wishes.
  4. Write down any touching or humorous quotes that you remember from the day.

Step 4: Choose a Photo Album

  • Buy the style of photo album to showcase and preserve your photos and wedding memories.

Choose a Model

  1. Opt for a small album that features a single photo per page or displays pictures in a 2-up format, if you only want to include a handful of cherished images.20 21
  2. Use an expandable 3-up album to add additional sleeves to hold all of the photos and memorabilia you've gathered.22
  3. Select a 3-ring binder to compile a single album that accommodates photo sleeves and page protectors.23 24 25 This way, the album can house a combination of 4 x 6 inch pictures, photo enlargements, cards and other ephemera.

Choose Photo-Safe Materials

  1. Ensure the album you purchase is archival quality to preserve your wedding memories and lessen the fading and deterioration of photos over the years.26
  2. Buy only PVC-free, archival safe photo sleeves and page protectors to use in the album. Preserving your photos and keeping completed albums in proper storage conditions can slow their deterioration to ensure future generations will enjoy them.27

Step 5: Organize and Insert Items in the Album

  • Save time in the long run by organizing the photos and additional elements before you place them in the album.
    (Creative Commons photo by nick mote)
    (Creative Commons photo by nick mote)

Sort the Contents

  1. Work on the floor or at a large table so you can sift through the contents of your album and create several organized stacks.
  2. Put photos, accompanying ephemera and written notes in an order that covers your wedding day from morning to night.
    • -You can also split the photos into different topics, such as the wedding party, clothing, ceremony, reception decorations, food, dancing and guests.
  3. Decide where you'd like to place the memorabilia and written notes throughout the album. Some items, like your thoughts on the cake cutting, can fall next to the corresponding photos. Others, like a printed napkin from the reception, can fill empty slots on most any page.

Fill the Album

  1. Create a "title page" for your wedding album by using the first page to share pertinent details about the event or display your favorite photo from the day. Consider using a wedding invitation or even a piece of decorative cardstock with the details written or added with alphabet stamps and archival safe inks.28
  2. Add the photos, ephemera and notes to the photo sleeves in the proper order.
    • -If you're particularly concerned about photo preservation, wear protective gloves to avoid transferring oils from your hands to the pictures and paper goods.29
  3. Consider leaving a few empty spots in each section in case you discover another piece of memorabilia or receive late photos from a family member. This will save you from removing, rearranging and refilling the photo sleeves each time you acquire something new.

Step 6: Add Decorative Touches

  • Give your wedding photo album the look of a scrapbook by using embellishments to adorn the cover and pages.
  1. Use letter stickers or decorative rub-ons to add the title and date to the spine of your album.30 If you create several photo albums over the years, this will allow you to retrieve your wedding book from the shelf instantly.
  2. Add wedding accents to the border or corner of the album cover, particularly if you didn't buy a wedding-themed photo album.31 32
  3. Adorn the cardstock pieces that feature your handwritten memories with items like stickers, stamps, bits of ribbon or paper flowers.33 You can also clip designs from wedding cards or tiny images from your photos' index prints to use as accents.
  4. Decorate the page protectors and photo sleeves themselves with stamped images applied with smear-free solvent ink or layers of decorative rub-ons.34

Conclusion

  • Compiling and designing a wedding photo album, to capture the memorable moments from the day, doesn’t have to be just another item on your post-wedding "to-do" list.35 Enjoy the process of gathering pictures, discovering memorabilia and expressing your feelings about the event. Then, with a little organization and the proper materials, you'll have a keepsake that your entire family can treasure.36

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References for How to Make a Wedding Photo Album

  1. ↑ Steve's Digicams: Digital Camera Memory Cards
  2. ↑ Epson: PictureMate Printer
  3. ↑ HP: Photosmart 8700 Printer Series
  4. ↑ Walmart: Walmart Digital Photo Center
  5. ↑ Costco: Photo Center
  6. ↑ Target: Locate a Photo Center
  7. ↑ Snapfish: Online Photo Developing
  8. ↑ Shutterfly: Online Photo Processing
  9. ↑ Epson: Types of Photo Paper
  10. ↑ HP: Selecting the Proper Paper and Inks
  11. ↑ Delkin: Archival Gold Storage Discs
  12. ↑ ePhotoZine: How to Make Index Prints
  13. ↑ Wedding Blog: Using Disposable Cameras at Weddings
  14. ↑ HP: Scanning Tips
  15. ↑ ArchivalUSA: Deacidification Spray
  16. ↑ Maine.gov: Acid Migration
  17. ↑ The Paper Mill Store: Acid-free Cardstock
  18. ↑ Scrapbooking Supplies Online: Archival Quality Pens
  19. ↑ Useful Information: Wedding and Love Quotes
  20. ↑ Lenox: Wedding Album for Single Photos
  21. ↑ Jenni Bick Bookbinding: Kolo Cortina 2-up Photo Album
  22. ↑ ArchivalUSA: Expandable 3-up Photo Album
  23. ↑ American Crafts: Archival 3-ring Binders
  24. ↑ ArchivalUSA: Photo Sleeves for 4 x 6 Shots
  25. ↑ ClearBags.com: Page Protectors
  26. ↑ Scrapbook.com: Why is Archival Safety Important?
  27. ↑ Ancestry.com: Proper Preservation Conditions
  28. ↑ Uchida: Marvy Acid-free Ink Pads
  29. ↑ USRecording: Photo Handling Gloves
  30. ↑ American Crafts: Decorative Rub-on Transfers
  31. ↑ Scrapbook.com: Wedding-themed Accents
  32. ↑ Wrapwithus.com: Wedding-themed Photo Albums
  33. ↑ Prima Marketing: Decorative Paper Flowers
  34. ↑ Tsukineko: StazOn Solvent Inks
  35. ↑ Memories and Nostalgia: Value of Archival Quality Materials


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