Digital Wedding Albums: The New Normal?

Wedding photo albums are a great way to preserve your happiest day and relive those special moments. While the traditional way to showcase wedding pictures is with a physical album, digital photo books are becoming an increasingly popular option for couples. Digital wedding albums can be made using online tools and services, which offer customisable templates, layouts, and design options. These allow couples to tell their unique story and showcase their wedding memories in a modern, creative, and fun way.

Online tools and templates for digital wedding albums

Wedding photo books are a modern way for couples to capture the mood and story of their wedding day. They are carefully bound books with photographs printed directly on the paper, showcasing your wedding day. There are many online tools and templates available to create your own digital wedding album. Here are some of the best options:

Shutterfly

Shutterfly offers an extensive collection of customizable wedding albums and photo books in various styles, including rustic, pastel, neutral, and bright colours. You can add special touches such as colours, fonts, paper types, and even add your wedding song to your online album. They also provide a 24-hour service.

VistaCreate

VistaCreate offers a free wedding album maker with access to 150,000+ templates that can be easily customized. You can also use their online pin maker to create pins for Pinterest and share highlights of your special day. VistaCreate provides various customization tools, allowing you to edit backgrounds, add music, and upload your own content.

MILK Books

MILK Books offers premium photo albums and books with a focus on luxury and quality. They provide soft and hardback albums, leather bindings, fabric and linen coatings, and flexible paper. You can create a wedding magazine or elevate your album with their premium photo book styles.

Etsy

Etsy offers a wide range of unique, handcrafted wedding photo albums with customization options. Direct communication with artists simplifies personalization, allowing you to transform your beautiful photos into tangible memories.

Zno

Zno provides professional-grade, flush mount albums that turn your precious moments into luxurious keepsakes. They offer robust, vibrant photos printed on Kodak Endura Professional photo paper, with uninterrupted views of your memories. Zno has a user-friendly platform with tasteful templates and impressive customization options.

Artifact Uprising

Artifact Uprising specializes in vintage, designer vibes with sturdy materials. They offer a wide variety of wedding albums and photo books, including their Signature Layflat album in four sizes and both leather and linen-bound options. Their high-value finish stands out, and they have separate album designs for each aspect of the wedding.

Printique

Printique is an industry leader, providing professional advice and assistance to photographers for over two decades. They offer a comprehensive range of photo albums and photo books, including fabric, leather, hardback, softback, and metal bindings. They emphasize the use of premium heavy paper and chic colours.

VistaPrint

VistaPrint offers unique, customizable wedding photo albums at competitive rates. You can customize everything, from the text to the paper and covers. They also provide premium finishes such as leather and cloth binding.

Paper Culture

Paper Culture is a modern, sustainable brand for photography and scrapbooking enthusiasts. They offer a calming, neutral, and pastel colour scheme for their wedding photo books and albums, with hardbacks with or without dust jackets. They are also committed to sustainability, planting a tree for every album purchased.

Arco Album

Arco Album is a close-knit company that values customer satisfaction and attention to detail. They offer luxurious lay-flat options, various stylish colours, and embossed and foiled wedding albums with linen and leather bindings. You can also customize elements such as initials, wedding dates, or personalized text.

Mpix

Mpix is a family-oriented company that offers good value for money in its wedding album products. They provide various premium design features, such as foil stamping, different sizes, and matte finish covers. They also have an array of digital design tools and services to help you create your perfect album.

Zazzle

Zazzle offers a vast selection of fully customizable items, including wedding photo albums. With thousands of designs and three sizes to choose from, you can find the ideal album to display your precious wedding photos. They also offer matching designs for invitations, save-the-dates, and wedding photo books.

These online tools and templates provide a range of options to create a digital wedding album that suits your style and preferences.

DIY vs. professional photographers for digital wedding albums

Wedding photos are precious mementos that you will want to cherish forever. A digital wedding album is a modern way for couples to capture the mood and story of their wedding day. While a professional photographer will be able to provide a high-quality, polished product, creating your own digital wedding album can be a fun and rewarding experience. Here are some things to consider when deciding between a DIY or professionally made digital wedding album:

DIY Digital Wedding Albums:

• Cost: Creating your own digital wedding album can be more cost-effective, especially if you're on a tight budget. Many online platforms offer affordable options, with prices ranging from $15 to $150.
• Creativity: With a DIY approach, you have complete creative control over the design of your album. You can choose the layout, background, text, and other special features to make it unique and personalised.
• Time: Designing your own album can be time-consuming, especially if you're starting from scratch. It may take a while to select photos, design the layout, and add any custom elements.
• Quality: While online tools and templates have improved significantly, the final product may not have the same polished look as a professionally designed album.

Professional Photographers for Digital Wedding Albums:

• Quality: Professional photographers have the skills and experience to create high-quality, polished digital wedding albums. They can capture stunning images and design an album that tells the story of your wedding day in the best possible way.
• Time: Outsourcing the creation of your digital wedding album to a professional can save you time and effort. You won't have to spend hours selecting photos and designing the layout.
• Cost: Hiring a professional photographer and purchasing a digital wedding album can be more expensive. Expect to pay around $150 to $350 for a traditional, high-quality album, and even more for a luxury option.
• Expertise: Professional photographers know how to capture the perfect moments and create a cohesive collection of images that tell the story of your wedding day. They can also advise on the best way to display your photos and create a lasting keepsake.

Whether you decide to go the DIY route or hire a professional, the most important thing is to choose an option that suits your budget, style, and preferences. Whichever path you choose, you'll be able to relive the magic of your wedding day through your digital wedding album.

Customisation options for digital wedding albums

Digital wedding albums can be customised in a variety of ways. Couples can choose from a range of styles, themes, colours, and materials to create a unique and personalised album that reflects their special day. Here are some customisation options to consider:

Design and Layout:

• Couples can choose from various design templates offered by online services or create their own layout from scratch.
• The number of pages in the album can be customised, typically ranging from 30 to 210 pages.
• The orientation of photos is important, with experts recommending albums that allow for both horizontal and vertical photos.
• The ability to include photos of different sizes is another feature to look for, adding visual interest and dynamism to the album.

Cover Options:

• The cover colour and material can be customised to match the couple's preferences and wedding theme. Popular options include leather (real or faux), linen, silk, velvet, and metal.
• Couples can opt for a plain and protective cover or choose a favourite snapshot for the front.
• Foil stamping, embossing, or engraving can be added for a luxurious and personalised touch.

Paper Type and Finish:

• The type of paper used for the pages can vary, including options like matte, glossy, lustre, recycled matte, and superfine.
• Couples may also choose between different binding styles, such as lay-flat binding for seamless viewing of photos.

Personalised Details:

• Customised text, such as the couple's names, wedding date, and special quotes, can be added to the cover and pages.
• Some services offer engraved or embossed text for a more elegant and permanent finish.
• Monograms, initials, and foil printing are also popular choices for personalisation.

Additional Features:

• Some companies offer keepsake boxes or dust jackets to protect the album and add a luxurious touch.
• For a unique presentation, consider adding photo corners or splits to arrange photos on blank pages.
• Online tools and digital design services provided by some companies allow couples to preview their album before finalising it.

Digital wedding album printing services

Wedding photos are precious mementos that deserve to be cherished for a lifetime. While traditional wedding albums are still in style, many couples now opt for a modern wedding photo book that tells the story of their big day. The good news is that there is no shortage of digital wedding album printing services to choose from. These services allow you to transform your digital photos into tangible keepsakes.

Artifact Uprising

This company offers premium wedding photo albums and books that are handcrafted and designed to last. Their Layflat Photo Album features thick, unbending pages that lay flat when open, providing a seamless display for your photos. You can choose from a range of fabric colours and customisable foil-stamping options to make your album unique. Artifact Uprising also provides design services to help you create the perfect gift.

PikPerfect

PikPerfect offers luxury layflat wedding albums that are handcrafted using fine materials such as linen and genuine leather. Their albums feature thick, professional-grade photo paper, ensuring your memories are preserved for generations. PikPerfect provides design services with unlimited free revisions, so you only pay when you are completely satisfied with the final product.

MILK Books

MILK Books specialises in creating luxurious, premium photo albums. They believe that a photo album is a vehicle for storytelling and work to bring your wedding photos to life. You can choose from soft and hardback albums, leather bindings, fabric and linen coatings, and flexible paper options. MILK Books also offers a range of customisation options to make your album unique.

Shutterfly

Shutterfly provides an easy and seamless process for creating your own wedding photo book. They offer a variety of templates, layouts, and customisation options to design an album that reflects your personal style. Shutterfly also has a "Make My Book" service, where they will create the photo book for you.

Mixbook

Mixbook is a great option for couples on a budget. They offer a range of wedding picture books that can be personalised with different page layouts, backgrounds, text, and more. Mixbook has over 70 options to choose from, designed according to various themes, making it easy to find an album that matches the vibe of your wedding.

With so many excellent digital wedding album printing services available, you can easily find one that suits your style, budget, and specific requirements. These services provide a convenient and creative way to preserve your precious wedding memories.

Digital wedding album design tips

• Choose a photo book style and size. Opt for a style that matches your wedding theme and ensure the size is suitable for the number of photos you want to include.
• Select a cover image that showcases a snapshot of you and your partner, or opt for a plain, protective cover.
• Include a variety of images, such as posed and candid shots, with friends and family, and photos of the wedding decor.
• Group photos together for each page to ensure optimal visual appearance and balance in lighting and colours.
• Design your photo book using your imagination, adding special features like layflat pages, satin-finish paper, or a dust jacket.
• Order your photo book once you are happy with the layout and have checked for any mistakes or typos.
• Create sections within your album to ensure a chronological flow, such as pre-ceremony, ceremony, portraits, and reception.
• Include a mix of candid shots, detailed captures, and portraits to tell a comprehensive story of your wedding day.
• Consider the narrative flow of your album by arranging photos in chronological order or a thematic sequence.
• Opt for a powerful opening image to set the tone and impact of your album.
• Utilise white space to frame your photos and emphasise their emotional impact.
• Experiment with different layouts to add intrigue and aesthetic appeal, varying the shape, size, and positioning of photos.
• Review and adjust your album as a whole to ensure a smooth flow and that each page contributes to the storytelling.
• Include captions, titles, and mementos such as scanned vows, invitations, or handwritten notes to add a personal touch.
• Choose a cover colour and material that reflects your wedding palette and theme, considering the durability and intended use of the album.

Frequently asked questions