Creating Your Own Wedding Album: Is It Feasible?

Wedding albums are a great way to preserve memories of your special day. While some couples prefer to leave it to the professionals, others opt for a DIY approach to add a personal touch. Creating your own wedding album can be a fun and rewarding project, but is it realistic?

The DIY route offers customisation and creative freedom, allowing you to choose from various styles, themes, and layouts. You can include special touches like wedding invites, pressed flowers, and even design a unique cover. However, it's important to consider the time and effort involved. Designing an album takes hours, from selecting photos to finalising the layout. It can be a daunting task, especially with the multitude of decisions to be made.

On the other hand, hiring a professional ensures a high-quality, long-lasting product. Professional photographers have access to specialised print labs and album manufacturers, resulting in superior print quality and durability. They also bring expertise in designing albums, curating photos, and working with you to create your dream album.

So, is it realistic to make your own wedding album? It depends. If you're crafty, have the time, and enjoy the process, a DIY wedding album can be a wonderful choice. However, if you're short on time or want to ensure a flawless result, hiring a professional is a more realistic option.

Pros and cons of DIY vs professional

Pros of DIY:

• It's cheaper.
• It can be more personal.
• You have creative control.
• You can make a photo book as well as an album, and include unique text, quotes, and details about your big day.
• You can include photographs from friends and family, and those from a photo booth.
• You can make a smaller, more intimate book to complement the primary album.

Cons of DIY:

• It will take a lot more time and effort.
• It won't last as long—DIY albums are more likely to fade, warp, or change colour.
• The quality won't be as good.
• You may not have the time, design skills, or motivation to make the album.
• It can be difficult to choose the right company to print your album.
• It can be overwhelming to design the album, especially if you want to include a lot of photos.

Pros of professional:

• You will actually get an album. Many people who opt for DIY never get around to making it.
• Photographers know what they're doing when it comes to designing albums and will be able to produce a beautiful design and layout.
• Professional albums will last longer—they are designed and built using paper, ink, and cover materials meant to last decades without any signs of fading or deterioration.
• You'll spend way less time on it.
• Professional albums look perfect for decades.
• You can add it to your wedding registry—friends and family will love to contribute to this heirloom.

Cons of professional:

It's more expensive.

Choosing a style

• Reflect your wedding's personality: Consider the overall style and theme of your wedding. Was it a baroque wedding with opulent details? A minimalist celebration with sleek lines? Or perhaps a modern wedding with a unique twist? Choose a style that complements and reflects the atmosphere of your special day.
• Select your album's materials: Opt for timeless elegance with a leather cover, or go for the sleek sophistication of a glossy hardcover. If you want something more understated, consider linen or buckram. These choices will set the tone for your photos and can enhance their impact.
• Think about the paper type: The paper you choose will affect the look and feel of your photos. Lustre paper offers vibrant hues and a semi-matte finish, while Superfine paper has a matte, eggshell texture. Velvet paper gives a matte look and a silky smooth feel, while Fine Art paper has a textured finish for a more 'arty' style.
• Decide on the size: Consider your budget and how you plan to use the album. Smaller albums (around 10x10 inches) are more budget-friendly and easier to handle, but the photos will appear smaller. Larger albums (such as 16x12 inches) showcase photos in a grander scale but are bulkier. A popular choice is around 12x12 inches, offering a balance between photo size and ease of handling.
• Cover design: Keep it simple with just your names and wedding date, or perhaps your initials for a minimalist look. If you had a wedding monogram or logo, this can add a personal touch to your cover. You can also include details such as your wedding venue or location, or choose a colour that matches your wedding colour scheme or venue.
• Photo layout: Do you want a bold, full-on look with overlapping photos, or something more traditional and clean? Perhaps you prefer a simple layout with a few showcase photos? Consider what style will best showcase your favourite images and tell the story of your day.

Selecting photos

• Categorise your photos: Separate your images into categories such as pre-ceremony, ceremony, portraits, and reception. This makes it easier to manage and visualise the flow of your album, ensuring you don't miss any important moments.
• Identify key moments: Look for pivotal events, emotional reactions, and unique details that define your day. These are the must-have shots that will form the foundation of your album.
• Include detail shots: Detail shots are great for shifting between scenes, setting the mood, and adding an artistic element to your storytelling. They can include images of your wedding décor, bouquet, wedding rings, cake, etc.
• Capture a range of emotions: Weddings are filled with a spectrum of emotions, from happy tears during the ceremony to cocktail-fuelled jubilation on the dance floor. Choose photos that capture the full range of feelings experienced throughout the day.
• Don't forget the micro-moments: In addition to the climax of each scene, look for meaningful micro-moments that bring out the best in multi-photo layouts. These can show the progression of a single scene through its component parts.
• Consider the narrative flow: Arrange your photos in chronological order or a thematic sequence that best narrates your wedding day. Aim for a mix of wide shots, close-ups, and candid moments to keep the narrative engaging.
• Start and end with impact: The opening and closing spreads of your album are the most impactful. Choose images that set the tone and leave a lasting impression.
• Utilise white space: Don't underestimate the power of white space. It gives each photo room to breathe and can emphasise their emotional impact.
• Vary the layout: With a variety of layouts available, you can add intrigue and aesthetic appeal to your album. Play around with image shape, size, and positioning to create dynamic page spreads.
• Final review and adjust: Once you've laid out your photos, review the album as a whole. Make any necessary adjustments to ensure a smooth flow and that every page contributes to the storytelling.

Layout and design

Layout

The layout of your wedding album will depend on the number of photos you want to include and the overall look you want to achieve. Here are some tips for creating a successful layout:

• Choose a variety of photos, including candid and posed shots, to capture the different moments and emotions of your wedding day.
• Consider the flow of your album. Arranging photos chronologically is a popular choice, but you can also group photos by subject, colour, or another theme.
• Use white space to your advantage. Including white space around photos can create a clean, timeless look and draw the viewer's eye to the image.
• Avoid overlapping photos or adding too many design elements, as this can make your album look cluttered or dated.
• Play with different layouts to add interest and variety to your album. For example, you could use a mix of one-per-page layouts, grids, and full-bleed designs.

Design

The design of your wedding album should reflect your personal style and the theme of your wedding. Here are some tips for designing your album:

• Choose a cover that introduces the story of your wedding. This could be a simple text cover, a photo cover, or a designer cover with UV-printed text and images.
• Consider adding text to your album, such as your vows, quotes from speeches, song lyrics, or captions for each image.
• Select a font that complements your wedding theme. For example, if your wedding theme was rustic elegance, consider using script fonts throughout your album.
• Incorporate colours and elements that match your wedding theme. For example, if your wedding had earth-toned shades and woodsy elements, include these in your album design.
• Add special touches, such as your wedding invites or pressed flowers from your bouquet, to make your album unique.

Printing and finalising

Once you have selected your images and decided on the layout, it's time to finalise your album. Review your layout and ensure that every detail looks right. Check that your photos will fit neatly in your chosen album and adjust the sizing if needed. You can also add captions or anecdotes to your photos to help you remember those special moments.

If you are creating a digital album, now is the time to finalise the digital version for sharing. If you are creating a physical album, you can start looking into printing options. The cost of printing will depend on the materials, customisation, and size of your album. Typically, you can expect to spend around $200 to $800, with DIY photo books costing around $50 to $150.

When it comes to printing, you have a few options. You can use an online company that specialises in creating wedding photo albums, a more general online photo album maker, or you can purchase a traditional wedding photo album from a craft store and customise it yourself. If you want to support local businesses, you can also look for local print shops that offer printing services.

If you are using an online service, you will need to upload your final wedding photographs. Make sure you communicate with your photographer about your digital copy needs to avoid any confusion. You will also need to decide on the paper type and cover material. Opt for timeless elegance with leather, sleek sophistication with a glossy hardcover, or the understated charm of linen. Select a paper that brings your photos to life, such as the vivid hues of lustre paper or the matte, eggshell texture of superfine paper.

Finally, consider any extra features you may want to add to your album. This could include layflat pages, satin-finish paper, a dust jacket, or a gift box. These extra touches can enhance and customise your album, making it truly unique.

Frequently asked questions