Preparation
Your photographer should be able to give you suggestions for wedding albums (or offer to create one for you!), but if they didn’t or if you waited too long to order, you might be wondering what other choices are available to you. Since we firmly believe all wedding photos deserve to be transformed into an heirloom you can appreciate for years to come, we rounded up our favorite—and most trusted—sources for turning your favorite big-day pictures into an album. From the most hands-off (therefore, most expensive) to the most hands-on (and most affordable), we found the best albums on the market.
No matter your printing method or the formality of your wedding photo album, you should aim to order your book within six months of the celebration when your emotions are still fresh, but you’re far enough removed to be critical of which selects should make the final cut. We can’t tell you how many couples postpone creating a wedding album so long that they ultimately never get around to it. After all of the planning that went into the big day and all of the fun that was had at the reception, it’s important to cull your favorite snapshots together in a way that beautifully commemorates the occasion. While you’re at it, consider creating albums for both sets of parents, which make for wonderful gifts.
LiuMy Photo Wedding AlbumArtifact Uprising Layflat Photo AlbumMartha Stewart Mixbook Elegant Wedding Photo BookMpix Photo BooksShutterfly Professional Flush Mount Albums
Familiarize yourself with common printing methods and binding techniques before signing any dotted lines with your photographer—or at the very least, ask to see samples. Otherwise, you might be disappointed with the quality or style of the finished product. If you find yourself feeling some sticker shock, remember that you’re creating a custom keepsake that will last for years to come, and that’s truly priceless. If you opt to do it yourself, there are a handful of great resources with numerous offerings to choose from (but read our note about working with your photographer, first!). Below, see our favorite sources for wedding albums—most of which you can easily order online.
Before you write off your photographer’s professional wedding album outright, see if they offer different pricing options. Then, consider the benefits of a professionally-designed book. While the tab can reach upward of $1,500, the end result is worth it, says New York-based photographer Christian Oth: “It’s an heirloom that will be passed down, and a pro knows how to create an outstanding visual story, from aligning margins and spacing to retouching and tweaking the layout.” It’s also the easiest, quickest way to get a gorgeous album. For an idea of how your pro-designed wedding album might look, click through samples on the following album companies’ websites, like Priscilla Foster and Heirloom Bindery. Top wedding photographers often source books from these companies—some of which don’t offer direct-to-consumer options, which means that to get a final product from them you’ve got to go through your photographer. Want to shop around, instead? We have you covered, ahead.
