What materials are best for a wedding photo album?

Leather (both real and faux) tends to be more durable, although more delicate materials like linen and silk will stand the test of time if they’re properly stored and cared for. When choosing a material, consider how your album will be used. Will it be on display on the coffee table for regular perusing? Stored in a keepsake box? Choose your material based on how much the book may be handled.

How do you put together a wedding photo album?

Roche says the first part is narrowing down your photos to your favorites. Make it a fun activity with your partner and turn it into a date night as you relive the day. Then, the easiest thing to do is work your way through the photos in chronological order. “This will allow the album to really tell the story of your wedding day from start to finish,” says Roche.

When should we make a wedding photo album?

The short answer: Whenever you want. “Some couples love to have it done by their first anniversary , but the truth is there's no perfect time to do it aside from when it works for you,” says Roche.

The 32 Best Wedding Photo Albums of 2024, Expert-Backed

collage of popular wedding albums — Brides / Kristin Kempa

In This Article

Brides' Editors Top Picks, At a Glance Artifact Uprising Zola Mixbook Artisan

Amazon Modern What to Look For Frequently Asked Questions Why Trust Brides

Your wedding day will fly by in the blink of an eye, so having wedding photos you love is essential. The cake will get eaten, the flowers tossed, and the wedding dress will be put in storage, but it’s your wedding pictures that you’ll return to time and time again. What is the easiest way to relive those special moments? Compiling them all into a beautiful wedding photo album.

“An album allows you to relive your wedding day in a way that single photos—no matter whether they’re digital or framed—simply can’t,” says Claire Roche, creative director and planner at Grit and Grace Event Co. There’s no shortage of album options, whether you have your photos laid out digitally or go old school and insert prints yourself. There are also all kinds of materials and colors to choose from, from luxe linen and leather-bound styles to personalized covers customized with pictures and text.

To help you find an album that perfectly represents your love, we researched the best wedding photo albums out there for all tastes and preferences. We narrowed our final selection based on functionality, size, materials, value, and quality.

Brides' Editors Top Picks, At a Glance

Artifact Uprising

There’s a good reason why these have somewhat of a cult-like following. The foil-stamped, heirloom-quality albums are classic and timeless. Customize the size, fabric, foil colors, paper quality, and cover design, then lay out the photos (the website makes it easy and guides you along the way).

Artifact Uprising Wedding Layflat Photo Album

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Artifact Uprising Elopement Layflat Photo Album

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Artifact Uprising Wedding Photo Albums Collection

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Zola

Offering everything from wedding websites to registries to invites, Zola truly is a one-stop wedding shop. So, it’s not surprising that it also offers wedding albums. They’re simple yet elegant, and you can choose from five sizes, 15 colors, and two cover materials (linen or vegan leather). You can even add one of these to your registry.

Zola Classic Wedding Album

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Zola Premier Wedding Album

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Zola Deluxe Wedding Album

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Zola Wedding Photo Albums

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Mixbook

Not sure exactly what you want your wedding photo album to look like? Mixbook offers over 70 options to choose from. They’re conveniently designed for you according to various themes, like "industrial chic" or "modern beach wedding," making it easy to find the album that perfectly reflects the vibe of your big day. And if nothing strikes your fancy, there’s also a blank option that lets you do it yourself.

Mixbook Bold Modern Wedding Engagement Book

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Mixbook Editorial Wedding Coffee Table Book

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Mixbook Wedding Greenery

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Mixbook Boho Chic Wedding

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Mixbook Simple White Wedding

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Mixbook Timeless Wedding

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Artisan

An artisan wedding photo album offers superior quality and exquisite craftsman-like and heritage-worthy designs. Handmade bridal detailing like corset-sewn ribbon, silk covers, or gilt-edged acid-free paper make these handbound books from retailers like Minted and Etsy worthy of preserving iconic shots from your wedding day.

Amazon

Don’t count Amazon out when shopping for the best wedding photo albums. Brides’ editors offer a curated selection of the best Amazon has to offer from self-adhesive hardcovers to video wedding photo books.

Handmade Custom Wedding Pictures Album Book

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Your Perfect Day Personalized Large Memory Book

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Handmade Velvet Self-Adhesive Wedding Album

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Talking Print Video Wedding Day Book

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Hey Blanks 3-Inch Mini Photo Album

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Modern

For a more modern take on the wedding photo album, consider a digital frame from Aura or something from a trusted photobook brand like Shutterfly that’s on the cutting edge of technology and presentation.

What to Look for in a Wedding Photo Book

Wedding photo albums of Brides' editors with glasses of champagne

Dual Orientation: According to Roche, it’s important to choose an album that allows you to include both horizontal and vertical photos. You can alternate between candid closeups, décor details, and formal portraits.
Photo Size: Roche notes that another important feature is the option to include photos of various sizes. A variety of image sizes ensures that the pages of your album provide visual interest and feel more dynamic.
Cover Color and Material: The color of your album cover is a matter of personal preference, though remember that darker colors are slightly better at hiding wear and tear over time. You might want to consider your wedding palette and theme when choosing an album—it's an added touch that will help you commemorate the big day on your bookshelf or coffee table.

Collection of Brides' editor's wedding ablums — Brides/Alexander Huang

FAQ

What materials are best for a wedding photo album?

Leather (both real and faux) tends to be more durable, although more delicate materials like linen and silk will stand the test of time if they’re properly stored and cared for.
When choosing a material, consider how your album will be used. Will it be on display on the coffee table for regular perusing? Stored in a keepsake box? Choose your material based on how much the book may be handled.
How do you put together a wedding photo album?

Roche says the first part is narrowing down your photos to your favorites. Make it a fun activity with your partner and turn it into a date night as you relive the day. Then, the easiest thing to do is work your way through the photos in chronological order. “This will allow the album to really tell the story of your wedding day from start to finish,” says Roche.
When should we make a wedding photo album?

The short answer: Whenever you want. “Some couples love to have it done by their first anniversary, but the truth is there's no perfect time to do it aside from when it works for you,” says Roche.

Why Trust Brides

Brides contributor Melanie Rud has nearly 15 years of journalism experience covering the beauty and lifestyle space for some of the biggest magazines and websites. For this article, Melanie researched the best online options, based on materials, customization options, style, cost, and overall quality. She also spoke with a leading expert for their insight.

Brides’ Associate Commerce Editorial Operations Director, Jill Di Donato updated this story after researching additional wedding photo book options.

Claire Roche is the creative director and planner at Grit and Grace Event Co. She’s also amassed over 1 million followers on TikTok and was recently named one of the top people to follow if you’re planning a wedding.

Edited by Cher Checchio