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. Consider how your album will be used when choosing a material. Is it something that will 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 to narrow down your photos to your top 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 really 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 19 Best Wedding Photo Albums of 2024

Your wedding day will fly by in the blink of an eye, which is why having wedding photos you love is so important. The cake will get eaten, flowers tossed, wedding dress dry cleaned and put in storage...but it’s your wedding pictures that you’ll come back to time and time again. 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,” explains Claire Roche, a Shutterfly Wedding Expert and the Creative Director and Planner at Grit and Grace Event Co. There’s no shortage of album options out there, whether you decide to your photos laid out digitally or if you choose to go old school and insert the printed photos 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 photos and text.

Sale Alert

Shutterfly is offering up to 25% off books at shutterfly.com
Mpix is offering 24% off your first order at mpix.com
Artifact Uprising is offering 15% Off sitewide at artifactuprising.com
The xoxoSugarplum Vintage Wedding Guest Book is 50% off at etsy.com
Allubra Personalized Wooden Photo Album is 50% off at etsy.com

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 down our final selection based on functionality, size, materials, value, and overall quality.

Read on for the best wedding photo albums.

In This Article

Our Picks
What To Look For
FAQ
Why Trust Brides

Artifact Uprising

View On Artifactuprising.com $165

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 and then lay out the photos (the website makes it super easy and guides you along the way).

Who It's For

This fan-favorite album is perfect for the couple who wants to design something completely unique. Choose from six different sizes, 14 fabric colors, and four text colors, and even customize several other design elements to make an album that is all your own.

Mixbook

View On Mixbook.com

Not quite sure exactly what you want your wedding photo album to look like? Well, Mixbook offers over 70 options to choose from. They’re conveniently designed for you according to various themes, such as "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.

Right now, Mixbook is offering an exclusive discount for readers: 50% off + free shipping on $45+ with the code MIXBRIDES.

Who It's For

This digital-first wedding albums are great for newlyweds who like to want to have a lot of options. Since there are tons of designs to choose from, you'll be sure to find one that suits your style.

Zola

View On Zola

Offering everything from wedding websites to registries to invites, Zola truly is a one-stop wedding shop. So, it’s not surprising that they also offer wedding albums. They’re simple yet elegant, and you can choose from five sizes, 15 colors, and even the cover material. You can even add one of these to your registry!

Who It's For

This no-fuss album is perfect for the minimalist couple. The simple and clean design aesthetic is lovely modern accent to a coffee table or bookshelf.

Etsy

View On Etsy $42

You’d never guess that this album is made from faux leather, but it is, helping to keep the price much more affordable. It comes in four sizes and six colors, and it can be custom embossed with any text of your choosing on the front.

Who It's For

With its faux leather cover, gold corner accents, and embossed text, this album is perfect for couples who love a vintage aesthetic.

Shutterfly

View On Shutterfly.com

Shutterfly may be your go-to website for printing favorite vacations photos, but they also happen to offer great wedding photo books. The books come in five different sizes and a range of high-end covers, including premium eco-leather. You can even take advantage of their free design service and have one of their expert designers create your album for you.

Who It's For

If you're not a crafty couple, opt for Shutterfly's free design service. Simply upload your photos and you'll receive a beautiful album without the extra work of laying out the pages yourself.

Snapfish

View On Snapfish.com

Available in a wide range of styles and prices, there’s a Snapfish photo book out there to fit every style and budget. These Snapfish masterpieces come in various shapes and sizes. Plus, there are tons of different preset layouts, where all you have to do is pop in the photos of your choice. It's really that easy!

Who It's For

This wedding photo album is great for the modern couple, especially considering the option for glossy pages that help the colors appear more vibrant with exceptional depth. It will be like stepping right back into your wedding day every time you open it up.

Printique

View On Printique.com $139

It doesn’t get more classic than this leather-bound album. There’s both a faux vegan leather option (which comes in 13 colors), as well as a genuine leather version (in four colors and textures). There are also eight different paper types to choose from, so you can create a high-quality album that works best for you.

Who It's For

Couples with traditional tastes will appreciate this album. Keep it on display on your coffee table or in your office.

PikPerfect

View On Pikperfect.com $89

Create an album via this website and you get access to a lot of unique features. For starters, you can take advantage of their wedding album design service, which comes with an unlimited number of revisions). Plus, if you order an album, you also get a link to a free digital version that’s great for sharing with family and friends. This particular album is oversized and ideal for a coffee table, creating a special new piece of home décor.

Who It's For

Can't decide which wedding photos are your favorite? Highlight them all with this large album that holds up to 1,000 photos within up to 300 pages. It's perfect for the couple who wants to remember each and every moment and detail from the big day.

Chatbooks

View On Chatbooks.com

Nothing against your professional photo snaps, but we’re willing to bet that your guests probably captured some great photos on their smartphones, too. Enter Chatbooks, which allows you to upload pics directly from a phone to create a surprisingly high-quality album. You can even make a book filtered by that wedding hashtag you so carefully came up with.

Who It's For

Influencer couples, this one's for you! Include all your favorite candid shots and relive the memories of your big day every time you look at this album.

Amazon

View On Amazon $109 View On Etsy $158

Simple? Yes. Super sophisticated? Also yes. This album is covered in luxurious Italian suede and embossed with custom lettering. Choose from over 40 color and embossing font combinations, as well as the page color and album size to create a final product that perfectly suits your style.

Who It's For

This luxurious album was made with chic couples in mind. Whatever color you choose, the sleek Italian suede finish will fit right in with any home aesthetic.

Minted

View On Minted

This out-of-the-box idea allows you to collage your favorite wedding memories and turn them into a beautiful piece of wall art. Choose from two sizes and plenty of frame options (though you can also order it unframed). It’s a creative way to look at your wedding pictures each and every day.

Who It's For

For those who want their wedding day memories on full display, opt for this clever option in lieu of a traditional album (or do both!).

Etsy

View On Etsy $34 View On Heilsadiysupply.com

If you both love to scrapbook and make things together, this tactile album is a great opportunity for your next project. In addition to photos, it also can hold wedding mementos, like copies of your vows, a ceremony program, a dried boutonniere—the options are endless.

Who It's For

This album was made for artistic couples, and you'll have so much fun creating this special album together after the big day.

Courtesy of Mpix

View On Mpix.com

On the flip side, if you’re looking for an album that you can easily tout around and show off to anyone, this adorable mini option is a perfect choice. It's perfectly pocket-sized, making it ideal for just a few of your favorite moments of the day. We also love it as an option for engagement photos or honeymoon highlights.

Who It's For

Ultra-romantic couples will love carrying this mini album around in their purse or pocket or displaying it at their work desks so they can look at it throughout the day.

Aura Carver 10.1 WiFi Digital Picture Frame

Amazon

View On Amazon $145 View On Nordstrom $150 View On Target $150

For those in search of a modern take on the classic album, a digital picture frame offers a fun alternative. This one has unlimited photo and video storage, and even has built-in speakers to play sound, making it the perfect place to upload all kinds of wedding content. Not to mention that it’s aesthetically pleasing and works well with any type of home decor.

Who It's For

This album is ideal for the tech-savvy newlyweds. If you'd prefer a digital album over a traditional printed one, look no further than this versatile and high-quality option.

Amazon

View On Amazon $28 View On Sears.com $33

Opt for this fan-favorite album—available via same-day Prime delivery—and your wedding album creation can easily be a weekend project. The oversized, classic album can hold up to 600 vertical and horizontal photos and comes in eight colors. We love it as an option for the more candid snaps taken by family and friends.

Who It's For

We love the idea of this album for newlywed couples who recently moved into their first home together. This oversized book can become a focal point of your living room, bringing the new space together while remembering how far you've already come as a couple.

Smythson

View On Smythson.com $810

This splurge is ideal for those who want their wedding album to be a showstopper in and of itself, photos aside. The oversized, hardbound option is made of cross-grain calf leather and houses 50 pages of gilt-edged white paper. Personalize the cover with your names and wedding date for an extra special touch.

Who It's For

For the couple who appreciates expert craftsmanship and heritage-worthy designs, this elegant album will not disappoint. The high-quality materials and construction ensure that it will last you a lifetime.

Rag & Bone

View On Ragandbonebindery.com

This handmade album has a silk cover and is bound with a corset-sewn ribbon, making it a truly beautiful keepsake for years to come. The heavyweight, acid-free paper is great for photos, notes and other mementos from the day you'll want to remember forever.

Who It's For

With its earthy, handmade look, we love this album for couples with bohemian or rustic tastes.

Amazon

View On Amazon $30

If you had Polaroid cameras at your wedding, this mini-album is a must. It’s the perfect size to display all of those fun, candid snaps from the evening. And at such a wallet-friendly price, you can pick up as many as you need to make sure every one of those photos makes it in.

Who It's For

For those who had a Polaroid camera at their reception instead of a classic photo booth, this album is a great choice— it gives you a place to keep all the special moments with your guests all in one place.

View On Etsy

For couples who prefer a minimalist, classic feel, opt for this understated yet stunning photo album. The luxe-looking book is carefully handcrafted with acid-free, conservation-grade paper and Italian eco-leather. It features 160 ivory pages that you can fill with all of your favorite moments from the big day.

Who It's For

This album is perfect for couples who gravitate toward simple and elegant designs.

What to Look for in a Wedding Photo Book

Dual Orientation: According to Roche, it’s important to choose an album that allows you to include both horizontal and vertical photos. This way, you'll be able to alternate between candid closeups, decor details, and formal portraits.
Photo Size: Having the option to include photos of various sizes is another important feature, notes Roche. 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 totally a matter of personal preference, though keep in mind that darker colors are slightly better at hiding wear and tear over time. You might want to take your wedding palette and theme into consideration when choosing an album—it's an added touch that will help you commemorate the big day on your bookshelf or coffee table.

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.
Consider how your album will be used when choosing a material. Is it something that will 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 to narrow down your photos to your top 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 really 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 out there. She’s also a recent newlywed—who is currently in the process of mentally preparing to create her wedding album. For this article, Melanie researched the best options available online, based on materials, customization options, style, cost, and overall quality. She also spoke with a leading expert for their insight:

Claire Roche is the Creative Director and Planner at Grit and Grace Event Co, as well as a Shutterfly Wedding Expert. She’s also amassed more than 1 million followers on TikTok and was recently named one of the top people to follow if you’re planning a wedding.

The 50 Best Wedding Gifts for Couples at Every Price Point, Tested & Reviewed