Advice to future brides- don't go nuts on a wedding album!

maddie7 · March 2011

My photography was the 2nd biggest expense, I was happy with the pics, I received my cd of them, created my own album on My Publisher.com and am now okaying their album from my August wedding. Can I tell you- my album is so much better than theirs- my design included everyone's pictures, I enlarged what I wanted and so on. So Im telling you as a MG the best thing you can take from your photographer is the cd of pictures, you will do so much more on your own! Im so glad I made my own parent albums and included as many pics as I wanted. This is just my 2 cents, don't get caught up with all their added things because you can do it all on your own, my enlargements, wallet sizes etc are wonderful... good luck to all.

futuremrsdavies · March 2011

Thanks for the advice. I'm photographer hunting now and I keep getting hung up on albums but I was thinking about making one on my own. I'm thinking I may do that and call it a day.

Pharo47 · March 2011

Hi futuremrsdavies. You should look into Robert Wayne Photography then. He's super nice, has great prices and his entire services are ala carte. If you don't want a album, you don't have to get it. If you want one, the entire album is customized page by page so you can control how much you want to spend. Lots of flexibility

mbcdefg · March 2011

We did this as well, on MPix.com. The album is nice and cost under $100 - we showed it to family and looked at it ourselves for a couple months, and now it just sits on the coffee table. Most of my friends saw the pics through the Facebook album I put up.

Plus, if you're unsure about a professional album and don't include it in your wedding package, many photographers will do one for you at a later date. So you can always sit on the idea for 6-12 months and then decide if you really want it.

futuremrsdavies · March 2011

I looked at him, but his base package including proofs was much more than I was hoping to spend...we are talking super strict budget here unfortunately.

bereasonable2 · March 2011

I was just at a bridal show last night and saw a "MY Publisher" book that a florist had. Comparing that to the albums that the photographers had... no way would I want to pass down a cheap My Publisher or Mpix "album" to my grandchildren's children.

Sure, you made a cheap album and only looked at it a few times and now "it just sits there." Keep in mind that an album isn't for YOU. It's for your future generations. It becomes a priceless family heirloom.

How are your great-great grandchidren going to see your photos on a disc? Anyone watch a VHS wedding video lately? Anyone pull out some film negatives from their parents wedding and flip through them lately?

futuremrsdavies · March 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_advice-future-brides-dont-nuts-wedding-album?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:ad7d8389-f70b-4cac-aa9c-09de59e8c68dPost:f91b059f-c6cc-4fff-964c-01a02e693f59">Re: Advice to future brides- don't go nuts on a wedding album!</a>:
[QUOTE]I Anyone watch a VHS wedding video lately? Posted by bereasonable2[/QUOTE]

Actually, I watched my aunts wedding VHS last week lol

bereasonable2 · March 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_advice-future-brides-dont-nuts-wedding-album?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:ad7d8389-f70b-4cac-aa9c-09de59e8c68dPost:3d35a811-7ed8-4188-bfd9-478b538d861c">Re: Advice to future brides- don't go nuts on a wedding album!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Advice to future brides- don't go nuts on a wedding album! : Actually, I watched my aunts wedding VHS last week lol
Posted by futuremrsdavies[/QUOTE]
LOL! I stand corrected. Hahah! Ok, but how are your kids or her kids going to watch that in 20 years?

Heather822 · March 2011

Videos & technology aside.....

A book is a book is a book, and most people can do a "just as good if not better" job making their own album! Whether "future generations" look at a book you made, or a photographer overcharged you for.... they won't know the difference!

(And for the record, I have never looked at past generations wedding albums with the exception of my own parents, one time.)

I also made my own Parent Album (our album was part of our package) and I was so pleased with how it came out!!!! I could customize it just the way I wanted, used whatever & as many pics as I wanted ~ my mom loves it! And I am proud to say it is beautiful and professional looking!

I used just used shutterfly and made a photobook.

Save where you can and DIY!!!!!

ccandela · March 2011

Personally, I agree with bereasonable. The album is an heirloom so the paper used, printing method, color quality of pics, etc has to be built for longevity. Having heirlooms to pass on to my children and grandchildren is extremely important to me so I'll be buying at least one professional album. (I may actually leverage mpix for copies for parents and overseas relatives.) However, that same concept is just not important for others. In that scenario, I say just put your pics on picasa or facebook and be done with it. It's a personal preference.

JoBell123 · March 2011

Our plan is to order our album through our photographer but make our own parents albums. The photographer we're most likley going with actually recommends that!

smw42 · March 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_advice-future-brides-dont-nuts-wedding-album?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:ad7d8389-f70b-4cac-aa9c-09de59e8c68dPost:f91b059f-c6cc-4fff-964c-01a02e693f59">Re: Advice to future brides- don't go nuts on a wedding album!</a>:
[QUOTE]I was just at a bridal show last night and saw a "MY Publisher" book that a florist had. Comparing that to the albums that the photographers had... no way would I want to pass down a cheap My Publisher or Mpix "album" to my grandchildren's children. Sure, you made a cheap album and only looked at it a few times and now "it just sits there." Keep in mind that an album isn't for YOU. It's for your future generations. It becomes a priceless family heirloom. How are your great-great grandchidren going to see your photos on a disc? Anyone watch a VHS wedding video lately? Anyone pull out some film negatives from their parents wedding and flip through them lately?
Posted by bereasonable2[/QUOTE]

You're going to bridal shows but not yet engaged? Odd...

mbcdefg · March 2011

My parents' album is basically one of those regular photo albums where you lift up the plastic and stick a photo inside. My grandmother has about three of four prints from her wedding, of her and my grandfather and a few relatives standing in front of their house before they left for the church. My other set of grandparents only had one photo from their wedding, and that's the one that the Copacabana provided when they and their two guests went there for dinner. The photos are all charming and I'm lucky to be able to look at them.

Considering all that, I don't really think our descendants are going to be horrified that they have to look at an MPix album to see our wedding.

Plus, as technology evolves, you can transfer the photos from the CD/DVD to another device (heck, today you can transfer VHS videos to DVD at Walgreen's). One of the first things I did when we got our DVD of wedding pics was to go buy a USB flash drive and copy the photos onto that. If a new devices comes out in the future then I'll put the photos on that as well.

bereasonable2 · March 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_advice-future-brides-dont-nuts-wedding-album?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:ad7d8389-f70b-4cac-aa9c-09de59e8c68dPost:45b2e0f6-8299-42a8-a0db-c706d032ee14">Re: Advice to future brides- don't go nuts on a wedding album!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Advice to future brides- don't go nuts on a wedding album! : You're going to bridal shows but not yet engaged? Odd...
Posted by smw42[/QUOTE]

Yeah, and we also looked at a few venues together. Odd, right?!?

goaliegirl · March 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_advice-future-brides-dont-nuts-wedding-album?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:ad7d8389-f70b-4cac-aa9c-09de59e8c68dPost:c014896f-5b89-42fd-bdf9-34bb75909706">Re: Advice to future brides- don't go nuts on a wedding album!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Advice to future brides- don't go nuts on a wedding album! : Yeah, and we also looked at a few venues together. Odd, right?!?
Posted by bereasonable2[/QUOTE]

Yes actually, I do think it is a bit odd! Try getting engaged first and then start planning a wedding!

At any rate, I have to disagree with the OP if you get a good photographer who does quality work, your professional albums will be of much higher quality that a mypublisher or other album made online. While I made an album on shutterfly for us and our families I also got a profressional album made and they don't compare.

uppereastgirl · March 2011

I think it all depends on what you want. I absolutely could not DIY anything that looked at all like what our photographer does, and there absolutely is a reason why those albums cost many, many times more than what I could make on mpix. Part of that is their eye for design, but most of it is that the albums they use are really, really high quality. It of course varies by photographer, but comparing Mypublisher albums to what professional photographers offer is like comparing a ring from a gumball machine to your engagement ring. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but they just aren't the same. Not that that means that a Mypublisher album isn't awesome and perfect for some brides -- but it won't be a proper substitute for those who want traditional, archival albums.

Laurms15 · March 2011

I love our professional album because the pages are thicker and it feels more substantial then ythe one I'm going to make our mom's on one of the websites. I hate the floppy pages but thats just a personal thing. DH is a graphics designer and even he wanted the photographer to do our album.

futuremrsdavies · March 2011

I think what we are getting to is that it, just like the decision for which photog, is going to be based on preference

mbcdefg · March 2011

There's an "Assembled Album" option from Mpix that's higher-quality than the hardcover books you can get from them, or Shutterfly/MyPublisher/etc. It requires some know-how of Photoshop, which I don't have ... if I did, I would've done that for our album so that we had a nicer end product. Here's a blog where a girl made a very nice DIY album: http://roadtotheaisle.blogspot.com/2009/05/diy-wedding-albums.html

That being said, the hardcover MPix album has fulfilled its purpose for us. I was unhappy with the cover of it when it was delivered (not their fault, I just screwed up when designing it), and originally I figured I'd just fix it and re-order it. It's nearly a year after our wedding now and I really have no desire to spend more time or money on something we barely look at.

We said before our wedding that we would contact our photographer if we wanted him to make us an album. He actually just posted one on his blog and it looks awesome - but, again, not something we want to spend money on right now. Maybe in the future we'll want it.

It's all about your priorities and preferences. Some people are the type to look at their album all the time, and who view it as an heirloom. Others aren't, and that's fine.

NJhousewife22 · March 2011

*should preface my post/opinion by saying I do work in a photography-related field and create professional albums*

Honestly DIY-ing your albums can be a good money saver but iff you do this though, I highly recommend getting an additional copy of your album and keeping it tucked safely away. The mpix etc. albums aren't really meant to be archival pieces and will wear and fade over time. (I suggest doing this with your CD or DVD of pics as well, keep an additional copy in someone else's home or a safe deposit box, just in case)

For my own wedding, I am paying our photographer for albums for a few reasons. 1) Designing an album takes a lot of hours and time and I'd much rather have someone else do this for my own wedding. 2) I want an archival quality album that will last 3) I like the options our photographer offers for our album that isn't offered elsewhere.

christin228 · March 2011

That's exactly what I'm doing

HobokensFury · March 2011

I'm planning on getting 1 professional album. Although I know I will do a great job on the parent albums there is just something about having a professional one.

maddie7 · March 2011

I am getting the regular album from my photographer with the leather bound and thick pages, but what I am saying is that I achieved almost the same effect they did on my own, so no worries my kids will have an "heirloom."

I giggle at the heirloom comment because we are avid-estate salers/yard sales/ antiques- and how many wedding albums are thrown to the side for sale- tons! ha ha In all honesty I will be dead one day- what do I care care what people think then...

BTW- even if you are having the photog do your album it does take HOURS to pick out the certain number of pics you want in the album (speaking from experience)...

uppereastgirl · March 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_advice-future-brides-dont-nuts-wedding-album?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:ad7d8389-f70b-4cac-aa9c-09de59e8c68dPost:06d812ef-a84a-4840-8aea-a74d405c1731">Re: Advice to future brides- don't go nuts on a wedding album!</a>:
[QUOTE]I am getting the regular album from my photographer with the leather bound and thick pages, but what I am saying is that I achieved almost the same effect they did on my own, so no worries my kids will have an "heirloom." I giggle at the heirloom comment because we are avid-estate salers/yard sales/ antiques- and how many wedding albums are thrown to the side for sale- tons! ha ha In all honesty I will be dead one day- what do I care care what people think then... BTW- even if you are having the photog do your album it does take HOURS to pick out the certain number of pics you want in the album (speaking from experience)...
Posted by maddie7[/QUOTE]

I've looked at my parents' album a few times and am happy that we have it, but I don't think there would be a void in our life if we didn't have it. And if we have kids, I'm not going to assume that they'll care all that much about our album.

I can't believe people try to sell their wedding albums! Who buys an album of photos of someone they didn't know?

We have already spent hours putting together photos we want in the album, and know it will take hours more work to figure out what changes we want in the next draft (the third and hopefully final draft), which is why we still don't have a wedding album :)

ccandela · March 2011

No need to giggle at other people's preferences. To each their own. In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_advice-future-brides-dont-nuts-wedding-album?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:ad7d8389-f70b-4cac-aa9c-09de59e8c68dPost:06d812ef-a84a-4840-8aea-a74d405c1731">Re: Advice to future brides- don't go nuts on a wedding album!</a>:
[QUOTE]I am getting the regular album from my photographer with the leather bound and thick pages, but what I am saying is that I achieved almost the same effect they did on my own, so no worries my kids will have an "heirloom." I giggle at the heirloom comment because we are avid-estate salers/yard sales/ antiques- and how many wedding albums are thrown to the side for sale- tons! ha ha In all honesty I will be dead one day- what do I care care what people think then... BTW- even if you are having the photog do your album it does take HOURS to pick out the certain number of pics you want in the album (speaking from experience)...
Posted by maddie7[/QUOTE]

USER876 · March 2011

A DIY album just doesn't compare to a high quality professional album. Most of them don't use real photo paper. The differences are in print quality, overall look, feel, and most of alll, durability. My diy honeymoon album from mypublisher looks like crap already from use. I have a fresh copy tucked away, but in time that will get used too. That being said it's good to have choices, just like we have sizzler and mortons, walmart and bloomies, Kia and BMW, etc.

smw42 · March 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_advice-future-brides-dont-nuts-wedding-album?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:ad7d8389-f70b-4cac-aa9c-09de59e8c68dPost:5fe18463-4cec-4db2-b023-89025e8f9f40">Re: Advice to future brides- don't go nuts on a wedding album!</a>:
[QUOTE]A DIY album just doesn't compare to a high quality professional album. Most of them don't use real photo paper. The differences are in print quality, overall look, feel, and most of alll, durability. My diy honeymoon album from mypublisher looks like crap already from use. I have a fresh copy tucked away, but in time that will get used too. That being said it's good to have choices, just like we have sizzler and mortons, walmart and bloomies, Kia and BMW, etc.
Posted by USER876[/QUOTE]

Um Sizzler? Tell me where there is one open and I will be there TONIGHT!

USER876 · March 2011

The one by me closed down 6 months ago, there has to be another one!!

akmackay · March 2011

Closest Sizzler is in NY haha

100-27 Metropolitan Ave
Forest Hills , NY 11375

Advice to future brides- don't go nuts on a wedding album!

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