What can you do with all those wedding pictures?

While my wedding's over, I'm always reminiscing. Part of it has to do with the fact that even when a wedding has passed, there's still a few bits and pieces left. One of those little details is deciding what to do with your wedding pictures. Robert and I were so lucky with our pictures. There are so many that we love and cherish that deciding which ones I wanted to showcase was quite a task (Robert was not as involved in this as I was). But even when you've decided which ones to use, deciding how to use them can be just as tough. Here's a few ways to make the best of your wedding photos.

A gallery

For months I was shopping for the right frames. Poor hubby was listening intently, even though secretly I know he was hoping I'd just pick some already! However, a gallery can allow you to get a true reflection of the day as you remember it, so the right frames are important.



The great thing about a gallery is you can incorporate little pieces of your day. For our American wedding gallery, I incorporated the "I Do" that we used on our cake table. Now I feel like it's more than just a gallery of our pictures, it also incorporates a little piece of the big day decor. If you hand-made your invites or have a copy of the speeches your bridal/groom's party gave, you could frame those too. Everyone is different, but as long as you incorporate a reflection of how you remember your day, I think you'll be pleased with the results.

Photobooks

I absolutely love photobooks. Maybe it's because I'm an English major and I love the stories they let you create or maybe it's how creative you can be with them. Either way, when Robert and I started planning our wedding, I knew I wanted us to have a photobook. Unlike a gallery, you're less limited in the amount of pictures you can choose. Granted, you could build an entire wall gallery, but who really has the room for that?
Your photographer should provide plenty of options; I know Fort Mill Photography and Sarah Vivienne had some breathtaking choices. If I could, I would definitely have ordered one of Sarah Vivienne's Queensberry albums. Unfortunately, we weren't able to afford one. However, if you're like us and budget is an issue, Shutterfly is a great alternative. You can build pages that emphasize certain elements of your wedding; such as the cake cutting or your bridal party. But my favorite part was that I was able to add the note Robert wrote to me on our wedding day (most photographers offer this customizable option as well). I've even seen examples that include menus alongside pictures of the food.

Cards and Stationary

Now that you have pictures you're proud of, show them off! Why not use one of your wedding photos on your address labels? It certainly adds a nice touch to your thank you cards. Robert and I actually used one of our engagement photos on the adress labels for our thank you cards. However, I will be adding a wedding picture to our Christmas cards. I love the photo cards you can make from Shutterfly or Wedding Paper Divas. I'll probably only do this our first year as newlyweds, but if you're like me and you're truly excited to be married, you should celebrate your new relationship to the fullest.

Submit photos to a magazine

This last option requires your photographer's permission, but if you're comfortable with hundreds of people seeing your pictures, you should consider submitting them to a magazine. Robert and I, courtesy of Fort Mill Photography, have submitted our photos to a few publications. I'm not holding out much hope of being chosen as the publications are very competitive, but I'm excited we even got the opportunity. However, there are options for paying for submissions (like the local newspaper).




(Image source: http://www.visualphotos.com/image/2x412853/young_woman_reading_a_magazine_in_a_coffee_shop)

Hot off the press!

Although three months have passed since our big days, I'm still reveling in the awe of it all and how wonderful it feels to be married. There's nothing more comforting than coming home at the end of a long day to your husband. But alongside how incredible it feels to be married, I can't help but think about how unforgettable our big days were. I'm always thinking back to all of the wonderful friends who went out of their way to be there for us, or the incredible professionals we worked with that made our days even more special. We are so lucky for everyone that was a part of our weddings.



(Sarah Vivienne captured this wonderful picture of all the guests at the British Blessing)

I wish I had written a blog right after the wedding and blessing so that I could remember every detail of each day. While I remember all of the important moments, like the speeches, or the way Robert looked at me both times I got to the altar, after a while, the little details you spent months planning start to blur. No, the little details aren't what matter in the grand scheme of things, but they are all a part of what makes the day your day, and I wish I could remember every last part of both days. Thank goodness for our pictures.



(Picture by Fort Mill Photography)

So I'm posting a few blogs that I truly treasure and mean the world to me. These are the posts that talk about our big days from the people whose presence there made the day so memorable. I love reading them and they help me relive the day all over again!

Love, Brittney: "The intern's wedding"

Sarah Vivienne Photography: "Holdenby House 'Bride & Groom' Shoot"

Sarah Vivienne Photography: "Holdenby House wedding photos - Robert & Sarah"

Sarah Vivienne Photography: "A lovely suprise"

Fort Mill Photography: "Very few couples get to experience two wedding days in two different countries"