How to Get Guests to Participate in Creating a Wedding Album

Turn your wedding guests into a fleet of photographers

By Jennifer Vance

Photo by iStockphoto.com

Include guests in the creation of a wedding album, whether it's through a simple sign-in book or a more elaborate album. Either is an opportunity to let guests know that you appreciate them being a part of the celebration. Make sure the opportunities are easy to find and easy to understand, and it becomes a piece of (wedding) cake to get guests to play a part in your wedding album.

• What You Need to Know
• At the reception, provide a sign-in book and extra felt-tip pens.
• At least two months in advance, ask guests to contribute pictures of themselves with either the bride or groom or both, informing guests that the pictures will not be returned -- the photos are meant to be a keepsake for the couple.
• Purchase disposable cameras and leave one or two on each table at the reception.

Step 1:

Place a sign-in book at the entrance of the reception (specifically on the same table where guests typically pick up their table place cards or at the very least in a highly visible and accessible place) so guests have the opportunity to write something to the couple. Keep it there for the duration of the event so that guests have ample time to sign it if they forget to sign. Make sure the table has plenty of pens.

Step 2:

Rent a photo booth for guests so they can have their pictures taken. Have your DJ or someone from the band announce the photo booth to guests, letting them know what it's for, steering them to it and retrieving and compiling the finished photos afterward.

Step 3:

Inform the photographer that you want him to take plenty of pictures of the guests to keep them feeling included.

Step 4:

Hire someone (or ask the photographer or a friend) to walk around with an instant camera (the ones with self-developing film) to take candid pictures of guests. Or have a photo printer handy for instant printouts. Have said photographer inform guests for the reason to take the pictures -- the photos will be included in a wedding album -- and ask guests to write some sort of advice or well wishes to the couple on a page to coincide with their picture.

Step 5:

Place disposable cameras on tables. Have someone inform guests that the cameras are not theirs to keep but will be collected at the end of the wedding. After the photos are developed, the pictures can be used to create a wedding album for the bride and groom.

• Tips & Warnings
• Ask your friends and family members for advice on involving guests in creating a wedding album.
• No matter what manner you choose to get your guests involved, include a visible note on the tables for all guests to inform them about any opportunities to involve themselves in the creation of the wedding album.
• Consider putting the wedding album photos on a personal website or a social networking website, so your friends and family can enjoy them after the ceremony.