When Mr. Mole and I were planning our wedding, we spent a considerable amount of time thinking about photography: how much we wanted to pay, what type of package we needed and who we would hire. Now that we are three months into our marriage, we need to start thinking about what exactly we are going to do with the hundreds of photos that we received.
We decided to start by making albums using an online publisher. Our photographer in Vegas offered a professional album as part of a package, but we decided to go the DIY route for a number of reasons. First, we needed our album to be comprehensive and include photos both from our Vegas ceremony and reception and our Milwaukee party. Second, we wanted to have editorial control over the narrative story of the album. Third, we knew that a “consumer album”—as opposed to a professional one—would fit all of our needs/wants at a lower price point. Fourth, we could make multiple copies of the albums and give them to our parents as thank you presents.
Honestly, the fact that Mother’s Day was quickly approaching is what gave me the kick in the behind to design a set of albums for our parents. After reading a variety of online reviews, I decided to go through Adoramapix. (The fact that I found a 30% off code for all square-shaped albums also helped me make my decision.) For our parents, we designed 10″x10″ books with 26 pages in the “Lustre” finish. We just received the books on Saturday, and they are better than I imagined.
Front Cover
Back Cover
We went with a custom cover and chose the “Collage” theme. The process was incredibly easy: you upload photos and arrange them into a variety of layout templates. I have to admit that I spent many hours arranging and rearranging the photos until I was happy.
Uploading images
Arranging images
You can choose between single page layouts or spreads, which cover both pages. The pages of the book are designed to lay flat, so you can arrange pictures over the center binding.
In the Preview Screen
In print
We were pleased to see that the images were clear and sharp in both small and large sizes. (You can blame my own photography skills for any blurriness in the photos that follow!)
Spread with two photos
Spread with eight photos
Adoramapix uses archival quality photo paper—Kodak Lustre or Fujifilm HD paper—in all of their books, so the pages have a nice weight and thickness to them.
Pages
The total price per book was around $42, after the 30% coupon code. For the price, we are incredibly happy with the quality! We will eventually make a larger, 76 page album for ourselves.
We also want to print a series of our favorite wedding photos and frame them. To avoid our entire house screaming, “HEY WE GOT MARRIED,” I think that we might decorate one small hallway wall with five or six of these photos.
Image via Crate and Barrel
Image via Apartment Therapy
Image via Apartment Therapy / From the Picture Wall Company
Of course, I’ve also displayed the photos in more modern ways: on Weddingbee, on Facebook and on our wedding blog.
What are you going to be doing with your wedding photos? How will you be displaying them?
Did you miss a Mole recap?
Gorgeous album! I too am trying to avoid the house screaming “we got hitched!”
Wow. Great job on the photo books. I still need to do something with our honeymoon pics and the pics from the first two years of marriage.
I LOVE the album! I said I was going to get ours done by Christmas, then by Mother’s Day, and nada! Still! You’ve just inspired me to get back on the bandwagon!!! LOVE yours!
Beautiful album! I’m definitely going to check out this site – I’ve been dragging my feet on creating our wedding album but I think this post has just inspired me to get cracking.
Your album is so beautiful! I’m hoping to make photo books as thank you presents as well, so it’s very helpful to see your review and photos. Thanks Mrs. Mole!
Love adorama books, and yours is gorgeous! I think you inspired me to work on some for gifts!
That book looks great. I always use shutterfly because they give great discounts and have cute layouts. I’ll have to check out adornapix. Your book is beautiful!!!
Glad to hear that you had a good experience with Adoramapix. We opted not to go with an album with our photographer, so I’ve been researching DIY albums. Thanks!
That album’s amazing and at such a good price.. profesional albums here can go from 1000 to 2000 pesos which is like 150 dollars, IMO that’s an amazing price.
Beautiful albums and a fantastic price – love the arrangement of the photos you chose!
Do you remember what the coupon code was? I’d love to see if it still works 
Thanks everyone!
@kcdkar: Oh man, I just found an even better code! PXGD1010 is supposedly 35% off 10×10 books. Expires 5/23.
Mrs. Mole, Los Angeles/Las Vegas Age and Occupation: 29, Test Prep Instructor Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31, User Experience Architect Engagement Date: April 2011 Wedding Date: January 2012 Venue: Wynn Las Vegas/Bouchon Bistro About Me: I’m a Wisconsinite-turned-Angeleno who is planning a destination wedding in Las Vegas. I am passionate about education: I spent 23 (!) consecutive years in school, and now I work to help other people get into graduate programs. I love running on the treadmill, buying bath products from Lush, learning new moves in step aerobics, and exploring my neighborhood on foot. I am sometimes snobby about food, but I am rarely snobby about books. I read everything from Geoffrey Chaucer to Iris Murdoch to Chuck Klosterman to Candace Bushnell. My fiance and I are getting married on our third anniversary!
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