By Brittny Drye

One of the most exciting events post-wedding is receiving your wedding photos—it’s like reliving the magic of that momentous day all over again. After sifting through hundreds of moments captured in time, narrowing down which ones are worth intense editing and framing, you’ll still have plenty of beautiful ones left over.

To keep these gorgeous images from going to waste, preserve your wedding day while telling the story with a wedding photo album book. Going through your photographer has the potential to be expensive, while store bought options, with their plastic photo sleeves, leave little to be desired; which is why we love Blurb.

Blurb is an easy-to-use website that lets you design a professional-quality book, averaging between $100-$150 (significantly less expensive than the traditional photo book) and will arrive within seven to 10 days. Want to show off your beautiful day? You can instantly share the entire album with loved ones through social media or email with a simple click of a button. For those who want the keepsake (like the parents or grandparents), they can order a copy online.

Ready to get started? First, read our tips for creating your own:

6 TIPS FOR DESIGNING YOUR WEDDING PHOTO ALBUM

	Photo Permission: Make sure it’s in your photography contract that you can use the remaining images, even if unedited, and that they’re free of watermarks.
	Mix-and-Match: We recommend mixing color with black-and-white shots. Too much color can have a busy effect when you’re creating a page featuring several photos.
	Not Always About the Details: Similarly, contrasting shots of details (ring shots, cake, suit or gown accents) mixed with full shots of the ceremony or reception room create visual interest.
	Ideal Order: Design your book’s photos to coincide with the sequence of the event, starting with any engagement photos and working your way through the final getaway. This way, you can truly walk down memory lane as you flip through the pages.
	Don’t Forget the Formals: A photojournalistic approach to wedding photography is currently the most popular, as couples save the formal shots for framed photos to go on their parents’ mantels. But trust us, 20 years from now, you’ll wish you had included at least a few amongst those adorable candid pictures.
	DIY Design: The best part about Blurb is that you can mix-and-match images in different layouts to create a unique look on each page. Play around with the options to create the ultimate design.

Need inspiration? Check out Kristen and Heather's glamorous wedding book or Matt and Jeff's adorably fun big day.

Photo: Simon Harvey Photography; Mike Plunkett Photography

Brittny Drye is the senior editor at Equally Wed, the nation's premier online wedding magazine for gay and lesbian weddings and honeymoons. Follow her on Twitter at @BrittnyDrye.