Dover, Delaware's capital, hosts weddings in historic churches, garden venues and nearby farmland. Whoever is in the room on the day, the people who could not be there will still want to see it, which makes the choice of keepsake matter.
Thinking about who will look at it
Before choosing a format, picture the people who will open it. A couple will page through an album slowly, while a grandmother may want something she can read in an armchair and pass to friends. A cousin who could not attend may page through a magazine once, and it will still be the clearest picture they get of the day.
If most of your relatives live within a short drive, the album becomes something people ask to see rather than something stored away. That favors a well-made book with strong images and enough spreads to include the people who matter to you.
It also helps to decide early whether the book is for the two of you or for the whole family. A couple's album can be personal and selective. A family album tends to include more faces and moments, and it may need extra spreads so that no branch of the family feels left out.
What each format gives you
An album is made to last. Sizes run from 12×24 to 20×30 inches, and you can choose a classic binding or lay-flat, where pages open fully flat and images can sweep across both sides. Classic starts at $240 and lay-flat at $275, both with 15 spreads and a photo cover.
The wedding magazine is a different tool: 20 pages, 8.5×11 inches, editorial layouts, 15 original styles, $70. It is a lighter, more shareable piece. One album and several magazines keeps the cost down while covering everyone.
Selecting photos with a family in mind
Family weddings tend to have many formal photographs, and it is tempting to include them all. Instead, choose one strong group portrait per family unit, then fill the rest with candid moments: a parent adjusting a tie, a grandparent laughing, kids on the dance floor.
Keep the sequence simple. Getting ready, ceremony, portraits, reception, and a final spread of the night. A clean order lets relatives find themselves quickly, and it makes the album easier to enjoy than a book that jumps around.
Do not worry if the photographer's gallery contains five hundred images or more. You are not required to use most of them. A tight edit of a hundred or so, chosen for emotion and variety, produces a better book than an exhaustive one, and Smart Auto-Layout will arrange them for you.
Designing it with the online tool
The Folio Forever album designer builds the first draft for you with Smart Auto-Layout. You can then edit anything: move photos, change crops, swap a cover. Every page is previewed, and nothing prints until you approve it.
If you want extra help, the optional design-team polish hand-off costs $99. A leather cover is $25 more and acrylic is $39, in case you want something with a finished look for the living room shelf.
Gifts that carry meaning
A wedding magazine is a good thank-you for parents who helped pay for the day or hosted a rehearsal dinner. It is quick to make, easy to ship, and tells the story without requiring anyone to sit through hundreds of images.
For grandparents, write the names and a short thank-you by hand and tuck the note inside the front cover. If an older relative has trouble with small detail, choose fewer and larger images per page so each face reads clearly.
If relatives are likely to ask for their own copy, work out how many you need before you place the order. A magazine is the easy way to cover aunts, uncles and cousins after a big family celebration, and ordering them together saves you designing a second time.
Timing and delivery
Printing takes 5 to 7 business days after approval and payment. Express delivery costs $60 and takes 5 to 7 days, Standard is $32 and takes 7 to 10 days, and Economy is $12 and takes 15 to 18 days. Everything ships with tracking.
If you want the book for a holiday or an anniversary, work backward from that date and leave a week or two for changes. If a book arrives with a print or binding defect, transit damage, or anything that does not match the approved proof, report it within 14 days of delivery for a free reprint or a full refund. The refunds page has the full terms, and the FAQ covers common questions.
Questions
How many spreads should a Dover wedding album include?
Every album includes 15 spreads, and you can go up to 40. If you have a large family, 20 to 30 usually covers the portraits and the candids without padding.
Is a magazine a good gift for grandparents?
Yes. It is light, easy to read and shows the highlights of the day in a short format.
Planning an album from your Dover photos? Design it online; you approve every page before it prints. See wedding album sizes and prices or the 20-page wedding magazine.