What are the different types of wedding album?
Which type of wedding album is right for you?
I imagine you’re reading this because, what started out as some simple research into creating your wedding album, has turned into a bit (or a lot!) of a headache. You weren’t aware there were so many different types of wedding album and now you’re overwhelmed, wondering what the difference is between flush-mount and lay-flat, or is it even a coffee table book that you want!
It can be a minefield if the only stressful choice you were expecting was the cover colour. So, to help you make sense of it all, I’ll take you through the main types of wedding albums that are on the market, explain their main attributes and what sets them apart. This should give you a clearer idea of which style most suits your needs. Whether that’s a show-stopping keepsake or something more sleek that you can pick up and look through that lives on your shelf.
The main wedding album types...
- Flush-Mount Albums
- Coffee Table Books
- Matted Albums
- Self-Mount Albums
Wedding Album Types - FLUSH-MOUNT ALBUMS
Flush-Mount albums have become the most popular choices amongst couples over the last decade or so. Picture a traditional wedding album but with a much more modern and versatile feel.
They have a premium finish and most can be completely personalised with a large range of covers, sizes, cover printing and boxes to choose from, so they can really reflect your own style and taste.
What does a flush-mount album consist of?
Your digital photos are designed into custom layouts which are then printed onto high quality photographic or fine-art paper. That paper is then mounted onto thick, rigid card pages which gives the album it’s signature heavyweight, luxury feel.
One of the standout features of a flush-mount album is it’s lay-flat design; when it’s opened, the pages sit completely flat so you don’t get a fold or break in the middle.
This means that your images can flow seamlessly across both pages (otherwise known as a double page spread!) It’s a real gamechanger for creating showstopping designs and allowing your favourite images to fill the pages without losing any part of the photo getting lost in the spine.
Why couples choose them…
- They combine the best of both worlds – the luxury feel of a traditional wedding album with a modern, elegant twist.
- Each album is handcrafted so they’re built well and will last, with a lifetime guarantee if they’re looked after properly.
- The high-quality photographic printing techniques used bring out the most beautiful colour and depth in your wedding photos.
- With so many personalisation options, you can create a unique album that suits your style whether that’s traditional and refined or modern and bold.
Things to consider…
- They are considered a quality investment. You’re paying for superior craftsmanship and materials, so they do come with a higher price point to reflect that
- The sturdy construction and rigid pages do make them quite heavy, so they’re not as easy to casually browse through or keep on display on a shelf or coffee table.
A flush mount album is ideal if you want…
Wedding Album Types - COFFEE TABLE PHOTO BOOKS
What does a coffee table book consist of?
Just like flush-mount albums, coffee table books are digitally designed. Where they differ is in the printing technique and paper.
The designs are press-printed, which is the same high-quality process used for glossy magazines and brochures. The pages themselves are thinner and more flexible, and they’re bound using a method called perfect-binding – essentially how pages are attached in a regular hardback book, folding into the spine at the centre.
This means you’ll lose part of your image if a photo extends right up to or across the spine, so your layout options are somewhat more limited compared to flush-mount or lay-flat albums.
Why couples choose them…
- You can often include more pages than other album types, so they’re perfect if you want to showcase a larger collection of photos without huge cost or a bulky album.
- They’re ideal for combining imagery with text whether that’s your wedding vows, song lyrics or more detailed stories of your day.
- Much lighter and easier to handle than other options, they are more practical for everyday display and regular browsing through.
Things to consider…
- They’re not quite as durable as other types of wedding album and can be more prone to wear over time.
- Whilst they still produce a high-quality look, press-printed images don’t generally have quite the same depth and richness of colour as photographic printing.
- Coffee Table Books lack that substantial, heavyweight feel that makes flush-mount albums feel so luxurious and premium.
A coffee table book is ideal if you want…
I use premium coffee table books to create my Wedding Storybooks – magazine-style albums that blend imagery with written memories beautifully. However, you can also use the Wedding Storybooks to display just photos. Discover my Wedding Storybooks→
Wedding Album Types - MATTED ALBUMS
Matted albums are similar in style to the flush-mount versions but they retain more of that traditional wedding feel for an even more robust, heavyweight finish.
What does a matted album consist of?
Like the flush-mount album, the majority of modern matted albums use digitally designed layouts that are printed as complete pages.
What makes them different is that card matting is then placed over each printed page, with precise cut-outs that frame each individual photo – creating a classic mounted picture effect.
Combined with the card backing that each page is mounted onto, this creates an extremely tactile, high-end feel.
Why couples choose them…
- They ooze tradition and formality with a classic, elegant wedding album feel.
- The card mounting adds an extra layer of quality and luxury, creating thick, rigid pages that feel substantial and premium.
- Perfect for showcasing a set of fewer, carefully curated images without the album feeling too thin or sparse. Each photo gets the attention it deserves.
Things to consider…
- Because of the mounted card overlays, the layouts are quite restrictive so there is less creative scope for your photos.
- They can be very heavy and bulky to handle – even more so than the flush-mount albums.
- They tend to be the most expensive option.
A matted album is ideal if you want…
That timeless, traditional elegant album with a gallery-style finish. The matted album is perfect if you prefer showcasing selected images with a substantial, luxury feel
Wedding Album Types - SELF-MOUNT ALBUMS
Self-mount photo albums are those traditional style DIY wedding albums your parents or grandparents probably had and whilst they are still around, they’re much less popular these days.
They’re a ready made album with sticky card pages where you print out your photos and mount them into the album yourself.
What does a self-mount album consist of?
Very different in style to the other options, they’re essentially a ready made album which feature blank pages and adhesive mounts. You print out the individual photos and them add them to the album manually. .
Why couples choose them…
- They’re adjustable. You can change the photos in your album whenever you like if you find that you prefer another photo or want to move images around.
- You can add to them over time – whether that’s including honeymoon photos later or adding growing family pictures as you have children.
Things to consider…
- It can be an extremely time-consuming process and requires a good, steady hand to make sure the photos are straight and in line.
- You need to print out the photos first and ensure they are all the correct size.
- They do feel a bit old fashioned compared to digitally printed albums which offer much more design capabilities.
A self-mount album is ideal if you want…
A proper nostalgic, handcrafted feel to your album and you’re prepared to take on a project.
Decision Time
Hopefully this has given you some useful insight into the different options available and helped you narrow down which type of wedding album might be perfect for you.
If you’re still not sure then think about the following…
Do you want something that feels more traditional and luxurious, or do you prefer a more sleek and modern style?
Matted albums are your most traditional and luxurious option, while coffee table books sit at the opposite end with their lightweight, contemporary feel. Flush-mount albums offer the perfect balance of both worlds. Self-mount albums are traditional but lack that premium quality feel.
How many images would you like to include and how creative do you want your layouts?
Matted and self-mount albums work best with fewer photos and simpler layouts, while coffee table books can accommodate lots of pages with room for both photos and text. Flush-mount albums give you the most creative freedom whether you prefer page-filling designs or elegant, minimalist layouts.
What are you comfortable spending?
Matted albums are typically the most expensive option, while self-mount albums are the most budget-friendly – though remember you’ll need to print all your photos yourself and invest the time to assemble it. Coffee table books give you excellent value if you want to include lots of photos and flush-mount albums offer a middle ground that’s typically less than matted albums but can accommodate more photos.
How do you plan to use your wedding album?
If you love the idea of having it on display and flipping through it regularly, then a coffee table book is your perfect match.But if you’re looking for a precious keepsake that you’ll carefully store and bring out to share on special occasions, flush-mount or matted albums are the way to go.
MY RECOMMENDATIONS
In my opinion, if you’re looking for a beautiful, lasting keepsake that tells the story of your wedding day, then you can’t go wrong with a flush-mount album. They offer the best blend of visual impact, design flexibility and a quality finish.
My Wedding Album Collection offers a range of flush-mount options in various sizes and materials.
If you want a more practical, modern alternative that offers great value for money, then a Coffee Table Book is a great alternative.
I use a beautiful, high-quality coffee table book for my Wedding Storybooks which features both images and words in an editorial style format. You can, however use them purely for photos too.
Need more help choosing?
Still unsure which direction to go?
You might find my Guide to Creating Your Perfect Wedding Album helpful. It covers everything from design choices to cover materials and more.
Or if you’d like to talk through your options in more detail, I’m always happy to help and we can figure out the perfect fit for your photos and your style. Get in touch to chat about how we can work together →
Grab a copy of my FREE comprehensive Wedding Album Planner featuring a step-by-step guide…
If you’d like to know a bit about me…
I’m Gill Challis, a wedding album designer with over 12 years of experience creating bespoke wedding albums for couples.
Discover the story behind White Peacock Album Design →
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