An Easy Way to Get ALL the Photos from Your Wedding

I don't have to tell you that wedding photos are precious.  They're the kind of things that get passed down in families for generations.  They're the kind of thing we want to make sure we keep safe.  

Forever.

Wedding photos come in all shapes and sizes, from professional photos to the ones snapped by your grandma or your BFF.  Maybe your second cousin captures the perfect one-of-a-kind shot of the groom with that look in his eyes.

Wouldn't it be nice to get all the photos taken at your wedding?

Well, you can!  Here's how.

This brilliant idea comes from my dear friend and fellow memory-keeping consultant Carol who did this when her daughter got married.  It's a fun and easy way to encourage guests to take their own photos at the wedding/reception/dinner/luncheon and share them easily with the couple!

First I'll explain the general idea of how this awesome approach works, and then I'll tell you exactly how YOU can do it!

NOTE:  I am a Forever affiliate (a decision I made because I love it so much), so you will find affiliate links in this post, from which I earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you.

STORING YOUR WEDDING PHOTOS FOREVER ~ LITERALLY

We talked last time about how Forever is the best website to store your wedding photos and videos because it's guaranteed private, secure, and yours for your lifetime plus 100 years.  Many cloud storage options don't even have a short-term promise, let alone a long-term vision.

Not exactly what wedding photos deserve.

There's no monthly maintenance fee with Forever Storage, either.  You buy your storage and then you own it!  (And using the Photo-Themed Bridal Shower idea we went over last time means you might not even have to buy it!  Woot!) 

TWO THINGS TO DO BEFORE THE WEDDING

Carol's daughter and her husband came up with an adorable nickname for themselves, Hunny & the Bee, which I will use here in reference to them.  

#1 - Before the wedding, Hunny & the Bee opened a free Forever account.  Forever accounts include 2 GB of free storage for photos and videos.  Remember:  Forever Storage is forever!

Then, in their Forever Storage, they set up an album called Our Wedding and set it to Public visibility.  A Public setting is great for group events because multiple people can contribute to the album if you set it that way.   

Of course, you can set the wedding album to Private (or Friends & Family) view at any time you want after the wedding festivities.

You can see what that would look like by scanning this QR code:

#2 - Because Hunny & the Bee had a new account, Forever gave them a $20 welcome coupon (good for 60 days).  They used the $20 toward making a card using Forever's high-quality cards that would include the photo-sharing information for the guests at the event.  This could be done at a luncheon, reception, or practice dinner, or any good photo op where you can leave a card for guests at a table, or on a chair.

The cards are awesome, but that's our next section.  For now you just need to know:

That's all they had to do before the wedding.

AT THE WEDDING (OR RECEPTION/LUNCHEON/DINNER)

On their special day, they placed the cards they had created and ordered (see an example below) at each table at the reception, asking guests to take photos of the couple and of themselves during the festivities, and then upload them to this Public album. 

On the card was a QR code that linked right to the Our Wedding album, so guests could upload right from there.  (Forever albums can be shared using a QR code or a simple link.)  

You should know that all of this is impressive but really convenient, too--the album already creates its own QR code to share, etc.  Plus, I'm here to help!  (P.S. Answering questions to get people started with Forever is always a free service I provide!)

Here's the back of the card, explaining this process to the guests.

How incredibly cool is it that your guests now get to make a journal or mug or cool tabletop panel or book (etc.) for themselves for free using their $20 coupon and their own personal photos in their own personal accounts!

A POSSIBLE BONUS

There may be an extra bonus here for you, too!  The QR code that links to your album in your Forever account acts as a referral link.   

Each guest who opens a new Forever account AND orders something where they spend at least 1 cent, you'll get a $20 coupon!  (Remember, they can use their $20 welcome coupon for something and pay the difference if there is one.)

You can certainly spend your coupons on any of the items shown above, or a blanket, wall canvas, etc., but don't forget the wedding photo-memory book and the permanent, secure digital photo and video storage I mentioned last time.  Those would be awesome uses for any $20 coupons that may come your way!  You can use multiple coupons on the same item, too.

HOW TO DO THIS YOURSELF

I recommend testing this out ahead of time with a friend so you can see how it works and make sure you've got it set up properly and be able to answer questions if needed.  I would love to help you do that!  My contact information is here.  

Here are the steps for what you need to do:

1. Set up your Forever account at this link.  Using this link connects you to me so that I'm your consultant and I can help you with any questions you have along the way.  Check your email so you can verify your email address and then get the $20 coupon.
2. Set up an album in your Forever account following these directions.  Your free Forever account includes 2 GB free photo storage.  At this point, only put a few photos of the couple in this album so that there is plenty of space for guest uploads.  You'll put photographer photos in later, too.  IMPORTANT:  When setting up your Our Wedding album (or whatever you want to call it), set the visibility to Public (you'll be prompted to choose a visibility), then click "share" above the album (shown below) to slide the "Allow others to upload?" toggle to allow other people to upload photos to the album.  A Public setting allows anyone to view, but you specifically have to allow others to upload to your album.                                                                  
    

   
   
   
3. Choose a card design.  Logged in to your Forever account, click "Create and Print" along the top, then select Cards under Design & Print.  Choose a thank you card (or another design if you like).  The back of the card is fully editable, and you can write a whole paragraph or two or three thanking guests for attending and instructions on how to upload photos to your Our Wedding album. (See instruction verbiage ideas in the image above.) Note:  If you prefer to design your own card, ask me about Artisan, Forever's digital scrapbooking software.  I also hire out to make personalized products using Artisan.
4. Create a card with these instructions for each person's table setting (or a few cards per table, if you prefer) following the instructions here.  This is very simple to do (and very elegant!) using Forever's free Design & Print software, which you can access right from your Forever account.   Don't forget to include the QR code to your Our Wedding album--that's the most important part!  I can help you if needed--don't hesitate to ask!

I recommend placing the cards on the table alternating, some with the card front showing and some with the card back showing.  This way, the guests are more likely to notice that the cards are double-sided.  We don't want them to miss the all-important information on the back!!  (If you do use the envelopes, I recommend stuffing them with the message side showing when opened.)

While this is a creative and fun way to get all the photos from different points of view during your wedding/reception/luncheon/dance (etc.), it is certainly likely that there may be some photos uploaded that you don't love.  Shhhh... don't tell, but deleting them later is easy!  :)  

Who do you know who would love this great idea my friend Carol did at her daughter's wedding?  Share this post using the share buttons at the left, or Pin this image below to Pinterest to save it for later.

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The Many Benefits of a Photo-Themed Bridal Shower (with freebies!)

A friend of mine just held the most creative bridal shower that gave her daughter such a unique gift:  her wedding photos preserved for generations to come!

My friend's ideas were brilliant, and I'm so excited to share with you what she did.

Her daughter's bridal shower was photo themed.  The event itself was a digital Make & Take.  Guests brought laptops and created photo gifts at the Forever website--created digitally and then ordered with professional publishing.  

And here's the trick:  The bride-to-be used her referral link for her own Forever account, which matters for a very important reason. 

 

When someone opens their new Forever account using your referral link, you get a $20 coupon as a thanks for referring them.  AND they get a $20 coupon, too!  

I know there's a lot going on here, so let's get back to the bridal shower itself so I can explain how this whole awesome idea works.

NOTE:  I am a Forever affiliate (a decision I made because I love it so much), so you will find affiliate links in this post, from which I earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you.

The Photo-Themed Bridal Shower

PART 1

Guests arrive to the photo-themed bridal shower.  Hugs are exchanged and goodies are eaten.  And then, instead of bridal shower games, everyone sits down with their individual laptops.  Guests are given the bride's referral link and open their new Forever accounts.  (Anyone who is already a Forever user can still participate but won't receive a coupon.)  

Next, everyone creates chooses a photo item to create.  This part of the bridal shower can go one of two ways.

Option 1:  Let guests create something on their own, kind of like a parting thank-you gift that will be delivered to their homes in a week or two.  Maybe a mug or blanket or ornament.  Maybe a canvas for the wall.  Maybe a steel water bottle or a calendar.

Option 2:  Let the guests create something for the bride!  If you go this route, it's best for the bride to come with a wish list (complete with prices; check current sale prices) and photos she would like used in the projects.  Maybe the couple would like a gallery-wrapped canvas like this

or a set of cork-backed coasters like this

Because everyone will be creating these top-quality items using a free, simple software platform right at the Forever website called Design & Print, there's nothing complicated about it.  There's nothing to download or install--you just need an internet connection.  

The learning curve for Design & Print is almost a straight line.  You can see how easy it is to use at this video tutorial about making canvases or this one about making yearbooks.

Once everyone has created their photo items, they need to check their emails and claim their new account coupons.  Guests can use those coupons to order the items they've just created, paying any difference at checkout.  Then they can order their items.    

And that's when the coupons start rolling in for the bride.  A Forever $20 referral thanks coupon is generated once the person who opened their new account places an order of at least 1 cent, after their own welcome coupons were applied.  

PART 2

Maybe the bride-to-be just got some gifts that her bridal shower attendees made for her, but maybe it was just a fun party where people made cards, calendars, water bottles, or books for themselves.  Either way, every order placed (or at least 1 cent) generated a $20 coupon for the bride.

So, if--let's say--12 guests attend the bridal shower (and use the bride's referral link to open a new Forever account and spend at least $0.01 on the order), the bride will receive $240 in referral rewards coupons.  She has 60 days to use the coupons, and there's a lot she can do with them!  Keep reading to see options for the bride-to-be to use the coupons.

By the way, an item on the bride's wish list could also be a Forever gift certificate.  Gift certificates are available in increments from $5 - $1000.  The bride would receive an email like this:  

Before I get to the two big things the bride can use all her gift certificates for, let's talk about the big thing you're probably wondering.

So, how can I make this happen?

You may be wondering how you can pull off such a fun idea!  Whether you're a bride or someone who would throw the bridal shower, don't worry.  I'm the best free resource you'll ever have!  I can help with the bridal shower in any way you need, from the logistics of how to give everyone the referral link at the shower to how to guide guests through creating a photo project.  

I've hosted too many events to count, so trust me when I tell you I can help you with all the set-up.  I could even be on speed dial (or Zoom!) during the shower if you have questions.  Contact me with any questions you have now.  Because this is an amazing bridal shower idea!

How to Use the Coupons from the Bridal Shower:  Preserving Photos in Print and/or Digitally 

You won't be surprised when I tell you that wedding photos and videos should be preserved with care.  (Not unlike the rest of our photos, truth be told.)  

What most people don't know is that there are two ways to preserve photos.  One is digitally, and the other is in print.  In fact, photo experts always suggest print as one of the best ways to preserve photos and memories.

So the bride can use her Forever coupons (and gift certificates) for either or both.  (Reason #276 why Forever is the best at memory-keeping.)  Anyway, I'll tell you a little about both.

Print Photo Preservation with Forever

WHY YOU WANT IT:  Forever uses the highest-in-the-industry binding so pages never yellow and fall out (unlike most companies who use glue in the bindings) as well as archival-quality ink and papers.  Forever print products come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.  When you create books with Forever, you'll also have a digital version (a PDF) saved in your account as well. 

With a handful of guests, the bride is likely to get her wedding book (or guest sign in book) free using the Forever referral coupons she gets.  

While it's true that photo professionals recommend saving your photos BOTH digitally and in print, it is equally true that there's just nothing like having a tactile book of your memories to physically hold in your hands.

Print is easily accessible (has your laptop or phone ever run out of battery or had a cracked screen?) and is recommended by professionals because photos printed with high quality can last upwards of 200 years.  Printed photos also have the benefit of space to write, and writing memories that go with your photos truly brings the photos to life.  You get to tell your story!

It's the story that gives your photos meaning!

You could certainly use Artisan, Forever's amazing digital scrapbooking software (my fave!!) for its creativity and flexibility, but I find that people who want to get their books done in a snap while still getting top quality really love the Design & Print templates and software.  

You can see how easy it is right here:

Digital Photo Preservation with Forever

WHY YOU WANT IT:  Just like not all photo printing products are created equal, not all digital photo storage is created equal, either.  It really makes a big difference which services you trust your photos to.  

These are some hints on why the bride would want to use Forever for those precious photos and videos from the wedding--and from a lifetime together moving forward.

And this article covers why it's so very important to know what you're signing up for with digital photo storage.  

And it's not just about storing your photos.  It's about being able to easily share them, too.  There are so many perks to Forever Storage.

In fact, Forever Storage is very unusual, which makes it a pretty big deal.  It's the safest place for your wedding photos and videos.  Here are a handful of the benefits:

• You can save photo files, video files, audio files, and PDFs in your Forever Storage.  (If you don't think you have audio files, think about special voicemails you'd love to keep forever! Learn how to save voicemails here. PDFs include your print projects in digital form, which makes them both shareable digitally and re-printable.)
• Anything saved in your Forever Storage is guaranteed for your lifetime plus 100 years, and you can appoint an administrator to your account to make sure your loved ones always have access to your photos.
• It's storage you own.  You don't "rent" it by paying a monthly fee like many other digital cloud services.  Because of this, Forever can't discontinue their services like other companies reserve rights to.  In addition, it's something you can pass down to another generation without any maintenance fees.
• Forever retains no rights to your photos, will not/cannot sell or delete them, will not mine your data.  (This is not true for the majority of digital cloud photo services, including Google.)
• Forever triple-backs up everything in your Forever Storage using bank-encrypted security and employs a security team to continually monitor its safety.  (My photos are much safer in my Forever Storage than they are on my computer at my house!)
• Organization in your Forever Storage is easy (see this short tutorial video), and you can set albums to be visible in three settings:  Private, Friends & Family, and Public.  For Friends & Family, you need to "friend," to borrow Facebook verbiage, other Forever users you know who you would like to be able to see your albums.
• You can get the free Forever app for easy photo uploading from your phone or tablet (and even choose the auto-sync option if you want).

You can even add a description and tag photos in Forever Storage, too!  You can see here my description and the tags I've added to this photo.

The bride can use the $20 coupons and/or the gift certificates to buy Forever Storage!  Choose 10 GB, 25 GB, 100 GB, or even a TB!  

Place the storage package you wish to purchase in your cart, and then enter all the coupons in the "use a coupon or promotional code" field.  Click the "Deals" tab along the top to see the current sale price on Storage, and copy and paste the code in this same field as well.  If you have gift certificates, use those codes in the "use a gift certificate" field.

Forever Club is optional but would give you an additional savings on both digital photo storage and print photo storage (your wedding album book) of 5% on top of any other current sales.  Learn more about it at that link. 

Wouldn't this make a creative, fun, and unforgettable bridal shower?  It's an important and useful way to throw a bridal shower, but also so enjoyable to see, share, and preserve precious photos and memories. 

A huge thank you to Carol and to Hunny & the Bee (the bride and groom) for sharing this absolutely brilliant idea!  

Using all the perks and benefits of Forever to preserve a wedding couple's photos and memories for them for free (or at least discounted), while giving guests a chance to enjoy their own shower-made photo goodie, is a win-win!  Let me help you do it for that special bride you know (or are)!  :)

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digital DIY wedding: table cards, favors, and bridesmaid gifts (part 2)

(This is part 2 of digital DIY wedding ideas.  See {last week's post} for information as well as ideas for save the date, invitations, and programs.)

Between last week's post and today's, I'm honestly just scratching the surface of what Heritage Makers can bring to your wedding, reception, dinner, or open house!

See the sign-in book, the wedding album, the cupcake wraps, and the "carry-out" sticker?

SO MANY CREATIVE, PERSONAL POSSIBILITIES!  I love it!

Today I want to show you three.  So let's get started.

TABLE CARDS

Also called "table tents," these can be made from a 12x12 scrap page.  Obviously, these can match your wedding colors and your whole theme.  I know someone who had a burlap and lace theme and found the most darling burlap and lace digital art.  It was perfect.  (If you missed last week's post, be sure you read it.)

There's one design idea.  Here's another. 

2023 UPDATE:  Heritage Makers became YPhoto under Youngevity (which purchased Heritage Makers in 2013).  YPhoto uses only templates, so the creativity showcased here is no longer available there. Best-in-the-industry quality and permanent cloud photo storage with guaranteed privacy are required for anything recommended here by Photo & Story Treasures, so we highly recommend Forever.  

Using Forever's Artisan program for digital scrapbooking, you can make items similar to those shown here.  This video tutorial shows you how to craft with high-quality scrapbook pages, and this one shows you how to use Artisan to create something unique and then print at home (for instances in which you need thinner paper, sticker paper, etc.)  You can see just a few examples of crafting I've done using Artisan here, including cards, magnets, dry-erase boards, and other products.

Cut apart, then fold in half.  Done!

The lite version of the 12x12 scrap page is around $3.  Done this way, you get 16 place cards.  They stand 3" wide and 1 1/2" tall when folded.

FAVORS (and regular address labels)

This is one of my favorite things to do!!  The regular address labels are obviously fantastic to use as address labels.  You could even put a photo on them instead of the monogram.
 

But truth be told, the coolest, most impressive thing you can do with these labels is make chocolate favors out of them!

They wrap perfectly around Hershey Nuggets!  Get ready for your jaw to drop.

Address labels come in a set of 54 for about $3.  

Here are both styles (one with the monogram, one with the photo) together.  How perfect is this?

BRIDESMAID GIFTS

There are honestly too many ideas to list them all here, but I'll give you a couple.

First, you could create a sweet Bridesmaid Book.  This is an 8x8 softbound book.

These are obviously very personal, and not your run-of-the-mill online photo book.  

Another idea is a keepsake mug.

 It's a very special way to make your Special Day just that much more special!

Save and share these unique ideas by Pinning, Tweeting, or Facebook Sharing.  Or email this post to yourself!