5 Fun Ways To Get All Photos Your Guests Take At Your Wedding

February 16, 2022
5 Fun ways to get all of the photos your guests take at your wedding

Because you know they’ll be snappin’

It’s no secret – photos are one of the most important aspects of your wedding. The day will go by in a dizzying whirl, each small beautiful memory a blurry and fleeting moment in time. I’m sure you’ve already lined up a photographer, but what about all the photos your guests take at your wedding? All your friends and family will be snapping the wonderful moments they experience at your wedding. You’ll want those photos too. 

What’s the best way to get all your wedding photos? You could just wing it, wrangle photos from guests, or use a wedding day hashtag unique to your wedding (but then you have to search social media for photos and hope your guests remembered the hashtag). 

But what about Grandma’s pics? She’s not on social media (#blessherheart). What about your cute 12-year-old nephew – the one who has the cool kids’ digital camera. How can you make sure you see alllll the photos?

Here are 5 of the most fun ways to get every photo taken at your wedding:

1. Use Disposable Cameras

Red and yellow retro disposable cameras

These are still a thing – a fun thing! If you’re asking folks to ditch their devices for your event, disposable cameras on each table is a fun way to get your guests involved. There are some cute disposable cameras out there made just for weddings. With a few signs asking your guests to capture all the candid moments they see, you’ll get some real gems.

Price: $15-30/camera + printing costs.
Pros: A throw-back that brings a physical camera back into the photo capturing game and a fun way for your guests to get involved.
Cons: Your guests won’t be able to see all the photos unless you share the digital versions. Disposable cameras are also not an eco-friendly option. We love nostalgia, but this is a pass for us. (Also, finding a place to get your photos printed? It took us a good 20 minutes to find somewhere local!

2. Go Vintage-ish with Cute Instant Cameras

A collection of mini polaroid-style cameras that spit out the actual tangible photo memories on the spot? Now that’s fun! Not to mention these popular FujiFilm Instax Mini cameras come in every possible pastel color, making them a drool-worthy wedding party favor. Anyone can use them – from your little flower girl to your great-grandma. Just point, shoot, and give that film a little shake in your fingers and voila!

Price: $70-$95 per camera.
Pros: These cameras are gorgeous and the instant prints are definitely scrapbook worthy.
Cons: It’s a bit pricey if you want one for each table. You’ll also want to keep the photos for yourself…so you’ll have to remind your guests to leave the pics for you. (But, oh, the temptation!)

3. Share a Google Photos or DropBox link to your guests

The most common method of collecting and sharing photos that everybody knows: using Google Photos or DropBox. They come free (unless you exceed the limited free storage space). Share a link during your wedding and let everybody pile on their photos.

However, heads up — things could get messy. Uploading can be difficult for non-techie guests, and with everybody contributing photos without any prior review. The photo dump can also be a total nightmare to sort through.

Price: Free (pay for more storage space).
Pros: Easy-to-use, apps are household names that many people have access to.
Cons: These services lack album structure and filtration, leaving you to spend countless hours sorting through an unorganized mess of photos.

4. Social Media Hashtag

instagram post from a wedding on a light green background

Social media wedding hashtags have been around for years, first gaining their popularity on Instagram. This is a great way to collect your wedding photos directly through most social media platforms, although most commonly used on Instagram and Facebook.

Price: Free.
Pros: Social media hashtags are free to set up and fun to create.
Cons: Your wedding photos will be public on social media without your approval and guests without social media can’t contribute. If your hashtag isn’t unique enough, your photos may also be difficult to find. If you’re not connected to all of your guests on social, you may not be able to find them at all.

5. WaldoWed

waldowed match notification from a wedding.

With WaldoWed, you can easily gather instant wedding photos from your guests via convenient QR code and text upload. Your wedding guests can also submit a selfie via text or the Waldo Photos app, upload all their wedding photos, and get notified every time they appear in a photo with automated face-tagging photo delivery.

Also unique to Waldo, your pro photographer can upload all their photos and your guests will get the photos they are in too. It’s the ultimate party favor. You’ll get every photo uploaded in high-resolution, with options to create multiple albums to organize all of your wedding events from your engagement party, bachelor/bachelorette party, bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, and wedding day.

WaldoWed also comes with QR code printables. Upgrade with extra premium albums like Video Guestbook and nostalgic Memories Smart Slideshows.

Best part? Guests don’t need the app, so it’s user friendly for all, even those not so tech-savvy guests.

Price: Free, for basic photo gallery. $49, for QR code signage and automated photo delivery.
Pros: Where do we begin? Facial recognition that alerts guests of the photos they appear in – a fun and engaging photo experience for your guests, which means more pics for you! Plus, the pro photographer web integration allows your wedding photographer to share their photos in the same gallery, along with wireless DSLR for real-time uploading. Our personal favorite: you and your guests can order photo prints directly from your Waldo albums, and Waldo will drop ship them!
Cons: Your wedding guests might be more excited to look at pictures of themselves than you. 😉

@waldoevents How to get all of your wedding photos #weddingphotos #weddingplanninghacks #bridetobe ♬ original sound – WaldoEvents

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