4 min readIn all the apartments I have lived in, I have never hung up personal photos. It’s much easier to decorate my walls or shelves with artwork, lighting, and even sculptural objects than to display sentimental moments. I never quite figured out how to create a gallery wall that didn’t seem cheesy or frame a touching vignette that didn’t feel like something I’d find in aisle three of a Walgreens. I can be a procrastinator, so I avoided putting up photos for the longest time until a few months ago, when I realized my third wedding anniversary was coming up! And I still had not framed any of my pretty wedding photos.
As a gift to myself, my husband, and the home we’ve made, I finally got my act together and made an appointment at Framebridge. This is my go-to spot for custom framing, whether it’s a museum print I bought in Denmark or a drawing I got off a street vendor in Florence.
The brand makes choosing frames, mats, and styling seamless in-store (you can also do everything online, but I prefer to chat with someone in person for additional opinions, as I can be indecisive). I always leave the store feeling confident and positive with my purchase; hence, I keep coming back! (This story is not sponsored, guys, I promise.)
You can bring whatever you want framed in-store and go from there, but because I didn’t print out any photos beforehand, I decided to do it at the store. (They only have select picture sizes, so something to keep in mind if you go here.)
I was open to any photo size as long as it aligned symmetrically with one special physical object: The menu from our dinner the night I got married. I had an intimate, quaint City Hall wedding with just family, and we had a small dinner afterward at one of our favorite restaurants in Williamsburg.
For the photos, I chose one group shot and one candid snap of me and my husband in motion. My friend and photographer Thao took it as we got off the train and walked to City Hall, and it’s one of my favorite photos of us together.
I think the key to showcasing wedding pics that don’t feel too forced and posed is avoiding those super picturesque shots and selecting ones that feel more intimate or full of movement. Frame shots from different angles and consider framing the picture with a physical object too. It can be your invite, the dinner menu, a piece of your bouquet, or even your vows.
Our images paired with a modern, sleek frame
Our images paired with a classic, vintage-style frame
I worked with an in-store rep to determine the placement of my three items, and we all eventually decided that the most balanced composition was having two images flank the menu in the middle. Since I was in the store, I got to touch and feel all the different mat and frame options. We played around with a few different colors and styles. I thought about going the contemporary, modern route with my frame, but I landed on a classic, vintage-inspired style that visually complemented my bridal look and the colors in my photos.
The material of your frame, the color of your mat (or no mat if you so choose), and the style of your frame all play a role in making your images feel tastefully framed. It’s important to spend time on this process and not rush through it.
I opted for a linen mat because I loved the texture and thought it filled up the space nicely. You can’t tell from far away that the mat is linen; when you get up close to the framed image—which is what most people do when they look at your photos—this small detail is a surprising touch that makes a big aesthetic impact.
I spent about 45 minutes in the store, and it took about two weeks for the framing to be completed, including a small revision on my end. When I received my order, I decided I wanted more spacing at the bottom for my middle image, so I got the whole thing rematted and redone, which only took about another week. Framebridge has a “happiness guarantee” policy, so if you’re not 100 percent happy with the order, you can just contact them, and they’ll fix it.
When it comes to framing anything you love, don’t rush through the process; ensure you are absolutely satisfied with everything, down to the minute details, like spacing, because this is also what can make your framed wedding photos look more thoughtfully done.
Although I outsourced the labor here—I didn’t have the enthusiasm or energy to spend thrifting and shopping for frames and mats myself—if you’re crafty, you can easily DIY with the right materials.
These are the main elements to remember: choose a beautiful frame, select pictures that don’t look like stock photos, incorporate a physical object if you’re doing a collage (if you want to), and add a mat. The negative space makes the whole depiction more visually put-together and stunning, in my opinion.
Right now, my framed wedding photo is leaning on my console table, but I plan to hang it up in my hallway once I repaint it this month. (Now, painting is a DIY activity I don’t mind tackling myself.)
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