If you've decided to collect your guests' photos in one gallery but haven't set one up before, here's the literal walk-through — what you click, what each choice does, and what your guests see on the other end. It's quick, but it helps to know what each step is actually for before you do it.
For the bigger-picture strategy of before/during/after the day, see the complete guide. This post is just the hands-on setup.
Step 1 — Create the gallery and pick "wedding"
Start a new gallery and choose the wedding event type. This isn't cosmetic — it sets sensible defaults for a wedding: a longer window to keep collecting and downloading photos, the right welcome copy, and a guest-facing look that suits the occasion. You can override any of it later.
Step 2 — Name it and set the date
The event title is what guests see at the top of the gallery — "Alex & Riley", or whatever you'd like. The date controls when the gallery opens to guests, so set it to your wedding day (or a little before, if you want early-bird uploads from the rehearsal). Both are editable afterward, and your share link never changes when you edit them.
Step 3 — Choose a theme
Pick a guest-facing theme. It only restyles the page your guests see — your own dashboard stays the same regardless — so choose whatever matches your day. If you're unsure, here's how to pick one.
Step 4 — Decide on moderation
One real decision: do you want photos to appear instantly, or wait for your approval?
- Moderation off — the gallery fills live as guests upload. Best for most weddings; it feels alive, and you can tidy later.
- Moderation on — every photo waits in a queue for you to approve. Best if you want tight control over what's shown.
You can flip this any time, even halfway through the reception, so don't overthink it.
Step 5 — Set privacy (optional)
If you'd like the gallery kept private, add a PIN so only guests with the code can view it. This is the move if you're keeping the day off social media. Leave it off if you're happy for anyone with the link to look.
Step 6 — Print the QR code
Download your QR code and put it where guests will see it — at minimum, an entrance sign and a card on each table. Add a short line like "Scan to share your photos." There's a whole post on the best placements if you want to maximise scans.
That's the setup done. Everything from here happens on its own.
What your guests actually see
Worth knowing, so you can reassure anyone who asks:
- They point their phone camera at the QR code and tap the link that pops up.
- The gallery opens in their browser — no app to download, no account to create.
- They tap to add photos (and videos) straight from their camera roll, or snap a new one on the spot.
- Done. Their photos land in your gallery, and they can scroll everyone else's.
Because there's nothing to install or sign up for, even the least techy guest manages it in seconds — which is the whole reason it works.
After the wedding
When the day's done, your gallery holds every guest's-eye view of it. Download the lot as a single archive to keep, save the individual shots you love, and leave the gallery open a couple of weeks to catch the late uploaders.
That's the entire process — six steps before the day, nothing to manage during it, one download after. If you'd like the absolute condensed version, it genuinely takes about two minutes.
