How to Make Your Own Wedding Photo Booth

A wedding photo booth provides a more casual and customized opportunity for pictures

If your friends and family are the opposite of camera shy, then a photo booth at your wedding reception is a great idea. Whether people choose funny or serious, it is fun for you to look through all the pictures later. A wedding photo booth also provides a more casual and customized opportunity for pictures and is an inexpensive alternative if your wedding budget doesn't include a hired photographer. The photo booth can be set up several hours before the wedding ceremony.

Things You'll Need

• Flat bed sheet
• Hole punch
• 4 to 8 removable adhesive hooks
• 16 by 20 inch picture frame
• Chalkboard paint
• Chalk
• Digital camera and tripod
• Photo printer
• Blank scrapbook
• Fine-point permanent pen
• Glue stick

Instructions

1. Punch holes along the top edge of the bed sheet about one inch from the edge and two inches apart. Number of holes punched will be different depending on the actual size of the sheet you use, and you will end up with many more holes than needed, but spacing them two inches apart means you do not have to match up the holes with the exact hook spacing.

2. Stick the adhesive hooks to a plain, well-lit wall, without a window, preferably out of the way of foot traffic and entrances. Affix the hooks according to their manufacturer's instructions. You can buy them with a peel and stick backing, which is much easier and cleaner than glue, and nails are usually not an option when renting a location for a wedding. Hang the sheet on the hooks. The hooks should be at least 7 feet off the ground so that the sheet hangs high.

3. Set up the digital camera on the tripod opposite the sheet. On a nearby table, close to an outlet, set the photo printer and blank scrapbook.

4. Remove the glass from the photo frame and spray the front and back with two to three coats of the chalkboard paint. Let dry at least 24 hours, and then reinsert the glass into the frame. Leave the chalkboard and chalk for guests to write messages on and to hold when they take their turn taking photos. You can also use a dry erase board for this, though the self-painted chalkboard looks more vintage and unique.

5. Try the camera out to make sure everything works smoothly with the camera and printer. Leave the glue stick or double sided tape by the scrap book so guests can stick their pictures in it. Guests can leave additional messages in the scrap book by their photos with a pen.

Tips & Warnings

• Leave a note for guests on how to use the self timer if someone is not there to monitor the photo booth.