Short answerKeep uploads open for at least a few weeks, ideally months. Most photos arrive in the first few days, a second wave follows a one-week reminder, and a few guests find more much later. With FrameAmour, guests and the couple can upload until three calendar months after the wedding. Viewing and downloads stay available for 12 months. You can close guest uploads sooner. Download your originals well before the gallery expires.
When guest photos actually arrive
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| During the party | Guests who scan the table cards add photos straight away |
| The morning after | The biggest wave, especially after a thank-you message with the link |
| The first week | Guests who meant to and forgot, prompted by a reminder |
| Weeks to months later | A few late finds: a cousin's camera, a friend's second phone, videos edited into a montage |
The pattern depends on how often you remind guests. See the morning-after message for templates.
Why not close uploads straight away
- Late photos are often the best. Guests who took the most care often take longest to share.
- Guests from abroad may wait until they're home and on Wi-Fi.
- Professional extras: your videographer or a guest with a real camera may share edited files weeks later.
Reasons to close uploads
- You've made your album and want the collection to feel finished.
- You're sharing the gallery link more widely and only want viewing.
- Someone is adding things you don't want. (Review mode is another option: uploads wait for your approval.)
With FrameAmour you can close guest uploads at any time from your account.
Multi-day and destination weddings need longer
If your wedding spans several days, or guests travelled from abroad, keep uploads open longer than you think you need. Guests at a wedding weekend take far more photos, and they sort through them later. Travellers often wait until they're home and on Wi-Fi before uploading videos. The first week matters less; the first month matters more. See photo sharing for a multi-day wedding and destination wedding photo sharing.
How to tell guests uploads are closing
If you do decide to close uploads, give guests a little notice. A short message a week or two before brings in a final wave of photos:
Last call for photos 📸 We're finishing our wedding album soon. If you still have photos or videos on your phone, add them by Sunday: [link] Thank you for everything you've shared!
After that, the gallery can stay open for viewing, so guests can still look through everything and find themselves.
A simple timeline
- Wedding day: QR cards on the tables, one mention from the MC.
- Morning after: thank-you message with the link.
- One week later: gentle reminder with a favourite photo.
- One month later: download everything so far, and start your album.
- Before the gallery closes: a final download of the originals, and keep two copies.
Don't forget to download
Whatever service you use, check how long it keeps your photos. FrameAmour galleries stay open until 12 months after your wedding and can be extended. We send reminders before expiry. Uploads close three calendar months after the wedding. After gallery expiry, viewing and downloads close, and the gallery's media is deleted within 30 days. Download your originals and keep a copy on a computer or drive and another in cloud storage.
What about extending the gallery?
You have three calendar months to collect uploads, and 12 months after the wedding to view and download them. If you'd like guests to keep viewing the gallery for longer, for example until your first anniversary party, FrameAmour galleries can be extended. Either way, keep your own copy of the originals: a gallery is a great place to collect and share, but your own download is what lasts.
How to store the photos for good
- Download the originals, not screenshots or chat copies.
- Keep two copies in different places, such as an external drive and a cloud storage account.
- Name the folder clearly with your names and wedding date, so it's easy to find in ten years.
- Keep the videos too. They take more space, but they're often what couples watch most.
- Check the copy opens before the gallery expires.
See what's included for $79, or turn your guests' photos into an album.