How to DIY a Wedding Photo Booth (That Your Guests Will Love)

There’s no denying the fun that’s to be had with a wedding photo booth. As well as being a great form of entertainment, your guests will come away with some brilliant memories that’ll be treasured forever, whether you choose to go pro or create your own DIY photo booth.

While hiring a professional wedding photo booth is more convenient, they aren’t always within everyone’s budget. Typically, couples could pay anywhere between £300 and £700, depending on the set-up, though this cost is often inclusive of a manned booth for around 3-4 hours, props, digital copies of the photos and unlimited snaps. Sometimes there are extras, such as a guest book and/or USB to keep, too.

Hire companies will also work with the style of your wedding – think retro-style cameras or cool VW camper van booths for vintage-inspired weddings, as well as themed backdrops and props for those who want them. It’s touches like this that can really set your reception entertainment apart.

But for those who don’t have budget to hire a wedding photo booth, there’s no need to miss out on the fun. Creating your own is more than possible – and we’re here to show you how!

How to DIY a Wedding Photo Booth: Ideas & Inspiration for a DIY Picture Booth

From brilliant backdrop and prop ideas to choosing the right camera, here’s everything you need to create the perfect DIY photo booth in a (erm…) flash!

• DIY Photo Booth Backdrop Ideas
• Camera Options For DIY Photo Booths
• DIY Photo Booth Props
• Budget-Saving Tips for a DIY Photo Booth

DIY Photo Booth Backdrop Ideas

Deciding how you want your wedding photo booth to look is the fun part! But what is the best DIY photo booth backdrop? Most couples will tie it in with the theme or colour scheme of their day, but also keep in mind the time, cost and skill required to make it – as well, of course, how you will transport it to the venue.

Remember, if alarm bells start ringing at this point, it might be worth looking into hiring a professional photo booth company. But for those of you up for the challenge, go as extra or as simple as you’d like. These are some of our favourite DIY photo booth backdrop ideas for a wedding to inspire you!

Bright

If your wedding doesn’t really have a theme, just tie your DIY wedding photo booth in with your colour scheme instead. Bright colours will look especially great in photographs as well as feeling playful and fun to get guests in the mood to take silly snaps. This beautifully vivid backdrop is centred around a hexagonal natural wood frame – just add streamers, balloons and props to your heart’s desire.

Boho

Beautiful, relaxed and oh-so romantic, the easiest way for free-spirited couples to create a soft and romantic boho-inspired backdrop is with a wooden or metal frame draped in voile and trailing flower arrangements. Though an easy one to style yourself, you might want to ask your florist for help with the flowers so they tie in with the rest of your wedding décor.

Disco

Unleash your inner ’70s disco diva with sequins, satin, glitter and maybe a Studio 54 mirror ball to boot. Sequin backdrops can be bought or hired in almost every colour – get ready to dance yourself dizzy!

Floral

Flower walls make great backdrops, but an abundance of floor-to-ceiling flowers – real or faux – can be expensive. How about a copper frame decorated with floral garlands as a DIY photo booth idea? These could be real flowers, faux flowers or even origami paper flowers. Ask your bridesmaids over for a craft night to help you assemble your blooms – the more the prettier, we say.

Pastels

If pretty and playful is more your style, we love the simplicity of a pastel-coloured streamer backdrop. Streamers are a really cost-effective option if you’re looking to add a little colour to your backdrop – not to mention incredibly easy to assemble. Win-win!

Macrame

Another backdrop with a boho twist, macrame backdrops look especially great against natural backdrops like the exposed wood or brickwork of a rustic barn, or a rural outdoor setting adorned with other pared back elements like twine, pampas grass, foliage and lace.

Backdrops like this one can be purchased or hired – go for the former if you’d like to incorporate a memorable keepsake into your home décor!

Metallic

Add some razzle-dazzle to your reception with a glittering and eye-catching photo booth backdrop in shimmering gold. Just add feather boas and a couple of chic trilby hats and you’re on to a winning combination.

Tip: Think about where you will position your photo booth at your venue. After all, there’s no point going to all the effort of creating a DIY photography booth if no one knows it’s there!

The corner of the dancefloor is always a winner, or perhaps an adjoining room if there is one. Alternatively, if you’re having an outdoor wedding, you could position your photo booth in a courtyard, gazebo or pop-up tent. The background may also play a part – maybe go for a blank wall, some cool exposed brickwork or a romantic garden backdrop. And don’t forget to measure the space!

Camera Options For DIY Photo Booths

Can you use an iPad or phone for a DIY photo booth? How can guests share or print their photos? Here’s everything you need to know about choosing the right camera for your DIY wedding photo booth.

Instax or Polaroid Camera

Possibly the simplest way to do it, an Instax or Polaroid camera will allow your guests to take snaps of each other and print them instantly. You might also choose to have a guest book on hand where guests can stick their photos alongside a special handwritten message.

• Pros: Easy to use, prints straight away
• Cons: Film can be expensive – and you may well need a lot depending on guest numbers!
• Tip: Note that the Instax camera lens is positioned slightly to the left (while the eyepiece you look through to take a photo is slightly to the right) so make sure you compensate for that positioning when you’re taking your picture or selfie. You don’t want anyone to be out of shot!

DSLR Camera

A DSLR camera set up on a tripod can be a great option if you already own one or are able to borrow one from a friend or family member. A remote control can be used to take the shots or find some guests who are willing to man the lens for a bit. All the photos will be digitally stored to share in an online album with your guests.

• Pros: High-quality, more professional-like results
• Cons: Can be expensive to buy if you don’t already own one, you might need to get someone to take the photos  
• Tip: You don’t want is glaring flash in your photos, so we’d also suggest a ring light or buying a speedlight flash

Phone or iPad

A phone on a selfie stick or an iPad set up on a tripod might also do the trick, though again, the latter might require someone behind the lens unless you have a wireless remote.

If guests use their own phones, ask them to upload their photos to social media with a specific wedding hashtag or a WhatsApp group so you can find them all. Again, the addition of a ring light is an easy way to make everyone look instantly better (those looking worse for wear by the end of the night will thank you for it).

• Pros: Inexpensive (selfie sticks start from as little as £10), convenient and easy to share via photo-sharing apps
• Cons: Limited printing options, may require a stable Wi-Fi connection
• Tip: Remember to disable the lock function on your phone or iPad to allow all your guests to use it with ease

DIY Photo Booth Props

Alongside the addition of playful props to wear and pose with, think about accessorising your DIY photo booth with items such as patterned rugs, plants or floral arrangements, disco balls, mirrors, chalkboard signs, neon signs, wooden pallets and even furniture. Then, once you’ve got the photo booth sorted, it's time to dress up your crowd with silly props and fancy dress! Here are some of our favourite prop ideas for a photo booth.

Cardboard & Wooden Photo Booth Props

An easy and affordable way to bring some extra fun to your DIY wedding photo booth, packs of props can be purchased to suit an array of different themes and colour schemes, from as little as £6. Think glasses, hats, moustaches, signs and more.

Fancy Dress Props

A fancy-dress box containing hats, wigs and other fun dressing up accessories will have your guests giggling, for sure! Borrow hats and costume jewellery from family or friends, raid the local charity shops or browse a huge selection of cheap wigs and masks online – Amazon has some from as little as £5, or why not shop fancy dress to suit a specific theme?

Personalised Photo Booth Props

If you’re looking to add a more personal touch to your booth, how about some fun sunglasses (like these sweet heart-shaped sunglasses) personalised with your initials and wedding date? We also love the idea of throwing in one or two masks of you and your partner’s faces for guests to wear and pose with!

Inflatable Photo Booth Props

Arm your guests with inflatable microphones and instruments and they’ll have a ball! Throw in some comedy wigs for good measure, obvs.

Glitter, Glitter… & More Glitter! 

A wedding glitter station next to your DIY photo booth is a great way to turn up the fun factor – and it’s something adults and kids alike will love. We love this idea if you’re having a relaxed outdoor or festival-inspired wedding. This eco glitter set is biodegradable and comes with aloe vera application gel.

Photo Booth Frames

The ultimate prop (in our humble opinion) is the DIY photo booth frame. You can pick up personalised polaroid-style selfie frames really cheaply from the likes of Etsy or make your own using a large piece of card, some paint and fancy calligraphy skills.

Tip: Don’t forget to etch some of your props with your unique wedding hashtag so guests can share any photos taken on their phones. Write this on a mirror, a chalkboard sign or wooden pallet – or (if you’re all crafted out) buy a ready-made sign with all the deets.

Budget-Saving Tips for a DIY Photo Booth

• Save money by borrowing items. Whether its props like hats and costume jewellery, or more expensive items like furniture or mirrors, anything you can borrow for your photo booth will save you a little (or a lot!) here and there. It’s also worth exploring whether or not hiring the items from a wedding stylist or rental company will work out cheaper than purchasing them. You may be surprised! 
• Make use of your venue’s décor. The more aesthetically pleasing your setting, the less you will need to spend on a backdrop and props to decorate. Scour your venue for architecturally beautiful corners that you can simply adorn with fairy lights or a personalised neon sign.
• Repurpose items from your ceremony. A dreamy ceremony arch can double-up as a great DIY photo booth backdrop, while repurposing things like pew ends or other floral displays is a great way to ensure they don’t go to waste after the vows.
• Call in the experts. Yes, you read that right! Depending on how fancy you want your wedding photos from your photo booth to be, it may well be worth hiring all these elements (and having someone there to assist your guests in the process) from a professional photo booth company. Weigh up how much you’ll be spending by doing it yourself – you may well save some cash (and a whole lot of stress) by bringing in the pros.

Want more wedding photo tips? Check out our guide on how to take brilliant photos with your smartphone.