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nikkiwit

How to best display wedding photos? Gallery wall. Ideas please!

12 years ago
We have a lot of professional wedding photos that we would like to display tastefully in our new home. There is a lot of blank wall space at the top of the stairs, and I am thinking of doing a gallery with the black frames in the corner (first photo). Our engagement photos are in black and white and wedding photos are in color. Do you think it would look ok to display both in same gallery considering the frames are all black? I was thinking of getting a long storage ottoman with tufting and putting the photos above. What do you think?

Second question: blue wall with fireplace in our bedroom...the mantle contains the wedding photos of our parents and grandparents that we displayed at the wedding along with the cards saying the names and wedding dates. Thinking of putting these photos up on the wall and putting something else above the fireplace. So for that gallery should I display them elsewhere in the bedroom i.e. in the corner above my jewelry chest? Or should I display them in the hallway at the top of the steps as we have other blank walls. My concern about the hallway is that since these frames are more vintage looking and would contrast a lot with the black photo frames.

3rd question: we currently put our big wedding photo above the fireplace in our living room/ library which is directly off the foyer. Do you think it belongs there? My parents say yes ...well let's say they spent a lot of money getting it framed for us :-). I love that photo too! That room will eventually be better decorated...ugly drapes from previous owners gotta go...so I would probably do a color scheme to play off the green matting with gold frame. Only issue is that the frame cannot be mounted on that wall since it won't fit so would have to rest like it is resting now.... Do you think it is odd to display a wedding photo in the living room?
Thank you for your thoughts,

Comments (48)

  • 12 years ago
    Living room
  • 12 years ago
    Yes, planning the groupings upstairs landing or bedroom. Only photo that is downstairs is the one above the fireplace in the living room.
  • 12 years ago
    Also wondering if I should just display the photos in the hallway or if I should do a bench, ottoman, or console of some sort...
  • 12 years ago
    I love your wedding photo above the fireplace...beautiful! You could also display a grouping of three (vertically) on another wall in the living room. The rest of your grouping with the black frames should look great in the hallway.
  • 12 years ago
    What about the vintage photos? Do you think those should go on the other blank wall of the landing or stay in the bedroom somewhere?
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    When there is room, as there appears to be in your hallway, I like something grounding the art, like a table or bench......which piece would you USE the most?
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    It would be nice to have all of the wedding photos in the upper landing. One side current, and one side "vintage" family photos. It's okay to mix color with black and white. But, to make it more interesting (and more colors) is to mix in art with the pieces.
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  • 12 years ago
    Either or...table or bench would be purely decorative although I am leaning toward bench or ottoman maybe with storage. Maybe a navy or dark blue color which would compliment our master bedroom or sage green... Sage green, black, and ivory were our wedding colors :)
  • 12 years ago
    You could also display the vintage photos on a console table.
  • 12 years ago
    Darzy, cool art. Like the 2nd one.
  • 12 years ago
    A bench would be lower and allow more gallery space. I like the idea of the color leading in to your bedroom area and not something wooden to compete with the stairway.
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    Maybe you could find a small patterned fabric with your wedding colors in a bench! It may be out there!!!
  • 12 years ago
    I like the idea of the vintage photos on a console table! Guys, please pick me out a console table that will compliment. So where would the table go? On the right of the bedroom door where the black frames are lined up now or to the left of the door. There is a plug in both places for a lamp too.
  • 12 years ago
    Bench on one side and console table on the other?
  • 12 years ago
    Too much furniture and it may look like your foyer. Just the right will be a good use of space.
  • 12 years ago
    I would put the console table to the left of the door (with a nice lamp) so as you come up the stairs you could see. Your grouping of photos with black frames could be on the wall to the right of the door.
  • 12 years ago
    Console table to left of master entry because the linen closet door would limit a longer bench. Plus, there is already slight indentation in the carpet from the previous owners' table :). Bench in the corner where black frames lined up now
  • 12 years ago
    Haha Abbyjean. Funny you mention the foyer ...not much there yet. I posted about my foyer a few days ago!
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    Just went to look at the foyer....I do like the large piece of art there and it makes a nice difference in that area all ready. See a kitchen/dining area that is beautiful, too.

    Keep your eye out for things that might work as you never know when something will magically appear. You have a lot of furnishing to do and the landing can be last on the list.....it will be magnificent with just the gallery wall up!!! You have a great plan with wedding and family photos out there. Trace around them on paper, but out the pattern and then tape them on the wall to get them just the way you want them......then pound the nails in! You can even post here and get a yay or a nay on the arrangements, too.
  • 12 years ago
    I think there is a huge difference between vintage family photos, and photos of oneself. I would put personal photos in personal areas and think hallways are great gallery places for family photos.
  • 12 years ago
    Private area is better, but could work if it weren't the major thing in the room to look at. Think of something like in this picture, where it is hung over a console off to the side:
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  • 11 years ago
    I found this chair and lamp at Home Goods. What do you think? My husband likes the lamp but thinks the chair is ugly ( although he can learn to live with it). Black chair legs would pick up the black photo frames which I need to figure out how to arrange. I was then thinking of getting a black or a glass console table for the other wall to the left of the double doors to display the vintage wedding photos.
  • 11 years ago
    LOVE your whole plan for this landing....and have missed you and your home! My only small thought is a table to place beside the chair for a book or a cup or a plant or all three.
  • 11 years ago
    Love it!
  • 11 years ago
    Yes, it is taking a long time to get everything done. I have been searching for the perfect small table to put beside the chair. I found the perfect one in the store but I put it down for a moment and left to look at other items. When I came back another woman was already in the check out line with it! Downside to Home Goods...they can't order anything and every store is different.
  • 11 years ago
    Well, snap! Dang that woman! Another will show up somewhere, huh?
  • 11 years ago
    We finally got around to hanging up the pictures!!! The vintage wedding photos and our wedding photos are on the left wall, and our engagement photos in black and white above the chair. And, I found the little round table...you like? Just need to figure out what to put on top of it. My thought was a small flower arrangement similar to our wedding flowers...shades of bright pink...but my husband hates fake flowers. I don't want to put anything real there as it will die from neglect I am sure. Also, I was thinking of a lumbar pillow on the chair but not sure what colors...I have looked and haven't found anything. Thoughts?
  • 11 years ago
    Thinking of getting a huge mirror to either mount or lean against the remaining blank wall...
  • 11 years ago
    View from main staircase in foyer...yay, no more blank beige walls!
  • 11 years ago
    You have done a great job- looks fantastic.
  • 11 years ago
    What a gorgeous home, so welcoming!
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
    I love how you took that staircase pic as it truly does show just how beautiful this space is! Your patience is paying off! Love the silver touches. What about a candle for the table??? Did you have a unity candle that might even work? Or a small keepsake box???
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
    Maybe you could find a lumbar on etsy. Get one with your wedding date on it....or your favorite verse......or...
  • 11 years ago
    Looks beautiful!! You can tell from the staircase picture that it really is a large space. Love it! A large mirror on the blank wall would look awesome. A hurricane candle would look really pretty on the table. I like abbyjean's idea of a pillow with your wedding date. I have also seen some that say Mr. and Mrs. that are really nice at Pottery Barn.
  • 11 years ago
    I am just not sure I want to walk up the stair way and bam! See myself in the mirror. Just me, maybe.
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
    Abbyjean, that is what I thought also. I wouldn't want to have to look at myself every time I walked up the stairs!

    I don't want to rain on your parade, know you have worked hard, but I am wondering if anyone ever sits in the chair. It kind of looks like some sort of waiting area. Was it just something to fill that spot? I don't think there needs to be anything there at all.

    Can the chair be moved into one of the bedrooms?
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
    You might try that semi circle table with the wedding photos on your current blank wall. You could order "Wall Words" to place above that say "From this Day Forward..."

    Think spreading out the photos a little more would be nice.
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  • 11 years ago
    Instead of the mirror at the top of the stairs, you could try a colorful poster/art work.
  • 11 years ago
    I like having the chair there, but it is only used occasionally like when I am woken up in the middle of the night for work and have trouble getting back to sleep. I can sit in the chair and read a magazine without disturbing my sleeping husband. We do not have a full length mirror upstairs, and I have been wanting one for final outfit checks before heading downstairs. I have thought about art on that wall also but wouldn't know what to choose without taking away from the photos.
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
    OK......would there be room/depth there with the mirror for a few things to be placed with it to disguise the HELLO ME part of it? Meaning, could a few vases/pots be placed to a side or a tall skinny plant just to cover up a bit of it? Even something like I think you had in the corner of your living room in between the windows? Could something like that work WITH the mirror?
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
    Thanks for explaining. Now I understand why a chair there works. Think a small scale recliner with a cozy throw would be nice for those middle of the night episodes.

    Abby has good idea for the mirror. No place to put it near your closet or in a guest room?
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  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
    Shop for a small footstool to place under your chair. Would be nice to have a spot to prop up your feet.
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  • 11 years ago
    Abbyjean, I see your point about adding stuff next to the mirror although no plant as it would die. There is really no room for mirror in the closets in the master bedroom and already have a large mirror above the dresser in our bedroom. Just to get an idea to see what mirror would look like in the space, I brought up this small mirror from the basement which looks horrible there. Couldn't a big statement mirror just stand alone? HomeGoods usually has a ton of large mirrors. What should I look for....black trim? silver trim? Leaning against wall or mounted? Or should I just do some sort of artwork instead? We use the back staircase from the kitchen most of the time to get upstairs....and despite all of the photos up that beige wall just looks blah.
  • 11 years ago
    Since you really want a mirror, you could place the mirror above the console table and move the larger picture with the signatures to the blank wall.
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
    You may want the mirror to match the table that is close to it, so black trim??? Try leaning first and post a pic, ok?

    Art seems like overload for the eyes, with the family pics in the space, too. I kind of liked the word wall idea, too.
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
    Finally found a photo showing a large mirror at the top of the stairs. Of course, it is chopped off. Hold the click button to see.

    Can't say I like it.

    Still wondering what that small table with the photos would look like in that spot.
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  • 11 years ago
    To be frank, I think that table just has too many photos displayed. Maybe you can honor them by spreading them out thru the house.

    A table at the top of the stairs with a larger more family image and a couple of others is more pleasing. Like this:
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