You've said your vows, walked down the aisle, danced the night away and rode off into the sunset with your new spouse at your side. The wedding is over, but the memories are still fresh in your mind. If you want to remember all the fun, (and perhaps funny) details of your wedding for years to come, you'll want to preserve those moments in a wedding album.

From a do-it-yourself scrapbook to a professionally made wedding photo album, there are a many ways to create a book of wedding memories. Many photographers will offer to make an wedding album for you. Hiring a professional photographer can be quite expensive, ranging anywhere from $800 to $10,000. The cost of adding an album to the package can range from $60 to $300.

Making the album or scrapbook yourself can save money, and the result is often more personal since you choose every detail that goes into the album. Besides photographs, you may include other memorabilia from the wedding such as an invitation, a program, dried flowers from the bouquet, and just about anything else that can fit on an album page. You also may want to include detailed descriptions of your photos, something that can't be provided by a professional.

Since the wedding itself is a culmination of weeks or even months of effort, it's a good idea to keep a photo log of events such as showers, engagement parties, the trip to try on wedding dresses, invitation-making parties, rehearsal dinners and other events related to the wedding. These photos can be added to a professionally-made album, or incorporated into a handmade album. Sometimes, the "behind-the scenes" photos are just as much fun as the wedding pictures themselves.

When choosing a wedding photographer, it's important that you have an idea of what you want your wedding album to look like. These days, it's common to have a "storybook" album, capturing each part of the wedding from the walk down the aisle to the first dance. It's rare these days to only have posed, group and solo photos of the couple and the wedding party. If you prefer storybook-style to formal, it's important to communicate that to your photographer.

You'll also want to think about whether you prefer horizontal or vertical shots, or a mix of both, when thinking about the album. Photographers generally will shoot a mix of both, but if you are planning to choose an album that is more horizontal than most, this is something to tell the photographer. It's also good to think about how much, if any, black-and-white photography you hope to incorporate.

Most importantly, try to think about preferences for your album well in advance, if possible. Memories don't last forever, but you can relive your wedding day by putting careful consideration into planning your wedding album or scrapbook.