DIY Wedding Photo Display in Embroidery Hoops

Learn how to make an Embroidery Hoop Photo Display for Your Wedding Reception!

As the age of ‘do-it-yourself’ wedding decorations emerges, all of us crafty people rejoice. Not only does this popular trend save us money, but also gives us the ability to express ourselves creatively and work with our hands. Making something on our own feels more authentic than simply buying it online.

The time and energy we pour into our projects bring out intentionality and a personal element to the end result. It’s satisfying. It’s life-giving. Especially when it’s a labor of love for our own special day.

Read this: The Ultimate DIY Guide for Wedding Decorations

Weddings are personal, and each is different from the next. We all want our day to feel like our very own. Special in its own specific way. That is why making your own wedding decorations opens the door for creative freedom and beauty that only you can create.

Something fun that always brings a personal element to any wedding is a wall or area for a photo display.

There are endless ways to create a photo display, ranging from simple to elaborate. One fun idea is using embroidery hoops of different sizes to hang on a wall at your wedding. It is a sweet and creative way to highlight your pictures so that when guests wander through they can stop and admire all the special moments you wish to remember forever.

Displaying pictures in hoops is an easy project that isn’t super tedious or time-consuming. This project can actually be done in one evening! The end result is lovely and the design leaves room for creativity and customization. You can decide how to arrange the hoops and hang them to show off your wedding photos!

Embroidery Hoop Photo Display DIY Tutorial Video

Watch the video below, or follow the instructions in this blog post to make your own embroidery hoop photo display!

Supplies you will need:

Wooden embroidery hoops 6’ 9’ 12’
White ribbon
Scissors
An assortment of printed photos
String or fishing wire (to hang it at the end)
Floral wire (to hold florals)
Floral or greenery stems
Hot glue gun
Glue Dots (to hold the photos)

For Your Photos:

For Polaroid Style Photos: Turn your favorite smartphone snaps into Instant Photos like Polaroids with the Instax Share SP-2 Portable Smartphone Printer! You can also order these Small Retro Photo Prints from for a similar look.

For Instagram Style Photos: Get your photos printed in square format from one of these great companies: Artifact Uprising, Squared.me, or Social Print Studio.

DIY Wedding Photo Display Embroidery Hoop Photo Display Wedding Decorations

How to Make a DIY Embroidery Hoop Photo Display

Step 1: Open your embroidery hoops

Begin with undoing the double hoop by untwisting the latch, if its too tight use some pliers. You don’t want to loosen it too much as you will need to have a tight fit when you insert the ribbons, this will provide the ability to tighten the ribbons in the next step.

Step 2: Measure and cut your ribbons

Lay strips of white ribbon on the hoops parallel to each other and cut them so there is a bit extra length on each side. You want the ribbons to have some slack as you will want to pull them taught once the frames are closed. Space the ribbons evenly across each hoop and make sure to consider the size of your polaroids.

Step 3: Thread the ribbons through the embroidery hoops and securely tighten

Now that you got your ribbons all laid out and you are happy with the spacing of the ribbons, its time to snap the exterior hoops in to place to secure the ribbon. You want to begin at the bottom and work your way to the top. You will notice that the rims will naturally tighten the ribbons. If thats not the case, then not to worry, follow the next step.

Step 4: Pull ends of ribbons until taught

Start tightening the ribbons by the slack on ether ends sides. Simultaneously you want to tighten the hoop to secure your ribbon positioning. If you don’t like how the ribbons are positioning, loosen the latch and try to reposition.

Step 5: Trim Excess Ribbons

Once you are happy with your ribbon positioning, then you can trim the slack with some scissors.

Step 6: Secure ribbons with hot glue

Then when the ends of the ribbon are flush with the two rings, you can apply the hot glue to secure even more.

Step 7: Position your photos on the ribbons

Now you can spread out your polaroids the way you would like to have them be displayed. You don’t have to glue them just yet, we want to make sure that they are arranged just how you want them.

Step 8: Glue your photos in place

Now that you like how the Polaroid’s are laid out, you are ready to glue them. Using glue dots, attach the Polaroids to the white ribbon. Make sure that you pinch the photo on to the ribbon by using your index finger for support, avoid pushing on the ribbon as it can be loosened.

Step 9: Add greenery or florals

Your next step is to arrange a few stems of florals on the top and bottom of the hoop and secure it with tie wire. You don’t have to use floral decorate your hoops.

Step 10: Hang your display!

And now you are ready to hang these beauties up, and you are another step closer to completing your amazing wedding decor. You could use fishing wire to hang your displays from the ceiling so they “float” away from the wall to add depth/dimension to your display.

This embroidery hoop photo display will make for a unique piece of decor at your wedding. It will have a more personal appeal to your guests and show off your crafty side. Photo wall displays are always a focal point at weddings, so creating your own will surely draw the attention of your guests. Not to mention, you’ll feel proud and accomplished for making it on your own for your guests to enjoy!