A ruby wedding anniversary gift with forty years in it

Forty years of marriage is a hard thing to buy for. The couple have their home the way they want it, and the traditional ruby gifts tend to be another ornament. A photo collage does something different. Forty images map straight onto forty years, so the gift becomes a record of the marriage itself, from the wedding day to last summer, in one frame on the wall.

Most people ordering it are close to the couple, a son or daughter, a sibling or a lifelong friend, and are the ones able to gather photos from across the years.

Forty photos, laid out by hand

The collage holds exactly forty images in a square grid. You choose them, we lay them out, and Kate crops each one by hand rather than leaving it to software. Photos spanning the whole marriage work better than a set from one era. Wide group shots lose people at the edges because every space in the grid is square, so close-ups and portrait shots sit best. Send them in the order you want them shown, numbered if it matters, and add a line above and below the grid, usually the couple’s names and the wedding date, or a phrase such as Forty Years Together.

Sizes, frames and finish

Choose an A3 or A2 print, unframed or framed. Framed options come in oak, black or white wood, with or without a mount. Individual image sizes are:

A3 – 43.5 x 43.5mm
A2 – 62 x 62mm

Framed prints are glazed with premium acrylic rather than glass, so they are lighter and safer to hang, and they travel better in the post. Unframed prints are sent ready to drop into a frame you already own.

How to upload your photos

When you have made a purchase you will be sent a link and instructions to upload your photos on our easy to use photo uploader.
This will allow you to upload multiple photos at the same time, see the photos already uploaded to order them and remove any uploaded by mistake.
You do not have to upload all the photos at the same time. You can find a demo of our photo uploader here: Photo Upload Demo

Checking it before it prints

Add the proof option for £1.95 and we email a jpg of the finished layout before anything is printed. There is no rush at your end, though the sooner you approve it the sooner it prints. We check every photo as we build the collage and flag any that are low quality or will not sit well in a square, so you can swap them before it goes to print.

Delivery

Unframed prints can be printed and posted quickly once your photos are in and any proof is approved. Framed and mounted orders are made to order and take around six working days, because each frame is cut to fit the print. The clock starts when your photos and approval reach us, not when you place the order, so upload promptly if you are working to the anniversary. Delivery is free within the UK, and you can send the collage straight to the couple with a gift note added at checkout.

Environment

We aim to produce gifts that are 100% recyclable, and we encourage all those enjoying opening envelopes to recycle them after they’ve completed their activities.

Our boxes are 100% recyclable, and are constructed from ‘greyboard’ which is made from a mix of recycled and waste paper. The outer wrap paper is also recyclable.

Where possible, the paper we use for our card and envelopes is sourced from FSC-certified suppliers.

Shipping Information

We wish we could hand deliver every order placed with us. Unfortunately, this isn’t possible – so we have to rely on the postman.

Most items ship for free in the UK. Where free delivery applies, it is clearly shown in the product information, so you will know before you order.

Free UK delivery is sent via Royal Mail Tracked 48 to mainland UK addresses. These are usually delivered within 2-3 working days, but this is not guaranteed.

We offer an upgrade to Tracked 24 (next working day) or express, which is sent via Royal Mail Special Delivery.

You can choose to have your order delivered to your own address, sent directly to the recipient, or delivered to a Royal Mail parcel locker or collection point convenient for you. Please note the lockers will hold the order for 3 days, and returned orders will be subject to an additional charge to resend.

We also offer free international shipping on orders over £60 to most countries. Our international orders are sent via Royal Mail International, and tracked depending on the destination.

Tracking is provided on all orders once dispatched and will be shown in your dispatch email.

We aim to send your order within 1 working day of receiving your payment. Orders received before 12pm UK time will be shipped the same day (excluding weekends and bank holidays).

*Shipping will be calculated at checkout, and any delivery costs required will be added at this point.