Disposable cameras on the tables are a wedding classic. Guests love winding the film and waiting for the prints. But most guests also carry a better camera in their pocket, and that is where most wedding photos end up.
What disposable cameras do well
They are fun and a little nostalgic. Film has a look phones don't quite copy, and guests who never post photos will happily take a few shots with a camera on the table.
They also need no signal, no charging and no instructions.
Where they fall short
Each camera holds a fixed number of exposures, often 27 or 39, so the film can run out before the speeches. Some cameras leave with guests or get lost at the venue. You pay for every camera and again for developing and scanning, and you wait to see anything.
Low indoor light is hard for a simple film camera, so expect some dark or blurry frames. And there is no video.
What a QR code gallery does differently
Guests scan one code and add photos and videos from their phones, which handle low light far better. Photos appear in a shared gallery as they are uploaded, and a slideshow can play them during the reception. Afterwards you download every file in original quality.
The trade-off: guests need a little signal or Wi-Fi to upload, and there is no film look. With PartyLab, guests can also upload later from home while your package's access lasts.
Disposable camera apps sit in between
Apps such as POV and Lense put a disposable camera on guests' phones: a limited number of shots, filters, and photos that reveal after the event. They keep the game and skip the developing. If the game matters more to you than collecting every photo, they are worth a look.
Getting the best of both
Put a few real cameras out for fun, and a QR code on every table for everything else. Add photo prompts to the table cards, play the live slideshow near the dance floor, and if you love a reveal, turn on approval and share the full gallery the morning after.
The short version
Choose disposable cameras for the nostalgia and a small set of prints. Choose a QR code gallery to collect the photos and videos guests take anyway. Many couples do both.