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Anyone not get a wedding album?
When we got married we got a package through our photographer that didn't include an album, just the rights to all the images, and we planned to buy one later. We're coming up on 2 years now and still haven't bought one. I really wanted one before and my IL's actually gave me the money for it as a graduation/birthday gift in June but we still haven't ordered the album. We were planning to get one of the really nice ones with the metal cover, etc. but the more I think about it, the more I think about the other things I might like to spend that $500 on. I was considering just ordering an album from kodakgallery to have and using the extra money on our anniversary trip or something (we really want to take a hot air balloon tour when we're in Cappadocia but it would be like $450!). Right now it seems like that experience might be more worth it than an album that I won't look at that often but I'm worried I might really want to have it in 40 years or something and it will be too late. Do you think one of those kodak albums with the leather cover would hold up well? The ones that we have from past trips look pretty nice but obviously nothing compared to a photographer's album. Any opinions?
Sorry this ended up being way longer than I intended! 
Re: Anyone not get a wedding album?
We didn't get an album from our photog either (same as you, just the rights to the files) because I had planned on doing it myself. I still want to, but I haven't missed not having one yet. I have an album full of 4x6s that I had printed, but no actual album. Not sure when I'll get around to it!
If you decide to go the kodak-type route, I suggest Shutterfly or mpix - both are great!
They are that expensive? Egads. Ours came with the package, so we have one. It's the kind of album that is printed- like on board, not with loose prints. I like it, but I'll be honest, it has stayed in it's protective pouch in a box labeled "Wedding Crap" in our pantry.
We didn't get one. We have the rights to all our pictures and I plan to make one at some point. We're making photobooks for our parents as Christmas presents using mypublisher.
I think you should definitely use the money on the experience and either not make an album or make a less expensive photobook yourself.
I got the fancy album from the photographer. I love looking through my parents' old album so I knew I wanted to go all the way and get a good one for ourselves. I don't look at it every day obviously, but I am happy with my decision. I know not everyone is as into photo albums as I am though.
My parents also pre-paid for an album from my photographer, but to hold them over until they could choose pictures, I made them a shutterfly album for Christmas. That seems to have been good enough for them, because 3 years later they still have not ordered their professional album.
We got one with our package (plus the rights). You can definitely make one cheaper via online to save $$$ than going through your photog.
I ordered additional 4x6 pictures to add to my 200 "proofs" (also 4x6) from my photog through mpix.com and the quality was just as good as my proofs. I'd highly recommend them. We also got a 11x14 photo, which also came out well.
A standard (hard cover, I believe) 20 page album through mpix is about $50. I haven't used the software, so I'm not sure about layouts. I've made 2 (NWR) albums via Shutterfly, but haven't had them printed yet. The thing with Shutterfly is that you can't really overlay images, or fade pictures, etc. At least not from I could tell while making the two albums I did. Not sure if mpix lets you have more stylistic design. So if you decide to go with an album, make sure you really know what you want for a layout. To me the Shutterfly albums are just an alternative to putting 4x6 pictures into an photo album. It's more fun because you can add backgrounds and borders, but it is very different from my bridal album. Just something to keep in mind.
Another site that I've seen recommended is mypublisher.com. I don't really know anything about it, nor have I seen the quality of the albums.
We didn't get one either. Our package did come with the rights to the photos and a proof book of 200 4x6 pictures too though. I plan on making a nicer than normal scrap book once I receive the CD of all the pictures ( we only just got married in September so I haven't received them yet) But if I were you I would go with the experience!! Then you'll have pictures of your wedding from family and friends and pictures of all the memories from the hot air balloon ride!