Capture The Way to the Altar and Beyond
in a Scrapbook

Putting together documentation for family histories has become a very popular activity.
The difference between placing photos in an album and creating a scrapbook is that the latter combines words and feelings with photographs and other pieces of memorabilia. It thus becomes a timeless treasure, a family heirloom.

Today, planning a wedding is no easy feat. There are many details to attend to, which take time, energy and money. In addition to their daily responsibilities, brides and grooms are usually so consumed in creating their dream wedding that they do not think of starting a journal or better yet a scrapbook. Yet, if one were given them, they would surely chronicle every step, every experience and every feeling from their first meeting through their honeymoon.
After all, a wedding scrapbook conveys the romance, joy, sadness, tears, and laughter, feelings and experiences as it tells the story of the beginning of a new family, a story to be handed down to the following generations as a family history book.

A wedding scrapbook is an ideal engagement gift or bridal shower gift.
If you plan to present a loved couple with the most unique, forever cherished gift of a scrapbook, you have two options.
You may either document special events leading to and including their wedding day and present them with a completed book upon their return from the honeymoon, or give them a blank book to record their journey to becoming a family, just as soon as they announce their engagement.
If they are planning a family wedding, be sure to include the children.

When you shop for a wedding scrapbook, consider its purpose. Think about longevity and use, years and generations hence. Consider quality over price. The book should look elegant rather than cute as tastes change and the book should have a classic, timeless appeal.
Purchase a book that is of library quality, boasts of superior craftsmanship where the materials used are luxurious and made to last, and the pages and inks archival quality acid free. It is wise to buy a book that can be extended with post screws to allow for additional pages.
If you can find a book that comes in a keepsake gift box, all the better as it makes for a powerful, rich gift presentation and the book and its contents will be protected.

Following are ideas for inclusion in a wedding scrapbook. In every category be sure to include text, pictures, mementos and keepsakes. Also remember that elegance and simplicity are not trendy and will always be appropriate.
You may wish to include:

Creating a scrapbook for others is a true gift of love.

If you plan to document the special events leading to and including their wedding day, you'll need to gather as much information and as many details as possible, as well as pictures and mementos about the couple's journey from the first date through the wedding, chronicled appropriately.
Try to incorporate the wedding theme and colors and include: pictures, mementos such as an engagement announcement, newspaper announcement clipping, save the date note, invitations, wedding program, something old, something new, something borrowed something blue, a Sixpence coin, a hankie, place cards, printed ribbons, printed napkins, brochures about their honeymoon destination (Once you know where the couple intends to honeymoon, go to ant travel agency and collect brochures.)etc…
You may also consider adding embellishments.
Important pictures to include would be picture from their courting days, their engagement photo, preparing the bride, the ceremony location, the walk down the aisle - wedding attendants; flower girl, ring bearer, groom and bride,
the marriage ceremony, the unity candle ceremony, the children if you have a family wedding, the officiant, the first kiss, the reception site, the first dance, toasts, cutting the cake, feeding the cake, etc…

Before presenting the scrapbook to the bride and groom, go over it to ensure that the heirloom you created is all about them and that when they look through it they should re-live all of the events associated with their becoming a family.

If you are the bride and groom and either received or purchased a scrapbook, the following are additional ideas for you.

Memorabilia

Following are items only you can add to the scrapbook:
Wedding gown and bridemaid dresses fabric, receipts, transportation tickets (plane, train, bus, ship etc…) bridal registry, engagement gifts list, shower gifts list, wedding gifts list, wedding checklists, gift cards and written best wishes.

Content

You are the bride and groom. As a family history document, the scrapbook must include your actual experiences and feelings your ups and downs. You may use the scrapbook almost as a diary and tell it about all your, trials, tribulations, fun activities, triumphs and even disappointments you encountered between your first meeting and your return from the honeymoon.
Journal them all and be specific yet creative.
Don' forget to incorporate interesting anecdotes, funny stories and tips for a successful marriage, given you by friends and relatives. You do want this heirloom to tell the following generations about their family don't you?
Share your story vividly and with pictures and mementos so that they can feel as if they witnessed the creation of their family. Do not forget to tell about your heritage and religion. You may write about: