| Your wedding is one of life's most cherished events, | | | | get her daughter ready to give away is another |
| and that means that saving that memory is one of | | | | photo that couldn't have been planned. Photo's like |
| the most important tasks that anyone can undertake. | | | | these, even if slightly out of focus or poorly famed |
| For some, this can make it almost a nerve racking | | | | absolutely make the scrapbook wedding album worth |
| experience. | | | | having. |
| That is until now... | | | | So, when choosing your photo images to include in |
| Here are some tips that will make it a simple and | | | | the wedding scrapbook, choose the photographs for |
| memorable experience: | | | | the stories they tell and the memories that they |
| First, plan ahead! Don't wait until the event is over | | | | capture. Don't discard an important image just |
| and you find you are missing things that could have | | | | because it's not the greatest photo ever taken. Use |
| really made the pages stand out in time. If you take | | | | the images that bring the biggest smiles when |
| the time to plan the outline of your book in advance, | | | | remembering this cherished event. And, don't forget |
| all the critical parts will be easy to list and check off | | | | to use your journaling to tell the whole story. While |
| as you collect them. | | | | an image tells a thousand words... if it's not the whole |
| There are several decisions that when made in | | | | story, the real memory is lost in time. |
| advance will save you time, money and worry. | | | | It is also a good idea to work with duplicates (copies) |
| For example, you'll need to decide whether this album | | | | of your priceless wedding photos. You may find that |
| will cover your entire wedding - from engagement | | | | you will want to use these photos again in the |
| through the honeymoon - or, will you focus on just | | | | future, and you're certain to feel a lot more creative |
| the wedding day itself? Unless you are going to | | | | if you know that the originals, even the snap shots, |
| create your wedding scrapbook in digital form and | | | | are safely tucked away. |
| have it made into a Realbook hardbound scrapbook, I | | | | As for the memorabilia and embellishments... |
| would recommend planning on 3 or 4 separate smaller | | | | Some would say to go easy on memorabilia and |
| books. A hand scrapped wedding scrapbook, | | | | embellishments so that the images stand out and get |
| especially with lots of dimensional pages can be | | | | most of the attention. They may also say that it can |
| thicker and larger than will fit into any conventional | | | | detract from the real story. I'm in total agreement |
| binder or scrapbook cover. | | | | and total disagreement all at the same time. |
| By breaking your wedding scrapbook up into sections | | | | Too much of anything is distracting and takes up |
| of time or events, it makes for a much more | | | | space better occupied by the photographs and |
| manageable scrapbook project. For instance, you | | | | journaling. On the other hand, much of this great |
| might want to choose a 6x6 or 8x8 album project | | | | stuff really is a major part of the story and just can't |
| for the engagement, bridal shower (bachelorette | | | | be left out and tucked away in a box somewhere. |
| bachelor party), and other smaller events with fewer | | | | The invitation and honeymoon ticket stubs for |
| photos. Then you can create the 8.5x11 or even | | | | instance. It's all about how you got there and where |
| 12x12 for the main wedding event with all its | | | | it all took place. Small scraps of material from the |
| photographs and mementos that come with it. | | | | wedding and bridesmaid dresses and flowers from |
| Digital highlight scrapbooks also make great gifts for | | | | the church are all about how it looked and felt. |
| the parents and in-laws... especially if you have them | | | | Ribbons from gifts and scraps of the gift wrap itself |
| done as a real hardbound book complete with | | | | are all about who you shared it with and how they |
| custom covers and dedication. | | | | felt. So, while too much is not a good thing... if it has |
| Now that you have the big picture all planned out, | | | | a part of the story to tell, then it absolutely needs to |
| get it on paper. Get a small notebook or planner for | | | | be a part of the wedding scrapbook. |
| each book and a container for the photos and | | | | Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Trust your inner |
| mementos. Then just run through each of the | | | | eyes and heart to take the reins and then just let |
| events in your mind or with the bride if you are doing | | | | the story unfold as you go. |
| it for someone else. Jot down notes on special | | | | A few more notes on the journaling... |
| pictures you want taken. Also, don't forget to start | | | | If you're going to really tell the story for future |
| listing out the embellishments from the events that | | | | generations to come, then don't just concentrate on |
| you will want to collect to add inside the scrapbook. | | | | the 5 w's (who, what, where, when, and why) - but, |
| Save things like a copy of the invitation, samples of | | | | focus more on the 5 senses. What do you and |
| the napkins or other colored papers used to decorate | | | | others remember seeing, hearing, thinking, feeling, |
| with. Don't forget the shower/party invitations and | | | | tasting? If you were the bride, how did you feel as |
| even the bill from the caterer; anything that might | | | | you were standing at the altar? What did you feel as |
| remind you of a special memory 20 years down the | | | | you and your new husband exchanged bites of |
| road. Some of the flowers from the church pressed | | | | cake? What was the weather like? What did your |
| and preserved are a definite must have. | | | | father say to you just before he walked you down |
| Other things to consider are airline (honeymoon) | | | | the isle? |
| ticket stubs, place cards and even gift lists or guest | | | | A great tip I was given was to ask the wedding |
| lists. Fabric patches from dresses are another | | | | party to contribute their thoughts via e-mail or short |
| thought. | | | | notes. Ask them for specific memories..."the most |
| Just let your mind wander and write down anything | | | | memorable part of the wedding day was..." Don't |
| that comes to mind. You can always discard things... | | | | hesitate to coach your guests and members of your |
| it's hard to come up with them after things are | | | | bridal party to close their eyes and to use their five |
| cleaned up and thrown out. | | | | senses to jot down what they remember. |
| I find that color schemes generally take care of | | | | Remember, your goal is to not only collect the |
| themselves with the wedding colors and party | | | | memories, but the emotions that made them so |
| schemes used in the actual events. It's also the | | | | memorable. |
| easiest thing to change based on how the actual | | | | Tips on Assembling the Scrapbook |
| event turns out. If you have done your pre-planning | | | | Start the album with a dedication page. This is |
| for the photos and embellishments that add meaning, | | | | especially great if you are creating the wedding |
| you'll find the page colors will easily come together. | | | | scrapbook for the new couple as your gift to them. |
| Remember that elegance and simplicity tend to go | | | | Tell why you created the album and a few details of |
| hand in hand. The wedding scrapbooks that stand the | | | | who you are and why this wedding was such an |
| test of time are the ones that evoke emotions and | | | | important day in your life. |
| memories on every page. | | | | If you are the bride and groom, then this really is |
| The more detailed your plan is and the more | | | | your personal love story. Set the scene by letting the |
| embellishments you collect from the events, the less | | | | reader know who you are and why we should |
| money you're also likely to spend at the scrapbook | | | | continue to read on. |
| store when it comes time to finish the project. | | | | Now it's just a matter of starting at the beginning |
| As each event completes, now it's time to go | | | | and letting the story unfold as it really happened. |
| through your photos and memorabilia from those | | | | Keep each page to a single part of the story. Don't |
| events. | | | | mix the setting up with the ceremony or the party |
| For me, Scrapbooking, especially digital or computer | | | | after. As you lay out each page, step back and ask |
| Scrapbooking, is about telling the stories of our lives, | | | | yourself if the whole story or memory of each image |
| so I love to work with the photographs that really | | | | is told correctly on the page. Does it make you smile, |
| tell a story. Sometimes the "Best" photos aren't what | | | | remember and most of all feel the way you did |
| are best for the scrapbook. | | | | when it first happened? If it does... then you know |
| While professional photographs are great and a | | | | your page is complete and your memories preserved |
| necessary part of your wedding scrapbook, it's | | | | in time. |
| generally the candid shots and the unplanned | | | | Your wedding scrapbook, whether digital or hand |
| moments caught on film that contain the most telling | | | | scrapped, whether placed in a commercial binder or |
| stories. | | | | made into a Realbook hardbound book, will be one of |
| The flower girl hiding behind the brides dress or the | | | | the most treasured scrapbook albums in your home. |
| ring bearer with a face full of cake are just a couple | | | | Don't forget to enjoy the process of creating it! |
| of examples that I've seen. Mom crying as she helps | | | | |