After a year that left ceremony halls and event spaces dark and quiet, wedding season is back in full swing! Marriage marks an incredibly important life event that usually involves at least a full year of planning down to the smallest of details. Many brides and grooms will tell you that the ceremony happens in the blink of an eye which makes creating lasting memories of this momentous occasion even more important. It’s common for newlyweds to want to creatively transform memories from their wedding into treasures they can display for a lifetime. After the lights go off and guests depart, you will want to make sure your most precious pieces from the special day are preserved for years to come. 

5 Recommendations for Commemorating Your Wedding Day

1. Arrange & Frame Your Vows, Invitations & Save-the-Dates 

From handwritten vows to invitations completed by a calligrapher, you took the time to plan each piece down to the smallest of details. What better way to remember this special milestone than to keep your sentimental items all in one place and displayed in your home for all the family to see.

Since these important items are usually one-of-kind, they may be subject to UV damage which can cause fading over time. Consider protecting your memories for generations to come by incorporating museum glass into the frame - most online framers have this protective upgrade option.

2. Protect & Preserve Important Guest Notes from the Reception

Family and friends play a very active role in the most successful marriages, offering support and community during the good times and the bad. It’s safe to say that the people who attend a ceremony are important in both of your lives. That's why it’s a great idea to have a table with stationary for guests to write a note of encouragement on your special day. Afterward, consider taking the most memorable ones, such as well-wishes from a grandparent or loved one, and framing them to display and remember forever.

3. Create Unique Shadow Boxes with Wedding Dresses & Keepsakes

For a more creative and unique display piece, consider creating a shadow box with some of the one-of-a-kind items typically featured during the ceremony and festivities. Some more traditional examples of these keepsakes could be: bouquets, shoes, gloves, garters, bow ties, and table numbers. The possibilities are endless with this option! Creating stylish and lasting shadow boxes takes knowledge and technique to achieve and is best left to the experts because these precious items cannot typically be replaced. 

4. Design a Gallery Wall to Showcase Your Professional Wedding Photos

Don’t forget the obvious! It’s extremely common to have a professional photographer in attendance at a wedding to capture and commemorate the special moments that occur. At the very least, it’s a good idea to have a friend or family member who is tasked with capturing the most special moments such as the first dance and first kiss. Don’t let these incredible memories collect dust in a box on a shelf or in the closet! Instead, consider displaying your wedding photos front and center in your home for everyone to see. 

Gallery walls are a great way to arrange and show off wedding photos in your home. They offer an opportunity to display a larger amount of memories in a well-organized fashion. 

5. Accentuate Your Wedding Photos with the Perfect Frame Choices

Custom framing can add the perfect stylish and personalized touch to your wedding photos in order to help bring the memories to life. Don’t forget to include engagement photos as options as well. Here are our top tips for finding the perfect custom framing combination for your wedding photos:

• The best wedding photo frames are gold, silver, white and beige
• Avoid elements on frames such as flowers or hearts that can distract from the photo
• Use matting to create more space and volume
• Consider upgrading to anti-reflective museum glass to protect your memories by enhancing clarity and shielding from long-term sunlight damage

After enduring the stress and excitement of planning a wedding, it can be difficult to find the motivation to sift through the photos to find the perfect ones to feature. It’s a good idea to start the process sooner than later before the memories begin to fade as life carries on.  It is best to start by picking the classics such as a posed portrait, a family photo, or a cute group shot. Don’t forget to incorporate some more unexpected photos as well if possible. Your wedding is one of the most important life events in an adult’s life, give it the attention it deserves!