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On a visit to a recently married friend I was struck by how similar wedding albums, and wedding scrapbooks can be. This may be because the centerpiece of every wedding is the lovely bride in her (usually) white dress, something which gives the pictures a distinct similarity. On reflection I think it is more likely to be because most scrapbooks, like wedding photo albums, are organized chronologically, showing the events as they happened, one after another. This means that individual layouts don’t really have a theme of their own, but pick up the general ‘wedding theme’, and if this means the experience of creating a wedding scrapbook is less creative than it could be then that’s OK. Or is it? I like to think it’s possible to create a really beautiful layout, or even a whole wedding scrapbook, using different ideas for each double page spread. There are several ways to approach it, but lately I’ve been learning a lot about wedding traditions. There are so many it’s easy to build a whole book just dealing with this one topic. You could create a layout to answer the questions below, and the result will be a lot more interesting than just another set of pretty pictures.
Accessories:Did the bride having something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue? Where did each item come from and why? Many brides are given precious gifts to wear at their wedding, either something that has been in the family for a while and is borrowed or as a special gift from the bride or grooms parents. These have a special significance on the day. For many the item will be a string of pearls, traditionally symbolizing tears. The accompanying wish is that since tears will be shed in any marriage more should be tears of joy than tears of sorrow.
Flowers: Originally to ward off the smell of those gathered for the wedding, where did the flowers come from, what do they mean, why were they chosen? The Victorians had a whole language of flowers, and although this is largely ignored these days, many florists discuss this with their brides. Add a pressed flower from the bouquet, perhaps the receipt for the wedding flowers, some pictures showing the inspiration for the flowers and of course a picture of the bouquet ‘at work’. If the bride tossed her bouquet, include a picture if you can of the moment, and the person who caught it.
Shoes. Every women loves shoes and these are strongly associated with weddings, often tied to the honeymoon car. The real reason is that they are a symbol of the husbands dominion over his wife. Her father would give the groom the brides shoes which meant he could control when and whether she went out. Brides often receive a lucky shoe or horseshoe, if so who from. Tiny shoes are sometimes added to wedding cakes as decoration. What were the brides shoes like? Most brides take care in selecting their wedding shoes, but it you don’t feel they are of sufficient interest you can always create a layout about The Dress itself.
The Gifts. In most cultures the bride and groom receive gifts when they marry. In the USA the wedding ‘shower’ seems common, in other countries there is a formal showing of the gifts in the days before the wedding. The Greek tradition is to pin money on the couple as they dance during the wedding, and in these days of video no-one wants to be caught on camera being mean! Whatever tradition your family or the brides follows there is a lot to say – a scrapbook is not just a photo album, add cards from the gifts with pictures of the giver.
The Ring. There are usually two rings, and I don’t mean his and hers. The engagement ring was where it all began, and just like flowers, different stones have their meaning. Whether it’s a classic solitaire or something more interesting, there will be a reason the ring was chosen. Was the wedding ring chosen to match? Where did it come from? I wouldn’t suggest adding the receipt to the page, but maybe in a discrete envelope tucked in at the back? Future generations find that sort of information fascinating.
That should be enough to start any wedding scrapbook, but if you need additional suggestions, how about a layout for the dress itself, another for the guests (actually that could easily be two) and another for the cake (or the food in general). Add a title and end page showing the wedding couple in their finery one with, one without the wedding party, and you have enough for a full wedding scrapbook, all put together with a slightly different approach that’s fun to do and bound to be cherished by any bride.
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Source by Deborah Leaverton
