Your wedding day is a special one, so of course, you want to remember it forever—but what are the best ways to ensure your memory withstands the test of time? How can you document everything, from the exact shade of ivory on your perfect plus size wedding dress to the smile on your face? You can employ traditional routes, but you can also leverage advances in technology that help ensure no detail is left out.

Use your guests

If you have a guestbook open when attendees first arrive, allow them to write their favorite stories about you and your partner and encourage them to write about the day itself when they leave. This way, you can see your wedding through your guests’ eyes, and they will pick up on details that you and your photographer may have missed. Ask them questions: what did they appreciate about your vows? Did they like the music or the food? What were their opinions on the decorations? Who performed their favorite dances?

Another fun (albeit more expensive) idea is giving trusted guests cheap polaroid cameras so that they can document the event as they see fit. They can write messages or captions on them. You can collect the pictures at the end of the evening and put them in a safe place.

Your guests may already have another useful tool, though: camera phones. If you start a hashtag specific to your ceremony and reception, you can let your guests tag the photos they take throughout the evening. Now that the images are stored safely on social media (Instagram is an ideal platform), you have a virtual scrapbook that’s easily shareable with others.

Scrapbook

While on the subject of scrapbooks, a traditional photo album is another way to commemorate your wedding. Print both pictures from your guests and professional photographer, then compile them into a visual diary. Write the thoughts and emotions that were going through your head at the time of each photo.

A scrapbook does not have to consist only of images, either: feel free to include messages from your guests, a list of the gifts you received (and from whom), a copy of your invitation, and other memorabilia that fits between the pages. Arrange your album according to your preference, which might be chronological, event-based, or something else.

Video

Video can chronicle events in more detail than photography can, so consider hiring a videographer for your special day (or your tech-savvy younger cousin). This way, you can record anything you want to, whether that includes the entirety of your ceremony or only specific clips. When the event is over and you have sufficient footage, your videographer can edit it into a concise but detailed summary of your wedding day.

Besides documenting events as they happen, you can ask your videographer to “interview” your guests, so that you can remember their good wishes and blessings forever. With the right combination of music and visuals, your wedding video can invoke the emotions you felt all over again.

Playlist

Another option for commemorating your day is making a playlist. While it will not chronicle specific events, it’s something to compliment a video or photo album. Ask your DJ or band to make a note of all the songs they played, including the one you and your partner first danced to as a married couple so that you can listen to it over and over again. Music might help you recall particular memories that you do not have documentation for.

Time capsule

While albums and videos are excellent for looking at whenever you please, maybe you and your partner want something that you cannot see until years later. A time capsule is an exciting way to celebrate an anniversary. Select a durable container (metal is common, but you may want something wooden or engraved), fill it with nostalgic items, and place it where you can easily find it again (you can bury it underground, but doing so may expose it to damaging elements if it is not sealed properly).

As to what you should include in your time capsule, consider photographs, guest notes and registry, a copy of your vows, a copy of your marriage certificate, your event program, or some of your wedding favors. Not all items need to be from your event itself, either: maybe toss in a copy of the newspaper on your special day so you can remember what was going on in the world, or have you and your spouse write messages to each other that you want them to read when you are older.

Weddings are significant events, so you will probably never want to forget how happy you were on your own. What will you do to commemorate your wedding day?

Shift Frequency © 2018 – Ways to Commemorate Your Wedding Day