Creating a Wedding Shadow Box

After the wedding is over all the tulle, ribbons, and candles are tucked away, sold, or passed on to another bride. The flowers die, the cake is eaten, and the day is over. While pictures are great mementos of your wedding, they do not have to be the only memory that you have to look at. Creating a shadow box of details from your wedding day is a great way to display the little things that really made your wedding unique.

Shadow boxes are shallow, frames with a glass panel in front. They are used to display items, paintings, coins, jewelry, and other small items. Think of it as a deep picture frame. These can be purchased at many craft stores such as Michaels and Hobby Lobby. You can often find them as well in retail stores. Wal-Mart and Target both carry these items at various times during the year. Sometimes you can find shadow boxes with a place in the middle to put a picture. These are rare, but great fines!

Once you get started on putting together your wedding shadow box, the hardest part will be deciding what you are going to leave out. You only have so much room and there will be many items that you might want to display. Here are a few suggestions.

Jewelry: If you wore jewelry in your wedding that was expensive or that you might wear again, I would not suggest putting it in your shadow box. However, there are some pieces of jewelry that are great to show off. During my wedding I carried a four leaf clover charm tucked inside my bouquet. Only I knew it was there. I know have it in my shadow box. When friends and family ask about it, I love telling them about my secret, lucky charm. During my wedding I also wore a pair of cheap, pearl earrings that I display as well.

The Pen: For years the huge feather pen has been a standard item at the guest book table. Now, you can purchase smaller pens that are covered in beads. These are sold at craft stores and they are a great alternative to the large feather pens. No matter what type of pen you decide to use, when will you ever use it again? This is a great item to display in your shadow box.

A photo: If you are able to find a shadow box with a place for a photo, lucky you! If not, that does not mean you cannot include a photo in your box. Select one of your favorites to display.

A napkin: It has been a long tradition for wedding receptions to have napkins that have the wedding date inscribed on them. After the wedding, what do you do with these napkins? To keep this small part of your wedding, fold it and place it in your box so that the date is visible.

Your Garter: Tradition is to wear two garters, one that you keep and one that you throw to the crowd of single women. The garter that you keep can be put in your shadow box. To add a special touch, find a charm with the initial of your new last name and sew it onto your garter. This is another one of those things that only you will know about, but it really adds a special touch.

Wedding Favor: After the wedding you want to provide guests with something that they can take home and remember this special day by. Often this is a small bag of birdseed or rice that is also used to throw at the bride and groom as they leave. Make sure to keep one of these favors for yourself!

The Groom's Crosage: If you are using real flowers, then keeping the corsage on display probably won't work for you. Over time it will not look as lovely. However, this is a great keepsake to display if you have used artificial flowers.

Handkerchief: Don't walk up to the alter without a handkerchief! You never know when those tears are going to start. Make this handkerchief extra special by having your new monogram inscribed onto it. Also, ask an elder in your family if they have a handkerchief that you could have for this special day. Often, older handkerchiefs are lacy and it will make this even more special to display in your shadow box.

Wedding Invitation: Don't forget the wedding invitation! This is one of the most important items that you can display in your shadow box.

Make sure that you do not put too many items in your box. It will look cluttered. Select the items that you most want to display and try arrange them several different ways until you have created a look that you are pleased with.