After the last dance has ended and the honeymoon glow has faded, you're left with a treasure trove of wedding memorabilia. But how do you ensure that your gown retains its pristine beauty, your bouquet doesn't wilt into a distant memory, and your other mementos withstand the test of time?
Here, we’ll cover tips for preserving your cherished wedding keepsakes so you can relive the magic of your big day whenever you want.
PRESERVING YOUR WEDDING DRESS
Your wedding dress is often the most significant and expensive item from your special day. Proper preservation can keep it looking beautiful for decades, allowing you to pass it down to future generations or simply reminisce about your wedding day. Here are some tips for prolonging its life:
-Clean it promptly: Have your dress professionally cleaned within a few weeks of the wedding. Stains can set over time, making them harder to remove.
-Choose a reputable cleaner: Look for a dry cleaner that specializes in wedding gowns. They'll know how to handle delicate fabrics and intricate details.
-Discuss preservation options: Many cleaners offer preservation services. This typically involves treating the dress with a special solution to prevent yellowing and sealing it in an acid-free box.
-Store properly: Keep the preserved dress in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Avoid storing it in a basement or attic where temperature and humidity fluctuate.
Inspect periodically: Every few years, carefully check your dress for any signs of discoloration or damage.
PRESERVING YOUR WEDDING BOUQUET
Your bridal bouquet is a beautiful reminder of your wedding day. While fresh flowers won't last forever, there are several ways to preserve them:
-Air drying: Hang your bouquet upside down in a dry, dark area for several weeks. This method maintains the flowers' shape but may cause some color fading.
-Silica gel: Cover your flowers in silica gel (available at craft stores) for a few days to a week. This method preserves color better than air drying.
-Pressing: For flat flowers, press them between the pages of a heavy book. This works well for creating framed artwork or keepsakes.
-Freeze-drying: Professional preservation services can freeze-dry your bouquet, maintaining its original shape and color. While more expensive, this method yields stunning results.
-Resin preservation: Encasing your flowers in resin creates a lasting, three-dimensional keepsake. This can be done professionally or as a DIY project.
PRESERVING YOUR GUEST BOOK
Your guest book is filled with heartfelt messages from your loved ones. Here's how to keep it in great condition:
-Use acid-free paper: If possible, choose a guest book made with acid-free paper, which resists yellowing and deterioration over time.
-Store it properly: Keep your guest book in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent fading and paper damage.
-Handle with care: When looking through your guest book, make sure your hands are clean and dry to avoid transferring oils or moisture to the pages.
-Think about digitization: Scan or photograph each page of your guest book to create a digital backup. Then you'll always have a copy of those precious messages.
PRESERVING YOUR WEDDING CAKE
While it's traditional to save the top tier of your wedding cake for your first anniversary, preserving cake long-term can be challenging. Here are some tips:
-Freeze it properly: Remove any non-edible decorations and wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Place it in an airtight container before freezing.
-Avoid frosting with egg or dairy: These ingredients don't freeze well. A back-up option is to have small cake made with the same recipe for your anniversary instead.
-Defrost carefully: When it's time to enjoy your cake, move it to the refrigerator 24 hours before serving to thaw gradually.
-Alternative ideas: If preserving the actual cake seems daunting, consider keeping the cake topper as a memento or having your baker recreate a small version of your cake for your anniversary.
OTHER WEDDING KEEPSAKES TO PRESERVE
-Wedding invitation: Frame your invitation or preserve it in an acid-free scrapbook.
-Wedding vows: If you wrote your own vows, you can have them professionally calligraphed and framed.
Wedding shoes: Clean your shoes thoroughly and store them in a cool, dry place. Using shoe trees will help you maintain their shape.
-Wedding jewelry: Clean your jewelry according to its specific care instructions and store it in a fabric-lined jewelry box.
-Photo booth strips or Polaroids: If you had a photo booth or Polaroid station, create a scrapbook or shadow box to display these fun, candid moments.
-Wedding favors: Keep a few wedding favors as mementos. If they're perishable, you can always save the packaging or a photo of the favors.
CREATING A WEDDING MEMORY BOX
A great way to keep all your smaller wedding mementos together is by creating a wedding memory box:
-Choose an acid-free, archival-quality box.
-Line the box with acid-free tissue paper.
-Include items like your invitation, a copy of your vows, dried petals from your bouquet, your garter, and any other small keepsakes.
-Add silica gel packets to absorb any moisture.
-Store the box in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Preserving your wedding keepsakes is a beautiful way to honor the memories of your special day. The items you save serve as tangible reminders of the love and joy you shared with your partner and loved ones.
Since we opened more than a decade ago, The Bell Tower on 34th has earned a reputation as the best wedding venue in Houston.
Our spectacular Houston venue, with a waterwall and dance floor lighting, is a popular choice among couples throughout southeast Texas.
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The Bell Tower on 34th
901 W 34th St, Houston, TX 77018
(713) 868-2355