After the last rose petal has been thrown, the last bite of cake eaten and the happy couple off honeymooning there is still time for wedding crafts. Weddings are full of memories and mementos and it is important to craft them into keepsakes that can be kept and enjoyed for years to come. The key to making lasting mementos is to have a plan in effect long before the wedding ends. Here are some important things to consider when looking at crafts for after the wedding-
1. Who will collect the photographs? While most couples have professional pictures taken there are also numerous snapshots that should be gathered and chronicled. If guests were given disposal cameras to take candid shots during the wedding someone should be responsible for gathering them up and making sure the pictures get developed.
2. What about the bride’s bouquet? Many brides like to have their bridal bouquets dried and put under glass to keep. It is important that in all of the chaos of the wedding that someone takes responsibility for the bride’s bouquet and begins the drying process.
3. Are there other mementos that should be gathered up? If the bridal couple wishes to keep the candles, glasses, or items used in the ceremony someone should be made responsible for gathering these items up and transporting them to a safe location.
Now that you have a plan in effect here are some great ideas for wedding crafts for after the wedding-
1. Scrap booking-This is perhaps the most popular wedding craft. Brides and grooms will love looking back on the candid shots from their wedding and reception. Whether done traditional by putting together pictures, stickers, decorative paper etc or done digitally on the computer having a wedding scrapbook can be a cherished keepsake. If you are making a wedding scrapbook don’t forget to include an announcement, menu and seating assignment cards. If the wedding ceremony includes a written program or any other applicable printed material be sure to include that too. Best of all scrap booking require minimal crafting skills and can yield a really spectacular result.
2. Floral drying-Many brides like having their bridal bouquet dried and put under glass for a long-lasting memento. Most floral experts recommend using a commercial product to dry flowers. Your local craft store can recommend a product that will work for your specific flowers but there are at-home methods that are successful. After following the product guidelines or using your own method flowers can be placed in a special air tight display case for the bridal couple to enjoy for years to come. For added decoration you can include the groom’s boutonniere, ribbon from the decorations or other flowers that might be appropriate. It is important that you choose the right flower for the right project. There are considerations that you must bear in mind: In order to keep that color vibrant, you must dry it as fast as you can and the more heat you apply, the more shrinkage will occur. If you are using silica keep in mind that since silica is actually a form of sand, you can substitute it with clean sand, borax or cornmeal. To use this method, you will need a dry container with a lid. First, line the bottom of the container with a thin layer of the silica or other material. Next, place the flower in the container while adding more drying material around the bloom in order to avoid crushing it. Once it is secure, sprinkle some more over top and cover it with the lid. Let it sit for about a week or until completely dry. When it is ready, a small paint brush can be used to remove the silica. If you wish for the flower to remain pliable once dried, glycerin should be used. In order to do this, place the stems of the plant in glycerin and allow it to be totally absorbed. It is important to keep in mind that glycerin may turn leaves and flower to another color. You may want to try a sample flower first if keeping the color is important to you.
3. Shadowboxes-Another great after the wedding keepsake it to make a shadow box for the couple highlighting some of the important items from their wedding. Shadow boxes can include the flutes the couple toasted with, candles that were used during the ceremony or reception, a favor that was given guests along with pictures reflecting the tone of the wedding. These shadow boxes can be purchased from your local craft store in a variety of styles and colors. The only rule of what to include in a shadow box is what will be meaningful to the bride and groom.
Leave a Reply