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