How to display leftover wedding items?

leann324 · October 2011

I am trying to find a creative idea to display my wedding veil, jewelry, program, and other small mementos from the wedding. I would hate to throw it all in a box in a closet, never to be seen for years.

I was thinking a shadow box would be the most obvious. Any other ideas?

nursecramer · October 2011

I actually think that it IS better to not be seen for years. I've tucked them away (along with a tablecloth, napkins, cutlery, plates, dried flowers, etc.) into a box dated our 5th anniversary. I'll open it up and recreate our reception dinner for a romantic anniversary with H... then pack it away again (hopefully for another 5 years or so). To me, it's more fun to reminisce and look at that sort of stuff once in a blue moon than have it staring you in the face every day.

Another thing we did was turn our pew bows and a lot of the other decorations into Christmas ornaments (We got married just after Christmas, with red and gold as our colors, so they fit right in with the rest of the stuff on the tree.)

MommaK.not · October 2011

nursecramer:

I actually think that it IS better to not be seen for years.

, it's more fun to reminisce and look at that sort of stuff once in a blue moon than have it staring you in the face every day.

Wow! Nursecramer, you ARE a fun sucker Wink

But seriously, I totally agree. Although, if you really feel that way, do it; you'll probably tire of it before long, but at least it will be protected when you put it away.

amandasw · October 2011

I agree with both posters - as much as I love my wedding stuff, I just can't see it being in our home 'on display'. But if you really want to do it, go ahead. Personally, I think you should think of crafts to do with individual pieces - Christmas ornaments, coasters, turn pieces into art etc, something a little more subtle.

maryandkirk0909 · October 2011

I love my wedding stuff, probably more than most, but I agree the veil and jewelry may be a little much for decor. I have our invite, H's bout, the cork from our toasting champagne in a shadow box affixed with pins I decorated with the replacement beads that came on my dress. I like it, it sits on a shelf with a million other pics so I don't consider it overkill. Maybe start with something like that and see how much you like it before committing to the bigger pieces? Fwiw, we use a lot of our stuff- flutes, cake cutting set, I wear my bracelet and shoes- not super often, but it is kind of fun to be reminded of the special reason I acquired the item, and when completemented I get to tell a cute little story.

whineymom · October 2011

There are company's that will take your invite and put them into a melted down wine bottle trivet. It's very cool. Will be on display and useful in the kitchen!

WishesSheCouldCook · October 2011

I had mine in a basketball display case with my program, toasting flutes, cake topper, napkins, and favor. I love looking at it. It was in our bedroom so not out in the middle of the house. We are currently living with ILs while we build our house. I plan on putting in in my craft space when we finish building.

Justinlove · October 2011

Personally, I'm not a big fan of "wedding shrines." We have our invitation and a napkin framed in our china cabinet along with our toasting flutes (but you would never know they are from a wedding). Unless you are looking inside our china cabinet, you wouldn't notice them. In fact, I only have one wedding photo on display in our home.

vanessaLC · October 2011

I have worn everything from my wedding (dress excluded- i'm not crazy!) I love wearing my wedding shoes, and when I get a compliment, i get all giggly thinking about wearing them on our wedding day. I like to get as much use out of my stuff as possible.

I didn't wear a veil, but my sil wore her best friend's and it got passed on to the next friend to wed. I thought that was sweet.

ditto on the shrine dislike... it's weird, imho

Justinlove · October 2011

vanessaLC:

I have worn everything from my wedding (dress excluded- i'm not crazy!) I love wearing my wedding shoes, and when I get a compliment, i get all giggly thinking about wearing them on our wedding day. I like to get as much use out of my stuff as possible.

I wear my wedding necklace/earrings all the time. DH gave me a beautiful drop pearl/diamond pendant and earrings before we got married that I wore on our wedding day. I love wearing them

franklintngirl · October 2011

You could do a shadow box for the program, invitation and small mementos. The veil you could come up with a craft to incorporate it ex: christmas ornament, use some of it and make a pillow, etc. If you didn't want to wear the jewelry anymore you could possibly make a christmas ornament or something with it.

Right now all my stuff is in a box and I look at it every once in a while. I am thinking about possibly finding someone to take my dress and make a dress for DD but I am not sure. I will probably let her use my veil and slip as dress up clothes once she gets old enough for dress up clothes.

hunniapple · October 2011

We have a curio cabinet in the family room, and in there we put our cake topper and I will eventually put my dried out bouquet with that. We also got a personalized cake server set and toasting flutes and I just have those in the china cabinet. We'll probably break out the flutes on anniversaries and use the cake set on holidays for pies an such.

I think the rest, aside from some photos, will stay in the little photo storage box thing and stay in there. I'll look at them occasionally. In there I put my veil, tiara, purse, and bride tanktop, along with a program, save the date magnet, and invitation.

Not sure what I will do with my shoes but I made rhinestone flip flops and I wear those all the time. Jewelry is just incorporated into my jewelry box to be worn when the occasion suits.

I don't think you have to save/display every little item from the wedding, and some of the PP's may think my 4 items are slight overkill!

nursecramer · October 2011

MommaK.not:
nursecramer:

I actually think that it IS better to not be seen for years.

, it's more fun to reminisce and look at that sort of stuff once in a blue moon than have it staring you in the face every day.

Wow! Nursecramer, you ARE a fun sucker

But seriously, I totally agree. Although, if you really feel that way, do it; you'll probably tire of it before long, but at least it will be protected when you put it away.

lol, I know. Someone on another board called me a fun sucker, and unfortunately, it completely fits. My mom and sis are always telling me that I hate fun. I try not to be....... I just usually have a different idea of what fun is, I guess.

leann324 · October 2011

Thanks, ladies! As you all know, it's hard to put all the fun and excitement away right after the wedding when you've been building towards it with tons of fun and excitement for a long time.

You all had great ideas and insight, which is exactly what I was looking for. Our toasting flutes are in our china cabinet and we framed our program that is sitting on our mantle with other photos. I suppose that's enough.

I guess I just saw my veil hanging in the closet and I wasn't sure what to do with it. But I suppose I could stuff it in a Christmas ornament, although that might need to be a big ornament!

jacksjerseygirl · October 2011

I think with your veil it might be more fun, if you don't want to dismantle it, is to store it properly to prevent yellowing, etc and then maybe some day your daughter/daughter-in-law MIGHT (not WILL) use it as her something old (maybe as a wrap in her bouquet or sewn into her dress, etc).

I agree that it is fun to put stuff away and then years later get to remember the excitement and fun all over again. I think regardless what you do - it is important to store it properly so that you can enjoy it for decades.

How to display leftover wedding items?

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