Creating A Cherished Wedding Time Capsule

A wedding time capsule is a wonderful way to preserve memories of your special day and can be a perfect activity for a bachelorette party. It can be a simple box or a small vintage suitcase, filled with items that are unique to your big day. You can include items from your courtship, such as ticket stubs, love letters, and cards, as well as items from the ceremony, like your wedding cake topper, a copy of your wedding invite, and photos of the day. You can also add a bottle of wine from the wedding to sip on when you open the time capsule on a special anniversary.

Letters to each other

A wedding time capsule is a wonderful way to preserve memories of your wedding ceremony and life before marriage. One of the most meaningful things you can do before your wedding day is to create a time capsule with letters to each other. These letters can be read aloud at the ceremony or kept as a secret between you and your soon-to-be spouse.

The letters can include the qualities you appreciate in each other, your hopes and dreams, and the reasons you have chosen to marry. You might also want to write about how you met, why you fell in love, and the moment you knew you wanted to spend the rest of your life with this person.

You could also include your personal vows in the letter or write about your wedding day jitters and excitement, sharing your dreams for your married life together.

If you have been writing letters to each other since the beginning of your relationship, you could include those in the time capsule. You could also write letters to your future selves, envisioning how your relationship will have changed and deepened in five years, or by your tenth anniversary.

Your letters can be sealed in the time capsule, creating a touching narrative that will transport you back to your wedding day when you eventually open it. This will be an ever-changing, ever-growing history of your relationship, a tangible memory to be cherished in the years to come.

Items from the ceremony

A wedding time capsule is a wonderful way to preserve memories of the ceremony and can be a precious heirloom to pass down to future generations. Here are some ideas for items from the ceremony to include:

Photographs

In addition to the formal wedding portraits, include some behind-the-scenes photos of the bridal preparations, or informal snapshots from the reception. Disposable cameras on the tables are a great way to capture candid moments of your guests enjoying themselves. Don't forget to add photos from your honeymoon too!

Wedding Invitation and Program

The wedding invitation and program are a great way to honour the time and effort put into designing them. They will also remind you of the details of your ceremony, such as the order of events and any special readings or musical selections.

Guest Book

A guest book is always fun to revisit, seeing the well-wishes and signatures of friends and family members who attended your special day.

Wedding Cake Topper

Whether you chose a traditional cake topper or something unique that reflects your personalities, this is a great memento to include in your time capsule.

Flowers

Brides often save flowers from their bouquets or centrepieces, drying them out or pressing them between the pages of a book to preserve them. The groom's boutonniere can also be saved and added to the time capsule.

Engagement and Wedding Announcements

If you or your parents announced your engagement and wedding in the newspaper, be sure to include these clippings in your time capsule. They are a fun way to look back on the excitement leading up to your big day and often include photos and a brief background of your relationship.

Items from life before marriage

A wedding time capsule is a wonderful way to preserve memories of your relationship before marriage. Here are some ideas for items to include in your time capsule that represent your life before marriage:

Ticket Stubs

If you and your partner enjoyed attending movies or concerts together, ticket stubs from these dates can be a fun addition to your time capsule. These will bring back memories of the early days of your relationship and the fun activities you enjoyed together.

Love Notes and Cards

In the digital age, long love letters have become less common, but that makes handwritten notes and cards even more special. Include any silly proclamations on post-it notes or grocery lists or cards exchanged during your courtship. These will be fun to reread in the future and remind you of the love and joy in your relationship.

Mix CD or Playlist

Music is often an important part of a couple's relationship, with certain songs holding special meaning. Create a mix CD or a playlist of songs that remind you of key moments in your relationship. If you're concerned about technology becoming obsolete, you can simply make a list of the songs and jot down the memories associated with each one.

Restaurant Menus and Coasters

If you and your partner are foodies, save some menus or coasters from your favourite restaurants or special meals out. These will help you remember the happy times you shared over delicious food and drinks.

Photos

Take a trip down memory lane by including photos from throughout your relationship. Print out pictures from the early days of dating, special vacations, and any other memorable moments. These visual reminders will bring a smile to your face when you open the time capsule in the future.

Items with Personal Significance

Include items that hold unique significance for you and your partner. For example, if you have a favourite beach, fill a vial with sand from that beach. Or, if you met at a book club, include a copy of the book you were reading. Think of items that represent the special activities and locations that are unique to your relationship.

Wedding stationery

Wedding Invitations

Your wedding invitations are a must-have for your time capsule. They are a physical reminder of the event and can transport you back to the excitement of sending them out and eagerly awaiting your guests' responses. Send one to yourself so that it is date-stamped, adding an extra special touch.

Vows and Letters

Writing letters to each other on or just before the wedding day is a beautiful way to capture your thoughts and emotions in that moment. Share your dreams for married life, reflect on your journey together, and include any hopes or wishes you want your partner to know when you eventually open the time capsule. You could also include your vows, especially if they were personalised.

Guest Well-Wishes

Another way to include stationery in your time capsule is to ask your wedding guests to write their well-wishes, advice, or predictions for the future. Provide small pieces of paper or a notebook for guests to write on, and collect them at the end of the event to place in your time capsule. Alternatively, you could use a printable flag design as a decoration and a 'live' guestbook. Hang a long piece of ribbon with flags attached, and ask guests to write their messages on the flags.

Memory Cards

You can also include memory cards in your time capsule. These are prompted cards that family and friends can use to share their thoughts and wishes for the happy couple. They can be a fun way to involve your loved ones in capturing memories of the wedding.

Other Stationery Ideas

• Include any other stationery items that are unique to your wedding, such as signage, place cards, or a menu.
• If you are having a photo booth, you could add some of the photos or messages to your time capsule.
• If you are having a guest book, you could add this, or scan the messages and add them to your time capsule digitally.
• You could also include any other paper items from your wedding, such as order of service cards, menus, or even a copy of your wedding certificate.

Remember to keep your stationery items safe and dry in your time capsule, and consider using acid-free archival paper to help preserve them.

Well-wishes from guests

Guest Book

A traditional guest book is a great way to collect well-wishes from your wedding guests. You can opt for a classic book format or get creative with a customisable guest book. For example, a large framed print with your wedding date and names, which guests can sign and add their messages to. Alternatively, you could use a large, decorative bottle with slips of paper for guests to write on and drop inside.

Disposable Cameras

Providing guests with disposable cameras is a fun way to capture behind-the-scenes moments from their perspective. These candid photos will be a wonderful addition to your time capsule, offering a unique insight into the day. You could also ask guests to include a note with their photos, sharing their wishes for your future together.

Cards

Instead of, or in addition to, a guest book, you could provide cards for guests to write their well-wishes on. These could be placed on tables during the reception, offering a more private way for guests to share their thoughts and feelings. You could also include cards in a basket by a wishing well or tree, where guests can post their cards for you to read and add to the time capsule.

Advice and Predictions

A fun twist on the well-wishes idea is to ask guests to offer advice for a happy marriage, or to make predictions about your future together. You could provide cards or a small book for guests to fill in, or even set up a video diary station for guests to record their messages. These predictions will be especially fun to look back on in years to come, to see how they compare to your life together.

Frequently asked questions