by Annette Lyon
The dress, the cake, the flowers—the memories. Brides put so much time and effort into making their big day perfect. But when she and her new husband return from their honeymoon and settle into married life, not much is left of the wedding to remember it by.

The few things that do remain, however, can be preserved so they last. Take care of them the right way to be sure they’ll be around for a long time.

The Photos

In today’s day and age, finding archival materials for saving your wedding photos is easier than ever. Most paper is now acid free, and it’s easy to find safe plastic sleeves, adhesives, and more to create safe scrapbooks.

A few things to note when making your wedding album:

The ink from inkjet printers is water soluble and not archival. If it gets even a drop of water on it, the ink will run, and the ink will gradually fade with time and light expsoure. Whenever possible, use a laser printer for any text, or at the very least, a black permanent marker.

Be sure to record relevant information on the back of each photo, even if it’ll be glued to the page. You want to be sure that posterity can identify everyone in the photo, the date it was taken, and the event and location, and you can’t assume that the photo will never come off the page. However, don’t write on the back of photographs with a ballpoint pen or a pencil. Use a safe permanent black marker or a grease pencil (both found at scrapbooking supply stores) to record the data.

The Album

Don’t use typical vinyl albums, even ones covered in fabric or some other material. Over time, vinyl degrades, releasing hydrochloric acid that damages photos permanently. Instead, find albums made of heavy, acid-free cardboard or other safe materials. Many album options are both safe and beautiful. Check archival specialists like Light Impressions (found online) for safe archival albums.

Another idea is getting your pictures put together in a digital album. Using one of many such companies, such as Heritage Makers, you can organize and design your album on the computer and then have it printed into a hardbound book, ready to go on the shelf for generations.

Adhesives
Any adhesive you find in a scrapbook store will likely be safe to use in an album. Be aware that others, found in grocery stores and other locations, can damage photos. The average glue stick is safe, for example, but rubber cement will warp photos and their plastic sleeves. Scotch tape and masking tape aren’t safe, either.

The Dress

A wedding dress can be a treasure passed from one generation to the next—provided it’s stored correctly. Never leave a wedding dress inside a plastic dress bag; as with vinyl albums, the fumes from the bag will eventually discolor white cloth, especially when heat is involved.

Store your dress in a bag made of a breathable fabric, like linen.
Keep it in a cool, dry place without much temperature variation. If possible, store it flat rather than on a hanger, which can distort the shape over time.

The Bouquet

Many brides wish they could keep their fresh-flower bouquet forever without it wilting. The good news: you can, drying them with silica gel, a powder used to absorb moisture. You’ve likely seen packets of it in shoes, purses, and other products you’ve bought. When consumed, silica gel is toxic, so be careful.

To dry your flowers, cover them completely with silica gel. Follow the instructions for how long to keep them covered and how best to arrange the flowers. When all the moisture is absorbed, you’ll have flowers that are the same color and shape of the original, fresh bouquet.

You can then put the flowers under glass, in a shadow box, or in some other display piece. Do it yourself or hire a company who specializes in floral preservation do it for you. These companies dry the flowers for you as well as put them into a display for you.

The Cake

Tradition has the bride and groom saving the top layer of the cake to eat on their first anniversary. Cakes can be safely eaten after a year (or even longer) in the freezer. The only real question is whether it’ll taste any good. To prevent freezer burn, freeze the cake overnight so the icing is hard. Then take it out of the freezer and, before it thaws, wrap it in several layers of thick plastic wrap, with a final outer layer being a zip-style freezer bag, if the cake
will fit in one.

Before your first anniversary arrives, put the cake into the fridge for a day or so before moving it to room temperature. This will allow the cake to gradually thaw, which helps protect the texture and flavor that can result from rapid temperature fluctuations.

Be sure to preserve your photos, dress, and other memories correctly right away; you have one chance to do it right and a lifetime to be glad you did.