I have been seeing some great ideas floating around lately about decorating with Family History. It got me thinking about other ways we can include our deceased ancestors in family affairs. And, I thought, “Why not a wedding?” It is one of the most joyous days of your life, and who do you want to share it with if not family? Past or present.
To keep it real simple, you could simply create a display using vintage frames and old pictures on a table. I like the idea of including it at your rehearsal dinner. Displaying the photos at the end of a long dining table is a great way to remind everyone in the wedding party about the two families joining together, and about the family history behind them. If you want to take it a step further, include a smaller photo at each place setting with a brief description like, “Jenn’s Great-Grandmother, circa 1925”. Guests will love to know where the bride and groom come from, and learn more about their family history.
Another great idea I found is this one. It is a table runner made out of old black and white photos. Why not? Making your ancestors the focal point of these photos will definitely be a statement that is not made at many weddings. And, it shows your respect for those that you love dearly that cannot be there on your special day.
To add a more subtle touch that perhaps only you and a few others might know about, try using tiny scrapbooking frames, shrink down old photos of your loved ones that have passed on, and attach them to your bouquet. A beautiful example of this can be found here. Carrying those relatives down the aisle adds an even more meaningful touch.
Another idea is to create a heritage album of both your own ancestors, and your spouse’s ancestors to display at the reception. You can include amazing couples from your own family history that you are aware of. Choosing their wedding photos would be a nice touch. To complete the album, include a wedding photo of yourself and your spouse on your wedding day showing that you too, will be a long-lasting couple in the family’s history.
The sky is the limit when using family history to display at a wedding. After all, it is one of the most important days of your life. While your relatives that have passed on will most definitely be there in spirit, honor them in person too.
Meredith Ethington is the author of this blog. To learn more about Meredith, and her history with Scrapbooking and Genealogy, go here. < Return To Scrapbooking