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A Non-Scrapbooker’s Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

There’s a reason that the last time I scrapbooked was 13 years ago: scrapbooks take a lot of time.

But when Laura contacted me about creating a wedding scrapbook as a first anniversary gift for her daughter Justine and son-in-law Andrew, how could I refuse?  Justine happens to be one of my best friends.  She’s the reason I not only survived high school, but actually loved it.  She was the Laverne to my Shirley.  The Ethel to my Lucy.  I’ve probably had more slumber parties with Justine than with any other human being on the planet.  We were bridesmaids in each other’s weddings.

Lauren & Justine circa 2008
Lauren & Justine | 2008

For a friend like Justine, coming out of scrapbook retirement was really no question.

I did, however, have a lot of questions about how to go about it.

Thankfully, my MIL is quite the scrapbooker.  She has in process 6 different scrapbooks for her 6 different grandkids and looking through those pages is truly awe-inspiring.  So of course, I picked her brain for tips (thanks, Mom!) and got a really useful suggestion from my bloggy buddy Kelly.  Don’t worry; I’ll be sure to share those gems with you guys in this post.

In fact, I’m going to share everything I learned and give you a glimpse at this non-scrapbooker’s process from start to finish.  (Brace yourselves, folks.  This is sort of an epically long post…but there are plenty of pictures to keep you entertained along the way.)  My hope is that other “non-scrapbookers” will feel empowered to take on a scrapbook project of their own next time the opportunity comes up.  If this non-scrapbooker can do it, so can you, my friend.  Let’s get scrappy!

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook: Useful tips on prep, layout, and gluing! via The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker’s Guide…

Step 1.  Determine a design focus.  Laura gave me a lot of creative freedom when it came to the scrapbook’s design, which I appreciated.  So, I decided to take to Google to search for other wedding scrapbooks that might offer some inspiration.  However, my search proved somewhat fruitless as most layouts I found were really busy, jam-packed with embellishments, which didn’t feel like my style…or more importantly, Justine’s style.

Justine has a classy elegance to her; from a fashion standpoint, she is all about a few carefully chosen accessories…not a gagillion-and-one.  So, when it came to planning her wedding scrapbook, I wanted the design to reflect that same classy elegance.

To unify the pages, I decided on a set color scheme of yellows and grays, their wedding colors, and aimed for simplicity in my layout and embellishments.  I wanted the story of that day to take the spotlight…not flashy design elements.

Scrapbook Color Scheme from A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet
color palette created with Adobe Kuler

Step 2.  Gather memorabilia.  Laura wanted the scrapbook to feature the ceremony readings and reception speeches, as well as photos of the big day from start to finish.  Laura sent me the texts I needed and put me in contact with Justine’s MIL, Jeane, who was a huge help in sharing photos.  She also mailed me a package of memorabilia from the day: invitations, programs, place-cards, a reception menu, and more.  And some of my fellow bridesmaids were helpful in passing along their photos from the day (thanks Kristen & Courtney!).

My MIL uses Shutterfly for her photo printing needs, so I placed a big photo order with them.  She also made an excellent recommendation to get a variety of photo sizes, not just 4 x 6s.  So, I had several 5 x 7s and 8 x 10s printed (only with the professional photos since they were highest quality).  I probably would have never thought to print 8 x 10s, but my MIL attested that it can look really great have a few pages where you feature a single large photo.  And boy, was she right!

Step 3.  Gather supplies.  Shopping trip!  I purchased nearly all of my supplies at Jo-Ann’s and Hobby Lobby.  Below is an itemized list with most of the supplies I used.

(Note that some of these are affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase using one of them, I may earn a small commission.  Thanks for supporting this site!  Read all the fine print here.)

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet
Letters correspond with the list below.

PAPER

(a)  12″ x 12″ specialty papers purchased by the sheet from Jo-Ann’s & Hobby Lobby in silver, gray, yellow, white, and black.  (I ended up needing to make two extra trips to buy more paper, so I recommend getting more than you think you will need…especially if you’re backing your photos with a matte like I did.)
(b) Pack of 12″ x 12″ white cardstock
(c) Pad of 8.5″ x 11″ pearl black cardstock
(d) 8.5″ x 11″ sheets of Vellum (for printing text)
(e) 8.5″ x 11″ specialty metallic papers purchased by the sheet from Jo-Ann’s in silver, gold, and cream.

PUNCHES & EDGERS

My MIL was kind enough to let me borrow some of her punches and edgers.  I invested in a few myself!

(f) FISKARS SureCut Scrapbooking Paper Trimmer (While this did save me a TON of time and I would have been up a creek without it, I did not find the swing-out arm to be level on my trimmer, so I had to use the gridlines if I wanted to cut a straight a line.)
(g) Martha Stewart Crafts Corner Punch, Rounder (one of my favorites)
(h) Martha Stewart Crafts Edger Punchers: floral lace and scallop dot (another favorite).
(i) EK Success Paper Shapers Corner Adorner Slot Punch: wrought iron (orange) and Victorian lace (purple).
(j) Scalloped Wavy Edge Scissors

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

STORE-BOUGHT EMBELLISHMENTS

(k) Premium Ribbon (on sale at Target)
(l) Tim Holz Idea-ology Stripes Paper String
(m) American Crafts DIY Thickers Foam Letters (Rainboots, White)

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

SILHOUETTE EMBELLISHMENTS

Most of my “embellishments” were cut using my Silhouette Cameo.  Here are a list of shapes I either purchased from the Silhouette store or downloaded as a FREE shape of the week:

The rest were gleaned from shapes that come pre-downloaded onto the Silhouette Studio software or ones I created.

Free Cut File

In fact, I’ve compiled all of the shapes I created into one studio file, which you can download for free by clicking HERE. {Fine print: this design is for personal use only and is not to be used for commercial purposes. Thanks!} 

Free Wedding Scrapbook Embellishments for Silhouette Studio | The Thinking Closet

ADHESIVE

I used a variety of adhesives on this project:

(n) Scrapbook Adhesives E-Z Dispensers (I used 3.5 dispensers and preferred the E-Z Runner over the E-Z Squares; these were great for adhering photos or smooth paper to other smooth paper…they didn’t work as well on the more heavily textured speciality paper.)
(o) ZIG 2-Way Glue Pen – Jumbo (The ZIG stick was useful for more heavy duty gluing…often when the E-Z Dispensers weren’t strong enough.)
*Elmer’s Craft Bond Fabric & Paper Glue (Not pictured; this was key in adhering the ribbon or paper string to paper/photos.)
*Elmer’s Spray Adhesive (Pictured below; I used this for the really intricate embellishments and for adhering photos to heavily textured speciality paper.  Just beware that it is a beast to get off of your hands….)

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

SCRAPBOOK ALBUM

(p) Pioneer 12″ x 12″ 3-Ring Leatherette Inset Frame & Ribbon Closure Memory Book in Ivory (boy, is that a mouthful!).  I really liked this album for several reasons.  I liked that it had a frame on the cover for featuring a photo and that the pages would be protected inside the “box-like” memory book.

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

Step 4.  Layout your pages.  I got a great tip from Kelly at Cobwebs, Cupcakes, and Crayons when dialoguing in the comments section of one of her scrapbook posts.  She wrote:

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

Did you catch that last part?  “I would layout all my pictures and keepsakes and decide on my pages before I started cutting and taping.”  And this, my friends, was a most genius approach.  I made stacks on the floor for pre-ceremony, ceremony, reception.  Then, I actually started tucking the photos and keepsakes into the protected pages of the scrapbook just to work out how many photos would be included on each page.  It took a long time, but I think it ended up saving me time and headache in the end.  I was able to ulilize all 40 pages of the scrapbook and evenly spaced out the events of the day.  (Thanks, Kelly for this awesome tip!)

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

Step 5.  Dive in and don’t look back!  I hijacked our living room table for over a week (thank you, Mark!).  It pretty much looked like this most of the time:

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet
“Controlled” chaos.

There wasn’t much method to the madness from here on out.  I actually started in the middle of the scrapbook and jumped around (which was do-able since I had spaced out my photos ahead of time).  It was a free for all!

Scrapbook Tour

Okay, so by now, I know you’re anxious to see the finished book!  Well, here it is in full.  All forty pages.  Enjoy a peek at Justine and Andrew’s special day: 5/18/12, Battery Gardens, N.Y.C.

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

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A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

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A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet  A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

I used the last page as a dedication page, with a note from Justine’s family.

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

And on the back inside cover, I left my mark…which also gives away my high school nickname.

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

{Professional wedding photos by Emily Johnston.}

So, how long did this take?

Since I was going to be compensated for my work, I kept track of my hours.  Any guesses?

From prep time to shipping it off, the entire project took a total of 41 hours.  So, if you think about it, it’s about an hour a page!  Seems like a long time, but when you’ve got movies playing in the background and when crafts feed your soul like they do mine (especially crafts that involve making a gift for a dear friend), the time flies.

Marilyn was my crafting buddy:

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet
(Thanks, Kenley, for the movie rec. way back when I did my Top Ten Romantic Movies list.)

And in case you were curious what my recycle bin looked like when all was said and done, here’s a snapshot of it.

A Non-Scrapbooker's Guide to Creating a Wedding Scrapbook | The Thinking Closet

To Conclude

I have great respect for those who scrapbook.  It takes a perseverance that I may not be able to find again for another 13 years, but it was a good run.  And I’m truly honored that I got to help Justine and Andrew celebrate their 1st anniversary with a keepsake that will hopefully one day graduate into the category of family heirloom.

For those of you who made it to the end, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!  And if there are any non-scrapbookers out there with a perplexed look on your face or any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!  That’s what I’m here for.

This is Lauren, signing off.

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116 Comments

  1. Thank you for this! It is beyond helpful to have a guide and suggestions on what materials and supplies to use!! I created my own outline based off of your pages!

    1. Oh hooray! I’m delighted to hear that! I am similarly inspired seeing others’ work, so it’s a delight to know I could send some inspiration your way. Happy scrapping!

  2. Your page is a dream! I literally was looking for a guide to scrapbooking for a non-artsy person. And voila. So excited to follow your example for my own wedding. Thanks!

  3. I am trying to create a book from my own wedding and I have a quick question- how did you do the lettering? It looks so clean and neat! Did you print a file out or stencil? Thank you!

  4. Hi Lauren,

    Thanks for this post! I got married just over a month ago however, as my husband is American and I am from the U.K we are currently living apart (which is terrible) so I need to focus my attention on something other than missing him. I knew I wanted to make my own wedding album from the beginning as I do love a good scrapbook and (in my opinion) they are the best way of conveying the day in the way we want it to be. I have been searching the internet for a little while for some help with where to start but I have had no luck as all my searches bring up digital photobooks. Don’t get me wrong I do love the digital ones, and I have just ordered 7 (oppps there was a 50% sale though) but I knew for our main album we didn’t want a printed one. As I lived in the US for 4 years I know the wonders on Jo-Anns so I will be waiting until my next trip over there (in a month) to get all of the stuff.

    Phew sorry for the life story and I kinda missed the point I wanted to make of THANKYOU, your post has given me somewhere to start with my wedding scrapbook and I can’t wait to begin making it now!

    Take care,

    Danni Schroeder xo

    1. Oh, I’m so sorry to hear you and your husband have to be apart right now! 🙁 Though I am glad that you have an upcoming wedding scrapbook project that will no doubt be such a treasured keepsake for you both! Have a blast on that JoAnn’s run! And if you think to send me an email with some photos of your finished project in a few months, I’d love to feature you in my next Reader Showcase! Happy creating, Danni.

  5. Hello,

    I loved your scrapbook! You really made it look professional and super chic. I am making one for the bride as a surprise guest book as I am the MOH. However, I am really not gifted in the creative department, I am also slightly concerned about the finished look – how did you get everything cut so precisely? Mine so far looks ragged and horrible 🙁

    Good job!

    Thanks,

  6. Aha, this is the post I have been looking for! I just got married, and I have not ever done a scrapbook in my life (cue warning sirens). BUT I am a designer and fairly crafty, so I just needed a strategy. I think that if I keep my head up and refer back to your post once in a while, I can do it 🙂 I also have to compliment you on your work. It’s definitely got a great, simple focus on each page, and you have included the little and big things that are meaningful to you. Nice job and thanks for sharing!

    – Sara in Wash DC

    1. Wow, Sara! So happy to hear that my post was inspiring for a fellow non-scrapbooker. You can SO do this, girl! And I am grateful for your compliments on my simple style. Do send me a pic of one of your favorite pages when you’re done, k? Would love to be able to show off your work on social media or in my next Reader Showcase. Happy creating!

  7. Hi Lauren, I just got married and want to do my own scrapbook from the wedding and honeymoon. So far I read through your instructions and they are awesome. I do have one question! I don’t like the look of the binder. Thought about getting one that has actual pages. Did you have your pages laying on the floor ans around you so you know what goes with what or did you just start cutting and mix and match while your going?

    1. Congrats on getting hitched, Franziska! Glad my post has proven helpful for you as you venture into the world of creating a wedding and honeymoon scrapbook. As for your question, I *think I understand the kind of book you are interested in – – one without removable pages? Maybe you can provide a link as an example? But either way, I think the BEST way to go about it is to at least separate out the photos and memorabilia for each page – – so even if you just had tiny stacks in page order, that will help you keep it to a reasonable length. Then, you can tackle each page in the book in whatever order you so choose – – since you know what is going where. Does that make sense? I think I when I did it, I just did one or two layouts at a time, then placed it in the transparent pages in the book so I could see it come together as I went. I didn’t know exactly how they would all look before assembling – – just which images / memorabilia would go on the pages. But feel free to develop your own system! Hope that helps. Good luck!

  8. Thank you SO much for sharing your process with those of us that roam the interwebs. I’ve been saying for almost 5 years that I’m going to make a scrapbook out of my wedding photos but I never had time until now. And nevermind that I’ve never made a scrapbook and this will be my first! You’ve given me a good idea on what kinds of things I may need and how organizing my photos and keepsakes is where I probably need to start.
    Thanks again!

  9. I’m so happy that I stumbled on this post! My parents are celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary, and I had been looking for a gift that I could make for them. I thought a scrapbook would be ideal, but since I have never made one, I had no idea where to start, and was about to give up on my idea. However, reading your post has reassured me. Thank you for taking and sharing so many pictures.

  10. Beautiful! I am about to set on my own adventure making my wedding scrapbook… just waiting for the album to arrive! I’m a bit nervous because I live in Uruguay and supplies are almost non-existent, so I make shift a lot, and buying a scrapbooking set is not within the budget (like $50 at least). I will take your advise and lay it out roughly beforehand and stick to a color palette, although it will be hard because my wedding was simply rustic, not very colorful…

    wish me luck! Cheers from Uruguay

  11. I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT ALL!!!! Your book is amazing…… I am getting married in august and i want to attempt to do a love story scrapbook; from the beginning of our relationship all the way til now and then add the wedding when i get back from Jamaica. SO i started organizing my picture folders by pages and I turned out with about 50 pages for the scrapbook!!!! Im not a scrapbooker so this scared me lol. I dont know about punchers or silhouettes or how to get them. I am on a tight budget but i really want to do this to ass into my love letter ceremony box after the wedding.
    Any help? Ideas or suggestions?

    I saw this scrapbook i liked but it had only 10 clear sheets! thats not enough at all.. I wanted the cover to look older…like a old story as our theme is Once Upon a Time…. any help with finding one? suggestions?

    Sincerely needing help! Gina Batista

    1. Wow! Thanks for the incredible response, Gina! And a hearty congrats on your upcoming wedding. That’s super duper exciting, and I love your idea to document it all in a love story scrapbook. Surely, it will be something you and your hubby treasure for always. So, a few ideas:

      -50 pages actually sounds pretty reasonable to me considering you’re wanting to feature your entire relationship AND wedding! The scrapbook I did was 40 pages and it was just the wedding…so I think you can totally do it, even though that number feels intimidating! For me, it was an hour a page, so just keep in mind it might be a slow process…but definitely worthwhile.
      -I don’t think you need a Silhouette or digital craft-cutter to scrapbook…I just had one at my disposal which helped with some of the embellishments I used. But you can totally cut some of those by hand or purchase them at craft stores. And I would definitely invest in a paper cutter and a few punches. But I think simple is best when it comes to scrapbooks. It allows your story to shine!
      -Another option if you really want a “scrappy” look is to create a digital scrapbook. I’m amazed at all the resources out there now…and how realistic digital versions can look. I even just used Shutterfly to create a graduation book for my sister, and I was amazed at how many fun layouts and embellishments they had for me to really make the book something special.
      -You can often add pages to scrapbooks (like ones that only have 10 sheets), so don’t let that dismay you. Just be sure that the fine print says you can add pages.
      -If you can’t find a scrapbook with the cover you are thinking of, you could always age or distress a cover to look old. Or you might find a cover with a clear sheet in front where you could add a page that looks like an old book cover and has the “Once Upon a Time” title on it that you create.

      Let me know if this is helpful and if you have any more questions. This sounds like such an exciting project, and I’m eager to see the final results!

  12. Thank you Lauren for the tips and inspiration! Our wedding photos have wated for eight years in the box and now I think it’s time to start scrapping (for the first time in my life). I think that with your tips I can make it.

  13. Thanks for this post. I am curious, how do you not become overwhelmed with all the pictures to choose from? I have been wanting to begin my wedding album and each time I begin, I have such a tough time picking my favorite images from our wedding. I just think they are all amazing! Any suggestions?

    1. Ya know, in some ways, it helped that I DIDN’T have access to every single wedding photo that was taken. We wanted it to be a surprise for Justine and Andrew, so I only was able to grab photos from family members, friends, and the photographer’s site. Did your wedding photographer post any of his/her favorites on their website or in their portfolio? That might be a good place to start. Also, I know from when I did my own wedding album, that it helped to start with the number of pages I wanted, then divide those pages into sections (getting ready, photos on the beach, ceremony, reception, after party) and then I knew exactly how many pages I had to work with for each section. And having that number just helped keep me from going out of control with how many I chose. Anyway, I realize you may have your scrapbook conquered by now, but I thought I’d throw out those suggestions in case you’re still in the thick of it! Good luck, DurangoGirl!

  14. I stumbled upon this post from Pinterest. I was recently married and am looking to make a scrapbook, however, I’ve only made a total of 2 scrapbooks ever and was looking for some inspiration on how to go about it. Your post is so thorough and absolutely perfect! Exactly what I needed. I love how you outline your materials, process, and that we get to see the final product. I can’t wait to start crafting!

    1. Hooray! I’m delighted to know you’ve found some inspiration here in this post, Destinie! That was my hope! Especially since, like you, I’m not really a “regular scrapbooker.” You’ll have to send me pics of your finished scrapbook so I can feature you in my next Reader Showcase, k? K!

  15. Wow, Laur! I’m super impressed. I remember my last scrapbooking project was a Christmas gift for Mom and Dad that took me like a month to finish (I missed the deadline and needed an extension, working on it after Christmas too). I got burned out, and I haven’t gone back up on the scrapbooking wagon since! What I love about this book is the fact that it isn’t too “decoration crazy.” You’re right, sometimes scrapbooks are so busy, that you miss the actual memory/photo. This is just the right amount of color and embellishment to bring out the beauty of the pictures. Justine and Andrew look fantastic! Great job, sis!

    1. Thanks for the affirming words, sistah! It’s true…scrapbooking projects can be A LOT and can easily lead to burn out. I really paced myself with this one, though, and the minimalism with the embellishments is what saved me, I think. And I’ll pass on your praise to Justine and Andrew IN PERSON when I visit them this fall. Eep!

  16. What a beautiful job you did Lauren! My sister has been trying to get me back into scrapbooking and your album has really inspired me. My sister will be very happy.

    1. YW, Jill! If you use any of them in a project, I’d love for you to send me a picture. I’d love to feature it in my next Reader Showcase at the end of the summer. Happy creating!

    1. Thanks, Tori! I can get lost in a project for hours if it’s a gift for a friend…when it’s for myself, I’m often shaking my fist at the sky, wondering why it’s taking so long. 😉

  17. I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE this, I have a weakness for this kind of wedding things. Everything that remind me those days are so special!!!! Thanks so much for sharing this at Bewitch Me & Titi! aaaaaand I’m featuring tomorrow!!! WOOHOOOOOOOOO hope to have you again tomorrow!!!!

    Hugs and XOXO
    Cami @ TitiCrafty by Camila

    1. Thank you oh so much for the feature, Camila! I’m honored! And that makes me smile to know you have a weakness for wedding-related things. I have a feeling you are going to really enjoy my next series (hint hint). Hope your summer is going well, my friend! Sending a virtual hug your way.

    1. Oh that makes my heart so happy to hear, Alisha! Thank you for stopping by and for taking the time to comment and follow on so many platforms. That really excites me to know that you’re hoping to get back into scrapbooking again. Let me know if you share any of your pages on Crafty Brooklyn Army Wife! I’d love to check them out.

    1. Thanks for that, Thalita! The whole time I was working on it, I kept anticipating Justine and Andrew’s reaction to receiving this gift…and that powered me through the long hours. It was really so worthwhile. Thanks for affirming that fact, too, with your sweet sweet words.

    1. Thank you for the kind words, Chelsea, and for the sweet invitation! And yes, it’s so important to find ways to commemorate life’s special moments.

    1. Don’t doubt yourself too much, Katie! I have a feeling that you are MORE than capable of documenting your wedding in a really artful and meaningful way. Just trust those creative instincts that God has given you and have fun! (And congrats on your upcoming nuptials. I may or may not be starting a DIY wedding series here next week…hint hint…so feel free to pop back by for some tutorials, glory stories, and gorey stories from my wedding 4 years ago.) 😉

  18. Lauren, it’s beautiful! Thank you for sharing your process with us. I agree that you captured a simplistic elegance without too much extra stuff in the way. The focus was definitely on the story of their day. I made a scrapbook almost 6 years ago for my mom with all her grandkids (at the time I had just one baby to include!) I loved creating it, but the time and cost has kept me from finishing any of my own. I kept saying I would start one for each kid, but somehow I have ended up with 3 kids and no scrapbooks! This post may be the inspiration I needed to get going. I’m also supposed to be finishing a surprise 65th birthday scrapbook for my MIL who just turned 66. Ooops….but I know you can relate to that! Please do let us know Justine’s reaction when she opens it!

    1. Justine sent me the most amazing text of shock and amazement, and then we shared a nearly 2 hour long phone call talking about it (among other things of course). She and Andrew were so touched, even moreso than I had hoped, which was the icing on an already tasty cake.

      But trust me, I understand that some seasons of life are more conducive to scrapbooking than others, and you are commemorating the moments of your lives in so many other ways right now. So let there not be any guilt about scrapbooks unmade! Only anticipation of new, fun ways to celebrate what has been that allow you to really live in the present, so that you can make new memories. 🙂

      And that scrapbook for your MIL’s 65th birthday, boy do I understand the plight of the belated gift. Maybe you two can work on it together to make it a collaborative, crafty event! I’m sure those kids of yours would be game for coloring some white 12 x 12 cardstock as the backdrop for your scraps! Something to consider….

    1. It really did take me right back to that special day with my dear, dear friends. Thanks for taking the time to hop over, Katherine, and for leaving such a sweet comment!

  19. Lauren,

    Justine and I cannot thank you enough! It truly is an incredible gift that we will cherish forever and we are so lucky to have you as a friend!!

    Though the pictures look amazing on the website it doesn’t do true justice to the remarkable craftsmanship and precision of all the little details and incredible texture/ patterns of all the backings in the book. I was completely blown away by the creativity and thoughtfulness behind the storytelling in the book showing us getting ready for our big day to celebrating at the reception. I am not surprised at all that it took 40 hours to make. The inclusion of the speeches from our family and friends make this even more special and I know they were not easy to track down. When I first flipped through the book it brought me back to May 18th and I wished we could re-live that awesome day…and now I can by opening up this incredible book!

    I cannot say thank you enough Lauren and hope to see you soon!
    -Andrew

    1. Andrew, the feeling is so mutual. I feel so blessed to have not just Justine in my life, but you, as well–someone who so compliments Justine and emboldens her in her strengths and talents. That is something I always hoped Justine would find in her future spouse, and that hope has been realized in you and your sweet relationship with her.

      Thanks for your generous praise about the scrapbook. It touches me to know you noticed all those little details (and makes me hope I didn’t leave behind too many fingerprint smudges or unfinished edges…ha ha). I also smile to hear you use the word “storytelling” because that really was my aim–to help tell the beautiful story of that memorable day with color, images, and words. Though a scrapbook is essentially just that–a book of scraps–it was my hope that the scraps would trigger the sweet memories and bring you right back to Battery Gardens on May 18th, 2012. And from what you shared in your comment, it sounds like they’ve done that for you! (Whoo hoo!)

      MANY thanks go out to Laura and your mom for doing a lot of the leg-work in tracking down speeches and photos for me. It was really a team effort!

      Andrew, thank you for taking the time to comment here on my blog. It means the world to me, and I feel your gratitude so strongly. Cannot wait to see you and Jaybird this September and take San Fran by storm!

      Warmly,
      Lauren

    1. Thanks, Kara! I had a pretty awesome subject to scrapbook, so that helped. 🙂 Hope you’re enjoying your time in Hershey!

    1. For sure, Kelly! Thanks for sharing that tip in the first place. It really saved me a lot of headache and extra time in the end. And thanks for your kind words!

    1. Sorry, Holly! Your comment got caught in my spam folder, but I rescued it! 😉 Thanks for your kind words. And I’m sure you are plenty creative…scrapbooking can make anyone’s head spin after a while. I definitely needed frequent breaks!

    1. You’re welcome Ms. Rhia! (By the way, my Great Aunt’s name was Rea…and it’s my sister’s middle name, too. Not the same spelling as yours, but just as pretty sounding.) Happy day to you!

      1. Wow! Really?! That’s awesome! 🙂 You know what Ms. Lauren, every time I order drinks in Starbucks, most of the time they wrote “Rea” instead of “Rhia”. But it’s not a big deal for me. Hihi. 😀 Have a great day!

        1. That’s so interesting! Because my sister’s name is Lisbeth and every time she orders drinks, they write “Elizabeth” on her cup. Maybe I should tell her to give them her middle name…they might actually get the spelling right! 😉 Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend, Rhia.

  20. Wow, Lauren, it turned out amazing!
    My parents, for reasons unfathomable, let me make their wedding photo album into a scrapbook when I was like 13 – they looked at it once, and then it was never seen again (it was horrendous). After my Grandma passed last year, I finally had new copies of all their photos, so for their 25th wedding anniversary last December, I remade the entire scrapbook. I didn’t have too much stuff to work with, but it turned out really classy and sweet, so now it’s actually displayed. I agree with you, when you’re doing it for someone you care about, no amount of hours is too long, but other than that, I’ll stick with digital photography, thank you very much.

    1. PS: I’ve been meaning to ask you: How do you get your signature on blogger to show up as Lauren and then The Thinking Closet as a link?! I really don’t like commenting as “Johanna @ Dear Life, We Need To Talk”, but I also don’t want to just copy paste my URL at the bottom – help me, my fairy blogmother!! (Pleeeaaaase?!)

      1. What a great idea to re-make their wedding scrapbook after all these years! A true labor of love. P.S. There’s some simple html coding you can enter at the end of a comment to hyperlink text. It’s really nifty…and it’s supposed to help your SEO by giving you more back-links on other sites or something like that. I’d copy and paste it here, but I fear it wouldn’t stay in code-form, but would transform into hyperlinked text! Ha ha. But here’s a link to the post where I learned about it in the first place. Let me know if you have any troubles!

        1. So I’ve happily been leaving that HTML add-on in all my blogger comments, and a nice little link shows up in my comments; today, I decided to click on the link in the comment, and it turns out that even though I type in my URL as a reference, it links to an obviously non-existent page within the blog that I am commenting on.. yikes! Any thoughts?!
          This is what I type in Dear Life, We Need To Talk — it normally won’t let me type in the “http://” for some reason!

          1. Okay, now I’m just a spammer – sorry!
            a href=”www.dearlifeweneedtotalk.com”>Dear Life, We Need To Talk</a

          2. Oh no! Well, I definitely think it’s the missing “http://” that is the problem. I remember in the past running into some blogs that wouldn’t allow certain code, so maybe “http://” is blocked by some. What I do is keep the code on a little “stickie” on my computer dashboard, so I copy and paste it into the comment form instead of typing it from scratch. Maybe that’s a workaround? Sorry it has given you some issues. Hope you get it figured out, Johanna!

    1. Thanks for your vote of confidence, Abby! I got to talk to Justine the other night on the phone for nearly 2 hours and she confirmed her love of it. It really makes it worth all the time it took. 🙂 Hope your Monday is off to a great start.

    1. Thanks, Mama. It was really such a joy to be a part of Justine and Andrew’s one year anniversary celebration in this way…and hopefully, they can look at it on anniversaries to come and be whisked right back to that special day at Battery Park.

      1. Andrew’s comment confirmed that this scrapbook did whisk them back to their special day! The elegant simplicity is stunning! Enjoy your time with J and A in San Fran!!

        1. It’s true! I told him in person last weekend how much his comment meant to me. And I could tell that he REALLY did appreciate and love that scrapbook. Makes me all the more glad I was able to create it for them!

  21. Thank you Lauren for the most amazing scrapbook EVER! We will treasure it forever and ever and ever. I have many gifts from you and have kept every one (from pillows to notebooks to amazing cards, etc) but this one is the most special. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. xoxox
    Justine

    1. Jaybird, you are such a great RECEIVER of gifts, it only reinforces my love of making them. 😉 So honored that your Mom reached out to me in the first place to be a part of this special anniversary gift. I’m so glad to know it did your special day justice! Twas a day none of us will soon forget. Love you!

  22. Wow, Lauren – that is incredible! Justine is so lucky to have a friend like you – scrapbooks take hours and hours and hours of time. Just ask the big box of wedding memorabilia that I have lurking in the closet. It’s been 6 years, and I haven’t ever ventured to start my own wedding scrapbook. Your post has been an inspiration. Maybe I should start it! 🙂

    1. Thanks, Tara! And if you’re too intimidated to take on a whole scrapbook (or don’t have the time), perhaps you could knock out a page each year…then after 40 years of marriage, you’d have a completed scrapbook! Could be a fun tradition…and interesting to see how your scrapbooking style would change over the years. Eureka! I think I’m onto something here! (Ha ha.)

  23. Lauren I just need to ask, do you sleep? Ever? Oh my word, what a gift!! I don’t even have a scrapbook from my own wedding. Actually I never made a wedding album. Hangs head in shame. LOL

    1. I love sleep too much not to indulge…ha ha…but remember, Alex: kid count and pet count are still at 0 and my theatre class is done for the summer. So, yeah…this stuff keeps me outta trouble. 😉 And there’s no shameful head-hanging allowed. At least, not in these parts. Your blog on its own is a scrapbook of sorts of your home and family happenings. (That’s what I keep telling myself since I don’t really journal and haven’t made a scrapbook for myself in 13 years.)

    1. Thanks, Jen! I’m really hoping that it holds up over the years for those generations to come; I made sure to use only acid-free and photo-safe products (which is why I couldn’t use any washi, though I really wanted to). Hope your preparations for your big trip are going smoothly!

  24. Thanks for the great tutorial and showing us the finished book. My MIL is getting married this fall and has asked me to make her scrapbook for her. This has given me some great ideas. I haven’t done scrapbooking since I finished our wedding album 4 years ago. One of the details I added in our scrapbook was all of the notes people had written in their cards. (We had a small wedding so there weren’t that many cards.) It’s such a great way to remember everyone who shared the day with us.

    1. Happy to know my post may have sparked some ideas for you, Kymberly! I’m sure you’re going to great a masterpiece for you MIL, especially since you already have one wedding scrapbook under your belt…your own! And what a lovely idea to incorporate the notes from your wedding cards. I have them all lodged in a file folder…but I really like the idea of letting them breathe on some scrapbook pages. Hmmm….

  25. I love this album! I’m a scrapbooker but like to keep it simple. I started my album this winter (our wedding was July 28) but felt like it was getting too busy. I got discouraged and stopped. This has re-inspired me to get back at it.

    1. Our fourth wedding anniversary is this July 18th…not too far from yours! If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t create our wedding album until two years after our wedding…so, I know how overwhelming it can be. But I’m glad to hear that you may be re-inspired to get back in the races again with your wedding scrapbook. Yes, keep it simple. I found that investing in really pretty papers with nice texture went a long way. You can do it, girl!

      1. I’m done! Well, almost. I have a couple pictures that I had to get reprinted but the space is ready so I just have to glue them in. Thank you so much for re-motivating me! I’ll be posting mine on my blog (and giving you credit, of course) starting later this week. I plan to split it into several posts because it was so long. Feel free to stop over and check it out.

    1. Thanks, Monica! I was in the same boat as you. The last time I had really scrapbooked was in high school after one of my mission trips. Our family went on vacation one winter and I spent the entire time cooped up in the cabin, working on the scrapbook. Suffice it to say, I was burnt out at the end and needed a 13 year break. Ha ha. It was fun to get back into it, though, for a spell!

    1. Lynden, I’m beaming after reading your comment! Thank you so much, friend…for taking the time to check out my post, for your specific feedback, and for your generous praise. And I chuckled at your charge to rest up. It’s true, I was definitely in need of sleep when this was all done and shipped off…. Thankfully, that was over a week ago, so I’ve had a fair bit of recovery time. Ha ha. And I didn’t realize what a scrapbooker you were/are. After seeing the intricate and elegant designs in your cards, I can only imagine the artistry your scrapbook pages much possess! Make sure you rest up, too! 😉

  26. OH.MY.Goodness.My Dear Lauren!! I have just Treated myself to reading your post (Love the way You write – so conversationally!) and looking at the photos of this Absolutely Lovely Gift of Love that You have made!! The tutorial photos are great, too. Having made Several ‘theme scrapbooks’ through the years (I’m currently in the middle of TWO ‘Baby’s First Year’ books for two [more] great-nephews and another ‘great-someone?’ is due any day – so I continue…! I’ve done many other types, too.), I know what a Labor of Love this was. It’s quite spectacular – colors, design, elements, journaling, ‘touches of Love.’ Thank you for sharing it All with us! I’m sure your Friends will be touched beyond words when they receive it and it will be a Cherished keepsake. I am SOOO impressed, My Dear! Rest up now – ;-}
    Lynden

    http://aneleganttouch-lynden.blogspot.com
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/An-Elegant-Touch-/162889457132788
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lyndens-Cookie-Lee-Jewelry/209062415911124

    1. Aw, thanks, Kelly! I know there were a TON of photos in this post…probably more than I’ve ever had before. No way I was going to even attempt watermarking them all or doing more than minimal editing. As the YouTube sensation would say, “Ain’t nobody got time for that.”

    1. Thanks, Katie! I stared and stared at all the embellishments at Jo-Ann’s and Hobby Lobby and really struggled to find anything that would suit the look I was going for. Thankfully, my Silhouette came to the rescue on that one! (P.S. Do you have a Silhouette of your own?)

  27. That came out beautiful. I love scrapbooking but don’t have the time for it (or the $) right now. I hope to get back in to it. I use to be all about the embelishments but now I’m kind of a clean and classy style person with my pages. Thanks for sharing.

    1. “Clean and classy”…I like the sound of that, Tracie! And yes, it does take time and moolah, doesn’t it? I think there probably is a lot of up-front investment (such as the paper slicer and punches and packs of paper) that would pay off in the end. Psst! Have you had any time to play with your Silhouette yet? No pressure (I know you’re busy), but let me know when you do! I’ll be curious to hear how it goes.

        1. You know, come to think of it, I got an email a week or so ago from Silhouette regarding a delay in shipment for May giveaway winners. I think they worked it out, so yours should be coming soon! Let me know, though, if you don’t get it by next week. I’m sure you’re eager to get to using it!

          1. Did you ever get that issue figured out, Tracie? I sure hope so! And let me know if you want me to email you an invite to our Silhouette Challenge FB group. I think you’d really enjoy the gals and learn a lot from them if you have the time or interest in another FB group!

  28. it’s beautiful Lauren, you did an Excellent job. I looked at all the pictures too, they are gorgeous.
    I don’t scrapbook either, I don’t think I would be able to make something as pretty as yours either! 🙂 you go and have a great weekend too!

    1. Thanks, Ingrid! I appreciate you taking the time to look through the pics. And what are you talking about? You know you would create some gold-leafy-scrapbook-goodness if put to the task. 🙂 Happy weekend to you, also, friend!

  29. Wow, Lauren, it turned out beautifully! It is sad how few pictures I have actually printed. I love the color scheme of the book, and how it all ties together so well. I also love how you were able to incorporate the invitations etc… into the actual book. What a great keepsake!

    1. Ya know what, Rachel, I’m the same way…I haven’t made a “photo album” since our wedding. With everything digitized and sharable on Facebook and Instagram, there’s just not that pressing need to print photos. I’d like to get into a habit of making an annual family yearbook of sorts…but that’s still a pipe dream.

      Thanks for the sweet feedback on the scrapbook! Justine and Andrew had really great wedding colors and memorabilia to work with…it really helped shape the design for the whole book.

      1. Every year I was gaining more and more photos and I got to the point that it was so overwhelming so I decided that I would make a 2 page lay out for each event and then place them into a scrapbook and date it with the year and it works great I usually pick a week or two and pick pictures, print them out in different sizes, take over the dinning room table and get busy and every free moment is put to scrapbooking, my husband understands I only do it a couple times a year so he puts in extra effort in laundry and dishes to help make up for the stuff I am neglecting.

        1. That’s a genius idea, Lindsay! It reminds me of what my theatre professor used to say: “Do something…not everything. Because when you try to do everything, you do nothing.” A bit philosophical, but I see how it applies to the realm of scrapbooking, too! Also, I love that your hubby pitches in with housework when it’s scrapbooking time; shows how much he values it! And you!

  30. I love it Lauren! You encourage me to get back on the wagon! I’m a bit behind in my books, the babies are multiplying faster than I can scrapbook. I love your ideas & insight, we will all learn much from this experience! Great job – it looks fabulous!!

    1. Ha ha. Yes, those babies just keep coming! 🙂 Well, I hope that when the time comes, you can return to scrapbooking in such a way that it is really a life-giving and not too overwhelming. Give yourself permission for the scrapbooks to be simple. (Easier to say than do, right?)

      And thanks again for all of your help, tips, and tools! I seriously would have been lost without you.

  31. I love paper crafting, but yet have NEVER scrapbook because it takes so much time. I once tried it and got like 3 pages done in the matter of 2 weeks! I like doing the digital variety!

    1. All of your Martha boxes got me really excited about using punches…and now that I’ve had the opportunity to use them, I’m even more of a fan. And that’s neat that you do digital scrapbooking, Katie! I’m sure they are way faster to complete and much easier to make multiples of! Can’t beat that!

    1. Thanks, Katherine! I had a lot of fun flipping through the pages when all was said and done. It was hard to hand it over to the folk at UPS, not knowing if might get lost in the mail. So, initially, I took the photos as an “insurance” of sorts. Then, I thought others might like to see the pics, too! I’m glad you enjoyed looking at them.

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