Wedding Keepsake Box: What to Save (and What to Skip)

We heard you loved our "skip & save' baby post so we've written one for weddings!  You don’t need to keep every ribbon and receipt from your wedding. A thoughtful wedding keepsake box helps you save the story—the pieces you’ll actually want to revisit—without drowning in clutter. Here’s a simple, stylish plan for what to keep, what to digitize, and how to store it so it still looks great on your tenth anniversary.

The rule: save the story, not the pile

If the item doesn’t help you tell the story of “who we were and how it felt,” it’s probably something to photograph and let go.

What to put in a wedding keepsake box (curate 10–20 items)

• Invitation suite (1 full set). Slip into an acid-free sleeve.

• Vows (printed or handwritten). Make a clean copy if the originals are smudged.

• Program + menu (1 each). Keep one pristine set.

• Something worn: bow tie, hair ribbon, cufflinks box, garter—choose one meaningful piece.

• Swatch from dress or suit tailoring. Tiny, flat, and evocative.

• Pressed florals. A few petals or a boutonnière, pressed and fully dried.

• Place card + a favorite table number. Flat, easy, and instantly nostalgic.

• A photo strip or 4×6 print from the day. Label the back with date + one line.

• Speeches: a printed page or note from a toast you loved.

• Venue ephemera: matchbook, coaster, key card—pick one.

• Printed Vows or Letters to each other. Short and honest beats long and flowery.

Pro tip: tuck a silica gel packet inside the box and use acid-free sleeves for paper pieces. Store in a closet, not the attic or basement.

What to skip (or digitize)

• Duplicates. Fifteen nearly identical cards dilute the impact—keep the one that says it all.

• Bulky decor. Cake toppers and signs are better photographed than stored.

• Fragile florals. If it still feels damp, it doesn’t go in the box.

• Receipts and contracts. Snap a picture; save space for the keepsakes you’ll show your kids.

Timeline guide: what to collect and when

• Before the wedding: invitation suite, fabric swatch, a printed copy of your vows.

• Day-of: one place card, program, menu, one petal/boutonnière (to press), a photo print.

• After the wedding: favorite toast excerpt, venue ephemera, a letter to future-you.

• First anniversary: add one new note—what surprised you about year one.

Personalization ideas (make it yours)

• Monogram or names + date on the lid or inside patch.

• Thread color that echoes your palette (champagne, navy, soft blush).

• Short line of vows on a label inside the lid.
  

Preservation tips (simple + effective)

• Dry first. Florals must be fully dried/pressed before they go in.

• Sleeves > tape. Use photo corners or acid-free sleeves for paper.

• Label lightly. Pencil or archival pen on the back corner = enough.

• Textiles. Wrap ribbons or swatches in acid-free tissue.

• Climate. Closet storage beats attic/basement every time.

• Annual edit. Re-read on your anniversary and keep only what still sparks joy.