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Create one-of-a-kind wedding memories

ARA Content

All brides- and grooms-to-be want to have wonderful lasting memories of their big day. And one way almost every couple commemorates their wedding is with a big album full of pictures of family and friends. But what about the couple that wants a different spin on the usual wedding mementos, something that will be a truly unique -- and modern -- reflection of the beginning of their married life?

Photo courtesy ARA Content

Why not create a wedding CD? All you need are some basic computer skills, multimedia software and preplanned elements from your wedding. According to Tom Wheeler, Interactive Media Design instructor with The Art Institute of Portland, "Your wedding day often goes by in the blink of an eye. With so many details to remember, so many things to do and so many people to see, it's hard for you -- and your guests -- to get a full picture of all of the day's events."

To create a wedding CD, Wheeler recommends:

Talking with your photographer about taking some digital photos at the wedding. Or have a friend or family member do so as their gift to you.

Making sure the digital photos you use are 450 -- 600 pixels in dimensions to fit most peopleís monitors, and 72 dots per inch (dpi) for monitor resolution.

After the wedding, plan out how you want the CD to work. Sketch a flowchart that shows how you want to group images and information together. Do you want to group items in chronological order as they happened that day? Do you want to group items by specific events, such as one page for the rehearsal dinner, one page for the ceremony, one for the reception, and so on?

Using multimedia software, such as Macromedia Flash or Director, to create the CD. This type of software allows you to easily combine text, graphics, sound and video.

As you gather your photos, make sure you remember to properly title them within the CD. Years later when you look back on this, you'll be thankful that names and dates are mentioned for the photos. You can even add special captions that truly personalize the photos and capture the emotions of those moments.

Whether you have professional photographs, a mix of professional and amateur shots, or are snapping photos yourself on the big day, Dick Nosbisch, Public Relations Director of The Art Institute of Colorado, and professional photographer, says there are a few easy steps to take to make sure your photographs look great.

"Watch what is in the foreground of the photograph, and avoid anything that is distracting such as glasses or plates on a table in front of the bride and groom," he says. In addition, Nosbisch recommends keeping the background simple because busy backgrounds take the eye away from the subject. Most important, says Nosbisch, "Concentrate on your subject. Let her or him know if a hair or collar is out of place."

And don't forget the more traditional keepsake -- the wedding album. Meryl Epstein, Senior Director of Graphic Design at The Art Institute of Phoenix, says today's wedding albums can be wonderfully unique, evocative and surprising, very different from your mother's or even your grandmother's.

She suggests heading to your local craft or arts supply store to purchase a plain scrapbook, and customizing the cover with fabric or photos instead of choosing a more formal album your photographer may offer. It's less expensive, and easier to personalize.

Take your favorite photos or mementos (invitations, newspaper announcements), and head to your local copy shop to make color copies. Make copies of the backgrounds you want to use as well -- whether it's the newspaper from the day you were married, a collage of cards or congratulatory telegrams, or a simple fabric or printed paper. Using copies of originals as well as backgrounds will give all the visuals you use a uniform look.

Epstein says if you have a flatbed scanner, you can scan mementos or photos yourself. Once you have the background placed, text -- whether it's a poem, caption, song lyrics or your vows -- can be dropped on top of it. Get creative -- add glitter, jewels or ribbons to add interest and texture. But perhaps the best advice of all, says Epstein, is to have fun, trust your creative voice, and enjoy the process.

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