Mementos and Wedding Keepsake Box Ideas That You'll Cherish for Years to Come

You'll spend months planning your wedding day, only for it to pass by in just that—a day. After dedicating so much time, money and emotional energy toward this celebration, you're going to want to remember the event. That's where these unique wedding keepsake ideas and boxes come into play.

We know what you're thinking: the last thing you want is to add one more item to your wedding to-do list. We're of the mindset, though, that creating a plan for a wedding time capsule before the big day is one of the best things you can do to ensure you remember everything after the fact.

One of the best things about wedding keepsakes is just how varied they are and how personalized you can make them. You spent countless hours making your wedding style feel like your own, so match that vibe with an equally cool keepsake box or trinket.

This guide answers every question you have about making a wedding box. We break down what a wedding keepsake box is and what to put inside. When the time comes to open up your wedding time capsule on a special anniversary, you'll be so glad you made it. (Trust us!)

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In this story: What Is a Wedding Keepsake Box? | Wedding Keepsake Ideas | When to Open

What Is a Wedding Keepsake Box?

Also called a marriage box, a wedding box, or a wedding time capsule box, this crafty project is exactly what it sounds like: a wedding box for keepsakes from your nuptials. Although it's not necessary to have one, making a wedding chest is a special way to relive memories from your big day. What you put inside your wedding box and when you open it is completely up to you. Some couples open their marriage box on their first wedding anniversary, while others might open it sooner (or later, if they can withstand the excitement). Think of this keepsake as your wedding in a box. Inside, it can hold memorabilia and anything related to your big day—but more on that below.

Wedding Keepsake Ideas

Ready to have the coolest keepsake box ever? Here are our favorite trinkets and keepsake ideas for weddings to use to build out the perfect memorabilia box. And don't forget to work the costs for these items into your wedding budget so you can cherish the memories. (Pro Tip: Some of these great keepsakes can even be added to your wedding registry via The Knot Registry Store.)

Hand-Cut Vinyl With Guests' Well-Wishes

Photo: After the Tone

Audio guest books are on the rise, but did you know that you're not limited to receiving the messages as a digital audio file? After the Tone gives vinyl-loving newlyweds the option to have their loved ones' thoughts made into hand-cut records for a nostalgic feel. Bonus: Use our exclusive code KNOT15 for 15% off.

Vintage Phone With Guests' Kind Messages

Photo: Fetefone

While most audio guest book companies only allow you to rent their phones, FeteFone has an option where you can purchase the phone to keep as a keepsake. As the company explains, "The Brittany doesn't just serve as an event highlight—she becomes a treasured keepsake that you can own and reuse forever. Display her with pride in your home, and whenever you're feeling nostalgic, lift the receiver and listen to those heartfelt messages."

Deluxe Keepsake Box With Drawers

Photo: Savor

Why just use a box for keepsakes when you can create your own wedding library? This personalized fabric-covered two-volume set of vertical files was made with organized newlyweds in mind. It comes with fabric bags, acid-free drawers and all sorts of nooks and crannies to keep treasured items cataloged and safe.

Framed Art of Pressed Wedding Bouquet

Photo: Pressed Floral

A unique option to save your wedding bouquet? Press 'em into wall art. Instead of forgetting about your bouquet as soon as the flowers wilt, preserve them as dried, pressed art.

Custom Mezuzah With Glass From Cup-Smashing Ceremony

Photo: Crafts and clay play

For Jewish couples who partake in the breaking the glass wedding tradition, this is a fun way to commemorate that unity ceremony. You can have the pieces of broken glass made into a mezuzah to adorn the entrance to your household in keeping with Jewish tradition.

Ceramic Wedding Gown Sculpture

Photo: Stone Wear Ceramics

While your wedding dress may get preserved and packaged away in a box, these sculptures let you keep the memory on display. Artist Erika Hitchcock spends over 50 hours perfecting each mini gown replica that you can display on your mantel.

Personalized Wedding Venue Portrait

Photo: Letterfest

You spent countless hours selecting a dream wedding venue and then even more celebrating at your chosen spot. Don't let those memories fade—this company creates personalized artwork of wedding venues that you can display at home.

Pressed Wedding Flower Resin Coaster

Photo: Element Preservation

If you like the idea of having your bouquet pressed and preserved, but want something more functional than wall art, this is the option for you. This company will turn your flowers into resin coasters to adorn your newlywed home.

DIY Wedding Bouquet Embroidery Kit

Photo: And Other Adventures

Have a knack for crafts? Recreate your own bouquet with a custom embroidery kit. While it's best to leave the actual bouquet to the professionals, a DIY embroidery kit is a fun activity you can partake in if you find yourself missing the joy of wedding planning.

Wedding Vow Art With Laser-Cut Details

Photo: Hereafter

Transform your promises into commemorative decor. There are a lot of options when it comes to wedding vow art, but I'm especially partial to these trendy laser-cut idea.

Wedding Night Sky Star Map

Photo: Mapiful

Do you feel as though your love was written in the stars? With these maps you're able to get a look at what was on display in the sky on the night of your wedding.

The Knot Shop Personalized Wooden Keepsake Gift Box

Photo: The Knot Shop

This smooth engraved box is a simple and beautiful way to store special memories and even makes a clever fifth wedding anniversary gift. (That's the wood one!) Choose from eight styles of inscription for the top and then fill it with photos and other small tokens.

Artifact Uprising Brass & Wood Display Box

Photo: Artifact Uprising

With so many pictures of your big day, it can be hard to select just a handful to display. And while a photo album is a must have, you might go months without paging through it. This clever display box solves both problems with a two-slotted system. Store your favorite images as well as any other flat wedding mementos. Swap out which one takes center stage in the glass-plated shadow box whenever the fancy strikes. Choose from three sizes (up to 5x7 inches) and store up to 50 photos at a time. P.S. Did you know that many other Artifact Uprising products are available on The Knot Registry Store and can easily be added to your wedding wish list?

The Most Special Day Personalized Floral Wedding Card Box

Photo: The Most Special Day

Keep all of the wedding cards you receive along with a few other trinkets from your special day in this rustic floral wedding card box. It comes in a white or brown finish and includes the option to add your date and last name. For further customizations, you can also message the seller after purchase.

Event Cards Design Wedding Card Box With Lock

Photo: Event Cards Design

Safely and beautifully collect cards and well wishes at the wedding reception in an intricately carved white wooden slotted card box. This Etsy bestseller comes in three sizes and can have names added in gold or silver, with a decorative lock that will match. Choose the larger size to later fit your wedding stationery suite, wedding photos, garter, bowtie and more.

memino Large Personalized Memory Box in Navy

Photo: meminio

This heirloom-quality personalized leather suitcase with shiny brass latches is another unique way to collect cards at the wedding and preserve precious memories after the fact. Customize the luggage tag with up to 15 characters of embossed gold and visit the seller's shop to see all of the available leather colors—we like the navy as a "something blue" from the big day.

When Should You Open Your Wedding Keepsake Box?

The beauty of making a keepsake or marriage box is that you decide when to open it. An obvious date to open your wedding time capsule box is your first wedding anniversary. After all, what better way is there to celebrate one year of wedded bliss than to relive your favorite memories? If you'd rather build up the excitement for longer, you can wait to open your wedding box on another milestone, like your second, fifth or tenth anniversary.

Another option is to save your wedding time capsule box for a challenging season of life. Marriage is inevitably filled with highs and lows for you and your spouse to navigate together. While no one wants to think about hard times ahead, they are somewhat inevitable. Perhaps you want to save your marriage box for a particularly tough moment. That way, even when things are hard, you can revisit one of the happiest days of your life. Looking back on your wedding memories—and perhaps re-reading your vows—can be a meaningful way to weather storms together and strengthen your bond in the process.

Additional reporting by Sarah Hanlon and Dana Holmes.