A wedding day gift for your bride or groom: the story of how you got here

Give it on the wedding morning

Trading a gift or a letter before the ceremony is a tradition worth keeping. It fills one of the few quiet stretches of the day, and a book suits it: it can be read alone in a few minutes, and it says what you may not get to say once the music starts.

• Send it by messenger. Ask the best man, the maid of honor or a parent to deliver it while you are both getting ready.
• Let it go first. If you are doing a first look, let the book arrive before you do.
• Keep the photographer close. Ask them to be in the room when the last page turns.

For your bride, from the groom

Jewelry is the classic wedding gift for a bride from her groom, and there is nothing wrong with a necklace. But on this particular morning, a gift with words in it can say more. A book of your story reads like a long love letter with pictures, from the day you met to the small reasons you will be waiting at the end of the aisle.

Write it the way you would tell it to her. If she teases you for forgetting things, prove her wrong: the café, what she ordered, the song on the drive home. Of all the unique gifts for your wife on your wedding day, this is the one built from your own memories. For more, see our love book for her.

For your groom, from the bride

The usual wedding day gift for the groom from the bride is something to wear, like a watch or cufflinks. As a wedding gift for your husband, a book works differently. It is something to read in the half hour when he is dressed, ready and pacing, and it tells the story of the two of you from your side, including the parts he never knew you noticed.

The cast can include pets, so if the dog is carrying the rings down the aisle, the dog belongs in the book. Pick Sweet or Romantic for a groom who cries at weddings, or Funny for one who needs a laugh before facing the guests. Our love book for him has more ideas.

What goes in it

A wedding day book is one of our love story books, told with the wedding in view. The story prompt asks: “How did you meet? Tell us about your first date, favorite memories, and the little things you love.” Three questions fill in the rest:

• The first hello: Where were you? What did you notice?
• Three moments worth keeping: Dates, ordinary Sundays, adventures, or turning points.
• Only the two of you: Nicknames, inside jokes, places, songs, or pets.

With 15 illustrated story spreads, the arc almost writes itself: the first hello, the moments that made it serious, the proposal and the night before the wedding. (Not engaged yet? A proposal book saves the question for the final story spread.)

The last question, “How should it end?”, holds the words for the last story page, up to 120 characters. Its suggested line is “I would choose you all over again.” On a wedding morning, “See you at the end of the aisle.” works too. And when year one comes around, there is also a book for your first anniversary.

Order well before the wedding

Wedding dates don’t move, so start early. Allow up to 5 business days for the first proof. A printed book typically needs about 3 weeks overall; busy periods, delayed approval, and shipping can add time. Contact us before ordering for a firm event deadline; a wedding is about as firm as deadlines get.

You can add the wedding date as the occasion date on the order form. Your occasion date is a request, not a guaranteed delivery date. Ship it to yourself (Ship to: Me) so it is in your hands before the day and can travel to the wedding with the rings. See our order and delivery details.