TIMELESS TREASURES: CRAFTING A PARTY TIME CAPSULE TO CHERISH FOREVER!

Written By: Bec  |  Last Updated: 21.11.2023

​Help your best friend and her husband celebrate big milestones in marriage (first anniversary, five year anniversary, ten years – it’s your choice!) with a sweet box of goodies prepared by family and friends. It will be a truly unique game for her hen party/bridal shower, and a wonderful surprise in years to come. See below to learn how to organise a 'party time capsule'.

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Related: How to Personalise Your Bestie's Hen Party
Related: Creative Photo Display Ideas

Party Time Capsule Ideas (Quick Overview)

A sweet box of memories made by your favourite people! Starting with a container of choice (kraft card box, large jar, personalised box), slowly create your time capsule with beautiful mementos, photos, recipes, newspaper clippings, important pieces of information, handwritten notes and more. At the end of the celebration, seal the box; only opening it again on a designated date (e.g. first wedding anniversary). Want to mix things up a little? You might like to create a video time capsule instead, add some cheeky bits & pieces (18+ games, love coupons, cheeky date ideas) or even turn it into a book (by sticking mementos into a scrapbook!).

​How to Organise Your Party Time Capsule

YOU WILL NEED:
A box - this could be a kraft card box, colored card box, large jar, or even a personalised box.

You will also need bits and pieces to fill the box (find out more below). These can be brought to the party by guests or created at the celebration.

PREPARATION:
Before the big day, put the call-out to party goers asking them to bring along a little something for your hen’s time capsule container.

Explain that this special keepsake will be sealed after the party and gifted to the bride-to-be – ready to be opened on a designated date (the couple’s first wedding anniversary, for example).

Guests may choose to wrap their gift if they want to keep it a surprise from everyone (including the host!).

Alongside these goodies, you may also like to organise a few written activities (that can be completed at the celebration and popped in the box). Date Ideas and Favourite Memories are just two of many options that are perfect for this. For more choices, you can view our list of hen party games by clicking here.

And finally, a polaroid camera is a wonderful way to add special moments from the actual celebration. Happy snaps can be taken throughout the event, and placed straight into the time capsule. Take a few sneaky snaps that your bride-to-be doesn’t get to see – they will make for a beautiful surprise when she opens the box down the track. 
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TIME CAPSULE ITEMS GUESTS MAY CHOOSE TO BRING:

• Photos: formal and candid shots from the bachelorette, bridal shower or wedding. Childhood photos, teen snaps, and any other photographs from years gone by that feature the bride, the groom, or both! For extra sentimental value, a little message can be written on the back of these images (explaining the story behind them).
• Heartfelt letters: express your feelings, hopes and dreams for the happy couple. These letters could come from parents, grandparents, siblings, extended family members and/or friends.
• Recipes: write down your favourite recipe (for the couple to cook together)
• Information: important pieces of information such as the Bachelorette or bridal shower invite, wedding invitation or even the wedding program.
  
• Favorite things: include items that you know the couple loves as this point in time. For example, something to do with their favourite movie, food, restaurant or even picnic spot
• Small mementos: any items from the day that may spark happy memories are a great inclusion! This could be a piece of confetti, a ticket stub, a wine cork from the toast, or even a dried flower from the floral displays or bouquets
  
• Newspaper clippings: what interesting or funny things were also happening in the world on their special day? Collect clippings from newspapers on the day of the Bachelorette, bucks party and wedding. 
  
• Current trends: similar to news headlines, what's currently trending in the world? Make a list of the most popular trends, references and even songs that can be looked back on for years to come.
• Playlist: include a list of tracks played at your celebration for sentimental purposes (you never know when the happy couple might want to bust it out again!)
  

ITEMS YOU CAN ADD ON THE DAY OF THE PARTY:

• Photos: add photos from the acutal event
• Videos: from the day (on a USB – added after the event). A video of the setup, funny messages from guests, dancing, etc.
• Games: written games played on the day (e.g. date night ideas, favourite memories, He Said She Said cards/videos, etc.)

Making the Time Capsule Happen!
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• Step 1: collect gifts, notes and goodies brought to the celebration by guests and place them aside
  
• Step 2: collect written game cards, photographs, etc. at the celebration and place them aside
• Step 3: after the event, put any additional videos/photos from the bridal shower/hen do onto a USB​
  
• ​Step 4: add contents to a special box (or boxes, depending on how many items you have) and wrap it up/seal it. You can either gift this to your best friend straight away (with strict instructions that it’s not to be opened until the specified date!), or hold onto it.

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Handy Tip:
If you’re happy to wait a little longer before sealing up the box, include bits and pieces from their wedding day as well.

HAND IT OVER​
When their first wedding anniversary rolls around, deliver a bottle of wine and some gourmet nibbles to the happy couple, along with their time capsule. The bride and groom can then enjoy a special date night where they look back on incredible memories from days gone by!

Alternative Ways to Create Your Time Capsule

DIGITAL TIME CAPSULE
Set up a document or platform where guests' can post photos, video messages, written messages and more. This can be added to in real-time and in the year following the wedding.

On the couple's first anniversary, provide them with the link (and password) to access their digital time capsule. Here they will be welcomed with ALL the fun, laughter and support of their nearest and dearest; a BEAUTIFUL celebration of their love in one space!
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ADD SOME CHEEK
For those who want to get a bit cheeky with the capsule, here are some alternative gift options:

• Cheeky predictions (‘the happy couple will have consummated their marriage at least two times on their wedding night’, for example)​
• Naughty date ideas (to keep the flame burning in their second year of marriage).
• 18+ games
• Love coupons

GET THE GROOM INVOLVED
Let your hen’s other half in on the plan, and ask him to put together a few extra goodies for the time capsule. This could be a letter to his bride-to-be, a bit about their relationship at this point in time, what they want to do in their future, bucket list items, etc.

Not only will these little bits and pieces be an extra special surprise for your hen, but also for the groom. Reading back notes from one of the most magical times in their relationship is sure to bring a tear to their eyes, and remind them of the love they share.



MAKE A TIME CAPSULE PHOTO BOOK
Rather than putting bits and pieces into a keepsake box, scan each item and create a special photo book. There are so many online platforms who make this process easy - simply upload images, create fun layouts, add text (if you wish), and order.

For those with creative souls, you may like to put the items into a scrapbook instead.

Articles Related to these Time Capsule Party Ideas

​THE JAR GAME:

​After a nice party game? Let me introduce you to 'The Jar'. The sweetest game there ever was, this jar will end up holding memories that will last a lifetime! 

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HEN DO BUCKET LIST:

A fun twist on the scavenger hunt game, Hen Party Bucket List will give your bride-to-be the chance to complete a range of things she's ALWAYS wanted to do... but never had the time! 

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Enjoy Making (& Saving) Memories with a Time Capsule!

I hope the time capsule ideas above provided you with all the tools and inspiration to create something fun and memorable at your upcoming event. This is well and truly a gift your hen will never forget.

If you have other fun, unique, sweet or creative items to add to the list (or any other comments), share your thoughts in the comments below or via our socials!

Cheers to an incredibly MEMORABLE celebration ;)

Much love, keep smiling - Bec x
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P.S. These tips can be applied to other celebrations as well. Use them for an 18th birthday party, 1st birthday party, or even a family time capsule!
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​P.S. THE BELOW IMAGE IS PERFECT FOR PINTEREST... GO ON & SHARE THIS AWESOME PARTY TIME CAPSULE IDEA - YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO! :-)