FAQ  /  “Dear Daughter” Books

If you didn’t find what you were looking for in our general FAQ, these answers about our “Dear Daughter, on Your Wedding Day” Books should help. 

Frequently Asked Questions about creating an heirloom book for your engaged daughter:

Your daughter’s life is about to change dramatically. As her parents, you have been there to witness her grow from an itty baby to a beautiful bride! Taking the time—and the love and the care—to remember her, and to CELEBRATE her, is simply a most special—and unexpected—gift. It is a gift guaranteed to make her cry tears of joy on her wedding day... A book she will cherish forever.

As your daughter begins a new chapter of her life, present her with a book that looks back on the milestones of her life, from her baby years to her graduation, from her first words spoken to those you would like to share with her about her future.

We work with you to create an heirloom book that is as stunningly elegant as it is heartfelt, including: family photos; cherished memories; blessings, wisdom, and hope.

Some specific ideas for what to include in your book:

• childhood memories of your daughter (we compose these through interviews with you)

• favorite photographs throughout the years

• pages or mementos from her baby book

• your dreams for her future

• advice from loved ones on having a good marriage and a full life

• your own wedding photographs & memories

• family recipes to cherish

• handwritten letters or journals

• a family tree with a new box for her spouse in the final pages

Our “Dear Daughter, on Your Wedding Day” books start at $1,500. This includes one interview; book editing, design, and production; silk-covered book and presentation box; and digital version of book. Additional interviews (with siblings or wedding party members, for instance) and a professional photo shoot are available as upgrades (fees apply).

Most of our Bride-to-Be books are between 100-150 pages. We prefer to work from the interview and images to determine the size that best suits the material.

Once a book is designed and approved, it will take up to two months for finished books to arrive.

We know what a special—and hectic—time this is in your family’s life! We make it as easy as possible for you to gather your photographs by supplying checklists of suggested pictures as well as ideas for what to include.

Our interview questions are designed to elicit memories of your daughter that would be perfect for the bride-to-be book—and we can complete the interviews in one two-hour session or over two visits, whichever best suits your schedule.

Of all the tasks on your wedding planning to-do list, we can assure you that this will be one of the most joyful! Revisiting the past, going through stashes of old photos, and dreaming of your daughter on her wedding day—that journey is a gift you’ll be thrilled you gave to yourself. And since we handle the heavy lifting, we keep your time commitment to a minimum.

It typically takes about 4 months to complete a “Dear Daughter, on Your Wedding Day” book. After the free initial consultation, the process involves:

• a meeting to go through photos and discuss the shape & style of your book

• two hour-long interviews by our professional personal historian with one or both parents of the bride; timing depends on subject availability and any necessary travel

• book production (writing, editing & design)

• book review (client revision, copyediting, and final proofs)

• book printing (turnaround time is dependent upon the style of book chosen, but is typically 6 to 8 weeks from approved proof)

We are always willing to work with you to try to accelerate a schedule when feasible, but timing is truly specific to each individual book. Please be sure to start the process with enough time to have the book ready to give to your daughter on or before her wedding day!

Absolutely. We include a digital version of the book as part of your “Dear Daughter” package.

Of course! We can have as many copies of your book printed as you would like. While the structure of the book is clearly a gift to your daughter on her wedding day, the memories within are equally meaningful to you as her parents!

We can customize certain pages, or even wait to print your copy until after the wedding, so we may include photographs from her big day (maybe even a shot of her tearing up over your surprise gift!). Ask for an estimate.

Our “Dear Daughter” heirloom book includes a shoot with a professional photographer. This is our favorite approach, as it so beautifully marries your daughter’s past with her future! The resulting photos, carried throughout the book, lend a consistent and upscale visual feel to your pages.

Of course, this book is intended to be a surprise for your daughter—so how do we pull this off? Well, with careful planning and a little well-intentioned trickery! Generally we ask that the parents suggest to their daughter that they would like to gift her with a family photo shoot before she embarks on this next phase of her life—how can she say no to a sentimental request such as that? She may have had an engagement session already, but this shoot is for both the family she grew up with and her soon-to-be-husband.

We’ll work with you to conceptualize and style the shoot, so the photographs will be as worthy of hanging on your walls as including in your daughter’s memory book.

Give us a call or text at 917.922.7415 to discuss your project, or set up a free phone consultation by filling out this quick form. I sincerely look forward to speaking with you!