by Ellie Delany

1. Turn your paper goods into permanent keepsakes

Set aside an extra copy of save-the date announcements, wedding invitations, ceremony programs and menus. Get your favorite items pressed with color-coordinated flowers, and then carefully framed, at Philadelphia-based Etsy shop prettypressedpetals. The cost is $110.

2. Preserve your wedding gown

Mail your beloved dress to Brides 2 Be, and they’ll take care of the rest. “The preservation is done completely by hand using safe, environmentally friendly products,” says owner Hope Mitchell. “It’s then wrapped in acid-free archive tissue in an acid-free box and mailed back to the bride.” Prices range between $200 and $500. A lifetime guarantee is included.

19160 Coastal Hwy., Rehoboth Beach, 645-2485, www.brides2bebyhope.com

3. Save your cake topper — and some cake

Couple have traditionally frozen a slice or tier of their wedding cake to share on their first anniversary. But Carla Guzzi of Bing’s Bakery says that these days, many couples are instead choosing to order a fresh cake that mimics their original. This option eliminates the risk of freezer burn. Ask the Newark bakery to recreate a tier of your wedding cake in a six- or eight-inch round. It costs about $30, but varies depending on decorations.

Bing’s Bakery, 253 E. Main St., Newark, 737-5310, www.bingsbakery.com

4. Preserve your flowers

Don’t let your beautiful wedding bouquet wilt! For over 20 years, Jennifer Anne Designs has preserved flowers as well as transformed them into beautiful displays. Couples can choose to have their flowers displayed in a shadow box with special conservation glass, or taken apart and placed gracefully around a photo or invitation. Prices range between $229 and $529.

2315 Paulwynn Road, Wilmington, 475-6424, www.jenniferannedesigns.com