Find eggs from an ostrich breeder or an egg craft-oriented site. According to Eggsquisit.com, ostrich eggs are generally more durable than chicken eggs, but their quality can vary depending on the bird's diet or how the shells have been transported. The site suggests that some eggs from African ostrich product breeders be excessively thin or contain more cracks than other vendors that specialize in eggs alone.
Clean your egg, which includes scrubbing the surface of any dirt or contamination using an abrasive cleanser and then drying it. If you've bought your egg fresh, meaning with yolk still in it, drill a small hole and remove the yolk, which can be done by using a small sucking bulb.
Study existing designs online for eggs carved or decorated for special occasions such as weddings. Many artists enjoy describing their designs, and some willingly offer suggestions to others. Wedding imagery seen in eggs includes simple outlines of hearts or flowers to more intricate carvings such as the faces of the bride and groom. TheEggShellSculptor's gallery includes samples of designs. Some egg carving sites offer proportional accessories to complement your wedding carving such as a figurines or a cake-shaped base.
Lightly sketch your design on the surface of your egg using a lead pencil. If you're still getting comfortable with the eggs and carving tools, try drawing your images on a separate piece of paper first and then copying it on the egg. Or consider a stencil or a pattern kit. Sites like TheEggShellSculptor offer several patterns and templates with various designs and lines.
Carve your egg. Common strategies include carefully carving along the lines that you've drawn on the egg, carving everything except for your lines to create a reverse look, or completely removing tiny chunks of the shell. EggSquisit says the deeper the carving, the more translucent the egg is, and some decorators enhance the look by putting a light source inside which creates a unique shine through the carved pieces. If you're using a stencil, wrap it around your egg or place it over where you want the particular image to be, and use your carving tool to trace the image and carve into it at the appropriate points.
Wipe off any stray pencil marks, stencil residue or dust. The EggshellSculptor recommends soaking the egg in a bleach solution to sanitize any organic residue still inside and then sealing it with lacquer.