Remembering Loved One's at Your Wedding

There’s never a good time to lose a loved one. This is especially true around the holidays or other milestones in life. If death occurs before a wedding, it can be difficult to say the least. A wedding is a major event in your life as well as the lives of your family members and friends. When a family member passes away and cannot be part of the day, it’s natural to want to include them in some way. 
 
Something a lot couples in this situation face is how do you go about remembering loved ones at your wedding? 
 
This can be a challenging situation to face. The key to honoring a loved one at a wedding is finding the balance between acknowledging the deceased while still maintaining a joyous atmosphere. 
 
Before you start to think about ways to remember your loved one at the wedding, consider these three important points. 
honoring deceased at wedding

How recent was their passing? 

It’s very important to consider how recently your loved one passed away. This is important as it affects how you should handle the tribute to them. For instance, if the death occurred only a few months before the wedding, a moment of silence or a prayer could leave people in tears during the ceremony – and not for the joyous reason of the day. If some time has passed and your family has had time to properly grieve, it might be appropriate to do something that honors them. 

How should you honor them? 

Death and grief is very personal. Everyone copes in their own ways. If you want to honor the deceased at your wedding, consider how much attention you want to draw to the tribute. Do you want to announce a moment of silence or prayer before? Or is something more subtle like including photos on a seat reserved for them enough? If you plan to have a more public tribute, make sure to let those that were close with the deceased know beforehand so they aren’t caught off guard. 

What would your loved one want? 

Was your loved one someone who always wanted to be the center of attention? Or were they more laid back and private. Before planning a tribute to them, take some time to consider what they would want you to do. 

7 Ways to Honor a Deceased Loved One at A Wedding 

Now that you’ve taken some time to think about how to remember a loved one at your wedding, take some time to browse through different ways to do so. Whatever you choose to do, remember that your wedding is about celebrating the love between two people. It’s a very nice gesture to honor a loved one but try to make sure it doesn’t turn the day into a memorial service. 
ways to honor deceased at wedding
remembering loved ones at wedding

Have A Special Flower in The Bouquet 

If you wish to plan a more private tribute, consider picking a special flower such as your loved one’s favorite to include in the bouquet as you walk down the aisle. 

Reserve A Seat 

During the ceremony, reserve a seat for where your loved one would have sat. You can place a photo or flower from your bouquet on the chair.  

Have a Moment of Silence 

After the bride has walked down the aisle, hold a moment of silence to pay respects before the ceremony begins. 

Give A Toast

During the reception, make a toast for all those who couldn’t be there for the special day. 

Ask for Donations Instead of Gifts 

If there was a certain cause or organization your loved one believed in, you can consider asking for donations to be made in their honor in lieu of guests. Another option is to include a donation jar at the bar. Just make sure that you leave a nice tip for bartenders and staff at the end of the night. 

Light A Candle 

During either the ceremony or reception, light a candle to honor your loved one. 

Set Up A Memory Table

Find a place at the reception to include a memory table filled with photos of family and friends who have passed away and not able to attend. 
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