Your wedding is a special day, but if a loved one has passed, it can feel like something is missing. We asked local brides how to honor lost loved ones at a wedding, and they came up with seven fabulous ideas!
Wondering how to honor lost loved ones at a wedding?
Your wedding is a joyous occasion! It’s a time to be surrounded by family and friends and celebrate your love and union. Of course, at times, thoughts turn to those who have passed and can’t be there with you.
There are several ways you can remember lost loved ones at your wedding, and here are some of our favorites from local brides.
7 Ways to Remember Lost Loved Ones at Your Wedding
1. Add a memento to your bridal bouquet.
Subtly incorporating a memento into a wedding bouquet is a sweet way to honor a deceased family member. This bride incorporated one of her father’s ties into her bouquet.
You could also include a bit of a shirt or a hankie if you’d like to include a different fabric.
2. Carry a small bit of their ashes in memory.
Holding a literal piece of them is definitely meaningful and touching. After her father passed, this bride carried a heart filled with his ashes along with her bouquet.
Some jewelers also make accessories using ashes. Therefore, you could wear a ring or necklace holding a bit of their ashes. Remembering loved ones at a wedding is important, but it doesn’t have to be a public announcement.
3. Hold or wear their wedding band.
The couple incorporated the groom’s mother’s wedding band into the bride’s bouquet. You could also simply hold the ring, sew into into a jacket pocket, or wear it.
If you don’t have their wedding band, you could also do this with another piece of jewelry. Wear your grandmother’s earrings or your father’s cufflinks.
4. Tote along a badge of honor.
Carrying the dog tag of a deceased loved one honors their memory and service. Another idea on how to honor lost loved ones is to pin an honorary pin to the wedding bouquet.
Whether they were in the military or part of a local club, add something they received in honor to your bouquet or blazer.
5. Hold a seat in their memory.
Saving a seat to memorialize the deceased loved one is also touching. The family saved a seat for the groom’s mother during the ceremony below.
You could add a photo or lay a bouquet on the seat to reserve it. Plus, there’s no need to draw extra attention if you want to keep the reserved seat private.
6. Add a photo to something you’ll wear or carry.
Photos of a loved one who has passed can serve as a subtle reminder. Adding one to your bouquet is both lovely and meaningful.
A groom can also pin a photo to their lapel or to the inside of their jacket. Another option is to carry a physical photo in a pocket. Again, this is a private way to honor memory if you don’t want to draw attention.
7. Make a photo collage of lost loved ones.
A simple photo collage honors those who have passed away. Buy a collage frame (thrift stores are full of them!) and print photos to display together.
It’s best to keep them all in color or black and white so they are cohesive. People can walk up and pay their respects or simply acknowledge their passing.
Save our ideas on how to honor lost loved ones at a wedding!
No matter how you choose to remember loved ones at your wedding, doing so is a sweet way to cherish their memory and make them a part of your day.
photos: Ashley Lester Photography, Megan Garrison Photography, C Howell Photography, Kidd Photography, and Visions by Heather Photography
