Top 5 Ways to Honor A Lost Loved One at Your Wedding

Having all your favorite people in one room at a time is one of the best parts of having a wedding.

For some couples, their loved ones have unfortunately passed away and cannot attend. It can be hard to think about the big day without that special person present. Thankfully, there are a few ways you can still involve them and have their memory present at your wedding.

Special Seat At Your Ceremony

Having a reserved seat at the ceremony is a great way to publicly show that you remember a family member who has passed on. Whether it's with a simple "reserved" sign, or maybe a photo of the person on the chair, the dedicated empty seat is a visual representation of that person's presence in your life. 

Special Accessories

There's something unique about having something that belonged to your loved one near you on your wedding day. Whether it's a necklace, cuff links, earrings, or a watch, having it by your side will help keep them close to your heart. If your loved ones' accessories don't match your style, consider a small photo of them on a locket, a tie pin, or even just slipping a photo into your jacket. It doesn't have to be elaborate to be meaningful. 

Customize Your Outfit

There are so many ways to customize an outfit to pay respect to a family member! Not everyone wants to wear their mother's gown with big puff sleeves, but maybe you can take a piece of the gown and sew it into the lining of your gown, or use a piece of the lace in your veil. Maybe you want to cut a small heart out of your dad's tie or favorite shirt and sew it inside your dress. There are so many ways you can take a physical item and incorporate it into your wedding garb. If you need some inspiration, ask a seamstress. They work with fabric every day and are about to have ideas based on your specific outfit. 

Dedicate a Dance

Dedicating a special dance to a loved one is a great way to engage your guests in actively remembering someone special to you. You could do a doubles dance where for example you and your mom dance together to a song dedicated to your dad, or a group dance where the DJ announces that The Way You Look Tonight will be played in memory of your grandfather and invites guests to meet on the dance floor to celebrate his life. 

Family Photos

Have more than one special person to honor? Set up a family photo table at your cocktail hour or reception so guests can see all the special people in your life. Consider adding tags to help guests understand who the photos are of and their relationship to you and your spouse.