How To Honor Deceased Loved Ones at Your Wedding
While a wedding day is a very happy occasion, the sad reality is that people pass away before the big day arrives. Some couples choose to honor their passed loved ones at the wedding and there are many different ways to do so. Heres a little list of some of our favorite ways that our couples have included deceased loves ones at their wedding.
Their photo in a locket
A nice to way to carry people with you all day is via a locket. Its small and very portable. You can tie the locket on the bouquet, or pinned by your heart under your dress, or as a necklace, and we’ve had several grooms honor a deceased parent by pinning a locket with their boutonniere or under the jacket.
Include something sentimental
We’ve seen this many ways. One bride had a piece of her grandfathers favorite blue shirt sewn inside her dress in the shape of a heart. A family friend of a groom surprised him and all his siblings with bears made out of their fathers clothes. Karmen, who is a professional photographer, brought along her grandfathers vintage Vivitar film camera, the one he gave her many years ago that sparked her photography passion.
A Photo Table
A table filled with photo frames is possibly the most popular way to honor loved ones. I really love this display because its also a powerful reminder why photographs are so important. Once your loved ones have passed on, photographs are what keep them alive. Before the ceremony began, as I was walking out of the house, I caught the brides dad in a moment of contemplation looking at all of the loved ones who couldnt make it to the wedding – he ended up buying a print of this!
Wearing a piece of their jewelry
Wearing or framing jewelry from a loved one is so sweet. Usually a bride wears earrings or bracelets that belonged to a grandmother or mother, but thats common so lets discuss other options! Sohayla surprised her groom with his fathers Citadel ring framed in a box. You can see in Andrews expression how much this small gesture meant to him as it really made him feel like his father was with him. We’ve had a bride take her grandmothers Marine Corp cameo and tied it to her bouquet. Family wedding rings have been melted down to make a matching set for the new couple so they each got to carry that person with them. Diamonds have been reused either for the engagement ring or as a pair of earrings to wear the day of.
Save a seat with a framed photo of them or a rose
A lot of couples end up placing a framed photo or rose on an empty chair in the front row for their parent or grandparent. Allie’s mother passed away when she was very young and her aunt raised her, but she honored her mother in several ways the day of the wedding, including this way.
Show off your memorial tattoo
Taylor’s tattoo is by far my most favorite way that someone has honored a love one on their wedding day. She’d had the tattoo for a while but she made a special photo request that a photo be taken of the tattoo while someone was buttoning the sleeve of her wedding dress – which was her mothers! The tattoo though is for her father who passed away a few years ago. They are both Gemini’s which is why she has the Gemini symbol and the white ink of the rose as a little bit of her fathers ashes mixed in.
Showcase a favorite hobby, treat or dedicate a song in their memory
I’ve seen couples honor loved ones by displaying their favorite treat (for instance, my grandfather loved York Peppermint Patties so at my sisters baby shower, we had them all over the tables), having a favorite game for guests to play, and dedicating songs like Cris and Lina did. Cris’ sister passed away so his dance with his mother was dedicated in her honor. He wore the sunglasses because he knew he was going to get emotional, and if you look closely, you can see a little wet spot on his cheek in the photo.
Katie + Jay of Catherine Ann Photography are Charleston SC Based Wedding & Elopement Photographers specializing in candid & fun wedding photos that feel like you!
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