15 Thoughtful Ways to Honour Loved Ones at Your Wedding

Your wedding day is one of the most special days of your life, when you want everyone important to you to be there with you. Unfortunately this isn’t always the case, and some of our most beloved family members have passed.

I’ve come across some sweet sentiments and thoughtful ways to honour loved ones at weddings over the years; heartfelt tributes to keep those they love close to their heart on a day that means the most to them.

If you’re having a destination wedding, there’s an added challenge of travelling with these memorial pieces. These travel-friendly ideas are the perfect addition to your day and will allow you to keep your loved ones by your side, even if only in spirit.

ways to honor loved ones wedding

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1. Include your Loved One’s Favourite Flowers

If it’s possible, include one of their favourite flowers in your bouquet or boutonniere. You may want to include a solitary white flower in remembrance. 

2. Bouquet Charms and Photo Lockets

These little photo mementos are a sweet and discreet way to remember those you love. You can do this by adding a photo locket, a piece of jewellery, or a piece of fabric to your bouquet. Photo lockets can also be pinned on the inside of a suit jacket or under a boutonniere (like in this example) so they can remain close to the heart. 

I fell in love with the idea of bouquet charms that are attached to your bridal bouquet. This way you can carry those you love with you down the aisle.

Shops on Etsy like MagnoliaTreeandCo has tons of beautiful ideas dedicated to keepsake mementos.

Vendor: SvenStudios

3. Incorporate Fabric

Use a piece of fabric from your loved one’s clothing in the shape of a heart and sew it inside your dress or jacket.

Many brides also use this as their something old and something blue, if you’re into wedding traditions!

4. Use their Handwriting

One of the ideas I love the most is incorporating a keepsake piece of their handwriting.

There are lots of different ways to do this, like embroidering a piece of their handwriting into a handkerchief, pocket square, or piece of fabric to sew on the inside of a suit jacket or wedding dress.

Wearing a piece of jewelry made with their handwriting is a beautiful sentiment – one that brings me to tears. It’s incredible how we can use our loved ones’ writing and engrave it into mementos like bracelets or necklace charms.

5. Wear Memorial Cufflinks

Memorial cufflinks are a discreet way to remember those on your wedding day – and make a great gift for the groom.

Vendor: TreeTownPaper

6. Reserve a Seat in their Honour

Many couples opt to leave a seat in memory of a loved one, or loved ones. You can personalize it with a sign dedicated to a specific person, or a have a sign in remembrance of those who are no longer with you. You can also leave a flower on each chair.

Just a word of caution if your wedding is on the beach – it can be windy! Make sure you have the sign anchored down.

7. Walk Down the Aisle to a Favourite Song

If you are looking for ways to honour your father or another important person who has passed away, walk down the aisle to one of their favourite songs.

8. Light a (Flameless) Candle

Since most resorts don’t allow candles with real flames, opt for a flameless candle that’s guaranteed to stay alight.

You can leave these memorial candles whenever you’d like; many brides opt to have them at their signing table or memorial table, and include photos, too.

9. Mention Them in your Vows

Mentioning your loved ones in your vows is such a heartfelt way to include them in your ceremony.

Mentioning what you loved about them, and what they thought about your husband or wife – if they met them – is a way for you and your guests to remember them.

10. Repurpose an Old Shirt

You would have to find someone local to do this for you, but I love the idea of using an old shirt and having it made into a ring bearer pillow.

One example that sticks with me is seeing a ring bearer pillow made from a bride’s father’s shirt with “I loved her first” embroidered on it.

11. Have a Memorial Table

Memorial tables are one of the easiest ways to remember loved ones at your wedding. Set up a small table with photos, candles, and mementos.

Many brides opt to create a memorial table, filled with special photos to celebrate those who have passed.

You can also include a special memory box, where guests can share some of their favourite memories of your departed loved ones.

12. Dedicate a Special Moment

Consider dedicating a special moment during the ceremony or reception with a moment of silence to honour absent friends and family members.

13. Make a Toast to Them

Dedicate a special moment by make a toast to your loved ones with one of their favourite drinks – or even incorporate it into your wedding’s signature drink, if you’re having one.

14. Save them a Seat at your Head Table

I love this idea and we bring our chairs out during family holidays. Saving a seat at your head table for those you’ve lost is a subtle way to remember family members and friends who couldn’t be with you.

Vendor: iengrave4You
Vendor: iengrave4You

15. Dance to one of Their Favourite Songs

Of course, a simple but impactful and heartfelt way to remember those who are no longer with you is to dance to a favourite song of theirs.

Remembering your Loved Ones at your Wedding

It can be difficult to find joy in a day when some of your favourite people aren’t there, and I understand the pain.

It’s still possible to remember and honour your loved ones with a joyful heart during such an uplifting day. They would’ve wanted you to! ❤️

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how to honor loved ones at wedding
ways to honour loved ones wedding

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