Is there a lost loved one you'd like to honor on your wedding day? From subtle details to showy signs, we've gathered 3 classy ways to choose from.

Sometimes, the ones we love most can’t always be with us to celebrate all of life’s milestones, unfortunately.

However, there are many thoughtful and touching ways you can honor these special loved ones on your wedding day. Having a conversation with the engaged couple from the very beginning is essential as every couple and their families will have different opinions on this sensitive matter. Comfort levels will vary in how your families will wish to remember and honor lost loved ones on your wedding day.

In this blog post, we offer three special ways to honor lost loved ones on your big wedding day that are sure to meet the expectations of even the most sensitive family members.

1. Wear Their Memory On Your Wedding Day

Wearing a lost loved one’s memory is a subtle yet very personal way to honor them on your wedding day. You could add their favorite flower to your bouquet or wear a locket with their photo in it as a way to hold them close on your big day. Treat this as your ‘something old’ accessory to honor the classic ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue’ wedding day tradition.

Another great way to remember and honor your lost loved one is to sew a small photo of them into your dress or tie. This acts as a gentle reminder of their memory and allows you to keep them near you during your event. Your photographer can capture this subtle detail and give you tips to help it shine in your photographs.

If you want a more outward display of their memory, have their initials or name embroidered on your veil or tie. If a name doesn’t suit you, you could choose a sentimental word or phrase instead.

You can also turn a family heirloom into a legacy jewelry piece to honor your loved one’s memory. Most jewelers can carefully handle and reset precious gemstones from vintage jewelry into another jewelry setting of your choice. When creating a legacy piece of jewelry, ensure your jeweler has enough time to incorporate your loved one’s gemstones before your big day.

2. Make Their Presence Known

If your loved one has passed away recently, it can be hard to acknowledge their memory during the wedding. Adding a photo display or memory table is a great way to honor late family members without having to verbally acknowledge your loss. You can also reserve an extra seat for your loved one by placing their photo on a special chair during your wedding.

Are you very detail-oriented? There are plenty of intimate ways to weave your loved one’s presence into your big day. For example, add one of their favorite games when choosing icebreaker reception games for your guests. Time to hit the dance floor? Add one of their favorite songs to the rotation for the night. Be sure to let your DJ know ahead of time so they can get the right version of the song and practice any cues.

You can light a candle or have a brief moment of silence during your ceremony to honor lost loved ones. When it comes time for wedding day speeches, use their favorite wine or champagne to make your toast. As always, let your wedding photographer know ahead of time so they can capture these special moments.

If you’re planning in advance, add a specific food item or dessert to the menu to honor your lost loved one—something they would have enjoyed if they could be there with you.

You could also add a small sign next to the food to let guests know it was their favorite. If you want a lighthearted option, the sign can say something like,

• “We know these aren’t as good as yours but they remind us of you.”
• Or “We present these in memory of [your loved one’s name]” if you want a more serious option.

Afarose Insider Tip: Should couples decide to save a seat at the ceremony, their chairs can be marked with their photo, a name card, or even an old coat, hat, or an article of clothing of theirs.

3. Signs & Readings

Putting up signs with quotations/readings that allude to late loved ones is another subtle way to honor them without too much risk of triggering too many sad emotions during the ceremony. It's a way to acknowledge them without giving out too many details— especially if it's a pretty big ceremony with a large number of guests who are not even particularly close to the family of the late loved one.

Signs don’t have to be large and showy. You can include a small table card in your centerpiece that has a short quote or phrase.

If a formal reading brings up too many emotions, consider adding a small touch to your programs. This can be in the design itself or include a sentimental quote from your late loved one, or a quote that inspired them. If your program has space or if you’re feeling particularly creative, create an original poem or include one that you think pays tribute to them well.

A creative sign of your loved one can include flowers in the floral arrangements at the tables or near the ceremony area on your wedding day. This is a good option if you prefer to keep your boutonnieres and bouquets aligned with your own style.

Signs don’t even have to be on your wedding day explicitly if you’re not comfortable with it. Consider a sign of your own, for you and your partner to appreciate as part of the special day, before, or after depending on your emotional capacity. A memorial garden or adding plants to your space that your loved one would have appreciated is a nice touch that can be for a moment or last much longer into the year. Before you walk down the aisle, take a walk down memory lane of your loved one’s impact on your life. Enjoy a post-wedding nostalgic moment with a scrapbook of photos that capture the essence of your loved one and the good times you shared.

Dress Up With Afarose

While brides are free to choose whatever design for their gowns and their bridesmaid's dresses, they can still honor lost loved ones by incorporating certain elements the late loved one would have loved like a favorite color, fabric, a certain type of design, etc.

Try on different dresses from the comfort of your own home with Afarose’s Try-at-Home service to honor your lost loved one as well.  There are a variety of cuts, shapes, and styles to suit your preference while including your late loved one’s memory in the details of your wedding day.

Follow Afarose on Pinterest to discover more memorial decorations and inspiration.