12 Ways to Remember Lost Loved Ones On Your Wedding Day
A wedding is one of the most beautiful days in your life. It is a day full of love, laughter, and anticipating a future with your partner; important decisions were made, people were invited, and memories are in the making. But for many couples, the joy of the day is tinged with sadness; many people want to include someone on their special day who has passed away. In a momentous occasion in one’s life, one truly feels the absence of one’s loved one. Finding a way to share their memory or honor them may help ease the pain and make the day even more special!
This post will help you remember lost loved ones on your wedding day with twelve different ideas that are meaningful. Some of the ideas are subtle, while others are more obvious, allowing each couple to decide what is meaningful to them.
Table of Contents
1. Reserve an Empty Chair
One of the most heartwarming ways to honor a loved one is to reserve an empty seat at the ceremony in their memory. You could place a single flower, a framed photo, or a small personalized note on the chair. This simple gesture is a beautiful way to signify that they are there with you in spirit. This has created a space for you to honor their memory. Our beautiful wedding venue in Suffolk, VA, is happy to help you arrange this special tribute in a place of honor during your ceremony.
2. Carry a Photo Charm or Locket
Keep your loved one close to you throughout the day by incorporating a small photo charm on your bouquet, boutonnière, or jewelry. A locket, created to be worn as either a necklace or a bracelet, is also a beautiful and private memento that you can hold dear to your heart as you walk down the aisle towards your marriage and celebration.
3. Light a Candle to Honor Loved Ones
Create a small memorial table to place a candle that you will light as part of your ceremony or reception. You can display a picture of your loved one alongside a sign (or something similar), that reads, “In loving memory of those who will be in our hearts forever”. This is simply a nice and respectful gesture to invite a moment of contemplative remembrance.
4. Use Their Favorite Flower
Did your loved one have a favorite flower? You could have their favorite flower added to your bouquet, centerpiece, or another floral arrangement. This is a lovely and subtle way to bring your loved one’s memory into the fabric of your day. Each time you see that particular flower, you will remember them and the love they shared with you.
5. Play a Song
Music is a powerful cue. It is a way of evoking emotion and memory. Dedicate a song in the name of your loved one during your ceremony, cocktails, or reception. Choose a song that was their favorite, had meaning, or a piece of music that you remember together, anything that has lyrics or tones that bring forth the emotion you would like to invoke. You could even write a small note in your program to describe the meaning of the song.
6. Raise A Toast in Their Memory
During your reception toasts, take a moment to raise a glass to someone who has passed and couldn’t be there. The best man, maid of honor, a parent, or even you as a couple, can say a few words about the special person you are missing. A few precious memories, and acknowledging why they were important, can be a touching tribute to the person who has passed away, as well as to all those present.
7. Sew a Small Piece of Their Clothing into Your Garment
To pay a deeply personal and private tribute to lost loved ones on the day of your wedding, you may desire to sew a small piece of this loved one’s clothing into your wedding dress or the lining of your suit jacket. It can be as small as a piece of a favorite shirt or tie, or it can be a patch cut from a handkerchief. This “something old”, or “something blue”, will serve as a secret piece of comfort that you carry with you throughout the day.
8. Donate to a Charity in Their Name
Instead of wedding favors, perhaps consider donating to a charity or cause that your loved one would support. At each place setting, you could include a small card that informs your guests of the donation and the person to whom it is in honor of. Not only will this be a personal tribute, but it is also an act of giving that continues their legacy.
9. Feature Their Favorite Dish on Your Menu
Food often connects us to loved ones and memories. If your loved one was known for their baking or had a cherished dessert, why not include that on your menu? You could provide their famous cookies, a special cake, or perhaps a favorite cocktail as a signature drink. It is a simple way to share a slice of your loved one with your guests.
10. A Remember Table
Provide an area with framed photos of loved ones who have passed. It will provide an excellent focus for your guests to pause and remember someone who may hold special significance for them. Our versatile event venue in Suffolk, VA, has many options where this could be prioritized.
11. Include in your Ceremony Program
A simple and written acknowledgment of someone in your ceremony program can hold not only significance for you, but will also continue to allow others to remember your loved one. You could include a small section “In Loving Memory” and list their name or names. Or perhaps have a short poem or written note about how much you wish they were there for your special day.
12. Release Lanterns or Bubbles
A symbolic release can be a beautiful tribute. Depending on your event venue’s policy, you can release lanterns at the end of the night or release bubbles as you leave the ceremony. This act may symbolize sending your love into the heavens and creating a shared moment of collective remembrance.
Find the Right Wedding Venue in Suffolk, VA, for Your Tribute
Your wedding day is a celebration of your individual love story. Honoring those who helped to shape that love story is a beautiful part of it. It doesn’t matter whether you acknowledge it in a quiet, personal little memento or in a more public, overt way. What is most important is that it is authentic to you.
If you are searching for a wedding venue in Suffolk, VA, that understands how important personal touches are, consider the Suffolk Conference Center, where our compassionate staff will help you create a day that is both exhilarating and personally meaningful. We will be happy to work with you to make sure any special tribute plans can be made.
Let’s get started planning your wedding day, which captures every dimension of our story! Contact the Suffolk Conference Center today to learn more about our event venue in Suffolk, VA, and book your special day.