how to incorporate memorial into the wedding day?

I recently came across this idea! Thought it was really sweet

Another one I have seen is where you put their pic in a locket and attach it to your bouquet...

Have you seen how in some weddings, people will have a table with pictures framed of those who got married in their families? Maybe you could do something similar to that. Have a table with framed pictures of those loved ones that have passed away, with a few tea-light candles scattered around. I think that if you are doing a cocktail hour, that would be the perfect place to have the table so that those people are remembered and honored on that day for that hour, and then (although they will continue to be in your thoughts for the rest of the night) at the reception the table will remain in the cocktail hour space.

I am going to have my grandfather's pics on my bouquet and FH is wearing his grandfather's cuff links that are his grandfather's initials which happen to be same as FH's.

I am honoring my father by having his photo on a chair and I will pause to place a flower by in on my way down the isle. We are also adding a small bio in our program.

But I have to watch myself. I then starting thinking I should do something for my grandfather, then my grandma requested something for my uncle, and my FH started thinking about his grandparents. It quickly started looking more like a funeral than a wedding. I scaled it back and now my father is the only direst memorial, but we are going to place the wedding photos of many of our relatives who have passed around the guest book, so it is subtle, but they are there with us.

If your grandparent was very close to you, by all means remember them, but keep in mind your wedding is celebrating your new life and all you are gaining, not all that you have lost.

My FH isn't keen on the idea of having pictures of loved ones that have passed either. I was going to set up a table with a candle and a digital picture frame, but FH said no because he also didn't want anyone to be sad.

I'm still doing the candle, but I am eliminating the pictures. Instead, I'm having pictures of my loved ones that have passed attached to my bouquet. Like this but a little smaller:

@ Melody, I am glad that you reevaluated what was important to you when people attempted to try and make you change your mind by adding more relatives to be represented at the wedding. Good for you for standing up for yourself and keeping in mind what is most important to you and your FH on your wedding day.

I love the locket idea, which will i assume look like kimmis bouquet photo! those are a sweet way for my gma to be near me, but alo not hurt or offend anyone!!

I'm having my dad and brother's picture on my bouquet (the photo charms like mentioned above) and I'm also having my dad's wedding band incorporated into my bouquet. Also doing a dove release after the ceremony in their honour (we also did this at their funeral, so it means a lot to me)

Kimmi J., where do you get those small frames from.

For my dad, we are doing the traditional photo with a candle and a single rose laid out on a table. We aren't sure yet if we are putting it at the ceremony or the reception. We considered doing something like the picture frame or rose on the seat, which really is a beautiful concept, but it seems much more sad to me, and I wasn't sure how my mother would feel about it since she is dating again. Where would I put it anyway, next to my mother and her new boyfriend? It just seemed like the whole situation could get complicated and awkward, so we decided to skip it in favor of something more traditional. I am also going to be wearing a pearl necklace and earring set he had gifted to my mother shortly before his death.

This is what I am putting my programs:

At this joyous time we wish to remember those family and friends who are not able to be here in person with us. And for those loved ones who have gone before, we will hold your memory close in our hearts today and always.

This is all that I am doing for my ceremony and at the reception I will have "Dance with my father" played in memory of the father who raised me. I originally wanted it to be the father daughter dance with my current stedad, but now my birthday father may attending. I don't want any feelings hurt, so I am just going to pic something else to dance with them to.

Mrs R - That was a picture I found on pinterest. Although I know that Michael's, JoAnn's, and all of those other craft stores have locket type charms in the jewelry section.

Http://pinterest.com/pin/249175791853578140/

@Mrs.R - you can order them on Etsy. Also, Things Remembered has them too (and they can be engraved on the back)

Amazon has the frames 3/$5 and they qualify for free super saver shipping! Score! http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Moon-Plated-Dangle-Charms/dp/B001DJAJ7Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1340200927&sr=1-1&keywords=picture+charm

Kimmi J. and Kelly, thanks ladies.

Charms on etsy

www.etsy.com/listing/94594264/oval-wedding-bouquet-charm?utm_source=googleproduct&utm_medium=syndication&utm_campaign=GPS

www.etsy.com/listing/76658788/rectangular-wedding-bouquet-charm?utm_source=googleproduct&utm_medium=syndication&utm_campaign=GPS

www.etsy.com/listing/100305627/1-rhinestone-photo-pendant-charm-perfect?utm_source=googleproduct&utm_medium=syndication&utm_campaign=GPS

Is there Anyone in the family you can talk to about borrowing jewelry from?

Wear something of his/hers. Carry one of their hankies? Wear their watch?

Get photo cufflinks

http://www.amazon.com/Cuff-Daddy-Photo-Cufflinks/dp/B000L4L9XW

Leave a flower on their seat where they would have sat

(ceremony and/or reception)

A special flower in your bouquet to honor them.

A poem in the program.

Although we cannot see you,

We know that you are here.

We feel the warmth of your smile,

And can sense that you are near.

And we want for you to know,

Your love is still our guide,

Memories carried in our hearts,

You are always at our side.

It's so sad you will not be here,

On the day we say "I do",

And so we say our vows today,

In loving memory of you.

At the beginning of our ceremony, when the parents are escorted down the aisle, we will have FH's mom brought over to him and together they will light a memorial canlde for his dad, that will be up front near where we will be standing.

Aww I'm so sorry to hear about your loss Colleen. I to went through the same thing. My Gma passed away a month before my wedding so I really wanted to incorporate her somehow in my wedding. I ended up setting up kind of a memorial at the reception. I had my wedding coordinator set up a table and then I had my florist put candels and flowers on it to make it look pretty. I also purchased a really pretty frame. That way she could be remembered and I could feel like she was there with me. Here is an idea of what it looked like.