Best friend missing the wedding

I love your idea I think it's wonderful

Would her sisters be in your bridal party just to hold her bouquet, or were you going to ask them to be bm anyway? If they were always going to be in, I think it is a wonderful idea.

I think it's great to honor lost loved ones. I'm not sure the sisters would want to be on the spot. Especially since your friend passed away so very long ago. Unless you have a close relationship with them, this could be rather awkward.

We're honoring some lost loved ones as part of a prayer during our ceremony. We will also have a table during the cocktail hour with pictures of them. One is my brother. For a little while, I thought about having an empty seat for him, or having his best friend "stand in" for him. But ultimately, people are there for our wedding. Not for a memorial service. It would have been confusing for guests who didn't know him. And it would potentially have taken away from the joy of our day. So we are keeping the memorials to a minimum.

That's really cute and sweet especially if you are close with her sisters !

That being said you guys were planning your weddings that young ? lol I didn't even think about getting married then!

I feel like it might be a little awkward (am a BM) to walk next to someone, holding three bouquets between us. Then, if they're leaving the ceremony paired up with a groomsman, who holds the third bouquet?

OP, would you be open to another suggestion? Several brides on these forums have mentioned buying a locket from Etsy (or any other place that sells them); you could put your friend's picture in the locket and attach it to your bouquet. It would be a sweet, subtle inclusion of her in your ceremony, but it wouldn't leave guests scratching their heads and wondering what they just saw. Just my two cents. :-)

What about adding a charm to your bouquet with a picture of your friend? That way she's with you for the ceremony. That's what I'll be doing.

Or what if they walked together and lit a candle or something at end of aisle .. people close to you will know what's going on you could also put a nice quote for her in programs

First off, I'm so sorry. Dealing with that kind of thing so young must have been really hard and has made an impact on your life since. I think that idea might be a little morbid, and as PP have suggested may put the sisters on the spot or feel awkward (or make them very very sad). Now if they are already in your wedding party, I think that's a little different. There are a lot of ways you can memorialize her or feel like she's with you. I love the idea of a charm on your bouquet, or maybe a locket with her picture inside. You could lay a single rose for her during your ceremony, write something short about her in your program, dance to one of her favorite song. She'll be with you no matter what you do.

Also keep in mind that your wedding is a long ways away yet, and you'll come up with all kinds of ideas between now and then

I recently went to a wedding where one of the bride's closest friends had died a few years before the wedding. The way that the bride chose to honor her friend was to have 4 bridesmaids - all of the girls in their "group" and then groom had 5 groomsmen. So the sides were uneven because the last spot was kept for the deceased friend. I'm tearing up as a I write this because I just thought it was so touching yet subtle. The officiant also mentioned the friend briefly in the ceremony during a part where the officiant thanked their family and friends for being with them today. Maybe that's something to consider. I also thought a PP's suggestion of having the sisters light a candle was lovely as well.

Thank you all for your suggestions! I am very close with her sisters, but didn't consider having them in the wedding party until my friend had passed, her passing has brought her sisters and I together. I love the charm idea but I want her to be walking in before me like she would have if she were here, I also love the idea of having the officiant mentioning her and having a groomsmen walk in alone. I do have awhile so I'm sure I'll find a way to include her that makes myself and her family comfortable, they're like my second family so it shouldn't be too difficult. Thank you all for your condolences and kind ideas! I'll continue checking in on here until my wedding day for sure !

I'm sorry for your loss.

I'm not sure how them trying to hold a third bouquet would work. Maybe they could each hold a bouquet with a charm with her picture inside it?

That is a great way to honor your best friend.

You are a long time off. I'd revisit this closer in, honestly. My usual response is that less is more, and graphic reminders of people lost can be very difficult for those still here.

I love the bouquet charms, picture tables, and memory candles too. I'd keep the conversation with yourself open and see what feels right as you get closer.

What Celia said. You want to not cross the line of turning the event into a memorial. Also are her parents going to be there? If so, it may be unnecessarily painful for them if too much is done.