Bride without Mom

It's not weird. Lots of people do tributes like memory tables. Our officiant is also including a moment in the ceremony acknowledging those who couldn't be with us.

I know some people have also done a more personal tribute by carrying/wearing something meaningful to the loved one. Perhaps you can wear your moms favorite jewelry?

Not weird AT ALL. I have seen tribute tables at receptions, I picture frame seated on one of the chairs symbolizing that they are front and center

OP, you are not alone and it's not weird. At all. My heart is with you girl and you should do whatever you want to remember her at your wedding. I'm in the same boat, it stinks. Sending love girlie.

Sorry you're going through this OP. Do whatever tribute you feel will honor your mom best. Whether it be a song, moment of silence, or a memory table.

I'm having a memorial table set up and I'm also having a picture charm wrapped on my bouquet of her.

I lost my mom 25 years ago and planning a wedding (and the actual wedding) was the toughest time in those 25 years in terms of missing her. I had multiple breakdowns and the smallest things such as someone venting about their moms on these forums made me breakdown and cry. Seeing a therapist helped me and I would recommend the same to anyone that's lost someone. I cant handle pictures of my mom so a memorial table or a pic on my bouquet was out. I did want to incorporate her into the ceremony so our officiant mentioned this at the start of the ceremony. It was short and sweet to include her but not get me too riled up.

At OP, I understand where are you are coming from but caution you from turning your wedding into a funeral. My own mother died last spring. It is exceedingly hard hearing about other brides stereotypical bridal moments with their mothers and know that you want to do something to highlight your own mother.

However, I caution you about going too far with your memorials. Do not do the empty chair. I freak out seeing this at other people's weddings even for their grandparents. It comes off as overly dramatic and macabre to me, especially when it is for old people who were able to fully live their lives unlike so many others. If it does not for you and other commenters then ok, but for guests like myself you should have a care and be a good host who does not do this.

Personally, I do not want to draw any attention to my mother's absence directly. The people who know and care will understand the subtle references you make. Wear something of hers, include her favorite poem/bible verse, but do not overshadow the day with her absence because I assume that like my mother she would hate you doing so.

I lost my mom about a year and a half ago, which had made some parts of wedding planning extremely hard. She loved everything about weddings and often talked about mine, well before I got engaged. She adored my FH so much that the first time she met him (literally a week after we started dating) she said to me, "so what colors do you think you two will have at your wedding?" She was so excited for our future and I hate more than anything she won't get to be a part of it.

I will be doing something similar to what Bee mentioned. Sometimes pictures of my mom will make me lose it, and emotions will already be running high on the wedding day so I don't want to do anything that I won't be able to recover from during the ceremony. I will have our officiant honor her in some way.

My mom passed in 2014. I will have a memory table with her picture at the reception . At the ceremony I will have a chair with her favorite flower on it. I miss my mom so much. Go ahead honor her.

Do whatever you feel comfortable with. Just because an empty chair with a flower or a memorial table freaks other people out, doesn't mean you have to or should shy away from it. Just know, "angel's eyes see what the heart feels.." your mom will be there. and beaming every minute of the day and beyond.

Just like others have posted, I am in the same situation. Friends have bitched about having arguments over wedding planning with their moms and if they even knew how lucky they were to have a mom to fight with :/. I will be doing a tulip (her favorite flower) on the pew closest to me, and a table with pictures of her and her and my father and other family members on their wedding day. Hang in there! *hugs*

I also lost my mother, it was about 3 years ago. I'm honoring her memory by including a short bit in my ceremony like what @Bee did.

It can be really hard sometimes, planning a wedding without your mom. Just the other day I posted about breaking down about it... if you feel sad and miss her, let yourself cry and grieve. If you ever need to talk, we're here for you.

Wow! The amount of feed back that i have gotten for you guys i so much more validating than what i get at home. Thank you so much SSJKarigan, Ardelia, Karickle & Kreestan im so sorry for your loss, i know the pain ladies... I believe i am over thinking it as i want to do her picture in her place at the ceremony @ church and the memory table, as well as the MJ tribute dance right after our first dance. But yes i am in so much heartache doing all these things w/o her... My dad refuses to walk me down the isle (nut case), Maid of Honor in FL as i am in PA. SO i definitely needed my MAMI w/ me during this time. Im doing the best i can on my own, just visioned my wedding preparation process to be amazing...

THANK YOU SO MUCH for listening guys. Totally venting