Dad’s Memorial Photo

This is COMPLETELY up to you. Don’t let anyone sway you, and follow your heart. There’s NO wrong answer!


I’ve seen plenty of sweet memorial tables that haven’t dampened the vibe . But for us, H’s father had passed and they always prefer ‘not to talk about it’ ; there wasn’t bad blood but I know there are things H still feels badly about some of the circumstances, so I always tread so carefully bc this is his thing not mine — follow his lead 100%. We skipped a memorial table altogether. I know it would’ve bummed H out. We listed him on our program board under parents of the groom , and that was a wave of emotion, and we didn’t want to go much further than that. It is ENTIRELY what you feel comfortable with. It isn’t necessary. If it will feel good for you to see it— do it. If it will feel bad for you to see it— don’t!

What about a small picture in a locket or something tied to your bouquet? That way it’s not a huge display, but he’s still being honored by you?

I️ was Going to suggest getting a picture of him sewn into the under layer of your dress. That way he’s walking you down the aisle and with you during your first dance.

It's completely up to you. My dad died like 15 years I felt how exclaty what your saying no sadness with having his picture up but for me I will celebrate my dad at my wedding and make it a positive . I feel my dad should and would had been walking me dwn the least I can do is have his picture up. I decided well I'm walking dwn the aisle his picture will be on the PowerPoint screen and my wedding planner made a PowerPoint for him while the cermony going. This is my imagine and mt closure you can do it however you feel ...

My dad passed when I was 8. All of our grandparents (mine and FHs) have passed, and we have several other family members that are no longer with us. Everyone has tried telling me the way they think we need to honor them, and honestly I find it SO annoying. We are getting married on my father's birthday, and I will have a small photo of him attached to the heel of my ceremony shoes, but FH and I discussed it and we decided we did not want all these sad pictures around. This day is supposed to be a happy one, and those photos would make us cry. We know they are there with us, we don't need a spectacle.

Do what YOU need to do, not what others expect of you.

View Quoted Comment Oh thank you, that’s a great idea! At least you understand my point!!! 🥰🥰

View Quoted Comment Yes thank u!

That's totally up to you. If it's not important to you, then skip it.

Personally, I'm having a photo of my brother (passed away 7 years ago) and one of my grandfather (passed away last Nov). But I was very close with both of them and still miss them very much. I plan having a toast to them and song in their honor. I can't imagine not honoring them in some way.

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I like this idea! My dad is alive but unable to come to my wedding due to recent health issues, so I might steal this idea!

If you want to include him, you can do it in a far less public way. You can have a trinket added to your bouquet or sewn into your dress or any number of other ways that will honor him without putting his face front and center for people to mourn over.

My father passed away when I was in college. He and my mom were together/faithful for their entire marriage and my FH's parents are still happily married. Because lasting marriages aren't so common, we wanted to honor the commitment our parents made to one another and kept so will be having photos from both of their weddings at our wedding. It's a way to include my dad and honor him without there being this obvious space dedicated to him that might feel like a void and bring sadness to an otherwise happy day. For our dances, we are doing a combined parent-child dance where I'll dance with my mom and my FH will dance with his, that way there's less attention paid to just not having my dad there. Honoring him is important to me, but having a constant reminder that he isn't there to celebrate with us would be painful. I'm planning to include him in different ways (I'm going to ask my mom to bring up his ashes and might even ask our venue if we can spread a little on site), but doing so in a way that feels right to me. It's about what is right for you, not anyone else.