Extra bouquet for bridesmaid who passed away

I think giving flowers to her family is a nice gesture, but I would do it in private. I wouldn't have anyone hold two bouquets, and definitely don't give the flowers in front of other guests.

I'm so sorry about your friend.

When my sister got married, our great grandmother passed away earlier in the year. She still had a corsage made for her and gave it to our grandmother (the great grandmother's daughter). I think something small would be a nice tribute.

ETA

I'm sorry for your loss. I very recently lost a good friend, although he was only a guest, not in the WP

Its a sweet thought but as the bridesmaid holding two I, personally, would be a little creep-ed out. Plus, your whole ceremony would have this looming dark cloud of the bridesmaid that isn't there.

What if you have her bouquet on a "memorial" table with a candle lit next to it? That way she is still honored and her parents can still take home that bouquet but its not smacking your guests (or you) in the face that she is gone.

When is your wedding?

A very good friend of FH's passed away last year. He would have been a groomsman also. FH wants to get a groomsman gift for him and give it to his wife, but we're doing it in private probably after the wedding.

I agree with Bookcase. I think it's a very sweet gesture you're thinking of but I would do it in private.

I'm so sorry about your friend.

I think that it is a great idea. It would be a sweet way to still have her a part of your wedding so to speak. I think that her parents would be honored. You know her parents more then us so you would know if they would be okay with you having two bouquets or giving them the flowers in front of the guests. I think it would be a great way to honor her.

ETA: I really like MrsToBe's idea about the memorial table

And I'm so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I think PPs have given good suggestions. As Celia points out, something that visual (like an empty chair or an extra bouquet) might be too graphic or difficult for some people. Whatever you plan to do, I'd do it in private. Especially since it's so recent.

I am so sorry to hear about this My condolences and prayers to you and her family.

I think the gesture is very sweet. Maybe you can get hers in advance and have it preserved early?

Or I like the idea of the memorial table and putting her bouquet there and then giving it to her parents later.

Thank you to everyone for the condolences. The wedding isn't until next year so there is still a ton of time.

I was just trying to think of something because her mother already told me how much she was looking forward to her daughter being a bridesmaid.

I'll probably end up doing something privately, but it really broke my heart when her mom said that and I just want to do something for her.

ETA: if we did the two bouquet thing, the one holding them would be another good friend of hers, not a random person so I don't think she would be creeped out.

I'm sorry to hear about your loss. I think an extra bouquet for a bridesmaid to hold may be a bit much or confusing. But if the parents are still invited you can provide them with corsages or they can hold a bouquet in her honor.

Glad that will do this privately. As her mom attends your wedding I am sure her loss will be magnified knowing her daughter would have been standing at the altar with you.

OK, I wanted to make sure it wasn't soon. Just give it time, I wouldn't have the girl hold it. I would make a table with a picture of your friend and lay the bouquet there. Then present to parents at the end of the night or during reception privately.

Just wanted to say I'm so sorry for your loss. That is so sad.

I think what you're proposing sounds nice and I would do whatever works best for you. We lost a groomsman about 8 months before the wedding. We left our sides uneven and honored him in the program. H also mentioned him briefly at the reception.

ETA: Similar to your situation, many people at the wedding knew him and knew about his passing. I don't think it is creepy at all. He was a mutual friend of many of our guests so he would have come up one way or another.

My deepest condolences. I think that would be a very sweet gesture. The ones who leave are may be gone but are never forgotten and whatever happens after this life she was happy to know that you loved her enough to have her up there with you on your biggest day. -Hugs-

I just thought of something: how about putting a small picture of her on the bouquet that would have been hers but still presenting it to her mother in private as @Bookcasehat suggested?

I'm so sorry my condolences. The memorial table sounds lovely. You could also consider having a charm with a picture of the bridesmaid attached to flowers that either you or another bridesmaid is carrying. That way she would still be in the ceremony

These are all lovely suggestions. I really like the idea of the small picture on a bouquet. Thank you everyone.

I just want her parents to feel like she's remembered and that she's still a part of it. But the last thing I want to do is make it more difficult for them.