Honoring deceased father

I'm so sorry for your loss. My Dad passed away March 2015 and my FH Father passed away April 2012. I just got engaged to my FH Sept 3 after being together for almost 15 years My FH and I plan on having one of his Father's favorite songs played with a dance and one for my Dad. Also we will have photos of them displayed. My 17 year old son will walk me down.

So sorry for your loss. I lost my dad to the same cancer in 2007. It's very hard knowing he will not be there physically on the big day. One of my maids of honor is having a picture charm made of my dad and I to hang on my bouquet so that way he's with me on my walk down the aisle.

I'm so very sorry for your loss. I know how hard it is. I lost my dad to esophageal cancer in 2009. We were extremely close. It's still hard to believe he's gone and that he won't be walking me down the aisle when I get married in January. It's hard planning when it comes to the traditional things like who's walking me down the aisle, the father daughter dance, etc. I cry almost every time I think about it. I am honoring him with a bouquet charm as well. I know he will be walking me down the aisle in spirit. I considered the empty chair idea but my mother asked me not to because she said it would be too sad for her to sit next to the empty chair. I never even thought about it from that perspective or that she would be upset by it. I would recommend that if you're close with your family that you maybe discuss it with them to see how they feel. Also, your family may have some ideas to honor your father that are specific to him that you may not have considered already.

My dad passed away due to multi-system organ failure connected to a congenital heart defect. I wore a locket with his picture in it (amazing in the pictures when I held it open). My brother walked me down the aisle, and when the officiant said "who presents this woman" he replied "on behalf of those who are here, and those who could not be, I do." I also danced with my brother to the song from which my dad got his nickname for me. He always called me sunshine, and this was because of John Denver's "Sunshine on My Shoulders" (yes, I am aware it's about drugs). Whatever you do, be sure that it's something you will be able to handle. My DOC and I talked about what would happen if I could not dance with my brother, and I didn't walk with my mom because we both would have been a mess.

I am so sorry. I lost my dad March 2016. I am sewing a piece of his shirt inside my dress. And I have a brooch with his picture to pin on my bouquet. I'm walking alone down the aisle, but that is a personal choice.

So sorry...we are all sharing the same feelings....personally, i can't do the empty chair...it's to hard. Everyone knows he's not there, I don't need the actual visual of the emptiness. I too am walking down the aisle alone, a personal choice, but I don't want anyone else there if I can't have him. I am doing a memory table, with a dozen roses and some really great pictures of me and my dad (not too many, 4 or 5) that will bring a smile to my eyes and anyone that knew my dad...I'm also using my mom and dad's cake knife and toast glasses, so it's a nice way of incorporating the love they shared into the day. I am also dancing with my son, to a song in memory of my dad. But in all, I am trying to bring him into the day into a happy and positive light, and not somber, it will be hard and emotional to not have him there physically by my side, but I know that he will be there even if I can't see him. Much love to you on your day...sending virtual hugs!!

Thank you for the advice ladies! I've been talking every decision over with my family and my mom thinks the chair by the front row of the pews is a good idea. We are going to put a sign and a rose on it (I will post photo below) I have my brother and mother walking me down the aisle and I will be doing my dance with my brother in law. We will be dancing to a song my father and I always danced to when I was younger, My Buddy by Dr John. I tried to split up the "father duties" between my brother and brother in law and they were both okay with it and very moved!

This is the sign we're going to have on the chair

I'm sorry, my Dad passed away too. I bought a bouquet charm and has his photo placed in the center. We're also putting 2 or 3 family photos near the card table and the officiant will make mention of him. My mom is giving me away and we're doing a fun mother-daughter dance. Your dad will looking down on you so proudly!!

Brianna - I am so sorry for your loss. death makes me sad and I don't deal with it too well. I lost my favorite uncle at the age of 41 to what they say was a brain aneurism... we are still not sure if that is what killed him or if there was something else wrong that went undetected... it kills me even today and I cry from time to time. he really took a huge chunk of my heart when he passed... and I want to honor him in someway at my wedding.

I think seeing an empty chair would be very disturbing, so I would definitely stay away from it. Wedding is a happy occasion and you don't want your guests to be disturbed at the sight of an empty chair. it is sad, and it is heartbreaking. Maybe you can play his favorite song, or attach his picture to your bouquet, etc..,

good luck with whatever you decide to do...

xo

eta- spelling

I am so sorry about your father. I lost my father December of 2016 also and it was also to cancer. I want to have a charm with his picture on my bouquet. But I am also adding one of my very good family friend that is was a sister to me and I was going to ask her to be a bridesmaid but I never got the chance before she passed away 3 weeks ago.

Again I am so so so so sorry about your lose.

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So sorry for your loss. I have been looking into this as well as I have lost 2 grandparents in the last year. I have seen many neat ideas like having a table with their pictures and a a nice saying, or sewing something to the inside of your dress. I eventually decided I will add a few picture charms to my bouquet so they could be with me during the ceremony.

Best wishes to you on your beautiful day!

I'm sorry for you all who have lost such close relatives.

I love the charms, having your officiant say something about him, pictures of not only the people you've lost, but those people in context with your family. Some of my couple have lit memory candles at the beginning of the ceremony, and some have used heirloom jewelry from their parents.

Honestly, the empty chair/rose/photo is far too graphic for anyone else who knew your dad. (And maybe you too...) It makes the ceremony seem more like a memorial service.

So sorry for you loss. I lost my mom almost 2 years ago and I'm going through similar struggles. I plan on having a memory table with pictures of her/us, yellow flowers (her fav color), and one of my fav Harry Potter quotes written on a large mirror: "The ones that love us never really leave us. You can always find them in here." (since it's a mirror, in here would be inside each person/their heart/their memories etc). I also am planning on having an empty chair but with her picture and a simple wreath.

I am so so sorry for your loss <3 I love the idea of the rosery's around your bouquet. Maybe also light a candle for him or set up a small memory table with a little sign and a picture of him