How do you memorialize a loved one.

I know many people use candles. You can have them personalized and then displayed at the wedding. I am sorry for the loss...that is tough especially with a wedding right around the corner. You family will be in my prayers!

My brother got married right after my dad passed away and he lit a candle in memory of him as he came out and then a song played in my dad's honor before the wedding ceremony began. The candle stayed lit the whole service.

You could also save the seat that she would have been sitting in and place her picture there. And write something about being saved for the mother of the groom who couldn't be with us today but is with us in our hearts.

Your groom could walk over to the chair and place a flower on it.

For my wedding we did a memory candle with all the names engraved, and a picture frame. Also a flower on her seat at the wedding. This is the memorial easel http://www.rexcraft.com/ProductCluster.cfm?prev=1&TempPrev=0&blnPreviewRequestSubmitted=0&recordsperpage=32&CompletedOrder=0&sBasketID=0&ClusterItem=Clust7253&Search_intTotalSearchLevel=1&Search_strInputString=1memory&Search_strInputKeywords=1memory&Search_strItemGroup=&Search_blnAccessoryCategoryPage=0&Search_blnSingle=0&alogo=1&menu=none&morethanonepage=YES&HostDomain=www.rexcraft.com/&FirstTimeThrough=1&format=PG0375.

We're getting a memorial candle and lighting it during the ceremony/reception for my FH's great grandfather, he helped raise him and he died of cancer about 8 years ago

Sorry for your loss.

One of the couples I worked with last year lost three members of the immediate family shortly before the wedding. The ushers each carried in a rose shortly before the service, and put them in the front row of the church.

I am so sorry for your loss. I am having 4 charms with their names engraved on them tied to my bouquet stems to memorialize them.

We have my gma and his sister that we will be recognizing. We are placing their pictures and a candle on the mantle in our reception hall. Right before our dance we will light the candle for them both...

You can also do a flower arrangement and notate in your programs that the flowers are for his mother.

Im sorry for you loss, but usually a photo and a cnadle is what we have seen used before.

I am adding a purple rose to my daisy bouquet for my dad. My dads favorite color was purple and he use to give my mom roses all the time. Everytime I see purple roses I think of him. I will also have a small stuffed moose sitting on our head table. Dads scout name was Moose when he was our girl scout leader. We have Moose things all over the house still. Im also thinking, just for me, carrying a small vial of his ashes when I walk down the aisle. I still dont know what we are going to do for FH's dad.

There are LOTS of ways to remember a loved one. The trick is to identify when and how it would be best to do - without turning a joyous time into a sad one.

In the past we've used a variety of ways but the toughest was a vow renewal where the 'brides' father passed away just 3 weeks before. We did a butterfly release as part of the 'ceremony' with wording appropriate for an acknowledgement to those who couldn't be there. We've done candles, a photograph that's 'escorted' to their chair, a moment of silence, and many others. Think about the relationship they had, and what they liked. Think about something they loved to do with your fiance. Then go along those lines. For example, in the movie, 'You'e Got Mail' the character played by Meg Ryan talks about her mother loving to 'twirl'. Explaining that to the guests, and then inviting people to 'twirl' in remembrance, might be appropriate. But it's a VERY special moment and not everyone can pull it off with style and grace.

Danie, I was surprised when a groom walked up the aisle with a large bottle and set it at his feet. Then the bride came up the aisle carrying a large bottle. Turned out, they both were carrying ashes of their deceased parent. No explanation was given to me until after the ceremony, so nothing was said in the ceremony about the deceased parents.

At the end of out ceremony program, we are writing "Today, we remember loved ones who are no longer with us."

I'm having a single red rose in my bouquet for my Grandfather & I'm borrowing the picture everyone loves of him from my Grandmother and either having him "sitting" on a chair in the front and/or having his picture set up at the reception with some candles & another single red rose laid out in front of his picture.

I've seen couples do a few different things:

- Have a picture of the person on an easle where they would normally be sitting

- Carry a small picture of the person in the bride's bouquet, or the groom's boutineere (spelling?!)

- Lighting a candle during the ceremony for that person

- Doing a tribute dance and inviting everybody on the floor to remember that person. Here are some songs we've used:

http://www.squawkboxsound.com/In_Memory_Of.html

So sorry for his and your loss! My thoughts will be with you!

I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my father (who was also my best friend) a few yrs ago. It is very difficult to imagine planning my wedding w/o him here! Here's some ideas that I've been thinking about doing: 1. I wear his wedding band everyday (never take it off!).It is gold & all of my jewelry is white gold -doesn't really match. I am going to tie it to the ribbon on the front of my

bouqet. 2. I plan on leaving a seat vacant in front row, maybe put his pic on it & as my kids (his only grandkids) & I walk past-put a flower on "his chair". 3. My son will be walking me down the aisle & when asked who gives this women away- he might say "in memory of my Pop Pop or her father, I do". 4. @ the reception my son & I will dance during father/daughter dance. Dont know whether we'll do a mom/

son or father/daughter song. 5. might have these (pic) put inside our programs. Again, I am very sorry for you guys. My thoughts & prayers are with you!

I would have a seat reserved for them.... Maybe with a photo of them on the seat.

At my grandfathers funeral, we had his regular seat at the church reserved for him.... I was pretty cool.

Memorial candle, rose with name ribbon on her chair, have minister say a memorial prayer...

We are doing the rose and I am carrying something of my dad's as I walk down the isle that anyone who knows him will know it's in memory of him. Minister offered to say a few words but I know I'd start bawling, heck... i started crying when the minister asked about it.

Basically do what FH is going to be comfortable with and what he wants

THANKS EVERYONE...FOR YOUR WELL WISHES AND GOOD IDEAS! IT HELPS A LOT....ESPECIALLY WHICH SUCH A SENSITIVE SUBJECT...WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING!

My great grandmothers rosary will be laced throughout my bouquet. We are also doing candles with the names of the loved ones that we have lost etched onto the glass. My thoughts and prayers are with your family though. I know it isn't easy, he is lucky to have you though.