Memorials.

A bouquet charm with her picture. A memorial table with her picture and a bouquet of flowers. Be subtle. Your family is well aware of those who can't be present and overly dramatic things, like an empty chair, can really upset them.

I would agree with the PP about adding a charm around the bouquet or adding a picture of her with a small candle lit by it in honey of her. In my opinion I don't see anything wrong with having a spot for your for your mother in your ceremony (if you wanted to add the photo there) it's entirely up to you and how you feel and how you go about it. It's no one else's decision.

I was thinking maybe a table with a photo of her, my grandad (passed) and my fiancé’s grandmother (passed)

I am in the minority on this issue, but I am not in favor of chairs with a picture on it or a memorial table. it is a wedding, not a funeral. Do a charm on the bouquet, carry your dad's hanky or a piece of your mom's jewelry if you want. It can be jarring or upsetting to see photos of deceased people. A wedding is a wedding, not a memorial.

I like the photos. No one is going to see the charms but you and your photographer.

I had a small table set up in the cocktail hour and buffet area. I didn’t want empty chairs or an empty table in the reception area because that felt like too much.

View Quoted Comment Agree with bluevelvet

We are doing names in a 8x10 photo frame with a candle lit next to it. Saying something like In loving memory” ...there’s ideas on Pinterest. I like the idea of pictures but I think that my be too difficult for FH and I and some guests as one passing was recent and very difficult for our family.

Something simple like this when you walk in, or just a charm on the bouquet is a great idea. I would keep it simple. I personally don’t like the empty chair idea.

My friends had a little table set up in one of the corners of the reception that was filled with fun pictures of their grandparents, and those who had passed. It had a charming little sign about celebrating from afar. I don't find pictures of the deceased jarring, and I definitely think if they are important to you, they should be given a little thought. When we prayed over the food, they were mentioned as "those celebrating from afar". It was cute, and meaningful.

I specifically didn't want my sister giving a toast as I was concerned she would bring up our deceased mom and go on and on about her. Seriously, I was concerned she was going to show up with her urn. Seriously. Look I miss her too (our dad passed a while ago) but she still has issues with her being gone, and for that I feel for her. "We all love Mr/Mrs Blue Velvet, and we all know our parents would have loved to have been here....." great. No issues. Photos, tables, dove release (I have seen it) balloon release (seen that too) - a song dedication....nope. Not for me, but that is me. We had funerals, thanks. Now it is happy wedding time!

We are having a sign with some candles on a table by the guest book. We didn't want to put specific names or pictures in fear of possibly leaving someone out and offending family or just in case (God forbid) someone else should pass unexpectedly and be left out. This is a simple yet all inclusive way to remember lost loved ones. However, for your mother I feel like you could go a little more elaborate. I agree with the bouquet charm and maybe even have a little reading or mention in her honor as well. Personal taste and whatever will matter to you the most is really what will decide the best way to honor her would be.

My mom just passed December 21 of last year, 4 days before her 87th birthday. My dad (who is 89 and too frail to come to the wedding) gave me my mom's "family" ring (has birthstones of dad, mom, me, and my brother). It fits perfectly on the middle finger of my left hand, so I am wearing it for my wedding, and it will be in any "rings on the hand" pictures that we take.

I found this on Pinterest and I plan on having a rendition of this at our wedding. Our Grandparents were both very special to us and are no longer here.

https://pin.it/sdf2vndqu46soh

Memorial for Loved Ones

We are having a memorial table at our wedding. We have a small sign that says " we know you would be here if heaven weren't so far away" and we are going to set out pictures. That's what my future sister in law did at her wedding.

I have a poem that I'm going to put in a beautiful frame. At the bottom of the poem it will list my parents, my FH parents and my FH son. We're going to hang it on an empty chair, at the table my children will be sitting at. I think people would be shocked if we didn't honor our son. Every person attending our wedding was at his funeral. The children were raised together & lost their brother. It would be disrespectful to do nothing.

I'm planning to attach my mom's engagement ring to my bouquet, and I have her bridal portrait and a framed wedding photo of my parents that I will have set up inside the reception hall. I understand people saying it's "not a funeral," but honoring a parent who has passed away is not the same thing as mourning them during a wedding... I would say whatever you chose to do, keeping it personal (something that evokes a happy memory) will make it so much more special for you. Wishing you the best!

My grandfather was like a father to me. Perhaps he was the closest family person. When he died, I bought several plots in the cemetery and arranged a small park with wooden lamps and benches (he was a carpenter). Now there are several young trees; everything is clean and beautiful - just the way he looked after his country house. But if the budget is limited, you can simply pick up a beautiful gravestone, for example, Bras & Mattos Monuments. The main thing is that the burial place should reflect the person himself as what he was (or wanted to be) during his lifetime.

Ok I’m coming from the perspective of being a widow. I went to a close friends wedding and there was a memorial table set up with photos and candles prominently displayed as I walked in. Unfortunately I was blind sided when I saw my late husbands photo and lost it. Not proud, I quickly made it to the bathroom. As someone suggested, not over the top but respectful is fine. However please perhaps let other loved ones know if you have a table. Better yet a charm for the bouquet with a photo sounds wonderful!

View Quoted Comment So sorry that happened to you.


This is a very common reason why memorials are not the best idea at a wedding. More often than not they backfire. Keep it discreet with a photo locket on your bouquet or another way to honor their memory without being in your face with a photo table. Perhaps have their favorite flower in your bouquet or centerpieces, or serve a food they were known for making.