Need wording ideas for remembering loved ones on wedding program

In times like these, it can be more important than ever to honor love and family. The couple remembers those that could not be here today; especially Bride's aunt, Maryann Jones, and her grandparents, Edith and Russ Smith, and Burton and Elsie James, ; along with Groom's sister, Holly Jackson, his grandparents, Henry and Leona Birch and Bernadine Wood. Although it would be easy to make this a sad occasion, they would want to see you all so happy today, celebrating and full of joy. So today, let's remember how precious life is, and be thankful that Groom and Bride are creating a new family together.

In Loving Memory of:

Name/s

You are here in spirit, and always loved and never forgotten.

Keep it as simple as possible. It shouldn't sound like a memorial. This is supposed to be a happy day, in my honest opinion, and no offense, the exerpt that with this ring wrote is a little to memorial/funeral, even though it says the bride and groom are creating a new life and what not. It's just to sad for a wedding. I'mnot trying to bemean, I know it's sad that they're not there to celebrate, I'm in tha same boat. I just listed the names of those we are remembering, then underneath, the relation to the bride/groom. And then that little exerpt I wrote.

I like Future Mrs. Schmidt's idea. I, too, am trying to come up with something to put in there about my mom who passed away. But yes, you don't want it too sappy to make people cry tears of sadness. Make it short and simple because people aren't going to want to read a whole page of Remembrance

I have had tons of couples actually choose to put this in the ceremony and not the program. It speaks to it being a joyous occasion and that they would want all to be happy. It has been met with some tears, but joyful ones. More often than not, the couples parent or spouse of the deceased is very grateful that I said that. They were having a hard time and this made them think of it differently. In fact, my recent use of it was in a wedding that the bride initially didn't want a memorial, but lost her grandma the week before the wedding. It was very well received. I do not take offense, because I encourage all my couples to do what feels right for them.