This is a sensitive subject for me...

I'm right around the 15 year mark as well. I'm not doing a father daughter dance as my father is not there and I think it'd just make me more emotional.. My grandfather is walking me down the aisle but I just don't want to do the dance at all, I don't think it's necessary

As for ways to remember him:

We're doing a memory table of the important people in our lives we lost. And I'm also trying to find a way to incorporate something of his in my bouquet (stem wrapped with something) since I was so young I don't have much of his.

My mom always brought this trucker hat that was his and he always wore to every big event, she stuffs it in her purse so no one knows but I caught her with it a few years ago.. Thinking I might give it its own seat during the ceremony as well.

I'm not going to do a dance neither.. and my uncle his brother is walking me down the aisle.. I like the table idea... and I know this idea is going to sound crazy but I have set it up that before the wedding me and my photographer (friend of mine) will go to the cemetery and I will put flowers on his grave in my wedding dress and she will capture the moment for me...

I'd skip the dance if you think it will unravel you; many of my brides have done without it.

Ask your officiant to mention him briefly; one of my favorites was a bride who told me that wherever her father's soul was (and frankly, she wasn't sure, lol) she knew he'd be sitting at the end of the bar with a stinky cigar and glass of Chianti, cursing at the Jets. It brought a smile to everyone's face.

I wouldn't recommend any variation of the 'empty chair'; it's too graphic, and at least one person has to sit next to it. I do love the memory tables and the inclusion of objects/clothing from parents.

Another thing I was thinking about but just thinking as I think it would be wicked emotional is dancing with my mother to their wedding so I'll stand by you by the pretenders ... as that was the last time I danced with my father... again I feel like this would be wicked emotional and have not decided if I wanted to do this.. but it's an idea in the back of my mind

Hollie - my dad passed away when I was a child so there was never a father/daughter dance for me. If you are thinking about dancing with your mom, sit down and talk the whole thing out. Will it make you happier than it will make you sad? Will you have siblings, grandparents, aunts/uncles who will be a sobbing mess or will this bring a smile to their face. Only you know the answer, but there are a LOT of hearts on the line with this so you might want to talk to them too, even if it is just to let them know that you will be dancing with your mom to that song.

I wish you the best of luck!

I lost my dad 18 years ago....wedding planning has more suckered punch moments than I expected.

We're skipping the parent dances entirely, and I'll be walking down the aisle by myself. There will be a seat "reserved" for my dad, and I'll be wearing a necklace that was made out of a ring my father gave my mother.

All those reasons posted above are things I have been thinking about I feel like that is exactly what will happen... I was 15 when my father passed away and growing up we always talked about was my dream wedding.. I'm thinking the photo I posted about before is enough it's a personal moment for me and it will not affect anyone else... I mean the last thing I want to do is have a sad moment at the reception and bring down the happy feel

My dad passed away two years ago. I had a piece of one of his shirts sewn into my dress. I was going to skip the father/daughter dance because no one could ever replace my dad for that dance but my sister (MOH) suggested we dance together in his memory; so we did a sister/sister dance. I was fine throughout the entire ceremony and reception until it came time to do that dance. The minute we started dancing we both broke down and started crying.

Both my parents have passed. My mom in 2003 and my dad in 2012. I am not doing any father/daughter dance. FH is totally cool with eliminating that stuff. We will do a first dance and that is it. As for remembering them..I am doing it private. I hate the idea of making their absence any more obvious than it already will be. Family and friends know why they aren't there and don't need the reminder themselves. I'm sewing one of my dad's military uniform name tags into my bouquet wrap and I am placing a locket with my mom's picture around it as well. FH and I will visit the cemetery the day or two before hand.

ETA: I am walking myself down the isle.

I lost my dad 11 years ago. I am planning to have a memory table at the reception, which will have pictures of him and my grandparents. I do have a step-father that raised me but, I think I am going to skip on the father daughter dance.

My father passed away when I was 13. During the wedding Mass, when our cousin was reading intentions, we mentioned him and other close family members who had passed away. At the reception there was a table where we set up pictures: one shadowbox with our parents' and grandparents' wedding photos and one framed picture of my dad with me when I was little.

My grandfather (my father's father) walked me down the aisle and danced with me. It was a traditional Greek line dance so it was more happy and I wasn't tempted to be sad. If my grandfather hadn't been able to come I would have walked down the aisle by myself or with my mom.

Both of my DH's parents have passed away. He skipped anything like a mother/son dance - he has several sisters and didn't want to have to pick one to dance with. We used a memorial table for his immediate family members who had passed away. It had pictures of his parents and four siblings who have passed away with candles, flower petals, and a prayer. Do what feels right to you, whether it's having a keepsake with your bouquet, or a memorial table, or a brief mention during the ceremony. I agree with Celia on the empty chair though - it's a graphic reminder and often too emotional.

I came here to recommend something like OG Ruth. Personal and discrete. Find something personally meaningful for yourself. Don't do it as a show for other people's benefit.

I would recommend NOT doing what one of my brides did. She came down the beach carrying an urn of her dad's ashes (so he could "walk her down the aisle").

I am having a candle with a poem honoring those who have passed on a table at the reception , also putting an engraved flower in my bouquet. I am going to dance with my daughter since my parents are deceased. My guy best friend is walking me down the aisle.

Following this post - also please update your avatar, I think this post is totally helpful and more people will post on it knowing your not a troll.

I plan on having a candle with some pictures of him near it that say something along the lines of "although you are not here physically we know you are here" - I'll definitely need help with words. There is actually shelving near a fireplace in my venue that I plan on utilizing for this.

ETA: I am doing a dance with my mom's long time boyfriend and my paternal grandfather is walking me down the aisle.

My dad passed when I was 8 and I could not agree with you more in that big life events come up and it is like it happened yesterday and all of the emotions of dealing with a loss like that engulf you. I think the most important thing to remember is your dad would be absolutely thrilled to see his daughter getting married and he would not want you to be sad. He will be smiling down on you on your wedding day for sure! We are doing a destination and FH's mom and step dad aren't coming so we scratched those dances altogether... I know it is tough but keep reminding yourself how happy your dad would be!

@JennV : I've heard "taken from earth, forever in our hearts" "gone, but not forgotten"

Thanks @Shannon! I've heard "gone, but not forgotten". I may want something longer to put in a frame. Maybe his prayer card saying? I'm not sure yet...

@ Nancy - Someone suggested that I bring my parents urns to the reception so they could "be there". I was in complete shock that someone would even think that was okay.

My dad passed away a few years ago and so did FH's mom. I'm doing a mother-daughter dance BUT to make it not super emotional we're busting out into a flash dance to Beyonce and my bridesmaids are going to join in.

I'm super excited about it.

As for the ceremony...my officiant is going to talk about my dad and his mom in part of the opening. Kind of like a remembrance since this is the first wedding for both families since they both have passed.