Your wedding day should undoubtedly be one of the most joyous days of your life, however for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one before their wedding day it can be bittersweet. It can be challenging because you don’t want a cloud of sadness looming over one of the happiest days of your life, but you also don’t want to go without honoring the memory of those that you really wish could be there with you. 

For so many of my couples, family is one of the biggest priorities in their lives so I’m often asked how some of my past couples have honored loved ones who have passed on their special day. Here are some ideas, both private and public, that I have seen in the past that are sure to keep their memory alive in a meaningful way! And don’t forget to share this important detail with your wedding photographer & videographer so that we can be sure to capture it for you.

1. Pin a charm, photo or something else to represent them onto the bouquet, in your wedding dress or inside the suit jacket
   
   

   Bride honors her dad with a locket pinned to her bouquet

    

2. Place a single flower on a chair at your ceremony or present it to someone in their honor
3. Place a framed photo on a reserved chair at your ceremony or on a special memory table
   
   

   A beautiful memory table with framed photos and a floral arrangement at the ceremony

    

4. Sew a piece of their clothing on the inside of your wedding dress or suit jacket near your heart
5. Incorporate something that represents them into your wedding cake or decor for a subtle yet meaningful touch
6. Dance to a special song in their memory at your reception
   
   

   Bride shares a heartfelt dance with her brother to Cole Swindell’s “You Should Be Here” in honor of their dad

    

7. Have a candle holder engraved and light a single candle in their memory
8. Use something of theirs or that they have given to you such as a piece of jewelry or toasting flutes at your reception
   
   

   The groom’s father presents him with his late grandfather’s sword for them to cut the cake

    

9. Include some of their favorites into your day like their favorite flower in your bouquet or their go-to drink into your bar menu
10. Make a toast in their honor while you are getting ready for a more private moment or during the reception to acknowledge them publicly 

Author: Elle Baez, Orlando wedding photographer and mega dog lover