Celebrating with your nearest and dearest is at the heart of most couples’ wedding days. If you’re lucky enough to have everyone you love there, then you are truly blessed. Sadly, for many of us, we may have lost a parent, relative, or friend who we wished could have seen us walk down the aisle and live happily ever after.
While nothing can replace a loved one being at your wedding, there are a few lovely ways that you can include them in your big day. Paying your respects in a way that is fitting to you and the relationship you shared with the person you lost will be more genuine and heartfelt than doing something completely out of style or character. To help you out, we’ve put together a list of eight different ways you could include them in your wedding, from subtle and sweet to quirky and unique.
Save Them a Seat
Some couples choose to leave an empty chair at the ceremony or reception as a tribute to a lost loved one, perhaps even placing their photo or a single flower on the seat. This makes quite a big statement and would be a fitting tribute to a deceased parent or sibling but may be very emotional for you if your loss is still very raw, so consider carefully how you’ll feel about seeing the empty chair and how that will affect your day.
Incorporate Their Favourite Flowers
Flowers have the ability to evoke emotions in us, and the combination of the sight and smell of your loved one’s favourite flowers is sure to conjure up happy memories while you walk down the aisle, eat the wedding breakfast, and dance the night away. More subtle than an empty chair, this is a way for you to honour your loved one a little more privately.
Incorporate a Piece of Their Clothing
There are lots of lovely ways that you could incorporate items of clothing. You could stitch a small scrap from a shirt into your wedding dress, use one of their handkerchiefs to wipe away happy tears, wrap one of their ties or silk scarves around your bouquet, or even have their wedding dress refitted and restyled for you to wear yourself. A couple of nice buttons from a shirt or jacket sewn onto the handle of your bouquet, dress, or suit would make a lovely subtle tribute too.
Wear a Piece of Their Jewellery
Wearing a piece of their jewellery, particularly something sentimental like their engagement or wedding ring, is sure to make you feel their presence. Plus, it doubles up as your something old and something borrowed, so a win-win all around!
Carry a Brooch Bouquet
And if you don’t want to wear a piece of their jewellery, why not incorporate it into your bouquet? Brooch bouquets are growing increasingly popular these days and can take a variety of forms, from including a mix of fresh or artificial flowers and a few brooches to complete vintage works of art crafted from pieces of costume and antique jewellery. The beauty of brooch bouquets is that they last forever and you could even have a go at creating one for yourself if you feel like getting creative!
Dedicate a Song or Reading
Did your loved one have a favourite poem or song that you could include in your wedding? Save them a dance and twirl around the dance floor when their favourite song comes on or use their favourite poem as part of the ceremony or speeches, or even before the wedding breakfast to start the celebrations. This can be as subtle or obvious as you like and gives you a chance to honour your loved ones privately or publicly.
Display Photographs
Displaying photographs of your loved ones at your wedding is another way to include them. Go big and bold and create a display showcasing your happiest memories together or keep it subtle with a memory locket or bouquet charm.
Include Them in Your Cake Toppers
This is slightly offbeat, but an idea we love nonetheless! If you’ve decided to have a personalised cake topper, you could include elements that remind you of your lost loved one. For instance, if your loved one wore a special item of clothing, you could add that to the cake topper.
However you choose to honour your lost loved ones, we hope it brings you a sense of comfort and a feeling of their presence on your special day. How do you plan to include those you’ve lost in your wedding?
