Some of us are lucky enough to have all of our closest loved ones join us on our special day....

BUT SOME OF US ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL TO HONOR THOSE WE HAVE LOST.

Here are some of the most common ways I have seen loved ones honored at a wedding. My hope is that this short read will inspire you - maybe you will come up with a new creative way to accomplish this at YOUR wedding, or maybe you love these traditional ideas!

Antique Vehicle

This is a less common way, of course it really only applies to folks who have access to such a vehicle. This bride honored her late father by using one of his classic cars in their wedding. This was something that they both bonded over as they worked on and restored classic vehicles together in his shop. She had his photo on a memorial table, so I took it upon myself (with permission) to bring his photo out to the driver's seat to help tell the story. You could use the vehicle for portraits, or as your getaway car!

Saving a Seat

Saving your loved one a seat in the front row where they WOULD be is one of the more common ways I have seen couples honor their angels. Placing a photo of them with a "reserved" sign, having their favorite beverage sitting there, or even putting something special of theirs on the seat are some of the personalized things you can do. You will be able to look at their memorial chair while you're up at the altar, but most of your guests won't ever be up there close enough to see it (if that concerns you!). If your venue has limited seating, the other options may be the way to go.

Little Details

These intricate memorial peices are more of a subtle way to go about this, but can be even more meaningful in certain circumstances. For example, this bride attached a charm with a photo of her late father onto her bouquet so that he could "walk her down the isle". This is a more intimate way to include your loved one, but keep in mind, not everyone will see it... so if you're gearing towards having your guests enjoy the memories... you may consider another avenue instead, or in addition to this. Little details can be a good way to continue the memorial by adding it to a keychain or other places a charm could be attached when your wedding day is over.

Memorial Table

A memorial table is an incredibly versatile way to include memories of lost loved ones unable to make it, especially if there's more than just a couple, and (or) if saving a bunch of seats isn't the best option. Having a memorial table also means that your guests will be able to see and enjoy it more so than some of the other ways. This is also a great lower budget option as you may already have the prints (maybe even frames) in your home now, or in the homes of relatives, and all you'll need to do is bring them to your venue without having to purchase anything else! You could, however, DIY or buy some signage that features their names and relation to you, or describes to your guest that it's a memorial table.