Is There a Way to Honor Absent Loved Ones During a Ceremony?

There are numerous ways to incorporate absent loved ones into your wedding ceremony. Whether close and intimate or sharing their memory with all of your guests, how you share their memory is up to you and how you feel most comfortable.

You can use your grandmother’s handkerchief or a piece of her wedding gown pinned to the inside of your dress. A piece of jewelry would also work wonderfully. No one else may know, but carrying their memory close to your heart may be just right for you. Many brides also consider mentioning an absent loved one in their wedding program with a sweet, short paragraph to commemorate that special person. Others have had their readers read a poetic passage they loved or the song lyrics that their grandfather sang to them as a child. Another idea is to have a framed picture of that beloved person on or near your guest book table -- that way, everyone can pay their respects to them as they sign in.

Some other ideas include:
*Take a quiet moment before the ceremony starts to remember your loved one and reaffirm your feelings for them.
*Write a letter to the person you're missing, expressing your feelings about their absence. Describe what you've learned from them and ask their blessing on your future.
*In lieu of favors, make a donation to a charity in your loved one's name on behalf of your guests.
*Ask that your guests observe a moment of silence for your loved one just before the ceremony begins, or include a prayer for your loved one just before saying your vows.
*Include a memory of the loved one in your toast at the reception.
*Continue a tradition that your loved one started at their wedding.