5 ways to remember lost loved ones at your wedding

Your wedding is all about a celebration your love

However it can also be tinged with sadness if someone very dear to you is no longer with us. Many couples ask how we can incorporate a nod to those we have loved as part of the ceremony without detracting from the uplifting ceremony that is in hand. I love incorporating these rituals (cough - not available with a registrar - just saying!) and can give everyone pause for thought and the opportunity to reflect and remember.

Ritual of Light

My personal favourite is the lighting of a candle near the beginning of the ceremony, in memory of your lost loved one. This would be led by your celebrant, therefore making this integral to your wedding ceremony. The candle is left alight, and burns throughout the ceremony bringing warmth and light as a constant reminder. This can bring great comfort to the couple and to other friends and family. If you like the idea of a celebration of light but would like to explore alternative ways of using light, then talk to me as there are many options, such as using LED's or neon.

Handfasting ribbons or cord

If you are including a hand-tying or handfasting - then one of the ribbons or cords that is woven into yours could represent your loved one's influence in your life. For example including a ribbon that is their favourite colour or type of fabric will mean that you will always be reminded of them whenever you look at your handfasting knot, and it will symbolise how they were an integral part of your life.

The Empty Chair

We are a family of six and trying to get everyone together can be an impossible task. Sometimes there are only five of us present - and it is usually someone different each time we meet! Our family tradition is to always have an empty chair at the table to represent the missing person. We take photos of it and send it to them - and that way it feels that everyone is included. Similarly, you could do this at your wedding, and place an empty chair in honour of the person you love - a nice touch would be to place a framed photograph of them on the chair and perhaps a note saying 'in loving memory'

Readings and Songs

At a celebrant led ceremony you can include any words you like - so maybe including a readings, poem or songs that were close to your loved ones heart, is another way to remember them as part of your ceremony. Words can be spiritual, religious or not - you can write your own words too. You could even include a full on sing-a-long of the song that brings back their memory, with all of your guests.

Photographs

Displaying photos of lost loved ones on a memorial table is also a way of acknowledging their absence, and also how much they meant to you. You could have a little candle burning in their memory on the table.

I will help you!

If it is important to you to honour someone you have loved and lost at your wedding, then talk to me! I will be there to advise and support you with making decisions about how to do this so that we are celebrating not only you and your fabulous wedding, but also remembering those who are gone.