Beautiful Ways to Honour Loved Ones in a Wedding Ceremony

Your wedding day is a celebration of love that extends beyond just you and your partner. It’s a perfect opportunity to honour the special people who have shaped your journey – whether they can be present physically or only in spirit.

From subtle touches to meaningful rituals, there are countless ways to include and honour loved ones in a wedding ceremony.

Honouring Deceased Loved Ones

When someone important cannot be there in person, there are many touching ways to ensure their presence is felt throughout your celebration.

Physical Remembrances

• Carry their photo in a small frame, locket or charm attached to your bouquet or boutonniere.
• Use family heirlooms in meaningful ways (melted gold for new rings,
• Incorporate fabric from their wedding dress or favourite waistcoat for handfasting – or include a ribbon in their favourite colour in your handfasting ribbons
• Create a memorial table with wedding photos from both families
• Embroider their name on a handkerchief and carry it in your pocket
• Save them a symbolic space with an empty chair or place setting
• Light a memorial candle that burns throughout the ceremony
• Honour them in a sand ceremony
• Include a memorial plaque like this one that reads, “Those we love don’t go away; they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard but always near, Still loved, still missed and very dear.”

Symbolic Gestures

• Plant a tree in their memory as part of the ceremony
• Include their favourite flower in your bouquet or boutonniere
• Incorporate their favourite song during key moments
• Wear their jewellery or something else of theirs
• Use their handwriting in ceremony décor or accessories
• Include their favourite quotes or sayings in your vows
• Include their favourite reading or poem
• Ask your Celebrant to mention them during the ceremony and include them as part of your love story
• Have a toast with their favourite drink

Honouring Missing Parents at your wedding

The role of parents in our lives is profound, and many couples want to recognise this special relationship during their wedding ceremony. Whether your parents are present, absent through loss, or unable to attend, there are beautiful ways to include them in your celebration.

Throughout the Ceremony

• Incorporate special readings or quotes that remind you of them
• Include a moment of gratitude or blessing from parents during the ceremony
• Present meaningful gifts or letters to parents as part of the celebration
• Use family heirlooms in ceremony rituals

Walking down the Aisle – Escorted or Alone?

In many cultures, it is tradition for a father to walk his daughter down the aisle. This gesture of a father giving away his daughter has long been a symbolic one, but it is a tradition that many still choose to include. If your father has passed, you might choose to have your mother, uncle, or sibling walk you down the aisle, or, in a Celebrant-led wedding, where you can choose your own rituals and traditions, you may choose to walk down the aisle with your partner.

One bride was escorted by her daughter, who carried a photo of her father as they walked down the asile together.

Wedding Tribute to a deceased Father

One bride carried her Dad’s silk handkerchief to have a little part of him there with her on her journey. And here, this groom attached a photo of his deceased father to his buttonhole.

You could also ask your Celebrant to include some wording at the start of the ceremony about how proud your Dad would have been to see his daughter marry.  Or perhaps a brother or uncle could take on the role of male escort?

Honouring Grandparents

Grandparents hold a special place in many families as keepers of tradition and family history, but many of us will be faced with celebrating our wedding day with a grandparent missing. Finding a way to include and honour them in your ceremony can bring comfort knowing that they were there in spirit.

• Display their wedding photos in a heritage corner.
• Use elements from their ceremonies in yours (like incorporating grandmother’s veil or grandfather’s ring)
• Include family traditions or cultural elements they passed down
• Create a special moment to share marriage wisdom they may have passed down
• Include a favourite poem or reading.

Creative ways to honour loved ones at a wedding

Use a Family Heirloom

Why not incorporate a piece of your ancestral heritage into your wedding ceremony?  Some of the more creative ideas I’ve heard about are items of family gold melted down to make new wedding rings for a couple, and hand-fasting cords fashioned using lace from the Mother of the Bride’s wedding dress! 

In Scotland, Clan tartan may often be seen in a hand-fasting. Recently, a Groom’s father was honoured by using his copy of The Bible as a ring “cushion”.

Eternal Flame

Lighting a remembrance candle can acknowledge the spiritual presence of lost loved ones and is frequently chosen as part of a Celebrant-led wedding ceremony.  A personalised memorial candle may be lit as part of an opening ritual, allowing the flame to stay burning for the duration of your ceremony.

Create a Memorial Table

A memorial table laid out with a selection of wedding photographs from both your families is a subtle yet comforting reminder of missing loved ones.

Chalkboards, mismatched photo frames and candles can be very prettily arranged in a dedicated space, perhaps somewhere quiet, that you and your guests may choose to visit for some calm contemplation during the day.

Ask your Celebrant to Include loved ones in your ceremony

In a bespoke ceremony written by a Celebrant, a short segment can be included to acknowledge and thank any loved ones who have passed away: this can be a particularly poignant moment, especially if the death is recent.

“Let’s now take a moment to remember those beloved family and friends who are missed today, and whose love is still felt strongly in your hearts.”

In Loving Memory

Consider making a dedication to those you’ve lost, printed on your order of service or wedding programme.  Often found on the back page, using wording like “In memory of those who can no longer be with us in body but who will forever be in our hearts” will touch everyone who reads it.

Honouring a Faithful Friend

There’s nothing stopping you paying tribute to a much-loved pet instead of a relative. One couple designed their suite of wedding stationery around their beloved Beagle, who was too old to travel to their wedding to be “Best Dog”.

Sadly, she was put to sleep just a few weeks before their big day, but having her immortalised in cartoon form on the order of service, menus, and lanyards served as a sweet reminder that she would have joined in the fun if she could!

Our pets are family too, and they can be a huge part of our love story, here are some other ways to honour a much missed family pet:

• Incorporate their image into wedding stationery
• Create custom accessories featuring their paw print or carry a charm of their paw print
• Make a donation to an animal charity in their honour

Honouring Living Loved Ones at a Wedding

Not everyone who holds a special place in your heart may be able to attend your wedding. Whether due to health concerns, travel restrictions, or other circumstances, there are meaningful ways to include them.

• Arrange for live streaming or recorded messages
• Include their written messages or blessings in the ceremony
• Create a family unity ritual that can include virtual participants
• Dedicate readings or music to those who cannot attend
• Share photos or stories that highlight their importance in your lives

How a Celebrant Can Help

An independent celebrant specialises in creating deeply personal ceremonies that reflect your unique story and relationships. They can help you craft meaningful moments and rituals that honour your loved ones in ways that feel authentic to you. Whether you’re looking to acknowledge those who have passed, celebrate those who can attend, or include those unable to travel, your celebrant will work with you to weave these special tributes seamlessly into your ceremony.

Creating Your Perfect Ceremony

Every relationship is unique, and your wedding ceremony should reflect the special bonds you share with all your loved ones. Whether you’re looking to honour those who have passed, celebrate those who can attend, or include those unable to travel, an independent celebrant can help you create meaningful moments that acknowledge all the important relationships in your life.

Ready to create a ceremony that honours all your special relationships? Find a celebrant specialising in crafting unique, personalized ceremonies that tell your story.

Find your perfect Wedding Celebrant Now

Photographer Credit: Ariele Chapman Photography