How to Honor a Deceased Family Member at Your Wedding

[@sidneys9158]

Thank you so much for this. I have been having such a hard time with wedding planning knowing my dad won’t be there. Having someone, outside of family, telling me it’s normal and I’m not alone is really what I needed to hear. Your kind face and sincere approach to this topic is so helpful for people as well as me ❤️

[@cavinelizabeth]

You are so welcome! So many of my couples are dealing with the same situation. It is challenging, definitely.

[@christinad4936]

This really helped me too, thanks so much🙏♥️

[@Kris10Swilley]

Thanks so much for doing this! I really struggled with how to do something sentimental without it seeming sad or overly morbid. Here's what we settled on. I lost my dad a few years ago, and we are honoring him by (hopefully) getting married on my parents' anniversary October 23rd of this year. We're also building a photo wall called "Our Favorite Love Stories" with their wedding photo at the center and date underneath. It will be surrounded by family wedding photos from both sides.

[@cavinelizabeth]

That is so sweet and thoughtful, Kristen, I love your ideas and think they will be so lovely :)

[@christa871]

Thank you. I lost my sister almost 6 years ago and I’m planning on having a memorial table, and a picture of her lined up next to the bridesmaids, as well as a song during the reception that she wanted to have played at her wedding. She was supposed to be there and I’ve missed her throughout the entire planning process.Thank you for making this video. It is such an emotional topic for brides and I feel like you really honored the grief that they’re experiencing on their wedding day.

[@cavinelizabeth]

I am so sorry about your sister's passing, Christa. I think the plans you have to honor her are so lovely. You could also have your maid of honor carry a photo of her down the aisle for an extra touch if you'd like :) I'm sure it will all turn out so beautifully!

[@yorha2p602]

@@cavinelizabeth Appreciate Video! Excuse me for butting in, I would love your opinion. Have you heard about - Rozardner Powerful Body Reality (search on google)? It is a great exclusive guide for getting an amazing eulogy speech minus the headache. Ive heard some amazing things about it and my work buddy got cool results with it.

[@jessann5581]

We had my husbands mum urn sitting on a table, in our ceremony we had moment silence, for everyone we had lost, and we did a little ‘Ribbon Ceremony’ we both had a bit of ribbon and our boys had a ribbon each and we had to tie it in a knot, but 2 of those colours were red and blue, the colours of my step fathers favourite AFL footy team - Melbourne Demons as I’m in Australia. I also had my little sister walk me down the aisle with my father in law in honour of my step father not being able to do so as he passed away 6 years ago. Also at the reception we did a toast or a shout out to those who weren’t there, my uncle was in hospital (life of any party) and sadly he passed away 2 days after we got married and 4 days before he turned 46. So the shout out we did for him felt a little more special as we can remember the good times instead of the last moments. Kept as all going through the night.

[@cavinelizabeth]

Those are all so lovely Jess!

[@preciouschirume6772]

Thank you for this video, I'm going through a rough patch with my wedding approaching when my parents are late😭

[@cavinelizabeth]

You've got this! Honor them in whatever way feels special to you in whatever capacity you think you will feel at peace with on the wedding day :)

[@cassr6965]

Such excellent ideas, I love the photo on the chair and that the groom could mention the wife's late parent in his speech. I hadn't thought of that. Thank you ❣️

[@cavinelizabeth]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@micaylaspencer9449]

Thank you so much for this. My mom passed shortly before I met my fiance two years ago. I was twenty five years old and hadn't even moved out yet. She was my best friend and a wonderful person. She adopted me and my brother and I know that she would have cared for my fiance as if he was her own son too. The gap left by her passing is still so noticeable. Its strange to be celebrating our love without being able to share it with her too. She had been able to attend three of my older brothers weddings but won't be there for my own. I am now planning on taking one of these ideas and implementing it in our wedding as it's important to me that it is clear that she was fiercely loved and is truly missed.

[@cavinelizabeth]

I am so sorry to hear about your mother, Micayla. It's never easy going through wedding plans without a beloved parent. I am so glad that this video has given you some ideas on how to include her presence at your celebration :)

[@Marie_Garwood]

This is now relevant for me as I lost my grandfather this January. What a gift to see you’ve covered this topic! Thank you for all that you do, Cavin. Having a memorial table is my favorite idea!

[@cavinelizabeth]

Sorry to hear that, I hope you have a special table when you get married :)

[@catherinewhitehead8839]

I love the idea of lighting a candle for the people who can't be there. It's like their light, and it's a beautiful touch. I appreciate you doing this video, as it is hard. Both my Mum's parents are deceased and I'm struggling that they won't be there, but I have my beautiful locket from my Poppie, and my gown shows it amazingly as it's like having a little piece of him with me.

[@cavinelizabeth]

That sounds very beautiful Catherine. The locket will be a treasure to wear.

[@catherinewhitehead8839]

@@cavinelizabeth I wear it everyday. I also have a ring that was my grandmothers that I'll wear too.

[@ladennayoung2939]

This is a nice video. I like the photo with the mother in the chair. Thanks for sharing. God bless. ❤❤❤

[@cavinelizabeth]

Thanks so much

[@meganstane2428]

I love the memorial table.

[@wenyedang650]

Great video! Those are lovely and beautiful ways to honor the deceased family member. Cavin, can you give some recommendations on setting up a welcome table? And how to plan/decorate your ideal bridal shower? Thank you so much!

[@wenyedang650]

I listened to your advice to hire my wedding photographer to take pictures for my bridal shower. I am so excited about it.

[@cavinelizabeth]

I can definitely add those to my list!

[@WenyeDang]

Cavin Elizabeth Photography you are amazing! Thank you for always produce high quality videos.

[@adamclapp896]

Hello, thank you for making this video. My sister and I have lost our parents. Our parents and I and our friends were at my sister's wedding. If I ever get married I have thought about having the song You should be here by Cole Swindell playing as my sister and I dance to honor our Mom and Dad.

[@cavinelizabeth]

I'm sorry for your loss. Your idea is beautiful.

[@adamclapp896]

@@cavinelizabeth Thank you for your reply.

[@kaitlynmckee6088]

I'm not planning getting married anytime soon but I want to honor my dad that had passed sep 22nd im only 18 but I plan on making a special seat for my dad with his picture

[@cavinelizabeth]

That sounds so beautiful :)

[@ladennayoung2939]

Sorry for your loss.

[@jennagotgames9310]

My grandma was cremated ...and I have some of her ashes In a necklace that I'm going to wrap into my bouquet so she can walk up the isle with me

[@cavinelizabeth]

That's a beautiful idea.

[@myrthe1203]

Those are some really good ideas.

[@cavinelizabeth]

Thank you Myrthe.

[@penalosad]

Thank you. I am getting married this October and I was thinking of haveing still that mother and son dance as my mom passed away two years ago doing a solo dance with a slideshow playing in background as I would be dancing to two songs meshed together as one of the songs is a special song between my mom and I. Have you seen anybody do something like that? And how did it look?

[@penalosad]

Oh amd I would be holding a keep sake heart with her ashes amd a picture of her while dancing

[@cavinelizabeth]

I've never seen it but that sounds really special. I imagine lots of tears will be going on because it will be very touching :)

[@penalosad]

@@cavinelizabeth thank you yes just listening to the two songs I selected and thinking about how it would play out gets to me and all I can do is picture my mother so def want to make it as special as I can

[@MHSMagicLuver]

Great ideas. I lost my dad 2 years ago to cancer and I want to honor him. I also lost my grandpa and my aunt who I was very close to last year. Now like some may be honored more than others (my dad would be the most, my grandpa and aunt after). What about family members a little farther away. We lost others that I wasn’t super close with but their family members will be at the wedding. Should I still maybe put their pics at a table so they feel like they are thought of two or stick to my 3 closest. Also My mom is going to walk down the isle and if she wants, we can do a mother daughter dance. Even with my sister if she doesn’t want to do it by herself.

[@cavinelizabeth]

I think putting their photos at the table would be lovely. The mother daughter dance sounds like a great idea. I had a couple that did a groom-sister-father daughter dance to honer their late mother and everyone was bawling. It was very touching.

[@meztiza90]

Lost alot throughout the years especially my father 2012 heart attack my mom day before Mother's day 2019 brain aneurysm. Love your ideas ! I would wear one of my mom's necklaces or ring or I saw a video where the designer put the name of the father inside the dress. And for my dad there's also a necklace or pendant that I might just combine with one of my mom's necklaces.The candle or balloons for all the other loved ones or chairs with pictures would be great too but I feel like it would make me more emotional if there was a picture so maybe just the necklace and name in the dress or I also saw a video of the veil or train of the dress with names on it. Also some songs probably. Pictures at the table. If ever I do meet the one for my son and I. I might to one or some of these at the wedding.

[@cavinelizabeth]

I love the name ideas. Those are very sweet. :)

[@adrienneharris8822]

I lost my dad grandparents, aunt few uncles and step brother.

[@cavinelizabeth]

I'm so sorry.