Remembering Your Loved Ones on Your Special Day
Your wedding day is a celebration of love — yours, your partner’s, and the people who shaped your lives. But when someone dear is no longer here to share the day with you, their absence can feel especially sharp.
As a Professional Celebrant working across Spain, the UK, Europe and beyond, I often help couples find beautiful, heartfelt ways to remember and honour those they’ve lost. There is no “right” way to do this — what matters is that the gesture reflects you, your emotions, and the bond you still hold with them.
From simple tributes to creative Pinterest-worthy ideas, here are some meaningful ways to include the memory of your loved ones on your wedding day.
1. A Remembrance Wall or Memory Table
A memory wall or table is one of the most visually impactful ways to honour loved ones. You can frame photos, add candles, display personal objects (such as a favourite book or pair of glasses), or include handwritten notes and messages from family members.
Couples across the UK and Spain have created gorgeous set-ups — from vintage-style ladders decorated with fairy lights and framed photos, to rustic crates adorned with wildflowers and keepsakes.
Pinterest Tip: Add a quote board — something simple like “We know you’d be here today if heaven weren’t so far away” — alongside the images.
Place your remembrance area where guests can pause and reflect quietly, whether it’s at the entrance to your venue in the Cotswolds, or under a palm-shaded arch in the hills of Andalucia.
2. Saving a Seat in the Ceremony Space
One of the most powerful gestures is saving a seat for a loved one who would have sat proudly beside you.
You can:
Place a single rose or small bouquet on the seat
Attach a photo or handwritten name tag
Drape a piece of clothing — a jacket or scarf — over the back of the chair
This can be done discreetly or mentioned during the ceremony depending on how comfortable you feel. I’ve seen this done in grand churches in England, at cliffside weddings in the Algarve, and in charming vineyards across Tuscany.
Pinterest Inspiration: Some couples tie a framed photo to the back of the chair with ribbon, or create a tag that reads “Reserved for Mum – forever in my heart.”
3. Remembrance Charms, Jewellery & Subtle Symbols
Small, wearable tributes are perfect if you want to feel close to your loved one without drawing attention to your grief.
You could:
Tuck a small locket into your bouquet or boutonniere
Add a charm with their initials or photo to your cufflinks
Wear a piece of their jewellery or watch
Stitch a token into the lining of your dress or jacket
This idea works beautifully across all styles of ceremonies — from intimate elopements in the Scottish Highlands to boho beach weddings on the Costa del Sol.
Pinterest Tip: Brides often wrap a charm or vintage brooch into their bouquet ribbon. Others tie a tiny photo frame into the bouquet handle using silk or twine.
4. Stitching a Heart Near Yours
A touching tribute that continues to gain popularity: cutting a heart from a piece of clothing belonging to the loved one — perhaps a shirt, scarf, or dress — and having it sewn into your gown or suit, close to your heart.
One of my brides in Marbella sewed a piece of her mother’s wedding dress into her own, while a groom in Devon added a piece of his dad’s army uniform into his inside lapel.
Pinterest Tip: Choose a heart shape or the shape of your home country to reflect your connection — for example, a heart-shaped patch of tartan or flamenco fabric sewn inside your jacket.
5. Lighting a Candle or Ringing a Bell
This quiet, symbolic gesture can be included at the start or end of your ceremony.
Some couples ask a close friend or family member to light the candle, while others prefer a moment of silence and reflection. Bells — especially handbells — are often used in ceremonies in the Mediterranean and Ireland to symbolise continuity and presence.
Pinterest Idea: Set up a small side table with a candle, a photo, and perhaps a framed poem or reading such as “Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep.”
6. Spoken Acknowledgement During the Ceremony
If it feels right, I can help you include a brief mention of your loved one during the ceremony. It could be:
A line in your welcome speech
A special reading
Their name spoken during a moment of reflection or silence
One couple whose ceremony I delivered in the Lake District had a friend read a short tribute in both English and Italian to honour their grandparents — a deeply moving and inclusive moment.
7. Creative Ideas from Around the World
Memory Lantern Release (Portugal/France): At some evening weddings, couples release biodegradable lanterns in honour of lost loved ones.
Memory Stones (UK/Ireland): Guests write names or messages on small pebbles which are added to a bowl or keepsake box.
Memory Quilt (USA-inspired): Invite family members to contribute a fabric square that is turned into a quilt featuring those who have passed.
Final Thoughts
Your ceremony should be built around the people and memories that matter most. Whether you choose a grand gesture or a quiet moment, I’ll help you honour your loved ones with respect, beauty, and warmth.
Based between the UK and Spain, I’ve had the privilege of crafting personal ceremonies from the Yorkshire Dales to Mallorca, and I’ll always work with you to ensure that your tribute feels just right — not overwhelming, just meaningful.
If you're looking for more ideas or want to chat about including a tribute in your ceremony, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You’re not alone in navigating these emotions — I’m here to help.
