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In Memory Of: Top 5 ways to honor loved ones at wedding chapels near me
- Jennifer Wilson
- Mar 24
- 6 min read
Weddings are a time of joy, love, and celebration amongst family and friends. But sometimes they can feel bittersweet when we think of the special people in our lives who are no longer with us. Honoring our loved ones memories in heartfelt ways allows couples to keep their presence alive on one of the most important days of their lives.
If you’re looking for ways to incorporate the memory of a loved one into your wedding ceremony or reception, here are five heartfelt ideas that are common at wedding chapels near me.
Top 5 Ways to Honor Loved Ones
at Wedding Chapels Near Me
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1. Memorial Table with Photos and Keepsakes
A table dedicated to the memorial of our loved ones is one of the most common and beautiful ways to honor those who have passed. A memorial table is a quiet but meaningful tribute that allows both you and your guests to reflect on the love and legacy of those who are so deeply missed. Your coordinator at Celestial Farms wedding venue will help you with the placement of your memorial table.
How to Create a Meaningful Memorial Table:
• Framed Photos: Include pictures of grandparents, parents, or any loved ones who have passed. We had a great time at Celestial Farms with our "In memory of" photoshoot with Angela's Angles using framed photos of our grandparents' wedding days.
• Candles or Lanterns: A candle has always been symbolic for memorials. Candles represent your loved ones' presence and light in your life.
• Personal Items: Displaying sentimental items such as a favorite cookbook, a piece of jewelry, or even a handwritten letter from them on the table is a nice touch.
• A Sign or Poem: A framed sign with a heartfelt quote or poem that reminds you of your loved ones is also a great option. Example: “We know you’d be here today if heaven weren’t so far away.”
Placing the memorial table in a prominent yet subtle space—such as near the guest book or on it's own table in the reception area—ensures it remains a special part of your wedding day without disrupting the joy guests are experiencing at your celebration. At Celestial Farms modern barn wedding venue in Michigan we have a lot of our memorial tables in the front windows of the barn and in front of our bar area.
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2. Reserving a Seat at the Ceremony
An empty seat in honor of a loved one at your wedding ceremony can be a touching and heartfelt way to acknowledge their presence. This very obvious and meaningful tribute is is commonly used if the person being honored played a significant role in your life, such as a parent, grandparent, or sibling.
Ways to Personalize the Reserved Seat:
• A Small Sign: Use a framed note or sign that reads, “Reserved in loving memory of [Name]. "Always in our hearts.”
• A Photograph: Place a framed picture of your loved one and place it on the seat like Raq and Harvey did in this photo.
• A Flower or Personal Item: A single stem flower, a bible that belonged to them, or any item that represents them (such as a military hat or a book) can be placed on the ceremony chair.
Positioning the seat in the front row of your wedding ceremony ensures they are symbolically present during the most important moment of your wedding day: your ceremony. This has been a popular feature at Celestial Farms.
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3. Lighting a Candle in Their Honor
A unity candle or memorial candle lighting ceremony is a powerful way to honor and remember loved ones on your wedding day. This simple yet deeply symbolic moment signifies the never ending light they shine on your life.
Ideas for a Meaningful Candle-Lighting Moment:
• During the Ceremony: The couple can reserve a moment during the ceremony to light a candle together in memory of loved ones.
• A Special Song or Reading: Playing a meaningful song, or a favorite song of the loved one who has passed while the candle lighting takes place can add a heartfelt touch.
• Including Family Members: Have a close family member, such as a sibling or a surviving parent light the candle with you or for you- whichever feels right.
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4. A Special Prayer, Reading, or Moment of Silence
For couples who value spirituality or religion, incorporating a special prayer, scripture reading, or moment of silence into your day is a heartfelt way to honor loved ones. This can be done during the ceremony or during the reception. At wedding chapels near me- prayers often take place during ceremonies and after speeches.
Ways to Incorporate a Tribute:
• A Personalized Prayer: Ask your officiant to include a prayer during the ceremony for those who have passed.
• A Favorite Scripture or Poem: Choose a passage that reflects the life and legacy of your loved one(s). Example: “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” – 1 Corinthians 13:7-8
• A Moment of Silence: Before exchanging vows, during your ceremony have your officiant invite guests to pause for a moment of silence to remember those who are missed.
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5. Wearing or Carrying a Sentimental Item
Incorporating a loved one’s belongings or something that reminds you of them into your dress or suit or your floral bouquet is a deeply personal way to keep them close to your heart on your wedding day.
Ways to Carry Their Memory with You:
• Jewelry: Wearing a grandparent’s ring, a parent’s necklace, or any jewelry that has meaning.
• Fabric Keepsake: Sewing a piece of fabric from their clothing into your attire is a personal and private way to keep them close.
• Bouquet Charm: Attach a ring, piece of jewelry, favorite pin, etc. into your bouquet.
• Cufflinks or Tie Clip: Using a father’s or grandfather’s cufflinks for your wedding day as a tribute.
These special touches make a big impact on your wedding day.
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Top 5 Ways to Honor Loved Ones
at Wedding Chapels Near Me
Honoring loved ones at your Michigan wedding venue is a beautiful way to celebrate their memory while also celebrating the love between you and your partner. Whether it’s through a reserved ceremony seat, a lit candle, a heartfelt prayer, or a sentimental keepsake, each tribute serves as a reminder that love never ends.
When searching for “wedding chapels near me,” consider how your venue will accommodate these special meaningful details. Many wedding venues in Michigan are more than happy to help you create a special way to include your loved ones who have passed.
No matter how you choose to honor the ones you loved so deeply, know that their presence is with you not only on your wedding day but for eternity. And at Celestial Farms- a Michigan wedding venue, we love helping our couples decide which tribute suits them best.
We are dedicated to using our platform to support locally owned wedding venues. In every blog we write, we will include 5 to 10 locally owned wedding venues who use their articles to support their colleagues and the wedding industry in ways that are not always recognized but are essential. If you are searching for a wedding venue, please consider a locally owned venue like Celestial Farms, you can find locally owned wedding venues featured on this wedding venue map.
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