Key Takeaways
- Use a memorial chair or wedding memorial table for a visible tribute.
- Ask your officiant to include a short remembrance during the ceremony.
- Flowers, music, readings, photos, and keepsakes can offer more subtle memorials.
- Choose one or two ideas that feel meaningful rather than trying to include everything.
How Can You Honor Someone Who Has Passed Away at Your Wedding?
You can honor a loved one with a memorial chair, remembrance table, candle, photo, reading, song, keepsake, or short acknowledgment from your officiant.
The tribute does not need to be elaborate. The best memorial is usually one that feels personal and fits naturally into the wedding ceremony.
1. Reserve a Memorial Chair
A memorial chair at a wedding is a simple way to recognize someone who has passed away.
Place an empty chair near the front and add a photo, flowers, keepsake, or sign such as:
Reserved in loving memory of [Name]. Forever in our hearts.
2. Create a Wedding Memorial Table
A wedding memorial table can honor one person or several loved ones.
Include a few meaningful items, such as:
- Photos
- Candles
- Flowers
- Family heirlooms
- Letters
- Personal keepsakes
Place the table near the ceremony entrance, guest book, or another area guests will naturally see.
What Is a White Memorial Table?
A white memorial table can simply be a wedding remembrance display decorated with a white tablecloth, white flowers, candles, and photos.
However, avoid calling it a formal “White Table,” since that phrase is also associated with the military POW/MIA Missing Man Table, which has its own specific symbolism.
3. Ask Your Officiant to Include a Remembrance
Your officiant can briefly acknowledge the person during the ceremony.
For example:
“Before we continue, [Partner] and [Partner] would like to remember the loved ones who cannot be here today, but whose love remains part of this celebration.”
Decide on the wording beforehand and add it naturally to your wedding ceremony script.
4. Light a Memorial Candle
Light a candle in memory of one person or several loved ones.
It can sit near the ceremony space, on the memorial table, or beside a photograph. If your venue does not permit open flames, use an LED candle.
5. Carry or Wear Something That Belonged to Them
A private tribute can be just as meaningful as a public one.
You might wear or carry:
- Jewelry
- A watch
- A handkerchief
- A family heirloom
- Fabric sewn into your wedding attire
- A photo charm attached to your bouquet
6. Include Their Favorite Flowers
Add a loved one's favorite flower to your bouquet, boutonniere, ceremony arrangements, memorial chair, or remembrance table.
You can also choose flowers simply because they remind you of that person.
7. Choose a Meaningful Reading or Prayer
Include a poem, prayer, scripture passage, or book excerpt connected to your loved one.
Your officiant or another guest can read it during the ceremony. ULC's guide to wedding readings and prayers can help you decide where it fits.
For a nonreligious wedding ceremony, consider a favorite poem, letter, or literary passage instead.
8. Play a Song That Reminds You of Them
Use a meaningful song before the ceremony, during the processional, during a moment of reflection, or as guests leave.
It could be their favorite song or simply one that brings back a special memory.
9. Share a Favorite Memory
Ask your officiant to briefly share a story about the person you are remembering.
Keep it short and connected to the wedding, such as how a parent supported your relationship or how a grandparent modeled the kind of marriage you hope to build.
10. Include an “In Loving Memory” Note
Add a short remembrance to your wedding program.
For example:
In Loving Memory
“Though they cannot be with us today, we carry their love and memory with us as we celebrate.”
This is an easy way to recognize several loved ones without adding another spoken element to the ceremony.
11. Display a Favorite Photo
A single framed photograph can be a meaningful alternative to a full memorial table.
Place it near the entrance, altar, guest book, family seating, or another part of the ceremony space.
12. Incorporate Something They Loved
Include a detail that reminds you of your loved one, such as:
- Their favorite color
- A flower
- A song
- A family tradition
- A cultural or religious custom
- A meaningful object
Small details can make someone feel present without turning the ceremony into a formal memorial.
How Do You Mention a Deceased Loved One During a Wedding Ceremony?
Keep the acknowledgment short, warm, and personal.
For example:
“Today, we also remember [Name], who is deeply missed and lovingly remembered on this special day.”
Or:
“Although [Name] cannot be here with us today, their love and memory remain part of this family and this celebration.”
Your officiant can adapt the wording to fit a religious, spiritual, interfaith, or secular ceremony. You can also browse sample wedding ceremony scripts for ideas.
How Many Wedding Memorial Ideas Should You Use?
Usually, one or two are enough.
For example, you might combine a memorial table with a short acknowledgment from the officiant, or reserve a memorial chair and carry a personal keepsake.
Too many memorial elements can make the ceremony feel heavier than intended.
Choose What Feels Meaningful
There is no single right way to honor someone who has passed away at your wedding.
A memorial chair, remembrance table, favorite song, family heirloom, or a few words from your officiant can all create a meaningful tribute.
If you want someone close to you to lead the ceremony and help make those personal moments even more meaningful, they can get ordained online with the Universal Life Church.
Ordination is free and takes just a few minutes, allowing a trusted friend or family member to take on an important role on your wedding day.
