My experience as a Wedding celebrant tells me that remembering deceased relatives and friends can be a very powerful part of the ceremony and they can often make their presence felt by sending a sign.
I have seen robins fly into a room or outdoor location, white feathers appear, or an unexplained noise as we remember those who are no longer with us.
Place a photo of your relative or friend on a table at the top of the ceremony room.
The couple or a family member can light a remembrance candle in memory of those who have passed on.
Have a family member or friend say a remembrance poem.
The celebrant can bring a deceased person into the couple's story and journey which can be a lovely way to remember family and friends.
Have a special table at the reception with a picture of the bride and groom with the deceased and a flower arrangement.
Create a memory tree. Arrange florist tree branches in a large pot and hang the photos attached to cards by ribbons from the tree, i.e wedding photos of family members, photos of the bride & groom with loved ones both living and passed on. Write on the back of each the names of those in the photo. You could have one tree for the bride's family and one for the grooms. Display the tree’s at the ceremony entrance hall or the drinks reception.
Wear a piece of jewelry or clothing that belonged to the deceased person, as your “something old”, such as a necklace or vail, silk pocket, hanky or cufflinks.
Leave an empty chair for your close deceased relative at the Wedding Ceremony.
It is tradition to visit the grave of a parent the day following the Wedding and place the bride’s bouquet on the grave.
If the bride's father has passed away, it may be nice for her to dance with her mother for the father-daughter dance. Perhaps to her dad’s favorite song.
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