Remembering Lost Loved Ones On Your Wedding Day: A Poem Of Remembrance

It's one of the most important days of your life...the day you choose to commit to sharing your life with the person you love. The ring, the cake, the flowers, the dress...everything's perfect...or is it? If a loved one was lost before the day you walk down the aisle, a little of the joy may seem to have gone out of that happy celebration. A day meant to be shared with family and close friends may seem a little empty without that special person there to enjoy the festivities. Maybe it's your father who won't be there to walk you down the aisle, maybe it's your mother who can't be with you share in the joy of planning your big day. It could be a beloved grandparent you were close to who has now passed away. Regardless of who it is, there's a definite void in your day that nothing can really fill. However, there are ways to honor those who have passed on which are beautiful and meaningful tributes and can be a precious addition to your wedding.

Many couples choose to designate a special table at the reception for pictures of lost family members, beautifully framed. Others choose to use memorial candles which are a nice touch and something that can be easily personalized to your wedding colors or turned into a DIY project.

Although both of the methods described above are lovely, they are not so very original or unique. An unusual way to honor deceased loved ones at your wedding is to go to a salvage yard and find an old window or two, maybe even three, depending on their size. Make sure the majority of the panes of glass are intact, because you will be using the panes as picture frames. Find pictures of loved ones, perhaps from their childhood, their wedding day, or other special times in their lives and photocopy them in black and white to the size of your panes. Print on card stock for sturdiness and to make sure the paper doesn't wrinkle. Use scrapbook dots on the corner of each pane and stick the photocopies on the underside of the glass. You don't have to fill every pane, just fill them randomly until you have a design that looks pleasing. If you are using more than one window, get some piano hinges (the kind of hinges that bend backward or forward) and connect the windows together. This will make the windows easier to fold to transport. Include some votive candles or a framed poem and display on a table alone or even on your guest book table.

Another simple and unique way to create a meaningful photo display is with versatile mason jars. Photocopy snapshots of loved ones in black and white and slide inside the mason jar. Trim to fit, if necessary and reinsert. Fill the mason jar with vegetable oil and put the lid back on the jar tightly. The oil gives the photocopied image a translucent effect which is quite beautiful. If you have a collection of vintage bottles, you could do the same thing and display on a salvaged mantle. You could even use a submersible light inside the jars or bottles behind the picture to give it a soft glow. You could also find some vintage frames and frame the photos and if your reception is outdoors, suspend the photos from beautiful ribbon and hang on tree limbs.

Top off your display with a saying or a poem. Remembrance poems that aren't cloying or overly sentimental are hard to find, even with the wealth of material on the Internet. However, if all else fails, here's a simple and meaningful one to include with your tribute to lost family members.

We Remember You

We remember you in the spring

When the world bursts to life

and flowers crest faraway hills and fields.

We remember you in the summer

when the sun bakes our skin

and waves of heat rise from the pavement.

We remember you in the fall

when the cool winds blow

and the sun shines down through rainbow trees.

We remember you in the winter

when our breath hangs still and heavy

in the crisp air and ice sparkles on the grass.

We remember you on this day and always

And want you to know you are always with us.

by DIY Wedding Planner, November 9, 2011

Love all things vintage and want to include them in your wedding? Here are some more great articles to help!

Mason Jars For Wedding Decorations...Rustic, Beautiful, And Cheap!

Vintage Milk Glass Decor For Your Shabby Chic Wedding

Decorating With Doilies For Your Vintage Wedding

Burlap And Bling: How To Use Burlap In Your Wedding Decor