SIX Beautiful Ways to Remember Loved Ones

We have six beautiful ways to remember loved ones at your wedding ceremony, following the first National Day of Reflection. This was the first anniversary of lockdown in the UK. It was a day to reflect on the losses we have suffered, to support those who have lost the ones they love and to hope for a brighter future.

Some of our couples want to remember those they have lost, during their Celebrant led wedding ceremony. And you can do this without taking any of the joy from your celebrations!

So here are six beautiful ways to remember your loved ones.

One – light a candle for them

Lighting a candle is a symbol of love and hope, of light and warmth, of celebration and commemoration. They give light in times of darkness and we often light them as a symbolic gesture so that the light keeps the memories bright.

As my couple did in this photograph, taken by the fantastic Fountain Photography, you can light a candle together as a couple and keep it, to light each year in remembrance. If you would like family involvement invite them to light tea lights around the main candle and you light your candle from the flames of the tea lights.

Two – include them in a hand tying ritual

If you are including Handtying in your ceremony, include a ribbon or two to remember your loved ones. The colours of ribbons represent different values, so think about the loved ones you want to remember and their key qualities. For example, orange represents kindness, support and encouragement. Yellow represents joy and charm. Blue represents tranquillity, patience and devotion.

The knot that is tied in the ribbons represents the binding nature of the promises you make. Imagine the emotional significance of making those promises with the memories of your loved ones imbued in them. The ribbons in this photograph taken by our lovely friends at Film Media show a beautiful hand tying ceremony, in which family and friends were involved.

Three – plant a tree

Planting a tree at a ceremony is symbolic in that a tree is a symbol of enduring strength. The roots indicate strength and stability, which are representative of your family heritage and the ones you have lost, whereas the branches of the tree will grow upwards and outwards, symbolising the growth of your family in years to come.

You can have a small tree ready in the pot at your ceremony, with two separate pots of earth and trowels, so that you can each add earth to the pot. And why not include other family members in this ritual? There are some beautiful words that can be written, so get in touch if you want to hear more about this.

Four – sing their favourite song during your ceremony

Music evokes many beautiful memories and is a wonderful way of including all your guests. Imagine singing the favourite song of your loved one. Raising your voices in carefree song in their memory will certainly bring laughter and tears. And what a joyous way to remember them, while contributing a fabulous energy to your ceremony – just take a look at this incredible photo taken by David Waldron, of White Rose Ceremonies.

Five – reserve a chair in their memory

Remember loved ones by reserving a chair for them, as our bride and groom did in our photograph here. You can make it clear who it is for without saying a thing.

Six – talk about them

And finally, remember loved ones by talking about them in your wedding script. Talk to us about how they can be included in your ceremony. It can be emotional as is obvious in this beautiful photography by Alexandra Cameron Photography, of one our couples at their socially distanced lockdown wedding.  But you are the ambassadors of your loved ones legacy, you are their memories and their future. Honour them by keeping those memories alive.

We can remember your loved ones and celebrate their memory at your ceremony. So just get in touch if you would like to find out more.

Photos courtesy of
Fountain Photography
Film Media
David Waldron, White Rose Ceremonies
Alexandra Cameron