Picks on Paper - Honoring Lost Loved Ones

When you think of weddings, you don't normally think of honoring the deceased, yet it does come up often. Of course, the bride and groom want to honor the important people in their lives on their big day - whether they're able to be there to celebrate or not. I know that for me, personally, I contemplated honoring my father (who died of cancer when I was a kid) on my wedding day. If you're also thinking about recognizing someone you've lost, there are some beautiful and touching ways to go about honoring close friends and family that have passed away.

First and foremost, I encourage you to really think about the person you want to honor. Did your grandfather love cigars? Have a cigar bar and include a name and photo of your grandpa on the table. Did your grandma give you a special quilt? Try incorporating it into your ceremony. If your aunt always made amazing oatmeal cookies, serve them or even give away a copy of the recipe as your wedding favor. The best way to honor someone you love on your big day is to honor who he or she was as a person, and what was most special about him or her.

If you're still stumped for ideas, don't stress! I've included a handful of popular ways to honor your deceased loved ones just below for this week's Picks on Paper. This includes wearing a special charm on your bouquet or boutonniere, "Reserving" chairs at your ceremony and/or reception, serving special cocktails, beverages and foods, special recognition in your wedding stationery and interesting timeline and photo displays.

Ivy Weddings via Style Me Pretty | KT Merry via Style Me Pretty | Love Unscripted Photography via Style Me Pretty