memorial

[AngeloftheOdd]

So, I'm getting married in March. I was super close to my grandad who passed away last year, and my other grandpa is gonna be gone soon as well. Both were military vets, Grandad from the Navy and Grandpa from the Army. Anyways, I was wanting to somehow memorialize both of them in my wedding, but I'm not sure how other than a blurb in the program, but I want to do more than that.

Anyone have any ideas?

[katiedelta3]

I have seen flowers dedicated, rosebuds in bud vases in memory (that was really sweet to see), umm I'm drawing a blank but if I come up with anything else I'll edit.

[navygirl8407]

sometimes another candle is lit in their honor...and I have seen the Bride have a little thing stuck in her bouquet for them. (She had a peacock feather)

[Am]

A few of our grandparents and my sister have passed. DF and I are getting their names engraved on a really pretty candle vase and putting it on the table with the guest book.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[Am]

My best friend wore her grandmothers' rings on her wedding day.

[AussieWife]

Okie dokie. Both vets? How about the fallen soldier table? I had a friend down here do that. Both her father and his grandfather were in service, and liked beer. So they had a beer table, with two glasses of beer, a picture of them both, their medals and the Australian Flag draped over the table.
If you have their tags, use them to tie the bouquet with.
Tie or tuck a picture of them in the bouquet.
Light a memorial candle for each of them at the reception, or during the ceremony.
Keep a seat free for them both.
If they had specific pieces of jewelery they always wore, either you or your DF can wear them.
Perhaps ask your still living Grandpa to write a small speech to be read on the day.
Incorporate the service colours somehow, like a blue and a green flower, or feathers, or have the service logos incorporated in the centerpieces that the rest of the family is sitting on.

There are lots of ways to do a memorial for someone at a wedding without it being a sad event. If you need more ideas, just ask.

[Kt-did]

My friend and her husband both had grandparents that had passed, so they did a small memorial table with pictures of them all and a candle to honor them. His mother had no idea and was very emotional when she saw it.

Me, I'm the same way. I lost both my grandfathers and I wish they could be there for our wedding next summer. I have 2 items that I will have at our wedding, likely with some pictures, like a collage. No candle, we'll be outside. One grandfather was a shipping captain and I have an old hand carved statue of one that he had that will be on our memorial table. The other was a carpenter. He once found a hammer head in a contstruction site and liked the weight of it so he fashioned it a new handle and used it for years. He gave it to me a few years ago along with a piece of wood when he cleaned out his workshop because he could no longer use his tools due to arthritis. It too will be at my table.
Do you maybe have a medal that each of them wore? Or is it possible to borrow them from someone who does? A shadow box with each of their photos and medals would be a powerful memorial IMO.....

[Geotech]

Originally Posted by AussieWife Okie dokie. Both vets? How about the fallen soldier table? I had a friend down here do that. Both her father and his grandfather were in service, and liked beer. So they had a beer table, with two glasses of beer, a picture of them both, their medals and the Australian Flag draped over the table. If you have their tags, use them to tie the bouquet with. Tie or tuck a picture of them in the bouquet. Light a memorial candle for each of them at the reception, or during the ceremony. Keep a seat free for them both. If they had specific pieces of jewelery they always wore, either you or your DF can wear them. Perhaps ask your still living Grandpa to write a small speech to be read on the day. Incorporate the service colours somehow, like a blue and a green flower, or feathers, or have the service logos incorporated in the centerpieces that the rest of the family is sitting on. There are lots of ways to do a memorial for someone at a wedding without it being a sad event. If you need more ideas, just ask.

These are awesome ideas, I might use one if the male penguin ever decides to pop the question.

[ArtsyBelle]

I lit a memorial candle for my mom at my wedding. The other ideas suggested sound good too. I like the idea of leaving a seat empty for them as well. I did that for my mom at my high school graduation. She had just died a week before. We sat flowers in what would have been her seat.

[AussieWife]

Originally Posted by Geotech These are awesome ideas, I might use one if the male penguin ever decides to pop the question.

Geo, should i be suspicious? Do I hear wedding bells in the distance? Leme know when this happens!

Originally Posted by ArtsyBelle I lit a memorial candle for my mom at my wedding. The other ideas suggested sound good too. I like the idea of leaving a seat empty for them as well. I did that for my mom at my high school graduation. She had just died a week before. We sat flowers in what would have been her seat.

I like the idea of the flowers on the seats. Maybe a buttonhole for the grandfathers rather than a bouquet?

For some reason the quote didn't work, but whoever it was that said no candle cos it's an outside wedding, what about a lantern?