Need ideas to honor my late mother

I've heard of placing flowers on an empty chair but would like to do something different. I lost my mom 7 years ago and would definitely like to honor her. Has anyone done something similar to this?
Any ideas are very welcome!!!

Well, I originally wanted to do some sort of candlelighting ceremony during the ceremony itself to honor my late father, where every guest would get a small candle, the first row would get lit, then they would turn back and light the second row and so on. We then realized, as pretty and touching as it would be, it would simply take too long.

My girlfriend who just married had her brother walk down the aisle with a single red rose which was placed on the alter in honor of her mother.

Some people carry a picture in their bouquet.

We have a meditation prayer being said in the beginning to help remember those who are not with us. I am also writing a poem dedicated to my father to go in the program. My mom and FH's mom will come up to light the tapers for the unity candle, and at the same time, my mom will light a separate candle on the alter representing my father. I will have my brother walk this candle down the aisle during the procession. We are also putting in a very special part in our ceremony. Our officiant will say to my FH first, 'Chris, the traits of Marni's father that she admired most about him were his sense of humor, kindness towards others, etc. Do you know this?' Then he replies with something like 'Yes I do, and I will do my best to honor these traits, etc.' Then the same will be said to me about Chris's mom (although she is still alive)...

Then during the reception, after Chris dances with his mom, in lieu of the father/daughter dance, I'm going to have my brother take the microphone and say a few words about my Dad. My Dad was really a funny character, so I want my brother to keep in light-hearted. Then we will invite everyone to the dance floor and play 'Ain't no mountain high enough'.

I hope this helps!

My feeling on this is that you should honor her in a private way during the wedding. A photo or empty chair is very sad. Your wedding should be a time of happiness and I am sure she would want you all smiles that day. I love both of my grandmothers 3 1/2 years ago and it is incredidably hard to imagine getting married without them so I understand why you want to honor her. I plan to do the following:
-carry my grandmother's pray book in my flowers. The same one she carried when she got married.
-put a small butterfly pin in my sister, mom and my bouquet. She LOVED butterflies.
-wear my Nanny's diamond cross around my neck.
-giving my great Aunt, my Nanny's sister, a corsage since they were the best of friends
THe people who loved these women will notice the small touches I am doing to honor them. I am going to try my best to keep the day happy for everyone, even if at times it is sad that they are not there with me.

I have heard of people playing their parent's favorite song or saying their favorite prayer or poem. I think that is a really nice idea also.

Thank you Jennbaby-that means a lot to me. It's been quite trying and difficult to plan everything without her here with me. I really could use her opinion on a lot of things!
Thanks again to everyone who responded--I will give this some thought and I feel better knowing the options you have all given me.

We actually picked our day to honor DH's father...he was french and we picked Bastille Day (the start of the french revolution- like our 7/4) and mentioned it in our program...

My grandfather died 2 weeks before my wedding and I took a rose from his funeral, dried it and put it in my FG's basket...

I'm sorry to hear about everyone's losses. My Fi's Dad & sister have passed, as well as both my grandpas, my grandma(she was my best friend), my Aunt, godfather & several uncles.
We are lighting a memory candle @ ceremony, it will say 'in honor of those that live on in our hearts'
then that candle will be on our sweetheart table. There is a large mantle behind us & I will have pictures of everyone we lost on the mantle. We choose The Milleridge Cottage because it was my late Grandmas favorite place(I know she'll be there)
I will bring my bouquet to my grandmas grave after our reception. I'm also going to make a note in the program.
I know this sounds like alot & I don't want it to be sad, but I can't leave them out!
I think you need to honor your loved ones in a way that touches you. Everyone has had wonderful ideas on this post. Good luck!

What about on your table seating table to have her wedding picture in a nice 8X10 frame
I heard of people doing this for parents, his parents and grandparents even if their parents have or have not passed away
and I am sorry for your loss
I lost my grandparents about two years ago and everytime I think of them not being there I cry

Such sweet suggestions on here! My father passed away 6 yrs ago, and I've heard of leaving a flower on an empty chair, etc., but that's all too sad for me. As it is I will be upset, and like others said, this should be the happiest day of your life!

I'm planning to have the Irish Blessing poem dedicated to him on the back of my programs. My sister had a classical piece played by her quartet during the ceremony dedicated to him - it was also written in her program so everyone would understand the silence.

My father has passed away and I agree the flower on and an empty chair is much to sad. What I am
going to do is 1) Lighting a Unity candle in his name during the ceremony and 2) Give money to the charity for which he died from and on the tables put scrolls for everyone that says 'In addition to the favors a donation has been made to (the fondations name) in memory of (your name) father.

This whole thread puts things in perspective. A lot of people (including me) complain about parents & in-laws during wedding planning, but we should really be so grateful they are still with us. I'm very sorry for everyone's losses
My best friend & college roommate died of leukemia about 3 years ago at the age of 23. Like Cookie, I'm thinking of making a donation to teh leukemia society & leaving a little scroll on each person's table. I think anything I did during the ceremony would just be too sad.

My father died when i was younger -- so we had the wedding as close to my parents anniversary as we could (the next day) and my mom walked me down the aisle-- I wrote a special poem for the lighting of the unity candle
Here it is
Lighting of the Unity Candle
Although death has separated us physically from those who have gone before us, faith and love have bound us eternally.

Though we cannot see you, we know you are here.

Though we cannot touch you, we feel the warmth of your smile, as we begin a new chapter in our lives.

Today we pause to reflect upon those who have shaped our character, molded our spirits and touched our hearts.

May the lighting of this candle be a reminder of the memories we have shared, a representation of the everlasting impact you have made upon our lives.

The lighting of the Unity Candle symbolizes the beginning of Laura and Jeremy’s marriage relationship and commitment to each other.

The lights of the smaller candles represent the faith, wisdom, and love they have received from their parents.
Jeremy and Laura will light the center candle to symbolize the union of their lives together.
As this one light burns undivided, so shall their love be one.
May these candles burn brightly as symbols of your commitment to each other, and as a tribute to your parents' lasting and loving marriages.




and he was mentioned in the prayers of the faithful and then during the reception my mom had told me that since i wasnt going to be dancing with anyone(I decided for me I didnt want to dance with a brother or uncle) she told me that she wanted to do something--but would do it AFTER Jeremy danced with his mom cause she didnt want to take away from that--she ended up writing a letter to me from what she thought my father would be feeling on our wedding day--it was really touching and just enough---

Remember to do what is going to make you feel comfortable--I remember for the program we didnt put his name--but I know lots of people who do-- you have to do what makes you feel right
BTW-- when I told the story to people after the wedding I was like no it didnt get me upset while she was talking-- but then we got the video back-- and my god I was crying-- funny how emtional you are on that day but dont always realize it
Laura
One more thing I forgot-- I had both sets of parents wedding albums blown up and placed in frames that were near the placecards and had the same pic put on both parents tables-- just a nice little touch to show how out of their marriages came the 2 of us

I also have lost both parets, mom passed 8 years ago, and dad almost 1 year ago. We have been toying with the idea of putting a small picture of there wedding in my bouquet, that only we know is there, and we are now thinking of dancing to a song in there memory. We also were told that if I still have her handerkerchief from that day she got married they can wrap it around my bouquet. It is going to be a bittersweet day, and you have to do what is comfortable for you and husband. We are so sick of crying we do not want to cry on our wedding day from tears of sadness, just tears of joy.. At my older sisters wedding we read something about my mom, and she was crying on the video.... she is happy we did it, but also sad because she knows there is a sad part of her wedding in the video. Any one else have any suggestions to help us 'parentless' out???