You can learn how to include deceased parent in wedding by considering three timings. You can choose to honor your mom or dad who passed away in all three timings during your wedding or select one of these ways to keep their spirit alive on your wedding day.
We will also guide you on incorporating a deceased mother or deceased father of the bride or groom on wedding invitations. It’s always sentimental to have your parent honored wherever they are on this significant milestone of your life.
And if you’re preparing for the wedding, here are the top questions to ask when planning a wedding to get you started.
How To Honor Deceased Parent In Wedding: 3 Lovely Ways
Include the deceased parent in the wedding program
One of the best ways to pay tribute to a deceased parent is to address them in a wedding program. While the wedding program is short as it’s only meant to inform and direct the guests regarding the wedding, it’s traditional also to include a dedication area.
At the end of the wedding program, use the page to honor your parent who passed away. It can be a short but sweet heartfelt message like “On this special day, we remember those who could not be with us” and mention your parent.
Please also address this page accordingly by putting the heading “In Memoriam” or “Thank You.” And alternatively or additionally, you can still list your deceased parent as part of the wedding party with the living parent first.
Then, use the phrase “the late [parent’s full name] to recognize them better.
Incorporate the deceased loved one in your wedding ceremony
You can include your deceased parent in the wedding program, but you can also honor them in the wedding ceremony. Incorporate a part of the wedding dedicated to them like having a candle lighting ceremony in their honor.
The officiant can read something or talk about your dear parent who passed away. This will also allow the other wedding guests to commemorate the person who passed away.
But if you are limited with time at the ceremony, you can consider reserving a seat at the front for the late mom or dad of the groom or bride. Have a sign with their name on it or have a flower arrangement or photograph of the deceased parent to have a heartfelt symbol of their presence during the ceremony.
Use the wedding reception to honor the parent who passed away
Besides using the ceremony to commemorate the deceased parent, they can also be included in the wedding reception. Again, you can dedicate a seat or area addressing them as “The late…”, or have their best photo included in the wedding slideshow shown at the reception.
You can also mention them during the wedding toast or any other speech you’ll give at the wedding. It’s always a genuine moment to talk about the important people in their lives as we raise a glass for them.
Reminisce your best memories and moments with them, especially if they’ve also spent time with your spouse. Just familiarize yourself with how long a wedding toast should be.
How Do You Write Deceased Parents On Wedding Invitation?
If the bride’s parent has passed away
Mr./Mrs. [full name of the bride’s living parent] and the late Mr./Mrs. [full name of the deceased parent] request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter [bride’s full name] to [groom’s full name] on [wedding date, time, and venue]
If the groom’s parent has passed away
Mr. and Mrs. [bride’s father’s full name] and Mr./Mrs. [full name of the groom’s living parent] and the late Mr/Mrs. [full name of the deceased parent] request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their children [bride’s full name] and [groom’s full name] on [wedding date, time, and venue]
How To Word A Wedding Invitation When One Parent Has Passed Away
If you only want to include the living parent
Mr./Mrs. [full name of the bride or groom’s living parent] requests the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter/son [bride/groom’s full name] to [bride/groom’s full name] on [wedding date, time, and venue]
If the living parent has remarried
[Living parent’s first name and the full name of step-parent if the dad has passed or step-parent’s first name and the full name of living parent if the mom has passed] request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter/son [bride/groom’s full name] to [bride/groom’s full name] on [wedding date, time, and venue]
[Living parent’s first name and the full name of step-parent if the dad has passed or step-parent’s first name and the full name of the living parent if the mom has passed] request the honor of your presence at the marriage of her/his and the late [deceased parent’s full name] daughter/son to [bride/groom’s full name] on [wedding date, time, and venue]
Bonus tip: how to write time on wedding invitations properly.
Conclusion
And that’s it! We just learned how to include deceased parent in wedding by dedicating a part of the program or ceremony for them, assigning a seat for them, or even displaying their photo or a flower arrangement in their honor.
You can even mention them in the invites. Just remember our wording examples, especially if the living parent has remarried.