There are many things in life that we celebrate. Our birthdays, graduations, engagements, weddings, children's birth, and work promotions are just a few. These occasions are made special because of the people we get to share them with. Their support and love make those moments most memorable and help us to realize that all the hard work and tough times we had endured to get to that point was well worth it. But what if you couldn't celebrate these momentous milestones with certain loved ones? What if they had already passed and you desperately wished they could be there to cheer you on?
There are sadly many events that our dearly departed will miss. They are gone, but are definitely not forgotten. We all have celebrations like a wedding where we want our grandparents to share our day with us, or our parents to witness the birth of their first grandchild, or maybe you lost a sister who will never get to see her child graduate from high school. It's in these moments that we wish they could be there. We all know that they are celebrating right along side us in spirit, but it's not the same.
We hear all the time how a bride wants to honor her grandfather or father at her wedding, or a mom-to-be wants to share her baby shower with her parents who are no longer living. While they wish they could honor their relatives, they don't know how. There are several ways to show your respects and involve your loved one in any event you celebrate.
If you are planning a wedding, baby shower, graduation, or basically anywhere that there will be seating, place a photo of your dearly departed on seat as if you were saving their place.
You can also make a backdrop to place in a foyer or on one side of the room with pictures of those departed hanging. The pictures placed inside could match the theme for the occasion.
Ex: If its for a wedding, have your loved ones wedding photos displayed. If its a baby shower being celebrated, you can place photos of your loved one with their child.
There are many weddings in which the bride and groom will have a guest sign in table. These tables are usually filled with the bride and grooms engagement photos, memorabilia, and a guest book for their guests to sign as they arrive. A great way to show honor to a special someone is to place a photo of that person along with these items and have a loving description as to who they are next to it.
If you're anything like me, you want to keep that person close by as you celebrate your joyous occasion. Lockets are a great way to keep a photo near to you at all times. Whether you're wearing it or holding it, you can display it for all to see.
The last idea of honoring a loved one comes in a simple and easy way to display. A candle seems to be the universal sign for remembering someone passed. What better way than to light a beautiful candle and have the names of those you are honoring displayed on the outside of it. They may be gone but their spirit lives on.
