Late spouses inclusion

This sounds more like an in memoriam musical tribute with sad empty chairs. This is unnecessary as no one will forget your former spouses. Pictures are not needed nor funeral flowers. I would focus on the celebration of the marriage at hand with a speech thanking loved ones present for supporting you.

I agree with LM. Gently, I feel like all the remembering may be taking away from your happiness. In addition, the memorializing of everyone may have a dampening effect on the younger generation who may not be comfortable with it.

I do think it sounds more like a memorial than a wedding. It might be better to have a small tribute and flowers on a table in the entry or reception instead of making it part of the ceremony.

Please don't do that. It's a wedding to look towards your future, not a funeral.

View Quoted Comment To all who have written opinions thank you so much. I think they felt obligated to do this but your input is invaluable. I agree with your opinions but now feel I can contribute mine seeing that others see it as I do. I think they were trying too hard to show respect, but I agree it is just too solemn and detracts from the joy of the occasion.

Not only is there no obligation to do this, it was pretty much unheard of until memorial tables and the like became somewhat more “trendy” in recent years. I’m with PPs. It’s a wedding, not a funeral.

Most weddings, have a memorial table to pay tribute at best. My wedding planner said to bring photos for this, but in this case unless there are other deceased included such as grandparents etc..,i would not include it because well it looks odd if it’s just the ex spouse…my ex passed and i had one child with him…she is 8 and would not expect to have her fathers photo dispatched to a group who does not know her deeply, and it would absolutely strain the mood and bring up questions..,memories of an ex while marrying someone new…i’m not sure she is ready to marry them. best to fully exclude this unless there is other passed love ones…

I'm glad this post is not by the couple getting married. I have a different take on this.

A widower usually gets married again after a wonderful marriage. A widow is less likely to marry again in a good marriage, but this is obvious that both in this new marriage have had good marriages.

It seems helpful there is some remembrance of them because of the transition to new partners because of the sentiments toward their former spouses. It may be better that honoring the previous partners happen before the ceremony ... that this new marriage is happening because of the wonderful marriages they have had ... as a continuing celebration.

There probably should not be a song around that though. That song does have negative words too, so the words should be checked before any decision.

I agree with the others. And I have never heard of anyone ever doing this. I am sorry for the losses. But the future needs to be focused on more than the past. It's supposed to be happy moment for bride and groom not to dwell on the past relationships.