Less 'traditional' ways to include loved ones who have passed on?

I am getting a candle which will stay lit the entire time next to a sign that says "this candle is lit in honor of everyone we wish could be here today" some might think its honoring the ones who have passed but its for people who just couldnt come for some reason. my entire family on my moms side has disowned me for the dumbest reason (not even anything to do with me) but i still wish they were there. i just want something small and simple to make myself feel better.

One of my best friends passed 2 months before our wedding, and I totally get your current dilemma; I struggled quite a bit with this. I'm not sure how helpful I'll be.

I decided to do something more personal, and I carried a small item that he left me. I think with his death being so recent, and with the amount of mutual friends there, it didn't feel right to "impose my grief" on my guests (for lack of a better term). I just didn't want to do something that could potentially be upsetting for anybody. Maybe that's just our particular situation with how recent his passing was.

As a small nod to my grandpa, who passed many years ago now, I gave my photographer a few heirloom items to sneak into the detail pictures. My grandma's pearls and the silver jewelry box my grandpa gave them to her in, and my grandma's locket with their wedding photos inside.

Family, friends and those who have come before us. We are gathered here to celebrate love in all its forums, but especially the love that makes a commitment between two people. This kind of love is willing to make promises and sacrifice. This love is based on the pleasure of today and the hope of tomorrow.

Hope this helps!

My fiance is Mexican, and for our wedding, we're planning on having a Dia De Los Muertos inspired set-up for a few of our guests-to-be who have passed on, including my own grandparents. Perhaps a google search of this might inspire you to do something creative and still somewhat traditional to the classic Mexican way of honouring the dead?

Side note: I specifically spoke in detail with my fiance about how that would make our Mexican guests feel and he told me that he thinks they would absolutely love that it's as colourful and represents their heritage, so for anyone who might think this is inappropriate cultural representation, I hope you'll reconsider that thought since they would be more than honoured to see this sort of display at a wedding!

Our hall has a fireplace and mantel so im doing the entire mantel for my dad with candles flowers pictures etc.

The spot at the head table would be a great way to include him - but for other ways as well as for others who have passed on perhaps you could play their favourite song/artist and mention it? For my Grandpa we had me and my Mom dance to a song he composed called Tori's Waltz (yes, named after me)

I really like the idea of keeping a seat for the best man at the head table. You could even put his photograph on the place setting as well.

My fiancé and I are planning on having a small table with the names and photos of our loved ones: a close friend of mine who died last year, my grandpa, and his grandpa. I agree that I don't love the "if heaven weren't so far away" signs so ours will just say "with us in spirit, in loving memory" for them

I like the idea of a candle next to the guest book, I'm not a fan of the "if heaven wasn't so far away" signs either and my fiance and I are looking for something to honour my aunt that we lost last year.

If your venue is outdoors, I've seen some really nice almost gallery walls of photos on trees of family members that have passed, or having empty seats in the front row of the ceremony with photos of those lost on the chairs.