The saddest wedding items on Etsy: 12 wedding memorial ideas to make you sniffly

Written by Ariel

Ariel Stallings

Author of three editions of the Offbeat Bride book and its sequel (From Shitshow To Afterglow, the ultimate offbeat breakup book), Ariel Meadow Stallings is the publisher of all the Offbeat Empire web properties. She lives in Seattle with her teenaged son, where she also does small business consulting.

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Home » jewelry » The saddest wedding items…

#Stuff we love #jewelry #unity candle #wedding memorial ideas

◆ At a Glance ◆

Today I want to chop some onions at work and take a look at some of the saddest and most touching wedding memorial ideas I found on Etsy… including the custom silhouette candlestick shown above, which you could then light at your wedding. This entire post is maybe a little macabre, but grief is weird that way. Have your hankies at the ready.

wedding memorial ideas on offbeat bride — No big deal, just crying over wedding memorial candles

While we all want weddings to be all about joy and love, many of us know that wedding days can be colored by a tinge of sadness and grief for family, friends, and loved ones who have passed away and are unable to be with you on a day of celebration.

Offbeat Bride has an entire tag devoted to wedding memorials… Read more

We’ve talked a lot about wedding memorial ideas over the years (including whether you’re a jerk for not doing memorials at all — spoiler alert: no), but today I want to chop some onions at work and take a look at some of the saddest and most touching wedding memorial ideas I found on Etsy… including the custom silhouette candlestick shown above, which you could then light at your wedding. This entire post is maybe a little macabre, but grief is weird that way. Have your hankies at the ready.

Photo charm wedding memorials

Let’s start the water-works gently here. Photo charms might be the most straightforward way to honor a loved one, and they can be worn all sorts of ways — on bouquets, as pendants, or shoe charms.

This set of 5 photo charms can be a great way to have bridesmaids honor a shared loved one who has passed. — This set of 5 photo charms can be a great way to have bridesmaids honor a beloved woman who you would have been standing up there with them.

These photo charms are a bit next-level because they're printed on ceramic for a bit more permanence and heft. — These bouquet photo charms are a bit next-level because they’re printed on ceramic for a bit more permanence and heft.

These memorial shoe charms are a set -- one photo, and one handwriting charm. Sniffle. — These memorial shoe charms are a set — one photo, and one handwriting charm. Sniffle. And in fact speaking of handwriting…

Handwriting memorials

While photos are a great way to honor a loved one, if you have an old letter or card, you can print their handwriting on something to carry with you on your wedding day. Stuff like..

If you're considering a unity candle in your ceremony, you could light the candle with a lighter engraved with your loved one's handwriting or signature. STOPPIT I'M GETTING WEEPY. — If you’re considering a unity candle in your ceremony, you could light the candle with a lighter engraved with your loved one’s handwriting or signature. STOPPIT I’M GETTING WEEPY.

Or what about wearing a bracelet with the signature of the person you've lost? Mom could be there holding your hand through the entire day. (UG HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GET THROUGH WRITING THIS POST?!) — Or what about wearing a bracelet with the signature of the person you’ve lost? Mom could be right there holding your hand through the entire day. (UG HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GET THROUGH WRITING THIS POST?!)

Or keep your loved one's signature close to your heart with a signature pendant. — Or keep your loved one’s signature close to your heart with a signature pendant.

Other sniffle-worthy wedding memorial ideas

Look, I don't even call my father "daddy" and still this "Daddy is with you" stamped pendant is basically sticking a knife of the sads in my gut and twisting. — Look, I don’t even call my father “daddy” and still this “Daddy is with you” stamped pendant is basically sticking a knife of the sads in my gut and twisting.

Despite the joy and enthusiasm I felt about getting married, not having my dad there meant there was a shadow, which for me made wedding planning — especially some of the emotions and complexities — as if I were planning… Read more

These wooden charms could be just right for a rustic wedding. One reads "Dad, You guiding hand on my shoulder will remain with me forever" -- I AM CRYING NOW -- and the other has your wedding date. — These wooden charms could be just right for a rustic wedding. One reads “Dad, You guiding hand on my shoulder will remain with me forever” — I AM CRYING NOW — and the other has your wedding date.

These handmade silver earrings can house cremated remains, fur, or hair. Ashes! Fur! MY TEARS! — These handmade silver earrings can house cremated remains, hair, or fur. Are you getting this? Ashes! Fur! MY TEARS!

Wait, speaking of fur, how about a tie bar pet memorial so your dead pooch can be with you on your wedding day? UG. The feels. — Wait, speaking of fur, how about a tie bar pet memorial so your dead pooch can be with you on your wedding day? The feels.

For a lot of people pets are family… so it makes sense that many couples want to include their fave furry sidekick on their wedding day. At their courthouse elopement, Cullie and Chris came up with a subtle way to… Read more

This tear-drop pendant is hand blown glass that includes the preserved ashes of your loved one. The ashes are encased in hot molten glass and sealed inside a memorial pendant, forever capturing their energy in a beautiful piece of cremation jewelry. — This tear-drop cremation pendant is hand blown glass that includes the preserved ashes of your loved one. The ashes are encased in hot molten glass and sealed inside the pendant.

…Great, and now I’m drowning in sad-snot. Joy and grief can make such a bittersweet sandwich. While I upholster my face in kleenex, will y’all tell me what you’re thinking of doing for YOUR wedding day memorials?

A lot of weddings feature amazing ways to honor those loved ones who have left us. We have a whole archive dedicated to it. Let’s recap a few of our favorite (and some new) ways to memorialize your dearly departed… Read more

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