Your wedding should be all about you and your partner beginning your life together as a new family.

Amid all the celebrating, however, it’s nice to acknowledge and include some of the most important people who have helped you grow into the people you are today.

Whether it’s family members or lifelong friends, including loved ones in your wedding day is a wonderful gesture of appreciation and love.

Traditional ways to honor loved ones in your wedding include asking them to perform a reading during your ceremony or even be a part of your wedding party.

There are plenty of other options when it comes to including friends and family in your wedding day, too.

Here are some of our favorite creative ways to include family members in your wedding.

Ask Them to Officiate

Having someone you love officiate your wedding is truly special.

Whether it’s a friend or family member, being married by someone who knows you adds a uniquely personal touch to your wedding.

Not only will your officiant sign your marriage license, they’ll also be featured in the bulk of your ceremony photos, too.

Looking back on those sweet moments with a familiar face in the pictures is a lovely way to make your wedding day feel even more personal.

Make sure your officiant is legally ordained. Do a little research ahead of time; requirements vary from state to state.

Have Them Be a Ring Guard

Few roles require more responsibility than guarding the wedding rings.  

A young ring bearer is a really sweet addition to your wedding ceremony. Still, it’s usually a good idea to designate someone responsible for holding onto the rings until they’re needed. 

When it comes time to exchange rings, you can include a tender moment of inviting your honored ring guard to the altar to hand you the rings.  

Ask Them to Be Your Witness

While it’s traditional for a best man and maid of honor to sign your marriage license as witnesses, you can switch things up and ask a special friend or family member to sign it.

Anyone who attends your ceremony can sign if they are over the age of 18.

Having their signature on your legal marriage document can be a lasting reminder of their presence on your special day.

Have Them Give a Toast

Often, the people who love you most would be honored to toast to your happiness as you celebrate the start of your marriage.  

Ask someone special to lead a toast, either at your wedding reception or your rehearsal dinner.  

Be sure to ask them early to make sure they have plenty of time to prepare before their big moment.  

Honor Them with a Dance

Mother/son and father/daughter dances have become traditional at many weddings.

It’s a lovely way to share a special moment with a parent who has been instrumental in helping you become the person you are today.

You can also honor parents or grandparents by including their wedding song on your playlist, or a special song of importance to you and a family member or friend.

Include Children

If you and your future spouse have children, including them in the ceremony is a lovely and heartfelt gesture.  

After making your vows to one another, invite your child or children to the altar for a family vow.  

Promising to care for one another as a family can mean the world to a child and reassures them this day is a true celebration of love – including them.   

Have a Private First Look

A wedding day can feel like a whirlwind of events.  

Sometimes, you can be so busy getting ready and taking photos that your loved ones may feel they don’t get to spend much time with you. 

One way to include them in a truly special way is to invite them to a private first look once you’re dressed and ready to say, “I do.”  

Find a quiet spot where you can share a sweet moment together.  

Invite your photographer if you’d like to have photos of their genuine reaction. Or at least have some tissues nearby.  

Gift Them a Corsage or Boutonniere

From coordinating outfits to matching bouquets and boutonnieres, your wedding party is recognizably important on your wedding day.  

Show someone you love how important they are by gifting them a coordinating corsage or boutonniere.  

They’ll feel honored that they’re visually recognizable as an important part of your wedding day.  

Make a Family Recipe as a Party Favor

Does your family have a beloved recipe that reminds you of someone special? 

Add a personal touch to your party favors by preparing the recipe and handing goodies out at the end of your reception.  

A non-edible option would be to collect a variety of family recipes associated with loved ones and make a mini recipe book to send home with your guests at the end of the evening. 

There are few things more sacred than a family tradition. Let your friends and family know how important they are to you by sharing a personal tradition that reminds you of them. 

Celebrate Your Love and Honor Your Loved Ones with Rosen Weddings

At Rosen Weddings, we’re all about making your wedding day as special and unique to you and your partner as possible.

From our four distinct and beautiful venues to our incredible wedding specialists, we’re here to help your wedding dreams come to life.

Contact our team today to learn how your wedding fantasies can become reality with Rosen Weddings.