How would I reference grandparents who are living, but unable to attend the wedding on my program?

Question

I'm making my programs and have a little memorial for the grandparents who are deceased. What do I do about living grandparents who live in nursing homes and cannot attend? Should I mention them - I kinda feel like I'm leaving them out. Or should I just mention those in the memorial? Any suggestions? Thank you!

Answer 1

My mother recently got married and her grandfather could not attend because he was in the hospital, so one of my uncles went to him and asked if he would like anything to be said to her on her wedding day at the reception. So during the reception my uncle, who was the MC, took a moment to say " 'so and so', I was asked by your grandfather to tell you how proud he is.." and sooo on.

Have a relative or close friend do the same, so that they are at least mentioned and the thought of their precence is there!

Hope this helped!

Answer 2

You could just list both sets of grandparents -

Grandparents of the bride:

Michael and Susan Williams

the late Henry and Helen Green

Or, in our church, we use a (+) - like a cross - to designate someone who has died.

So it would look like this -

Michael and Susan Williams

Henry (+) and Helen (+) Green

Answer 3

You can list them all.  There's not a requirment that you list "SoandSo Jones (who is alive but isn't coming) and Thatgirl Smith (who's dead)"

You can just put something like "In honor of those who are here in spirit" and list the names.

Answer 4

Hi.  I work as a church secretary and have done many wedding programs.  Here is what I would do:

[for the living grandparents]:

WITH US IN THOUGHT AND PRAYER

Timothy and Lois Jennings (grandparents of the bride who reside at Brookridge Assisted Living Facility in Akron)

Robert and Virgina Smith (grandparents of the groom who reside at Northcrest Nursing Home in Akron)

[for the deceased grandparents]:

WITH US IN SPIRIT

James and Roberta Thompson (grandparents of the bride)

Daniel and Estelle Griffin (grandparents of the groom)

Answer 5

Mentionthem as 'those unable to attend' but who are 'in our prayers and or thoughts'.

Answer 6

Definitely mention them.  I would not put them in the memorial.  It would seem as though they are no longer with you.  You can just do something like the memorial, but just as unable to attend.

I am not sure how your wording is, but you can just put something along the lines of:

Unable to attend in person, but with us in their thoughts and prayers

Mr & Mrs Joseph Smith

Something like that.

Another thing that is done at weddings is the Bride and Groom to take a photo while holding a photo of each of the Grandparents not in attendance.  So, a separate photo for each set of Grandparents that are deceased.  The same for those not in attendance.  The ones that are still alive, you can get a copy of the photo of the Bride and Groom holding a picture of them to show they were thinking of them.  This is usually something that really brings joy to the Grandparent(s) that could not be there for whatever reason.

Answer 7

I had the same issue and before we listed our deceased relatives we had a spot the said "close to our hearts but unable to attend" and we listed their names and relation under it.  

Good Luck!