When you walk down the aisle to say “I do,” you’ll start a new chapter in your life — but that doesn’t mean leaving behind all that made unmarried life meaningful. Weddings provide an opportunity to celebrate an exciting future, but many couples also choose to honor their heritage by weaving in threads of the past with family heirlooms.
From subtle details to multi-generational traditions, incorporating heirlooms into your wedding day symbolizes the love and commitment that has shaped your family’s journey. With some creativity, you can bring your most cherished memories to life with thoughtful details that commemorate past generations and tease what lies ahead in your love story.
If family means everything to you and your partner, you’ll love exploring creative ways to tie your family’s history into your wedding day. Here are eight ideas to get you thinking!
Photos
Family photos are a sweet way to pay tribute to loved ones and show guests a glimpse into the stories that led to you and your partner falling in love.
“Your wedding is the newest addition to your family’s love stories,” Kelsey Strickland of Twickenham House and Hall explains. “Incorporate wedding photos of loved ones at your ceremony or reception. These photos can be on a memory table or line your aisle.”
You could also integrate family photos into your wedding decor by using them for escort cards, table numbers, or a guest book to save as a lifelong keepsake. You make the rules! Your family members will love seeing vintage shots of their parents, grandparents, siblings, and other relatives woven throughout your special day.
Jewelry
Add a touch of timeless elegance to your wedding day look with jewelry that keeps your family close to your heart. Whether it’s Grandma’s necklace or Mom’s vintage earrings, heirloom pieces can make you feel more connected to your loved ones on your big day.
“Wearing a family member’s jewelry in a unique way gives a personal and memorable touch to the heirloom,” wedding photographer Melani Lust confirms.
For a modern twist, reimagine how the jewelry is used. For example, “earrings used as necklaces, necklaces used as bracelets, and many other combinations,” Lust suggests. “The most creative I’ve seen is a bride wearing her grandmother’s two diamond brooches as hair pins for her veil.”
And heirloom jewelry isn’t just for the ladies — grooms can sport meaningful pieces, too!
“Gentlemen can get into the heirloom trend by wearing sentimental items like cuff links, tie tacks, or rings,” wedding photographer Tracy Autem assures. A family member’s wristwatch or pocket watch can also serve the same purpose!
Attire
Wearing an heirloom dress or suit is one of the most personal ways to honor a family member, but that doesn’t mean your fashion sense needs to go back in time. If you don’t like the fit or style, consider asking permission to tailor it to your preferences.
Autem suggests altering a family gown to suit your style. “Your Mother or Grandmother’s dress could be re-designed into your own wedding day attire or shortened for a fun and sentimental look for your rehearsal dinner,” she says.
Or, if you’ve already picked your dream day-of outfit, EBJ & Company’s Casey Cannon recommends “cutting a piece of fabric from their attire and sewing it onto yours.” That way, you can dress how you’d like with “a sweet touch only you and a select few will know about, making it an intimate reminder of those loved ones.”
Whether you wear an outfit passed down through generations or add a subtle piece of fabric to your attire, these touches are a beautiful way to carry your family history throughout the day. What better way to enter a new chapter of life than with a reminder of the legacy you’re continuing?
Furniture
Nostalgic for weekends spent lounging on Grandpa’s vintage chaise? Can’t imagine growing up without the well-loved dining table in your childhood home?
Wedding photographer and videographer Craig Peterman recommends using heirloom furniture in your wedding design. “This is a great way to incorporate a personal touch of family history into your wedding by using a table, couch, or chair,” he says.
From ceremony seating to your cake table, there are many ways to add an intimate, homey feel to your celebration. Sit in your favorite plush loveseat at the sweetheart table, turn an antique bookshelf into a seating chart, or set a funky armchair out for photo ops — endless opportunities await!
Bouquet
Your wedding bouquet offers a subtle yet special way to incorporate family heirlooms into your ceremony, keeping your loved ones close as you exchange vows and say, “I do.”
“If you have a handkerchief, doilies, ribbon, charm, etc., a super easy and meaningful place to incorporate these is around a bouquet,” Loni Peterson of LP Creative Events confirms. “Being able to hold these special items with you as you walk down the aisle will ensure those loved ones are with you in that moment.”
Small keepsakes, like a locket with photos or a vintage brooch, are easily tied into a bouquet’s wrap. But you could also wrap your bouquet with a sentimental swatch of fabric, like lace from a grandmother’s wedding dress or an uncle’s favorite tie.
Invitations
Your wedding invitations are the first teaser for your celebration, so imagine your family’s surprise when they recognize a nod to your heritage!
“This is an area where couples can get creative and incorporate some very special heirlooms without having to actually bring them to the wedding,” explains Kelley Nudo of Momental Designs. From beloved pets to flowers from your parents’ garden, dig into your family history to find significant elements to infuse your wedding day with symbolism.
“Our team has often illustrated family homes that have been passed down for generations,” Nudo shares. “We have received requests to develop floral patterns inspired by a china pattern that has been passed down through the family. Some couples have asked our artists to illustrate a vintage car that has been around for decades.”
If you’re coming up short, consider creating your own! Work with an artist to design a custom family crest or motif to serve as an heirloom for future generations.
Guest book
Instead of a traditional blank guest book, consider using a beloved family volume, such as an old novel, a cookbook with notes in the margins, a worn atlas, or even a treasured journal. Guests can write their messages and well-wishes anywhere, turning the book into a cherished keepsake that spans generations.
Emily Sullivan of Unique Weddings and Events shares about a couple that honored a late grandmother with a special guest book from her collection. “[She] loved jewelry, so we repurposed one of her old jewelry coffee table books as a guest book,” she shares.
Guests will love flipping through the pages to find the perfect spot to leave a note. And the best part is that you can continue filling this heirloom guest book with new memories and love for generations to come!
Food
Most families have a special recipe or two that has been passed down from generation to generation. Whether it’s a hearty pot roast or freshly baked cookies, you can certainly consider family recipes as heirlooms!
“Couples have chosen to share coveted family recipes by asking the catering staff to prepare a dish or two just as beloved family would make, which can be specifically noted on the menu,” Nudo says. (But only share the secret ingredient with your caterer confidentially!)
If your family has a sweet tooth, lean in with a tasty dessert spread. Consider recruiting loved ones to help prepare their signature treats, making your day all the sweeter!
“We have seen couples gift their guests with other homemade favors such as jams, wines, and other confections that have sentimental meaning to the couple,” Nudo adds.
Food has brought people together for centuries, so it’s fitting to tie family traditions into your wedding day menu. They say food is love, so why not celebrate accordingly?
From displaying family photos to sharing your favorite recipes, incorporating heirlooms into your wedding will make your guests feel like you’ve invited them into your home. Each heirloom tells a story, adding depth to your wedding and profoundly connecting the past and future. As you step into married life, consider how you can blend old and new for a one-of-a-kind experience that celebrates all that has led you down the aisle!
Meghan Ely is the owner of wedding PR and wedding marketing firm OFD Consulting. Ely is a sought-after speaker and a self-professed royal wedding enthusiast.
