7 Loving Ways to Include Your Grandma on Your Wedding Day

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The Kind of Love That Always Knew

I absolutely loved my grandma. I never had to explain myself to her. She always saw my heart — even when I couldn’t quite put words to what I was feeling. Being around her felt grounding in a way I didn’t realize until later. No pressure. No fixing. Just understanding. She loved nature and the beach. I will always carry her patience and love with me.

For so many people, a grandma represents unconditional love, wisdom earned through time, and a presence that feels steady when everything else is moving fast. Weddings are full of emotion, transition, and energy, which makes the connection with a grandma feel even more meaningful. Whether your grandma is still with you, joining virtually, or remembered in spirit, there are gentle, heartfelt ways to include her that don’t feel forced or performative.

This post shares seven loving, realistic ways to honor your grandma on your wedding day — moments that feel natural, emotionally rich, and deeply personal. One of them includes a hands-on DIY keepsake, designed to be meaningful without adding stress. I hope you enjoy this!

1. Give Her a Front-Row Moment That Feels Comfortable

Inclusion doesn’t always mean spotlight. Sometimes it means comfort, dignity, and ease.

If your grandma is attending in person, consider her physical comfort first. A shaded seat, easy access, and a clear view of the ceremony can mean more than any formal acknowledgment. I’ve seen weddings where a simple chair placement allowed a grandmother to feel fully present without needing to participate actively.

That quiet consideration speaks volumes.

2. Share a Private Conversation Before the Day Begins

Wedding days move quickly, but even ten minutes of calm connection can anchor everything else.

Sit with your grandma before the ceremony — maybe while getting dressed or during a quiet morning moment. Ask her one simple question, like what love has taught her or what she hopes you remember during marriage. You don’t need to record it or turn it into content. The value is in the exchange itself.

Those words often stay with you longer than the day itself.

3. Carry a Small Symbol of Her With You

A grandmother’s presence can always be felt.

This might be:

 • A handkerchief tucked into your bouquet

 • A brooch pinned inside your dress

 • A piece of lace sewn discreetly into fabric

I love these subtle details because they’re just for you. They don’t require explanation, but they carry meaning with every step.

4. Invite Her Into One Meaningful Decision

Instead of involving your grandma in many details, choose one thing that genuinely matters.

This could be:

 • Selecting a song that reminds you of her

 • Choosing a family recipe for dessert

 • Helping you decide on a phrase or reading

The goal isn’t logistics. It’s emotional participation — letting her feel woven into the day in a way that that is beautiful.

5. Acknowledge Her Love Through Words

Some love deserves to be spoken.

It doesn’t need to be a formal speech. This can be a sentence during a toast, a handwritten note placed at her seat, or a quiet thank-you said in person. Acknowledging her role in your life validates the impact she’s had — not just on your wedding day, but on who you’ve become.

6. Create a Photo That Feels Real

Ask your photographer for one relaxed, unstructured moment with your grandma. Try sitting together, holding hands, or laughing about something small. These images tend to become some of the most treasured because they capture a lovely moment!

7. Create a DIY Grandma Memory Keepsake

DIY: A Wedding Day Memory Book for Grandma

This DIY is designed to feel calm, reflective, and collaborative, not rushed. It works beautifully the day before the wedding or earlier in the week.

What This Is

A small keepsake book created with your grandma (or in her honor) that captures memories, wisdom, and shared love — something you can revisit long after the wedding.

Step 1: Choose a Simple, Meaningful Blank Book

Select a book with thick pages and a soft or neutral cover. Linen, cotton, or lightly textured paper works best. This book will become a loving vessel for memory.

A linen or cotton memory book invites reflection without distraction. Natural fabrics feel comforting and timeless. This becomes something you’ll want to hold years later.

Step 2: Create Memory Prompts

Write a few gentle prompts on separate pages, such as:

 • A favorite memory we share

 • Something you’ve taught me without realizing

 • What love has meant to you over the years

Leave space for writing. This is not always about filling every page.

Step 3: Add Handwritten Messages

If your grandma is able, invite her to write or dictate responses. If not, you can write on her behalf using stories you know.

The handwriting — whether hers or yours — becomes part of the keepsake’s emotional texture.

Step 4: Include Visual Texture

Attach a small photo, pressed flower, or fabric scrap using archival glue or photo corners. Visual elements help anchor memories in time.

Pressed flower sheets or botanical accents bring softness and symbolism. Pressed flowers feel personal without being overwhelming. 

Photo corners or adhesive mounts allow photos or keepsakes to be added without damage. They keep pages clean and flexible. This is ideal for preserving old photographs.

Keep it minimal so nothing feels super cluttered.

Step 5: Write a Letter to Her

On the final page, write a letter thanking her for the ways she’s shaped you. This page often becomes the most revisited.

Step 6: Decide How It’s Shared

You may:

 • Give it to her during the wedding week

 • Keep it until a meaningful anniversary

 • Pass it back and forth and write letters to each other to continue the keepsake.

The intention matters more than timing.

Protective book wrap or storage sleeve keeps your book safe long-term. Protection signals care. This turns the keepsake into something intentionally preserved.

Love this post? You might also love:

• An Heirloom-Inspired Bridal Shower Party
• How to Include Your Mom in Your Bridal Shower and Wedding Day (When You’re Super Close)

FAQ: Including Your Grandma on Your Wedding Day

What if my grandma can’t attend in person?

Inclusion can still happen through letters, video calls, or keepsakes created in advance. Presence isn’t limited to physical space.

What if my relationship with my grandma is complicated?

Honor what feels true and safe. Inclusion should bring peace, not pressure.

Can this work if my grandma has memory challenges?

Yes. Focus on comfort, familiarity, and shared presence rather than conversation.

Is it okay to include a grandmother who has passed away?

Absolutely. Memory, symbolism, and intention are powerful forms of inclusion.

A Grandmotherly Love That Carries Forward

Grandmothers hold stories, wisdom, and love that stretch across generations. Including your grandma on your wedding day doesn’t require grand gestures or public moments. It asks for presence, care, and intention.

Whether through a quiet conversation, a small keepsake, or shared words, these moments become part of the foundation you carry into marriage. Love like that doesn’t end — it continues, steady and familiar, long after the day itself.

Wishing you the best at your beautiful wedding! ✨

Warmly,

Jenna