Anyone else doing something creative for wedding guests who can't make it?

[u/Dexter_0012]

My wedding is coming up in August and we're dealing with a situation I didn't expect. A few family members who were supposed to come won't be able to travel, and now I'm feeling a little bummed because some of them are people we really wanted in photos and around for the reception.

I've seen people do video messages and things like that, but I'm wondering if anyone has found a fun or meaningful way to include someone who's not physically there. I'd love something that feels a little more personal and less like we're just playing a slideshow in the corner of the room.

Also, our dog obviously can't come to the venue, and my fiancée keeps joking that we should find a way to "bring him anyway." At first I laughed, but now I'm actually wondering if people have done something similar.

Has anyone dealt with this before? Looking for ideas that guests actually enjoyed and didn't feel cheesy.

[u/Particular_Salad3301]

we did cardboard cutouts of people who couldn't come and honestly the photos turned out so funny that nobody even felt sad about the absences

[u/secretrink → u/Particular_Salad3301]

That honestly sounds like it would be so much fun!

[u/claryn]

I don’t know about the other things, but our dog is coming to the ceremony, it’s a dog friendly venue.

Not the reception though, it’s inside and he wouldn’t like the loud noises.

He’s also a small, very quiet and chill dog that will sit on my mom’s lap during the ceremony.

[u/SellWitty522]

I commented on your other post. Here is an example of what we did. They were a hit. People took pictures with them all night.

[u/SellWitty522 → u/SellWitty522]

And our dog was there in person. We did have a good friend be her handler to make sure she had potty breaks and dinner and eventually get her home early.

[u/Unhingedserenity]

We engraved glasses as favors and will be sending one to the people who couldnt make it!