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Remembering a loved one at your celebration

Remembering a loved one at your celebration

Weddings, birthdays, and other celebrations: How to remember a loved one at a big celebration

If you’re about to celebrate a special occasion, congratulations from all of us here at Hospiscare. We hope you enjoy your day.

There are a lot of ‘firsts’ when someone you love dies – the first Christmas without them, the first Mother’s Day, the first Father’s Day. And then there are the big celebrations – weddings, anniversaries, big birthdays, and births. 

If you’re celebrating a big life event, and want to include the person you’ve lost, there are lots of ways to do so. You could:

  • Have a framed photo of your loved one on a table
  • Raise a toast with their favourite drink
  • Serve a favourite dessert
  • Carry a small photo of them in a bouquet or pocket
  • Incorporate their favourite flowers in table decorations or bouquets.
  • Wear an item of jewellery or an accessory that belonged to them
  • Light a candle for them
  • Reserve them a place at the top table
  • Dance to one of their favourite songs
  • Give everyone a keepsake, such as a copy of a recipe for your loved one’s favourite dish or a poem they wrote
  • Give out charity wedding favours.
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Vanessa’s story

Vanessa created a Facebook Fundraiser for her birthday. She wasn’t expecting to raise much money but ended up smashing her target. She told us, “I thought I would have to do a lot of work, but it was really easy … The people around us are so caring.”

Read more

Whether you’re planning a wedding, christening, milestone birthday or another life event, you can make a difference by choosing to support Hospiscare. 

Celebrating your birthday

There are lots of ways to include Hospiscare in your birthday celebrations. Here are just a few…

  • Ask for donations instead of presents. This is a really selfless thing to do, but one that allows our nurses to continue caring in Exeter, Mid and East Devon.
  • Set up a Facebook Fundraiser. It couldn’t be easier and Facebook will remind you to do it a week or so before your big day. 
  • Start a Just Giving page so that you can share the link with friends and family that you may not see on your big day.
  • Pop a Gift Aid envelope in your party invitations.
  • Simply have collecting buckets at your party. Near the bar or cake table is always a good area!

If you need support with any of the above, or want to order collection tins or balloons, please call our fundraising team on 01392 688020 or email [email protected]. 

Weddings and anniversaries

They say, “Love is all you need” and we hope you enjoy a day full of love and happiness. If you’re missing a special person on your big day, you could choose a very special way to include them:

  • Rather than traditional wedding favours, you could consider a donation to Hospiscare. In return, we can send you a table note to let your guests know who you’re remembering. Alternatively, you can buy Hospiscare pin badges to use as wedding favours from our eBay store.
  • If you don’t need more wine glasses or bed linen and you’re feeling extra generous, you could consider asking for donations instead of presents. 
  • You could have charity collection tins or buckets at your celebration, near the bar or dessert table.  

You may have your own ideas about how to make your loved one part of your special day. If you need any support, please do speak to one of the fundraising team, who will be happy to work with you to ensure that your fundraising is as bespoke as your special day. We can also supply balloons, stickers and collection buckets if you need them.  Please call 01392 688020 or email [email protected].

However you choose to support Hospiscare, thank you. Your donation will help us to support people across the heart of Devon when they need us the most.