Choosing a Memorial Ornament That Feels Personal
A memorial ornament can become one of the decorations you look for each year. When several designs seem meaningful, start with two questions: which words feel right, and which side would you want to see on the tree?
This guide compares three ornaments from Guardian Angel Collection by their message, detail and size. They have fixed wording rather than photo or name personalization. If you want to include a photograph or a loved one's name, a separate keepsake card can add that personal detail.
Start with the words you want to keep
Read the whole message before choosing the shape. Choose words you would naturally use, whether you are buying for yourself or giving the ornament to someone else.
All three designs below feature angel wings, and two explicitly mention heaven. Those symbols may be meaningful to you or the recipient; if they do not fit, a favorite photograph with a simple handwritten note is another way to remember someone at Christmas.
| Ornament | Message emphasis | Listed size |
|---|---|---|
| There's A Little Bit Of Heaven | A shared memory in the family home | 2.75 × 2.5 inches |
| Guardian Angel Christmas Ornament | A personal bond and watching over the home | 2.75 × 2.5 inches |
| Your Wings Were Ready | Missing someone you were not ready to lose | 3 × 2.5 inches |
For a shared family remembrance
The There's A Little Bit Of Heaven Christmas Ornament reads, “Because someone we love is in heaven there's a little bit of heaven in our home.” Its use of “we” and “our” may suit a family tree or a gift from several relatives.
The front has feathered wings forming a heart shape, with the words on the reverse. The longer message fills much of that side, so choose it for words you want to read up close rather than lettering you expect to read across a room.
For words that speak from one person's heart
The Guardian Angel Christmas Ornament carries the message, “A big piece of my heart lives in Heaven and watches over this home.” It may fit someone who already uses guardian-angel language when speaking about the person they miss.
This design also pairs a feathered-wing front with wording on the back. If you are choosing between this and the previous ornament, the main difference is the message's voice: one speaks for “our home,” while this one begins with “my heart.”
For acknowledging how much someone is missed
The Your Wings Were Ready Ornament says, “Your wings were ready but my heart was not.” The message names the feeling of not being ready to say goodbye.
Its open-wing design has 18 crystals on the front. On the reverse, the short message is divided between the two wings. The listed size is 3 by 2.5 inches.
Think about how it will hang
These are small ornaments with different details on each side. If you want the words visible, hang the message side outward. Leave a little space around it so nearby branches do not hide the lettering or the wing shape.
All three are zinc alloy and include a box. Compare the listed measurements with a decoration you already own, then choose a branch that can comfortably support it. Keep the box for storage, and tuck your note inside so it stays with the ornament from one Christmas to the next.
Add a name or photograph without changing the ornament
A card lets you add something the fixed message cannot: the person's name, a favorite photograph or a specific memory. Use a copy of a treasured photo and write a short caption on a separate card, such as the place, year or occasion.
For example, you could write, “For our tree, in memory of Grandma and the decorations she saved every year.” Adapt the wording to a memory that is true for you. This is a card to make yourself, not a personalization option for the ornaments shown here.
A final check before choosing
- Words: Would you or the recipient naturally say the message?
- Display: Do you prefer the wing detail facing outward, or the words?
- Personal touch: Is there a photo or memory you would like to keep in the box?
If you are giving an ornament during someone's first Christmas after a loss, our guide to choosing a gift for that first Christmas offers more help with the gesture and the note. You can also find examples in our guide to signing a sympathy card.
When you are ready, view the memorial Christmas ornaments and compare both sides of the design you like. Check the product's processing information and your shipping options before ordering for a particular date; processing happens before transit.