The most meaningful thing you can give to someone suffering from a recent loss is simply letting them know you care and are thinking of them.
A thoughtful remembrance gift is another way to express sympathy and provide some measure of comfort and solace. Sending flowers and a note, or something immediately useful such as a prepared meal can be a huge lift during the grieving process.
For an idea that lasts even beyond this initial stage, we have helped many of our customers create memorial gifts with a framed photo to help celebrate memories of good times and special moments.
Frame a Photo in Loving Memory
If you have touching pictures that feature a friend's pet or loved one who has passed away, we offer a number of ways to frame them.
A special photo framed in loving memory and sent with a note
When you upload your photo for printing and framing, your first choice is to select the size of the print.
We recommend something on the smaller side for the print, up to 10" or so. This will allow the recipient more flexibility in finding a place to display the frame, whether that's within an existing gallery wall or even on a shelf in a living room or den.
Choose a print size and either Lustre paper or Archival Matte Art paper for your framed photo
Your next step is to customize the frame and mat style. Online framing makes this easy with a number of curated options and a way to preview each combination as you decide.
For an in memoriam gift like this, you may not want to go too heavy or dark on the frame color. One of our natural wood tones or something from our collection of weathered, rustic profiles might be appropriate for the photo and recipient, but you can decide what fits the subject and moment best.
Customize your frame online with your choice of profile, matting and glaze
Once you finalize your frame and checkout, we'll review your image file and print at the highest level of quality and resolution possible before handcrafting the frame to fit.
You can have confidence that with our usual fast turnaround times, the frame will be completed within one week or less and shipped out to you or right to your recipient's door.
If you have a specific due date for your gift, make sure to check our current lead times or get in touch with us via email or chat.
Tell a Story with Multiple Photos
If you can't find any images of the deceased, another idea is framing photos of a place or places that they loved.
And if you have multiple photos that can raise spirits, our collage picture frames can handle up to five images in the same frame.
For collages and other formats, we have a number of popular frame styles to choose from, but you can also create your own collage design with full control over the size of the photos, the width of the matting and the orientation of the frame.
Include a Note with Your Framed Gift
Keep in mind that condolence gifts are partly symbolic of your support, and a big part of the sentiment can be in the form of a meaningful note accompanying the frame.
This message can be as simple as "I am thinking of you", or can be a commentary on the photo being framed and the special memories it evokes for you.
At checkout, you will see gifting options for including an optional note with your framed photo. We print your message on a simple card and enclose it an envelope trimmed in light blue.
Your note and heartfelt thoughts can be as unforgettable to the receiver as the gift itself.
Frame With Materials That Last
Each Level frame is handcrafted to order here in the U.S. using museum-quality materials.
What this means is that our frames are designed and built to last for decades and protect their contents from fading.
Adding a beveled mat around your photo is a nice way to enhance the look of the final frame.
In addition the their aesthetic qualities, the 4-ply, acid-free and archival matboards we frame with will not turn yellow over time as you may find with ready-made or lesser quality frames.
You can choose between White, Black, Antique White, Cream, Cool Grey or Charcoal.
Final Thoughts
It can be hard knowing how to be there for a friend or loved one who has experienced a major loss.
Sending a sympathy gift within the first few weeks of hearing the news can be a comforting way to let them know you are keeping them in their thoughts.
And a personalized condolence gift such as a framed photo can be a way to honor the memory of the deceased in your own way, creating a long-lasting reminder for those in mourning that although someone may be gone they will not be forgotten.
See more Level Frames reviews from our customers
If there is anything we can do to help you honor and the people and memories that you hold most dear, please don't hesitate to reach out.
