Personalised Christmas Memorial Gifts Made From Your Own Photo
The first Christmas without someone is hard, and so are the ones after it. A personalised memorial photo block gives you a gentle way to keep them part of the day. Unlike a tree decoration that goes back in the loft in January, a freestanding photo block can stay on a shelf, a mantelpiece or a bedside table all year.
Every piece in this range of Christmas remembrance gifts is made to order by a small family business in Chelmsford, Essex. You choose the design, add your own photo, their name and dates, and a short verse. We print it and send it to you, or straight to the person you have in mind. For more festive ideas, browse our personalised Christmas gifts.
Christmas Gifts in Memory of a Loved One
These designs suit a parent, grandparent, partner, child, friend or anyone who is missed at Christmas. Each one can be given as a gift or kept for your own home.
Robin Memorial Gift
Many people see a robin as a sign that someone they love is close, and the saying that robins appear when loved ones are near is widely shared at Christmas. Our Robin Memorial Gift is a clear acrylic verse block with a watercolour robin on a branch, your photo, a name, dates and a verse. It is a quiet, comforting choice for a loved one or a pet.
Poppy Memorial Keepsake
The Poppy Memorial Keepsake pairs watercolour red poppies with your photo, a name and a verse. It suits anyone who wants a remembrance theme for a person or a pet.
Photo and Poem Memorial
If you would rather let a poem say it for you, the Personalised Photo Poem Memorial Gift sets your chosen photo beside the words.
Looking for something to hang on the tree instead? Our guide to memorial Christmas ornaments covers the options.
Personalised Memorial Photo Block: Sizes and Photo Tips
The robin, poppy and pet designs come in seven sizes: A7, A6, A5, A4, 10 x 10cm, 15 x 15cm and 20 x 6cm. Prices start at £7.99. [CONFIRM thickness and that every design offers all seven sizes] Smaller sizes sit neatly on a bedside table or desk, and larger ones suit a mantelpiece or shelf. Our photo block sizes guide helps you compare.
A good memorial photo does not need to be perfect. It needs to look like them. A few tips:
- Use the original file from a phone or camera, not a screenshot or a copy sent through a messaging app.
- Pick a clear face. A close, well-lit photo prints better than a distant group shot.
- Choose a happy moment. A natural smile or a familiar expression often means more than a posed portrait.
- Crop busy backgrounds if you can, so the person or pet stands out.
Our guide to choosing the right photo has more detail.
Christmas Pet Memorial Gift
Losing a pet changes the whole feel of Christmas, and the grief is just as real. A Christmas pet memorial gift is a way to keep a dog, cat or other companion in the family photos. Choose the design that feels most like them:
For more ideas, see our pet memorial gifts and our guide to pet memorial gifts in the UK.
How to Give a Memorial Gift Sensitively
A memorial gift can bring real comfort, but timing and tone matter. Some people want their loved one included at Christmas. Others find reminders hard on the day itself.
- Think about where they are in their grief. If it is very recent, a gentle gift with a short note can feel kinder than something elaborate.
- If you are unsure, ask or wait. A gift given a few days after Christmas can land more softly than one opened in front of the whole family.
- Add a handwritten note. A short memory of the person means as much as the keepsake itself.
- Use their name. Many bereaved people say they like to see and hear it.
- Do not try to cheer them up. A simple "thinking of you and of them" is enough.
Our guides to the first Christmas without a loved one and sympathy gift ideas go into more detail.
What to Write on a Memorial Gift
You can add their name, dates and a short verse. If you are stuck, keep it simple:
- Their full name or the name they were known by, with the years of their life
- A short line such as "Forever in our hearts" or "Always with us"
- For a pet, their name and "Forever loved" or "Our best friend"
- A family nickname, if that is how they would want to be remembered
How to Order
- Choose your design and size from the collection.
- Add the name, dates and verse you would like on it.
- Upload your photo as a high-resolution JPEG or PNG after checkout, or email it to hello@cookiesandkoalas.co.uk. [CONFIRM this is the same process for the memorial range]
We check every order before we make it. If a photo is too small to print well, we will contact you before we start.
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Christmas Memorial Gifts UK: Delivery and Last Order Date
We deliver across the UK. We dispatch every order within 1 to 3 working days, including time to make your personalised item. We do not dispatch at weekends or on bank holidays.
- Standard Tracked: £2.99, free on orders over £30
- Express Tracked: £4.99
- Last order for Christmas delivery: 18 December [CONFIRM, and match the dates on the Christmas photo gifts page, which currently says 15 and 17 December]
Christmas is busy, so we recommend ordering early. Full details are on our ordering and shipping page. If you are also buying photo gifts for the rest of the family, see our Christmas photo gifts.
FAQs (People Also Ask)
Q: What is an appropriate memorial gift at Christmas?
Ans: A personalised keepsake that uses their name or photo is usually the most appropriate choice, such as a memorial photo block, a tree decoration or a framed picture. Choose something gentle and personal rather than something that tries to cheer the person up.
Q: Is it okay to give a memorial gift to someone who is grieving?
Ans: Yes, for many people it is welcome, because it shows their loved one has not been forgotten. If you are unsure how they feel, ask first, or add a handwritten note and let them open it in their own time.
Q: What are the best Christmas gifts in memory of a loved one?
Ans: Popular choices include a personalised photo block, a memorial tree decoration, a framed photo, a candle or a donation to a cause they cared about. A photo keepsake works well because it can stay on display all year, not just at Christmas.
Q: What does a robin memorial gift mean?
Many people in the UK see a robin as a sign that a loved one is near, and robins are closely linked with Christmas. This is a comforting belief rather than a fact, which is why a robin memorial gift feels so fitting at this time of year.
Q: What is a good Christmas pet memorial gift?
Ans: A personalised pet memorial photo block with your pet's photo, name and a short verse is a lasting choice. It can be kept on a shelf, or given to a friend or family member who has lost a pet.
Q: What kind of photo works best for a memorial gift?
Ans: Send a sharp, well-lit original file as a high-resolution JPEG or PNG, ideally with a clear view of the face. Avoid screenshots and photos sent through a messaging app, as they lose quality.
Q: What can I write on a memorial gift?
Ans: Most people add a name, the years of their life and a short verse or line, such as "Forever in our hearts". For a pet, their name and a short line like "Forever loved" works well.
Q: Is it okay to give a memorial gift after Christmas?
Ans: Yes. A gift given a few days or weeks later can feel gentler, especially if the person found Christmas Day hard. A thoughtful gift is never too late.
Q: What is the last order date for Christmas memorial gifts?
Ans: Order by 18 December for delivery before Christmas. Orders are dispatched within 1 to 3 working days. [CONFIRM date]
