A New Year memorial shirt usually works best with a clear photo of the person, their name and years, and one short line about bringing them into the new year with you, such as A New Year, Same Love, or Starting This Year With You in Our Hearts. A few small stars or a soft midnight sky finish the design without pulling attention from their face. Below you will find saying ideas for the first New Year without someone, gentle options for families who are still grieving, and simple design and ordering tips.
New Year's Eve is a strange night after a loss. Everyone around you is counting down and talking about a fresh start, and part of you does not want to leave the old year behind, because that was the last year they were here. A memorial shirt will not fix that feeling. What it can do is give the family a way to say, out loud and together, that they are taking that person into the new year with them.
Making memorial shirts for your family's New Year gathering? Request a quote or call (844) 589-7678.
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Why families make memorial shirts for New Year's
Holidays tend to be the hardest days in the first year after a loss, and New Year's carries its own weight. It is the first time the calendar turns over without them. For many families the shirt becomes part of a small ritual: a toast at midnight, a candle on the table, a photo of everyone together wearing their loved one's face.
If your family already made shirts for an earlier holiday, the New Year shirt can be its own design or a gentle variation. You may also find ideas in our posts on what a first Christmas without them memorial shirt can say and Thanksgiving memorial shirts for the empty seat at the table.
New Year memorial shirt sayings
The right saying is the one your family reads and quietly agrees with. Use these as starting points and change a word or two so it sounds like the person you are honoring.
Short and heartfelt
- A New Year, Same Love
- Another Year Loving You
- Carrying You Into the New Year
- New Year, Forever Missed
- You Are in Every Year Ahead
- Still Counting You In
- Forever Part of Our Countdown
- Love Does Not End at Midnight
For the first New Year without them
- Our First New Year Without You
- Starting This Year With You in Our Hearts
- The First Midnight Without You
- We Brought You With Us
- A New Year Begins, Our Love Continues
- One Year Closer to Seeing You Again
Lines about the first year can be very tender, so read them out loud with the family before you decide. Some people find comfort in naming the loss directly. Others prefer a softer line that does not mention it.
Hopeful lines for looking ahead
- Living This Year the Way You Taught Us
- This Year Is for You
- Cheers to You, Always
- Raise a Glass for Grandma
- Your Light Leads Us Into the New Year
- New Year, New Memories, Same Love for You
Faith-based lines
- Celebrating in Heaven Tonight
- Heaven Has the Best View of the Fireworks
- Until We Meet Again
- Watching Over Us This Year and Always
- Blessed to Have Had You
If you want to add a short Bible verse or prayer, our guide on adding a Bible verse or prayer to a memorial shirt explains how to keep it readable.
Lines in Spanish
- Año Nuevo, Mismo Amor
- Siempre en Nuestro Corazón
- Te Llevamos Con Nosotros Este Año
- Brindamos Por Ti
Many San Antonio families mix English and Spanish on one shirt. See what memorial shirts can say in Spanish for more ideas.
Design ideas for a New Year memorial shirt
Let the photo lead
LuxPort memorial shirts are photo tribute shirts, so the person's face is the heart of the design. Choose a photo where they look like themselves: smiling at a family party, holding a grandchild, or dressed up for a past New Year's Eve. A clear, well-lit photo prints best. If you only have an old print, our guide on scanning an old printed photo for a memorial shirt walks you through it.
Add a small New Year touch
A few small stars, a soft firework burst, a crescent moon, or a clock at midnight can tie the shirt to the night without taking over. Keep these accents small and around the edges of the photo. Gold and silver tones look especially good on black or navy shirts.
Keep the text simple
Most strong designs use three pieces of text at most: the saying, the name, and the years. If you want to share more, move the longer message to the back. Our post on whether to show full dates or just the years helps with that choice.
Ways families wear New Year memorial shirts
- A midnight toast at home. Everyone wears the shirt, raises a glass at midnight, and says one thing they loved about the person.
- A candle or a quiet moment before the countdown. Light a candle by their photo and take a family picture together in the shirts.
- New Year's Day at the cemetery or a favorite place. Some families start the year by visiting the person, then share a meal they loved.
- A family brunch. A daytime gathering can feel gentler than a late party. Our post on New Year's Day brunch family shirts covers non-memorial ideas if part of the family wants both.
- A resolution in their honor. Some families print a short line on the back, like This Year We Live Like You Did, and choose one thing to do together in the person's memory.
If your family is planning a larger gathering, such as a candlelight vigil or a balloon release, see what shirts for a candlelight vigil or balloon release can say.
Choosing colors and shirt styles
Black, navy, and charcoal match the night-sky feel of New Year's Eve. White and cream feel lighter and work well for a daytime visit or brunch. You can also choose the person's favorite color. Our guide to what color memorial shirts should be walks through the options. Since New Year's nights in San Antonio can turn chilly, some families add long sleeve shirts or sweatshirts for the outdoor countdown.
Ordering for the whole family
Collect sizes early so everyone, from grandparents to toddlers, gets a shirt that fits. If relatives live out of town or decide later, our post on ordering memorial shirts in different sizes after the service explains how to keep the design the same. For a big group, see ordering custom memorial shirts for a large group.
Start with our custom memorial shirts page, or browse the memorial and celebration of life shirts collection. Send your photo, the name and years, your saying, colors, and sizes. Our team prepares a proof so you can see the full design, and nothing prints until you approve it. If you want more inspiration first, our complete guide to custom memorial shirts covers every step.
Frequently asked questions
What should a New Year memorial shirt say?
Most New Year memorial shirts pair a clear photo of the person with their name, their years, and one short line about carrying them into the new year, such as A New Year, Same Love, Starting This Year With You in Our Hearts, or Another Year Loving You. Pick the line that sounds like your family, and keep it short enough to read from across a room.
Is it okay to wear a memorial shirt to a New Year's Eve party?
Yes, if it feels right for your family and the gathering. Many families wear memorial shirts at a home countdown, a family dinner, or a quiet midnight toast in the person's honor. If you are going to a bigger party with friends, a softer design, like a small photo on the front and the saying on the back, can feel more comfortable.
Should the shirt include the new year's date?
You can, but you do not have to. Adding the year, such as Our First New Year Without You followed by the year, turns the shirt into a keepsake from that night. Leaving the year off means the shirt can be worn again at future New Year gatherings, birthdays, and anniversaries.
What colors work for a New Year memorial shirt?
Black, navy, and charcoal match the night-sky feel of New Year's Eve and make gold or silver accents stand out. White, cream, or a soft color the person loved also works, especially for a New Year's Day brunch or daytime visit. Our guide to memorial shirt colors goes deeper.
Can kids wear New Year memorial shirts too?
Yes. Youth and toddler sizes can carry the same photo and saying, so the whole family matches. For little ones, a simple line like We Love You, Grandma or Our Angel Is Watching works well and is easy for them to understand.
How do I order New Year memorial shirts from LuxPort Print Co?
Request a quote with your photo, the name and years, the saying you chose, your shirt colors, and a size list, or call (844) 589-7678. Our team prepares a proof showing the full design, and nothing prints until you approve it.
LuxPort Print Co, 10730 Potranco Rd Suite 122-507, San Antonio, TX 78251.
Ready to carry them into the new year with you? Request a quote or call (844) 589-7678.
Request a QuoteCall Now: (844) 589-7678