Rituals, special elements and thoughtful touches
In addition to the decoration of your venue and selection of music, it’s possible to make your ceremony even more memorable by including a very personal moment, or by adding a special element that involves some or all of your guests.
Rose Ceremony
The couple exchange a single red rose as a symbol of their love and commitment on their wedding day. A single red rose means “I love you” and becomes their first gift to each other as husband and wife.
Sand Ceremony
There are many variations of this ceremony, but essentially, different coloured sands are blended together.
The bride and groom each take a small jar of sand of different colours and pour them into a third container swirling the sands together.
Just as the mixed grains of sand can never be separated, so too will the couple remain joined together in marriage and never separated.
Candle Ceremony
The candle ceremony symbolises the joining of two people and their families. The mothers (or a representative) of the bride and groom each light a candle, to symbolise two familes, and the individuality of the bride and groom.
At the end of the ceremony the bride and groom each take a flame from their family candle and bring the two flames together to light their marriage candle.
The Loving Cup Ceremony
A favourite with grooms, this ritual involves the Best Man pouring a glass of wine and handing it to the bride and groom.
The celebrant invites them to take a sip of wine for each blessing. (See example below.)
“And now please drink to the love you’ve shared in the past.”
Groom and Bride each sips from the cup.
“Drink to the love in the present, on this your wedding day.”
Groom and Bride each sips from the cup.
“And drink to your love in the future and forever more.”
Groom and Bride each sips from the cup.
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Honour Your Mother
Here’s a lovely way to pay tribute to your mothers on the occasion of your wedding.
Arrange to have two extra roses placed at the back of your bouquet. As you make your way up the aisle, stop and present one rose to your mother along with a kiss and say, “I love you.”
When the ceremony is over and you are walking arm-in-arm with your new husband, stop and repeat this gesture of love with your mother-in-law.
This gesture is especially effective if neither mother knows you will be doing this. What a nice surprise!
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Hand Fasting Ceremony
Until the mid 1700’s, few unions were sanctified in a church or synagogue. Rather, they were celebrated by a simple ‘hand fasting’ ceremony over the village anvil, in the fields or in the groves of trees.
A ritual where chords are draped across the hands of the bride and groom as they make significant vows to each other.
Wishing Stone Ceremony
As guests arrive, they are greeted by an usher holding a small basket of pebbles. Each guest takes a stone, and holds it during the wedding ceremony. Towards the end of the ceremony, the guests are asked to imbue the stones with their love and wishes for the couple, as they embark on their new life together. At the end, the stones are collected, and presented to the couple.
A few more ideas ………… and maybe you have some of your own.
If there are children at the ceremony, perhaps ask some to take part, as ring bearers or as flower girls handing flowers to guests on at the ends of the rows of seats, or leading the procession strewing the bride’s path with flower petals.
Give your guests disposable cameras and ask them to take snaps of themselves, partners and the wedding and have them returned at the end of the day so you have a massive collection of memories.
Fill the venue with scented candles and flowers, and instead of the traditional confetti why not let your guest blow bubbles (very eco friendly!) ?
Play music that really means something to you – your special song (from your first date?)
If appropriate, mention and thank the person who introduced you.
With a smaller wedding party, have your guests sit or stand in a semi circle around you.
In Scandinavian customs, fiddlers accompany the wedding procession. If you have musicians among your entourage, why not invite them to lead the bridal procession?