Special Ritual Options
by Steve Pritchard-Jones
There are many things associated with traditional weddings that everyone knows about and include without even having to think about it. For example, wedding flowers, wedding dress and veil, top hat and tails, bridesmaid dresses, exchange of vows, kiss the bride etc. Some of these wedding traditions date back centuries but many other elements can be included in a wedding officiated by a celebrant.
When planning your wedding ceremony, it can be interesting and poignant to add other less traditional elements between the traditional vows and rings exchange and the traditional end of the ceremony ‘kiss’.
Make your special day more personalised by integrating a ritual because it signifies your love for each other and unity. There are main to choose from and it would be impossible to list them all, but here are some ways you can demonstrate your love for each other and create a long-lasting memory for you, and your friends and family.
Handfasting
This beautiful Celtic ritual represents the joining of two people. While the couple both hold each other’s opposing hands, the celebrant will bind the hands together with coloured ribbons to signify everlasting love and unity. The ribbons are tied in a knot to represent ‘tying the knot’.
Sand Ritual
This is a lovely ritual when you combine the contents of 2 or more bottles containing sand in different colours in one bottle. This is a fantastic way to involve children or other family members. This ritual represents unity and harmony.
Jumping a Broom
Jumping the broom may seem like an odd ritual. This ritual is mainly carried out in the USA, newlyweds perform this ritual to happily greet their new married life. The broom will be placed flat on the floor and at the end of the ceremony the couple jump over the broom.
Planting a Tree
Planting a tree is another wedding ritual normally carried out after the exchange of vows. The tree represents the relationship and its roots signify love and attachment.
The lighting of a Unity Candle
The parents will each light a candle and then place it beside an unlighted pillar candle. Once the couple have both exchanged vows, they will light the pillar candle. The lighting of the unity candle represents the couple’s obligation to each other.
Serving of Tea
This is a Chinese ritual and brides and grooms serve their respective parent’s tea to represent respect and gratitude. It can also be done the other way around to signify the unity of two families that are joined together by the bride and the groom
Breaking the Glass
Breaking the glass is a Jewish wedding tradition. Breaking a glass covered in fabric symbolises a lifelong marriage. The groom should be the one to step on the glass with one foot at the end of the ceremony.
Ring Warming
The wedding ring is passed around the guests and in turn, they quietly give their blessings to the couple. The passing of the ring usually occurs before or during the wedding ceremony.
Water Blending
The water Blending Ceremony involves the couple pouring coloured water together to create a mixture. The different colours s will represent something significant in the couple’s relationship e.g. red can represent everlasting love etc.
Lasso Ceremony
Also known as El Lazo ceremony, this ritual is done by Filipinos, Mexicans, and Spaniards during their weddings. In this ritual, a floral rope in the form of a figure of 8 will be wrapped around the couple to present unity.
Drinking Wine
One glass of red wine and one glass of white wine is needed to fulfil this ritual. After the rings have been exchanged, the couple will mix and then drink the wine to signify unceasing togetherness.
Love Box
The couple will place nostalgic and memorable items, including a letter to each other, inside a box that will then be locked. The box will be opened on a significant anniversary.
Placing of Hands on a Stone
The coupe will hold one stone together during the exchange of vows. This is a Scottish custom that is meant to his Scottish custom that suggests togetherness.
Releasing of Doves
A pair of white doves are released during the ceremony to signify peace and the new life of the couple together.
Washing of Hands
During the ceremony, the celebrant will give the couple the instruction to wash their hands together and after which, they will wipe each other’s hands.
Giving of Roses
The couple will give their respective mothers a rose as a sign of their endless love.
Washing of Spouse’s Feet
During the ceremony, the celebrant will give the couple the instruction to wash each other’s feet. This custom signifies previous misunderstandings in the past.
Sharing with Friends and Family
To perform this wedding ritual friends and family will gather together to do a sharing of their feelings about the happy couple. It is a simple yet heartening custom that can be done at a wedding with a small number of guests.
Encircling each other
Encircling each other during the wedding is a Jewish custom that a lot of couples still continue to carry out during their special day. Happily walking and going around each other in circles, represents that the couple does not have any barriers around each other.
Tug of War
This is a fun ritual and one that some couples do to further enhance the bond between their families.
Handing Over of the Rope
Passing a short fisherman’s rope among the guests represents the guest’s approval and blessing to the couple.
Lighting of Fire
Lighting a fire during a wedding symbolises the couple’s binding together as one.
Touching of Fingers through the Sundial’s Hole
This Celtic wedding custom requires the couple’s fingers to touch each other through the hole of a sundial. Just like the other wedding customs mentioned above, the ritual signifies togetherness and unity as a married couple. Close family and friends may give their blessings by putting a scarf inside the hole three times.
Steve
Top Note Ceremonies
‘at your service’
www.pjtopnote.co.uk
