Ceremony Styles, Rituals & Other Add-Ons

  Similar to the water ceremony, the couple both pour different colored sand into a larger glass. This can be done in a way that creates a unique design by the two different colored sands, symbolizing the two individual lives now blended together and working as one.  

  The Unity Water ceremony incorporates two small glasses of different colored water and a larger glass into which the smaller glasses are emptied, creating a third color. You may want to experiment with colors so that the mixed colors create a pleasant color together.  

  The gift of coins is given by the couple as a symbol of his obligation and desire to care and provide for the family. The bride’s acceptance symbolizes her mutual obligation to care for the family and home.  

 Taking communion as a Christian couple is a beautiful testimony to everyone present that your marriage is going to be a marriage where the Lord will be put first. As the first communion as husband and wife, it is a great way to express the faith of two coming together as one.  

  The couple exchange garlands of flower leis. It also represents their new unity, blessed by nature. The families may also exchange leis with the couple. Leis represent the love and respect you have for the person you are giving it to, and the unity of the new family.  

  For religious ceremonies, collaborate with your officiant on ways to involve your wedding party and families in a group prayer. Invite all those wishing to participate up to physically support the newlyweds.  

  The unity ceremony is a perfect time to involve your children in the coming together of families. Have the little ones lend a hand to a sand or salt combining ceremony.  

  Lasso or rope is placed around the couple's shoulders, usually by the officiant. Sometimes rosary beads or orange flowers are used instead of a rope. It can also be placed around the couple’s necks, or wrists and symbolizes the entwined union of the couple.  

  The couple holds their hands on a stone during their vows to “set them in stone”. Guests can be given a stone and they can say a prayer or give good wishes for the couple and place them in a basket. The couple can place their stones on top of stones in the basket.  

  A bell is rung on the wedding day, the happiest day of the couple’s lives and then it is placed in a central location in the home. If the couple starts to argue, one of them can ring the truce bell to remind them both of their love for each other hopefully resolving disagreement quickly.  

  One of the most common ceremonies. The couple each take a lit candle and simultaneously light a third larger “unity candle.” They may blow out their individual lights, or leave them lit, symbolizing that they have not lost their individuality in their unity.  

  A unity ceremony where the couple exchange roses. Some variations may involve the families exchanging roses, the bride and groom exchanging roses with their families, the couple exchange roses, and then presenting their mothers with the roses.  

  Including sage and palo santo stick in a wedding ceremony can symbolize the purification of the couple's path as they embark on their new journey together. It represents the intention to create a sacred and harmonious space for their union, free from any negative energies or influences. The act of smudging with sage can also serve as a way to invite blessings and positive energy into the marriage, setting the stage for a harmonious and spiritually aligned union. 

  Incorporate feathers, which are often seen as symbols of spirituality and connection to the divine.  The couple can exchange or hold feathers while speaking vows or blessing, symbolizing the guidance and support of spirit throughout their marriage.  

 Create a time capsule filled with meaningful items or letters that represent your relationship and aspirations for the future.  During the ceremony, the couple can seal the time capsule and vow to open it on a significant anniversary.

  We love this fun idea to add a splash of color. Artsy couples can each choose a different color of paint and pour it onto a single canvas. The two paint colors blend and bring life to the empty canvas together, creating a modern-art representation of their marriage.  

    In Jewish tradition, the Breaking of the Glass at a wedding is a symbolic prayer and hope that your love for one another will remain until the pieces of the glass come together again, or in other words, that your love will last forever. The fragile nature of the glass also suggests the frailty of human relationships.  

  This ceremony idea comes from Christian tradition, based on Ecclesiastes 4:12: "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Each strand of the braid represents the bride, groom, and God and the unending bond and strength between the three. During the ceremony, the groom traditionally holds a ring securing the three strands, while the bride braids them.  

 The main purpose of foot-washing is caring for others, cleansing us in a sin-cursed world, and to emulate Jesus in everything we do. As long as there are genuine emotions behind the act, the service to others will bring feelings of humility and empathy. It is a beneficial act for both parties.  

 Originally a Pagan Celtic ceremony and adapted for cultures over the centuries, handfasting creates an infinity symbol around the couple’s joined hands to represent the combining of two lives. 

 “Jumping the Broom“ is a symbol of sweeping away the old and welcoming the new, or a symbol of new beginning. 

  Writing private letters may be an easier way for you to express your vows. Choose to either read the letters out loud to one another or even keep them private—the ceremony is all about the two of you!  

  We love the romance that this tradition brings. During this unity ritual, the couple releases a paper lantern into the air, allowing their love to pass into the universe as one. Depending on the ceremony and the couple's preference, they may release their paper lantern on their own, or they will invite all of their guests to release lanterns as well.  

  The Mother’s Rose Ceremony is a great way of honoring the Bride & Groom’s mothers or other family members during a wedding ceremony. The Rose or Flower ceremony allows the bride and groom a way for them to show gratitude for the love bestowed upon them.  

  This is such a sweet ceremony option for a woodland-themed or garden-inspired wedding. This creative nature-inspired idea is to plant a tree together, adding soil (perhaps gathered from both of your hometowns) to a pot to symbolize your union. Like the tree, your relationship will need love and care. 

  An extra addition to the wine box unity ceremony, nestle in a few love notes to your future selves so you can read these wedding-day messages and enjoy a properly aged bottle ten years into your marriage.  

 In the Unity Wine ceremony, the couple each take a carafe of wine and pour the wine into a single glass. They both drink the mixed win to symbolize their willingness to share in both the joys and the disappointments of life.  

 This can also be done with beer, or it can be done with tea for a dry wedding. 

   This part of the celebration is usually at the conclusion of their ceremony, after the pronouncement of marriage and often during the kiss. A butterfly release provides a memorable and photogenic conclusion. Their release is environmentally safe and helps in the restoration of the butterfly population. 

  Fidelity Wedding doves can be released during or after a ceremony because the birds represent fidelity. When doves find a mate, they remain with the mate for life, which is why doves are the perfect bird to include in a celebration that honors lifelong commitment. 

Many couples choose to have family members or friends perform a wedding reading during their ceremony. Typically, a wedding reading helps convey the couple's feelings for one another in a way that can be heartwarming, tender, poetic or even whimsical.

  There are many available throughout the web.  However, if you would like assistance we are here to help.

    There are many ways to honor a deceased family member or loved one in a wedding.  A memorial candle, a photo, a rose on an empty chair, taking a moment during the ceremony to remember them, etc. 

  The tea ceremony is a common wedding tradition in Chinese culture when the bride and groom pay their respects and show their gratitude towards their parents, new in-laws, and elders by serving them tea. In turn, their families will give their blessings to the newlyweds by gifting them “hong baos” (red envelopes with money)  

A wedding prayer is a great way to honor your faith and connect your ceremony to something spiritual. It can be delivered by your officiant or by a guest of honor. Wedding prayers are not reserved for traditional religious or Christian weddings. Couples of all faiths can include prayers into their ceremony.