Rituals

These days, many couples are choosing to incorporate symbolic rituals into their marriage
ceremony. This is another way of personalising their day, and sometimes allows for family
members to be included in the proceedings too.
Some of these rituals are based on age old customs from times gone by, with their roots
firmly entrenched in age old traditions, while others are more modern in their origins.
All however, can go a long way to help make a couple’s day extra special.
I have listed a few examples of some of the most popular ideas below, but if you try entering
words like “Wedding rituals” into an internet search engine, you would find many more and
the variations on each one are endless.
It goes without saying of course, that once you have decided on a certain ritual to use, you
can take it a step further and adapt it to suit your own needs.

I have collected a few items that will help keep the costs of using these rituals down. For
instance, if you choose a sand ceremony, I will supply at no charge, the vials to hold the
various colours of sand prior to them being poured into your vase. You will still have to buy
the one you will keep with the poured sand in it, but at least you won't have to buy the
individual ones.

I also have a selection of small Organza bags suitable for use with the ring warming
ceremony. I have a few different colours to choose from.

The Rune Stone Ceremony
Inspired from celtic/pagan tradition and from a time when jewellery was only worn by the
rich. To confirm their vows, instead of a ring or rings being given and received, the bride and
groom cast a stone each into a nearby river or ocean - thus symbolising their remaining
together forever while the tides of time ebbed and flowed over their lives.
In early Australia, convicts and many early settlers could not afford the normal symbolic
presentation of rings at a wedding ceremony. This ceremony was substituted in place of a
traditional ring ceremony. Nowadays we can use it as an excellent 'conclusion' to your
ceremony.
The substitution of regular stones with their Runic
counterparts is intended to symbolise the merging
of past cultures, and the joining together of two
lives as one.

The Sand Ceremony
The bride and groom have each chosen a vase that contains sand of their favourite colour.
The sand colours represent their personalities and individuality. As the sand is poured into
the Unity Vase, their personalities combine to become one inseparable entity – this is
symbolic of the sand never being separated again.
The sand ceremony is a great way to involve members of the family and can be of particular
significance when the couple have children, either together, or from previous marriages.
A member of the Bride’s family can pour part of her coloured sand
into the Unity Vase and a member of the Groom’s family can do
the same. This is symbolic of the beginning of your life’s journey
together as a couple and as a family.
No doubt, you will want to keep your Unity Vase in a special place
in your home as a joyful keepsake of your special day and a
reminder of the love that you have for each other.

The Rose Ceremony
The giving of a rose is a simple and profound statement of your enduring love for each other
– it is symbolic of the very first gift that you exchange as Husband and Wife.
The gift of a single red rose has always been symbolic of the message, “I Love You!”
A Rose Bud
Frequently the bride and groom will give each other a red rose bud. Like their marriage, with
love and care a rose bud will mature to reach its full potential and beauty.
Honouring the Mothers
A unique variation likely to evoke emotion, would be for
the bride and groom to give the roses to their mothers or
someone special to them.

Hand fasting Ceremony
Hand fasting is growing as a popular and frequently
requested wedding ritual. As you hold each other in
mutual support and love, your hands are joined and
encircled with a ribbon proclaiming to the world that
both of you have become one. The couple’s wrists
are bound by a scarf, ribbons or a family heirloom.
Several ribbons of varying colours can be used
according to a couple's requirements.
At the conclusion of the ceremony the knot is left
tied and placed in a special pouch for safe keeping.
Couples often mount the ribbon with their wedding
vows to remind them of their unending love.

Unity Candle Ceremony
The Unity Candle Ceremony incorporates two taper candles and a larger central pillar
candle – the Unity Candle. At the beginning of the ceremony the taper candles are lit by
someone special to you. It could be a relative, friend or a child.
Later in the ceremony, between the exchange of vows and the formal declaration of
marriage, the bride and groom take the two candles and light the large pillar candle together.
The couple can then choose to blow out their individual candles
to emphasise commitment to their union. Or they may be kept
lit beside the central candle – this symbolises that though
united, individuality is retained.
Remembering Your Wedding Day
Many couples remember their wedding day by lighting their Unity Candle on each
anniversary. This is a beautiful way to re–live your special day and it also provides an
opportunity to re–commit your love to each other. Make it Personal.
The Unity Candle is usually white. Couples often add to this simplicity by decorating the
candle with the invitation, an inscription, a picture of the couple, or some other
ornamentation. The lighting ceremony may be accompanied by a special musical selection or
a reading provided by someone special to you.

The Lighted Candle
The lighted candle close entwines
Two hearts in love together,
Friendships dearest pledge is made
In joy forever.
United, you shall walk through life
Sharing earth’s pain and pleasure,
Hand in hand you shall strive
For achievement in life together.
Should the path be rough and thorny
Let love sustain and guide you,
Should the way be strewn with roses?
Let joy of life sustain you.

Wine Ceremony
The wine sharing ceremony is a delightful ceremony embracing traditions that began well
before the medieval period. Then, a bride and groom would celebrate their pledge to each
other by drinking wine from a single cup — one blood, one family and one kin.
During the wedding processional loved ones can each carry a carafe of wine — one red,
one white and place both on the signing table. Or, the parents of the couple can bring
forward a bottle of red wine and a bottle of white wine and then fill each of the carafes.
Two different lives coming together to make one life — when red wine and white wine are
poured into one carafe, they become one — the wine becomes a Rosé.I can show you how
to include an alternative ritual using coloured water — children love this ceremony and it is a
most suitable ritual to involve young family members.
I can help you add the finishing touches with some brilliant, original ideas —

Drink to me only with thine eyes
And I will pledge with mine
Or leave a kiss within the cup
And I’ll not ask for wine.

The Stone Ceremony
Many of my clients have requested a ritual that can involve both family and guests.
The Stone Ceremony usually involves using highly polished small stones. The stones are
presented to guests, family and the wedding party on their arrival. This is yet another great
way to involve everyone present.
The guests hold these stones and make a loving wish for the couple’s life together. Some
couples provide felt tipped pens for the guests and family to write their names and to add
their wish.
The stones are then collected and placed in a container
as a memento.
The stones are symbolic of the separate lives both led
until they met. Now the united loving guests and family
have enriched their lives. Each stone represents a special
wish that the couple can take with them to reflect on
during their married life together.
New stones can be added each year, at the anniversary
of your wedding.
There are a number of variations to this uniting and highly
symbolic ceremony. Some couples may choose to use
seashells, dried flowers, glass or crystal. I can help you
create this beautiful ceremony in a simple loving format.
If you wish, the stone ceremony can be even further
developed. It is possible to integrate the sand ceremony
or water ceremony. The couple can pour different
coloured sand or water onto the stones in the container.
Not only have guests and family “Wished Upon A Stone,”
but also the couple have now declared that their lives
have become one.

Jumping The Broom
Jumping the broom or in some cases jumping over an imaginary line is usually described as
an African ritual or tradition as it is still being practiced in some parts of West Africa. It was
also practiced widely in Celtic areas of Europe and Britain. In the Celtic ritual, it is a symbol
of fertility. Many couples interested in history or pagan ritual also are now adopting this
custom in their weddings.
Eastern European gypsies also claim this ritual as their own, so it is anyone’s guess who, - if
anyone – practised it first!
Brooms can be beautifully decorated to individual taste, and could be used as a wall décor
after the wedding ceremony. It should always remind the couple of their new life and
commitment to each other as husband and wife.
You could celebrate this rich cultural heritage, irrespective of your race, religion, and
nationality, the most important thing is its’ significance.
This ceremony helps to celebrate the coming together of both families, and commitment to
each other as husband and wife. It represents strength, love, togetherness, loyalty, and
respect which is essential for a successful marriage.
Also, it introduces a moment of laughter during the ceremony and a chance to alleviate some
of the stress many people feel on this sometimes overwhelming day.. In the Celtic ritual, it is
a symbol of fertility.

The Actual Ceremony:

The broom jumping typically takes place after the rest of the wedding ceremony, before the
bride and groom exit down the aisle. Alternatively, some choose to do it during the
reception. A designated broom person (a very honored job, usually a woman) takes the
broom and places it on the floor in front of you. Your celebrant will explain to the guests
what it stands for and why you are doing it. You may ask the guests to count out loud or not
and then you hold hands and jump over it! This ritual varies from couple to couple, it is up to
you to find a way to make it most meaningful.

Do It Yourself Wedding Broom Ideas:
Any broom can be used for the ceremony, as long as it is
actually a broom. Some couples purchase a beautifully
pre-decorated broom and some couples prefer a plain
natural bristle broom. A plain broom can be decorated
with paint, beads, sequins, flowers and more. A popular
custom is to pass out colorful ribbons to guests and then
have each guest tie their ribbon on the wedding broom
before it is jumped as a symbol of their wish for the couple.
You can even pass out markers with the ribbon and have
guests actually write their blessing on the ribbon if you like.
The broom can be passed around during the ceremony
and then collected by a designated person. An easier
method is to have guests decorate the broom between
the ceremony and the reception and then jump the
broom at the reception.

Warming of the Rings
Around the world the wedding rings are the strongest and most visible sign of the bond of
marriage. A symbol of a couple's commitment to life, to each other and to the future.
With a ring warming in your ceremony the rings will not only be a gift from one to another
but will be given with the love, support and wisdom of all present.
The rings are usually placed in little bags and passed amongst all
the guests who each hold them for a moment or two, and silently (or not) give their personal
blessing or prayer to the rings before they are then passed to the bride & groom to exchange
them.
At the time the rings are exchanged it might be with words like:
"These rings, now warmed by those you love the most will
forever show the world you are one and they will carry with
them the eternal love and blessing of your families."
usually a designated person will keep an eye on the rings'
progress around the guests and will return them to the
couple in time for the ring exchange.

Using Colours in Your Wedding
Using colours in your ceremony can have a special significance. Each colour has a
special meaning and they can be represented in the form of ribbons tied to trees as
decoration, on the handle of the Jumping Broom, used during the Hand fasting
Ceremony, the colour of candles or your flowers.

•        Dark Blue - for a safe journey and longevity
•        Light Blue - for understanding and patience
•        Pink - for romance, honour, partnership and happiness
•        Green - for health, prosperity, luck, fertility and beauty
•        Red - for courage, strength and passion
•        Yellow - for wisdom and harmony
•        Brown - for healing animals and the home
•        Silver - for creativity and protection
•        Gold - for unity, prosperity, and longevity
•        White - for peace, sincerity and devotion