Symbolic Weddings: Celebrating Love Your Way!

Symbolic weddings are the future of love ceremonies. Couples can separate their legal wedding from the symbolic ceremony. This intimate symbolic celebration takes place before or after a civil wedding. But what is a symbolic wedding?

It’s a personalised ceremony that allows couples to celebrate their love, their way, with or without unique elements. The symbolic ceremony adds an extra touch to a marriage celebration. The Times said that ‘double weddings are reshaping modern nuptials.’

Celebrating love your way with an intimate symbolic celebration resonates your beliefs and shared values as a couple. Basically, celebrate the new chapter of your life with a symbolic wedding ceremony for both legal and non-legal marriages. Lets dive in!

Symbolic Weddings • Non-legally Binding Ceremonies

1. Non-religious officiant costs for symbolic weddings

A non-religious officiant serves non-traditional wedding couples seeking a symbolic wedding. Secular officiants and non-traditional celebrants can welcome guests and lead the ceremony. The symbolic ceremony guides couples through their vows, ring exchange and the first kiss. Most importantly, a story-led ceremony enriches the intimate symbolic celebrations. What does it cost? A symbolic wedding costs vary from €700 to €1,500. This depends on the venue and officiant (celebrant). Did you know your mum, dad or family member can marry you? The non-legally binding symbolic ceremony enhances your legal wedding! Source: bridebook.com.

2. Symbolic Wedding vs Marriage registrar

Planning a symbolic wedding with or without a legal marriiage? Marriage registrars conduct legally binding marriages and civil partnership ceremonies. The local authority employs them. These marriage registrars can perform ceremonies in register offices or any building/space that is licensed for civil weddings. Source: independent celebrants.com

3. Symbolic wedding ceremonies abroad

Intimate symbolic celebrations abroad are popular. The investment can be less than a wedding in your country. There’s lots of preparation involved. From the location, budget and guestlist, where do you start? Search for symbolic wedding celebrants where you want to marry. Otherwise select an international wedding planner. Whether you envision a rooftop venue, a castle on a hill, or a boat wedding, your dream destination is within reach. Choose for a story-led intimate symbolic celebration at www.theweddingtravelcompany.com.

4. Symbolic wedding ceremony timeline

A symbolic wedding lasts between 20 and 45 minutes. Couples can choose the length of their symbolic ceremony. This includes the ring exchange and personal vows. However, you can add or exclude elements. If you are officially married skip the signing of a certificate. Or you could incorporate witnesses.

5. Symbolic wedding ceremony elements

At the heart of a symbolic wedding is a celebration of love and commitment. This is a key aspect of incorporating special elements. Raise the spirit of the day by including your love story, poems, music ring exchanges, readings, and rituals. Do you want prayers? Don’t hesitate to ask your celebrant for tips.

6. Symbolic ceremony elements

Are you getting married for the first, second or third time? Why not, have a symbolic wedding. The order of events allow you to incorporate meaningful symbols and establish new traditions. Tip: Avoid keeping your guests seated for too long, as this can make the event boring and uncomfortable. Brides.com offers excellent advice on planning a second marriage.

7. Legal requirements second marriage

Make your marriage legal with a license, if you want. First sort out the paperwork at your local city or town hall. According to remarriage law, a ceremony conducted by a registrar will officially recognize your bond. For more information about planning it, visit europa.eu/youreurope

8. Witnesses for a symbolic marriage

Yes and no. An official ceremony requires 2 to 4 witnesses. However, symbolic weddings do not requre witnesses to attend. On the other hand, if you want witnesses remember, extra space is needed on the symbolic certificate for the signing of the names. When planning, invite as many people as you like to support you during the ceremony. That said, you can still plan a special day without them.

9. Symbolic wedding location

The Times said that ‘double weddings are reshaping modern nuptials.’Are you planning to remarry? I’m sure many things were different with your first marriage. Perhaps you are older, and have a better sense of yourself. So you know the wedding you’d like. Whether you plan to remarry within six, twelve or twenty-four months. Remember your views on life have change, and therefore this time round it will be more rewarding. For inspiration read a second wedding, second chance real story at Bridal Guide.com

10.Intimate Symbolic Celebration vows

What’s the difference between planning your first and second marriage vows? Well, you are truly blessed to have found love again. Second time around your meaningful vows are more powerful and you can express exactly how you truly feel. Exchange your vows for your second marriage during an officiant or celebrant-led wedding. This act symbolizes love and hopes for your new life together. Here are great readings about love to help you tackle the (daunting) task of writing personal vows for your better half. Beautiful wedding vows for the second time around can be found at Marriage.com.

11. Wedding outfit

You’ve have been given a second chance to love and that means finding a wedding outfit. This time round you can dump the traditional white wedding dress and navy suit for him. Outfits for remarriage comes in many colours and styles. And depending on your mood it’s customary for the bride to wear an off-white or colourful dress; to be worn at any length (within reason). For your partner they can wear whatever makes them feel comfortable. Plan it the way you want!

Symbolic Ceremony Celebrant

Celebrate your love with the perfect symbolic ceremony for 2. Find a celebrant who takes the time to understand your couple’s unique journey. This allows them to craft your symbolic ceremony without religious content. However, some celebrants can add bible readings to honour love – just ask them? Celebrating love your way at home or abroad!

Non-religious Officiant

Whether you are an atheist, or interfaith couple a symbolic ceremony full of special elements and acts of love enrich your commitment to each other. Whatever your beliefs and backgrounds this could work for you both. Ask an experienced non-religious officiant to guide you through the planning process. From a special element such as handfasting, ring warming or certificate of love. Each act will add a uniqeness to your symbolic ceremony.

Humanists symbolic ceremonies 

Humanist weddings are ceremonial weddings that signify a non-legal marriage, but it can still feel like a genuine wedding day! Humanist celebrants are highly trained officiants. These wordsmiths craft and deliver beautiful symbolic ceremonies. While symbolic weddings are non-religious and non-binding, humanist weddings are real weddings. So, say ‘yes, I do’ now! Showcase your couple’s personality in a symbolic way.

Universal life ceremony

The Universal Life Church allows couples to ordain family and firends to officiate a symbolic ceremony. Within minutes, they can become officiated.  Your chosen family officiant can join the many celebrities like Adele. A Universal Life Church minister  performs a non-legally binding ceremony (USA only). Your officiant delivers a story-led story during an intimate symbolic ceremony your way. Source: www.ulc.org

While you’re here…….

Planning a symbolic wedding ceremony? I would love to hear about it below.