Wedding rituals for a love union ceremony celebrate a couple who want to express their loyalty with vows and statements. Imagine casting magical spells on each other to ensure forever love. Which wedding traditions can you weave into your day?
Weaving special rituals can enrich your love union ceremony, making it an exciting experience. But, hold on a moment! What makes your relationship unique? Are there earthly or universal elements that represent you as a couple? What do you desire?
That’s a good question! Wedding rituals can be secular or spiritual. Whether humanist or religious, you can weave your beliefs, family traditions and faiths into the wedding celebrations. Try one of these 17 wedding rituals for your love union ceremony.
Wedding Rituals to Weave into Love Union Ceremonies
1• Anchor wedding ritual & tradition
Congratulations you are getting married! Let your enduring love of the sea unfold with an anchor themed wedding! An anchor wedding ritual symbolises loyalty and a deeply rooted commitment. This act of endearment connects your past, present and future. It ensures your love flows and your legacy lives on. Create a memorable experience and a new wedding tradition. Exchange your vows as you or your officiant recites the following poem:
My Anchor in the waves of life by Melissa Gray.
You are my anchor in the waves of life
My strength that I need to survive
You are my steady when the earth shakes
My constant through all of life’s mistakes
You are my comfort when nothing goes right
My rock, my anchor, you are all that’s right!
Read more of this poem at: www.medium.com
2• Kujenga wedding ritual & tradition
Create a new wedding tradition with the game Kujenga. It’s a playful wedding ritual which means “to build or construct.” The bride and groom remove one block at a time from a tower of 54 blocks. Each one removed is then placed on top. This makes an unstable structure. What happens if the tower falls? Don’t worry! The spell is cast, because it signifies commitment to rebuilding love through open communication. An officiant can guide you through this meaningful wedding ritual. Contact me today!
3• Carry over the threshold: wedding tradition
Carrying a partner over the threshold symbolises the start of a new chapter. The groom carries the bride over their home’s ‘door threshold’. This act of love protects the bride and safeguards the couple’s relationship. Let this magical wedding day sweep away the past and get you off on the right foot.
4• Champagne Towers
Champagne towers and popping champagne with a sabre signify the end of the ceremony. This means the beginning of toasting at the reception. This act symbolises a fresh start for the bride and groom. What is a champagne tower? It is a pyramid of glasses filled by the newlyweds during their reception, with the couple sharing the first glass together. For a dramatic touch, the champagne bottle can be sabered. Incorporating this into your wedding timeline is simple: after the ceremony, direct guests to the reception and place the tower prominently, perhaps near your cake. Have the master of ceremonies announce the special moment as everyone gathers to witness the couple pour the champagne. It costs from 570 euros. Determine how many bottles you need, check “Drink the Moment.nl.”
5. Clapping & Cheering: wedding ritual & tradition
Rhythmical hand-clapping is a wedding ritual from Madagascar, located in southeast Africa. During the wedding ceremony known as ‘Kabary,’ verbal jousting occurs between representatives of both families. This tradition, which can include hand-clapping, honours ancestors and maintains a spiritual connection to the past. It symbolises the couple’s commitment to uniting two unique souls into one. So, what happens during a ‘Kabary’ ? The officiant or priest leads the congregation of guests. Everyone, including the couple, is prompted to clap in time to a beat. Then they cheer together, creating a lively atmosphere. During the ceremony, words of love are exchanged to strengthen the couple’s bond. Source: jenmansafaris.com
6• Cutting the Wedding Cake – Wedding tradition
Before you decide on a wedding ritual, don’t forget the cake! The ritual cutting of the wedding cake is an act of love. For newlyweds, this is the first thing the couple do together after the ceremony. Serving and sharing cake is steeped in old marriage tradition. It shows a solid commitment. Thinking about including this sweet tradition in your wedding? Here’s everything you need to know about cutting the wedding cake.
7• Cut-out Heart Race: wedding tradition
Strengthen your bond with the cut-out heart race, a German wedding tradition. This ceremony involves a race to cut out half of a heart shape drawn on a bed sheet by the couple’s loved ones. Afterwards, it is held up by everyone for the couple to cut and the couple walks through the heart together. It symbolises overcoming the first challenge in married life. The cut-out heart race is ideal for an outdoor wedding. From a ceremony set in nature, beneath a tree, or in a woodland make it memorable. Source: humanist.uk
8• Fisherman’s Knot: spiritual wedding ritual
Personalize your wedding ceremony with a fisherman’s knot. This ritual shows the depth of your love and commitment to one another. If you are planning a nautical-themed, beach, or boat wedding, then this ritual is for you. As a couple, you tie one of the strongest knots—the fisherman’s knot. It holds firm but also grows stronger under pressure, much like a marriage. Discover more, and read this step-by-step guide for tying a fisherman’s knot. Source: asweetstart.com.
9• Handfasting: wedding ritual & tradition
Handfasting, also known as “tying the knot,” is a wedding ritual with Celtic roots. It is 2,000 year old ancient pagan wedding tradition. The couple’s hands are bound with a colored ribbon, red thread or cord, forming a shape like the infinity symbol (♾️). This means eternity. A handfasting ritual can include the officiant’s words, a poem, or music. For more information, explore the handfasting guide at humanist.co.uk.
10• Jumping the broom
Get creative with the wedding ritual of jumping the broom. This tradition has African roots and was made popular by the miniseries. Roots portrays a family’s journey through American slavery. Jumping the broom is trending in Europe, too. It’s an effortless action of love to add to any couple’s union of love ceremony. How do you jump the broom? First, obtain a decorated broom and place it before the couple. After exchanging vows and saying, “I do,” the couple should hold hands and jump over the broom together. So, regardless of cultural beliefs or religious backgrounds. Feel free to invite everyone to this wedding ritual honouring the couple’s ancestors. Source: OprahDaily.com.
11• Love cup ceremony
What is a loving cup wedding ritual? The loving cup, also known as a wedding Quaich, is a special cup/bowl that comes from Scotland. It’s a two-handled cup filled with the couple’s chosen drink. That can be tea, coffee, whiskey or wine. This ceremonial cup is the first drink newlyweds enjoy together. As the couple sips from the Quaich, they share a meaningful moment. The loving cup nourishes the couples love and commitment to one another. Celebrate promises for the future in style.
12• Love lock wedding ritual
What is a love lock wedding ritual? It is a personalised lock to mark a strong connection between a couple. Along with a love lock tree, add your locks and throw away the keys. This highlights everlasting love. Invite guests to attach locks, too. Create a new wedding tradition and make it a meaningful part of your ceremony. Find out what to say (and do) during a Love Lock Unity Ceremony here at theamm.org.
13• Oathing stone wedding ritual for love
Celebrate your wedding, beliefs, and faith with an oathing stone wedding ritual of love. This ancient Scottish wedding tradition offers a modern twist on a traditional unity ceremony. So, what happens during an oathing stone ceremony? Couples place their hands upon a personalised stone while speaking their vows. This act is called “setting an oath in stone.” Below is an example of a modern twist on a traditional Scottish unity ceremony:
Officiant reads:
“Friends and loved ones, ___________ and ___________ will now take their vows with a traditional Scottish oathing stone, symbolizing the lasting quality of their love.
___________, please step forward with the stone.”
[At this point, the best man, maid of honor, or an honored guest will hand the stone to the couple, who will hold it between them.]
“For those unfamiliar with this tradition, love sworn over a stone strengthens the bond and connects two people with the wisdom of the past and the love of their families. Continue reading at theamm.org.”
14• Ring warming ceremonies
Make your wedding extra special by incorporating a ring-warming ceremony. This meaningful wedding tradition gives family and friends the chance to be truly part of a couples marriage service. The wedding rings are passed among your guests. Each person blesses the rings with warm wishes, prayers, and positive energy. Below is a sample script for the ring-warming ceremony:
“We have now come to the ring-warming ceremony. The ring bearers invite you to pass the rings around and share your blessings, positive thoughts, and prayers as they circulate. When the rings return to the front, the couple will exchange them. These rings will carry your love along their journey together. They will start as cold pieces of metal but return warmed by your love. Thank you!”
*(The wedding rings are then passed among family and/or guests.)*
15• Selfies: Wedding Rituals for Love Ceremony
Fun wedding selfies have become a popular trend for modern wedding rituals. With the rise of social media, many couples want to capture the joy of their special day. These lively snapshots bring laughter and excitement. What’s more, selfies help create unique lasting memories.
What do you need for a wedding selfie moment?
- An officiant or a family friend to help coordinate.
- A user-friendly wedding QR code and hastag for easy access to sharing.
- A happy couple to shine in the photos.
- Supportive family and friends to join in the fun.
Sharing fun wedding selfies on Instagram or TikTok is a delightful way to relive the celebrations. Make each moment count effortlessly! Follow the instructions below:
Step 1: Create your own wedding QR code and hashtag. Share it on your “Save the Date” invitation. Once you have it, place it on the guests seats at the ceremony.
Step 2: During the wedding, have your officiant or family friend gather everyone together. This can happen at the start of the ceremony, after the vows (during the kiss), at the end, or before the reception.
Step 3: Have your wedding guests say “Cheese,” “Cheers,” or “Congratulations!” Capture their happy smiles!
Step 4: Let the guests upload the pictures from your wedding day. Finally, cherish those special moments forever.
16• Sand wedding ceremony rituals
Incorporate your love into a sand wedding ritual. This will symbolise unity. Couples can celebrate by honouring nature, the Earth, and the universe. How do you do it? Pour colourful sands into a vessel. Create layers to represent the merging of two souls into one. A sand ceremony is a unique keepsake. It marks an important moment, such as a wedding ceremony. At CelebrantDirectory, you can read a Complete Guide to Sand Ceremonies.
17• Smudging unity ritual
For couples with a strong bond, a smudging ceremony is a beautiful wedding ritual that nourishes and protects their unity. By burning a bundle of sage or herbs, the air around the couple is cleansed and healed. It’s a ritual to begin a new phase in the couple’s relationship. What do you need for a sage smudging unity ceremony? 1. An officiant, 2. a bundle of sage, 3. A ceramic or stone bowl, 4. A lighter or matches. As the couple holds hands and reflects, the officiant waves the sage around them. This helps to remove negative energy, replacing it with positive energy. How do you include a smudging ritual in your wedding? And why would you want to? I can help you, contact me today.
Smudging ceremony words: Wedding officiant
Officiant reads:
“It’s important for the couple to begin their marriage free from negativity. Before exchanging vows, they will hold a smudging ceremony. The sacred smoke will purifies their minds and hearts, helping them focus on the good in each other.”
18• The Arras: wedding ritual for love
The Arras is a wedding coin ceremony familiar to Christian couples in Spain, Latin America, and the Philippines. The groom gives the bride 13 coins. This symbolises his commitment to support their family and share his worldly treasures. The coin exchange marks the beginning of their life together, in good times and bad. The bride returns the coins to the groom, pledging her trust and loyalty. The 13 coins symbolise the goods shared throughout the year. And the 13th coin marks their promise to help those in need. Below is a blessing the coins script inspired by North Michigan Officiants.
Officiant:
Those who have gathered here today, are invited to bless these coins. May the meaning of this ceremony open your hearts. And pave the way for all that is good in your marriage together.
[The officiant removes the coins from the box. Then places the coins in the groom’s hands.]
Exchange of Coins
Groom: “Bride’s Name” I give you these coins as a token of my care, ensuring we always have what we need for our home.”
*The groom puts the coins into the bride’s hands. *
Bride: “Groom’s Name, “I accept these coins as a blessing and a symbol of our shared home life and goods.”
*The bride returns the coins to the groom’s hands.*
Get the full Arras ceremony script at Northern Michigan Wedding Officiants.
19 • Wedding kiss
Like many wedding traditions, the first wedding kiss dates back to ancient Rome. During that time, couples who wanted to marry could not read or write. As a result, kisses served to seal an agreement. This led to sayings like “to seal with a kiss” or “seal the deal.” Did you know that the dip kiss is among the most popular types? Get ready to enjoy a tender smooch! Here are 50 romantic wedding kisses to inspire you to pucker up. Go on, share a kiss with your sweetheart on your big day. Celebrate your love with a wedding kiss! Writes Neel Burton, MD.’ – kiss history at www.marthastewart.com
20 • Wedding libation ceremony
A libation ceremony is popular. African American and European couples use this wedding ritual to say goodbye to deceased loved ones. Alcohol or holy water is poured onto the ground to honour the ancestors. This is a meaningful wedding tradition. Where can a libation ceremony take place? It’s ideal at a beach, park, garden, or woodland wedding—source www.theknot.com—Hannah Nowack’s.
21 • Wine Box Unity Wedding Ritual
The wine box ceremony is a time capsule wedding ritual. It’s perfect for wine and food lovers. The symbolic act of unity allows couples to seal a box filled with wine and love letters. You can use whatever bottle you desire. At the ceremony, the officiant guides the bride and groom through sealing the box. He/she also explains when it will be opened. That should happen on the couple’s first anniversary. If not, no worries! Do you want to know more about wine box ceremonies? Go to the source, OneFabday.com.
Over to you…
Please leave your thoughts about your love union ceremony below.
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