Looking for inspiration?
Choosing a celebrant-led ceremony means you have complete freedom when it comes to shaping your wedding ceremony, so unlike a registrar-led wedding you don’t have to include anything you don’t really like.
Ceremonies tend to include an exchange of wedding rings and vows or promises, but you’re not obliged to do so if that’s not really you. Maybe include another element in addition to that if you really connect with a tradition, or use the traditions as inspiration and a springboard for ideas.
Handfasting goes all the way back to 7000 BC, and is a wonderfully visual representation of marriage as you will be literally tying the knot. While traditionally 3 or 4 braids are used there are no hard and fast rules so feel free be creative. My two grooms had attended PRIDE events all over the world, and so opted for the six colours of the rainbow flag for their handfasting braids. Each was brought forward by a different family member and then one of the dads tied the knot - it looked stunning.
In place of exchanging rings and vows one bride and groom chose to adapt the Scottish tradition of the quaich, or loving cup. Usually this would have involve whisky blended together, but as neither was a whisky drinker they opted to mix a cocktail, using their much-preferred rum as the base. Great fun, a memorable way to end a ceremony and really reflected them as individuals.
While handfasting goes back thousands of years some traditions are far more recent. The unity candle ceremony only appeared in the second half of the 20th century, and some attribute its popularity to having appeared in an episode of the American soap opera General Hospital.
And don’t overlook the power of music to bring your guests together with a mass singalong. They may have uncertainly stumbled through a hymn or two at a church wedding but you can’t beat belting out a tune when everybody already knows it. In the summer of 2023 one wedding couple chose to honour their late mothers – both big Abba fans – by choosing Thank You for the Music for their guests to sing along en masse.
There are few ideas below, or dip into the blog on the homepage for more ideas. I’ll be delighted to get to know you and offer some suggestions for ways of personalising your wedding ceremony.
A few ideas to get things started.
Handfasting
Ring blessing / warming
Ring blessing / warming
Dating back to ancient Celtic times, handfasting is wonderfully visual and was the origin of the phrase "tying the knot"
Ring blessing / warming
Ring blessing / warming
Ring blessing / warming
Lovely way to include everybody present, as the rings travel around the guests to be blessed, or "warmed", by everyone.
Rings and vows
Ring blessing / warming
Rings and vows
The classic - and very easy to personalise by writing your own vows. Don't worry, I can help with ideas and suggestions.
Quaich
Unity candle
Rings and vows
The ancient Scottish tradition of the quaich, or loving cup. Whiskies are blended together to mark the joining of the clans. If you're not keen on whisky you could mix a cocktail.
Singalong
Unity candle
Unity candle
Nothing like a big communal singalong to involve all your guests and really raise the roof. It's not just limited to hymns in church, and chances are they'll likely know the words.
Unity candle
Unity candle
Unity candle
Two smaller candles, representing the individuals, are used to light the larger unity candle burning brighter as a couple.