Candle Ceremony or Ceremony of light.
If you want to stick to tradition within a wedding ceremony, two individual tapered candles can be lit by parents or mothers, before the couple light a single candle together from those two taper candles. This symbolises the joining of family, the creation of something, bigger and brighter. Light is pure and beautifully emphasises a new start.
The candle could also be jointly lit by children of a blended family, friends and family of an individual who is going through a period of transition.
Another beautiful idea for an intimate celebration, is to have the person or a photo of a deceased person surrounded by lanterns, each lit by a loved one, surrounding that person in love and light. This is great for an outside evening celebration
However, if you want quirky or unusual, then there are a number of ways to use candle light in a safe and beautiful and creative way to enhance your ceremony. Let's sit down and work out a candle ceremony to put into the ambience of your special day. Nothing has to be predictable to be beautiful.
Hand tying Ceremony
There are also stories that suggest that handfasting represented a trial marriage of one year, and others that suggest it was used until the marriage was consummated or a child was conceived.
In recent times the Handfasting Ceremony has become a Unity Ceremony within the larger wedding or commitment ceremony.
If you practice a faith, a way of life f have a belief system that uses handfasting at its core. I urge you to look for a priest or priestess to lead your ceremony, but if you are looking for a celebrant who has been trained in handfasting or hand-tying and can create a bespoke ceremony in which you can tie the knot, you are in the right place.
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​The ties which bind the hands of the couple are traditionally rope but can be ribbons complementing the wedding's colour scheme. Many couples also have custom handfasting cords created to suit their hobbies or lifestyle. Ties can be natural grasses with flowers, leather, or vegan materials.
Handfasting represents two becoming one, tied together in unity. The cords are knotted which is symbolic of the relationship as they are entwined and become one. The knot symbolises the strength and security of the relationship. But once again, remember, this is your day and this is your opportunity to create your own ceremony, so if you would like to change things slightly, just ask!
Jumping the Broom / Besom
This ceremony has a very mixed history, including a very dark history surrounding slavery. However, this ceremony is also a fun and joyous ceremony , where the broom is often used right after the couple are joined together.
The Besom, as it was traditionally called, can be as ornate as you like, they are often bejewelled or adorned with flowers. For rustic, simple and nature themed weddings they are often left without ornaments.
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I would respectfully ask, that before you decide to add this ritual into your ceremony, that you are sure of your reasons. If this ceremony has cultural or faith based links, then by all means, let's go for it, but a ceremony that has such dark links for parts of the population, should not be used purely as a 'giggle'
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Warming of the wedding bands.
The Warming of the Wedding Bands ceremony gives family and guests the opportunity to "warm" your rings by holding them and give them a wish, a blessing or a payer for your marriage.
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During a small ceremony, all of the guests can take it in turns to hold and bestow good wishes onto the rings before the couple perform the ring ceremony. In case of a large wedding, the ring warming can be restricted to just the immediate family.
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​Sometimes weddings need a little audience participation to warm things up, especially or if the families haven't had the chance to get to know each other yet. This ceremony is perfect to bring the attention of the whole audience around to what is important: the happy couple.
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First Kiss / Last Kiss.
The First Kiss & Last Kiss ceremony gives you the opportunity to include your parents in your celebration.
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When a child is born, the first person to hold and kiss the child is one of their parents. It is therfore fitting that the last person to kiss a couple is one or both of their parents before they are given into the care of their partner.
A beautiful and emotional moment to share for couples and their parents.
Sand Blending Ceremony.
This Unity Ceremony can be as simple as two people pouring plain sand from two separate containers into a bowl symbolising togetherness for ever.
Once the sand is mixed, it is not possible to separate the colours. This represents the coulple. Once they have come together, neither of their lives will be the same again.
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The Foot Washing Ceremony.
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The Foot Washing ceremony is originally a Christian-based tradition as a symbol of love and humility.
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Having your feet washed by another person requires trust, love and respect, it shows that you are willing to honour, love, nurture and care for the other. This unique and intimate ceremony allows couples to show their devotion to each other, it is also a strong metaphor for going "through the mud and the muck" of life together and it lets you subtlety include your faith in your wedding.
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Welsh Cake sharing Ceremony.
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A Welsh Cake Sharing ceremony is centred on feeding each other Welsh cake as a symbol of trust, care and nurture.
A joyous, yummy and meaningful ceremony that the couple can share with family and friends. It brings together the humble routes and symbolism of the delicious Welsh cake, allowing you and your guests to share a special and unique moment. Welsh cakes, made from staples such as butter and flour, packed with fruits and spices, are wonderfully symbolic elements that can support your union.
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A joyous, yummy and meaningful ceremony that the couple can share with family and friends. It brings together the humble routes and symbolism of the delicious Welsh cake, allowing you and your guests to share a special and unique moment. Welsh cakes, made from staples such as butter and flour, packed with fruits and spices, are wonderfully symbolic elements that can support your union.
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Whatever ceremony you are having, whether it is two individuals being joined together, a new family celebration or a transgender individual blending their new life with family and friends, this is a lovely ceremony.
The idea is that when grains of sand (often different colours) mingle, they can never easily be separated. If coloured sand and beautiful containers are used, they will also make everlasting mementos of your union.
This is not an exhaustive list, unity ceremonies can be created to suit, we can make a unity ceremony using elements of your family, your cultural or your religious traditions.
Unity ceremonies can be fun, can include your guests or just your bridal party, if you have any thoughts or ideas, please ask, and we will throw around some ideas.
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I will write the wording of your unity ceremony to fit in with your other celebrant elements. This is included in your ceremony for one unity Ceremony. Some couples do like additional elements, but each unity ceremony after the one free unity ceremony are charged at £50 each.
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Please note that I will supply all basic unity celebrant elements, but you are responsible for providing all keepsake elements.