Ceremony Ideas

Arrow shooting

Each shoot at the same target, hoping to hit the same spot

Baking Ceremony

The couple combines the dry ingredients for cookies into a cute jar.

Beer Ceremony

After exchanging vows the couple combines their favorite beers together symbolizing the joining of your lives.

Blessing Box Ceremony

The couple asks their guests to be a part of their ceremony by placing cards with their wishes for them in a box. 

A beautiful and meaningful way to make each of their loved ones a part of their union.

Book Exchange

If books have a particular meaning to the couple they could each select a volume and present them to each other as part of the ceremony.

They may like to read the description that they written allowed for all to hear and could even incorporate this as part of their vows

Bread Baking Ritual

A nice way to incorporate the family as you may ask the mothers to share the cooking of the ritual loaf. Then present them during the ceremony have a loaf of bread under a cloth on the table represents the coming together of the different qualities or ingredients 

that each partner brings to the marriage

Breaking Bread Ceremony

A handwritten vow exchange and a  first communion as husband as wife seems simple, but so meaningful! 

A memorable moment for the couple and   everyone to witness.

Candy Blending

Fun and colorful candy is blended into one jar. Great for  families!

Circling

Each partner takes a turn circling around the other, typically seven times each. This symbolizes the creation of a new family and the circle of protection and love each is placing around the other.

Cocktail Blending

Think about the drinks that represent your partner’s  qualities in some ways – strong, sweet, bubbly or intense perhaps. 

Maybe consider making cocktails for each other that represent these qualities. Or one that reflects the both of you.

Coin Ceremony

There are 13 coins, each represent a month of the year where couple will share their goods and prosperity. 

The 13th coin represents  what they will share with the less fortunate ones.

Fire Rituals

Create a fire pit representing light, warmth, and energy, always found at the heart of the marriage the wood could be cut from a specific tree that has meaning to the couple or family, and then they read their vows next to the fire.

Four Direction Ritual

Start with the East the sunrise beginning of the day and move clockwise through the other directions. Importance of understanding your   relationship to the world and the directions you have traveled as well as  knowing your path ahead. The couple would then be guided to turn in the   appropriate direction for each stage and the corresponding text read each   time they have done so

Fused Glass

Similar to a sand ceremony, the couple comes to the ceremony with a container of colored, glass beads they have selected. During  the ceremony the bride and groom pour their individual beads into a single larger container. (This works when children are involved, as well.) The container is taken to a glass artist who fuses the beads into a bowl, vase, wall art, etc. Or a glassblower can create a piece of art for the couple.

German Drinking Cup

The couple stand closely together facing each other with just enough space between them for the double ended cup. One partner takes ahold of the smaller cup while the other partner holds the larger cup, then at the same time the couple raises their side of the cup to their lips to drink.

Glass Bead Ceremony 

Partner #1 and Partner #2 have chosen colors of glass that  represents each of them in a special and unique way. Throughout their lives the have been two colorful, complete, amazing people all on their own  just   like the glass. As the glass from the individual containers is blended   together it symbolizes the joining of your separate lives, friends and family, into one union, the beginning of your journey as a couple. The combined will be taken to an artist and blown into a beautiful vase, representing your lives will never to be separated again.

Glass Breaking

Used in Jewish ceremonies-at end everyone says Mazal Tov, the couple breaks a glass wrapped in fabric.

Hand Fasting

Hand fasting is an ancient Celtic ritual in which the hands are tied together to symbolize the binding of two lives. While it is most often included in Wiccan or Pagan ceremonies, it has become more   mainstream and pops up in both religious and secular vows and readings.

Hand Washing Ceremony

This is a modern twist on the traditional foot-washing ceremony. This element represents caring for one another and being of service. It also can be seen as a way of cleansing and preparing for your new  life ahead. All you’ll need is a table, water basin, pitcher, water, and towels.

Healing Crystal Exchange Ceremony

Crystals or gemstones serve many purposes as well as their colors. 

Color psychology helps individuals with controlling or avoiding certain emotional conflicts.

Hometown Soil Ceremony

In this unity ceremony, the couple each brings a bit of soil or sand from their hometown —  water can be used — then combine the element  with their partners into a third “unity” bottle.

Hourglass Ceremony

You can purchase hour glasses that have an opening for sand. The couple pours sand in the hourglass during the ceremony. 

We are  reminded to make the most of our time together, not to waste time on anger or jealousy, but to live with the love in our hearts.

Jumping the Broom

In its contemporary usage, couples jump over brooms and  signifies of sweeping away the old to make way for a new beginning, also represents “leaping” into their new life as a married couple

Lasso Ceremony

Takes place after the vows have been said. At that time,  he officiant (or whomever the couple has designated) drapes a floral garland or rosary around the couple, twisting it into an infinity symbol. 

At the end of the ceremony, the bestower of the lasso removes it and the couple saves it   as a symbol of their love and unity.

Lighting of Fire

Lighting a fire during your wedding symbolizes you and your significant other’s binding together as one. Fire represents passion.

Log Cutting Ceremony

The couple take part in the cutting of the log, which consists of cutting a log in half that is symbolic for getting over the first obstacle in their marriage.

Love Knot aka Tying the Knot

Two pieces of rope or cord that are tied in a fisherman’s knot. These two cords represent your individual selves and special gifts you bring to your marriage and the knot is the simplest but strongest of knots.  When stressed it becomes even stronger. 

Love Letters

Each spouse writes a love letter before the ceremony, they put it in a box. Once a month they can a love letter. 

On their first anniversary they read each letter.   

Love Lock

A love lock is a lock that has no key. You place on whatever item you choose to signify your love and commitment. 

Place the lock on the eyelet of your chosen piece and together you lock it forever.

Marshmallow Roasting/S’mores Making

“Sometimes things are good alone, but made better, richer, and stronger through the fires of struggle, bonding us together through the  sweetness and the saltiness. May you always keep your insides soft and warm no matter what you face together.

Mom/Grandmother Rose Presentation

This is a nice way to include the mothers/grandmothers. The couple presents a rose to their mothers …to thank them for their   blessings

Oathing Stone

An old Scottish tradition where the couple place their hands upon a stone while saying their wedding vows. The stone can also be  engraved with a Celtic knot etching, the date of the ceremony and your initials if you wish.

 It’s believed that an oath given near stone or water is more binding and “sets the vows in stone.”

Painting Ceremony

Can be done with the couple or blended family. Tape off a heart on a canvas and each person “drizzles’ paint from top blending their colors. After it dries remove the tape and a beautiful, colorful heart is made. A blank canvas can also be used. 

Peanut Butter Ceremony

Couple makes a PB & J after joining their halves into  the perfect sandwich, they take a bite to signify the first step toward  enjoying their satisfyingly “sweet life” together

Ring Warming

In this ritual, the rings are circulated among the guests  as they say silent blessings to the couple. The rings start with one mother/person of choice then the rings are passed around and are brought back full circle.

River Rocks

River rocks can be held during ceremony by all guests  wishing good luck then put in container at end for couple to keep, 

or everyone can go skip them across the water saying an inspiring  prayer.

Rose Exchange

In the Rose Ceremony, the couple give each other a Rose. Two roses are all that is necessary. The Rose Ceremony is placed at the end  of the ceremony just before being pronounced married for life.

Sage Blessing

The Reverend James sages the ceremony space and clears the energy which joins everyone together in spirit

Salt Ceremony

Based on the idea of the sand ceremony, the salt ceremony is an easy way to showcase the love you have for your partner. Swapping out sand for salt, you will be pouring your salt together as a way of symbolizing the joining of your lives. While the finished container of salt can make for a nice piece of décor in your home. You may also wish to simply use the salt  to flavor the first meals that you make together as a married couple. 

Sand Ceremony

Different vials of sand are combined into one larger keepsake. You can find sand frames and other keepsakes on Etsy or Amazon

Seven Steps Ritual

Couple circles a fire or another symbolic object 7 times, each partners revolution is used to focus on a single hope for the future.

Sharing of Sake

Sake sharing also known as san-san-kudo is a custom that  started in the land of the rising sun (Japan). You, your partner, and  your parents take sips from three glasses of sake stacked together. 

You and your partner should take three sips while both of your parents should have a  total of nine sips from the cups.

Singing Bowl

Best if ceremony is provided by someone well-versed in the singing bowl ceremony as each bowl and song/chant focus on a different  chakra. 

The chakra you want focus on will be discussed with the shaman/healer  that you choose for this ceremony.

Spice Blending

 Totally unique to each couple/family!

Get some nice decorative vessels along with salt, pepper and Cajun seasoning. Pour this mix into a vessel to keep or pour over first meals

One partner represented salt, the other pepper, and they added the child who represents the spice of life into the mix.

Tasting of the Four Elements

The couple tastes four flavors that represent stages of marriage: cayenne for spiciness, lemon for sourness, vinegar for bitterness, and honey for sweetness. 

Guests enjoy seeing the different facial expressions  that the couple has while tasting the flavors. Sometimes these four elements  are put in decorative glasses.

Tattoos

Some couples choose to have a tattoo artist on site and have their rings or other matching tattoos done at the ceremony.

Tile Breaking

Similar to mazel tof-wrap a red cloth the traditional  color of good fortune around a tile- they break the tile in front of the  guests -one once broken the tile can never be unbroken and so your vows cannot be unsaid and once the couple break the tile everybody cheers.

Time (Anniversary ) Capsule

The time-capsule ceremony is a sweet reminder of your lifetime commitment of marriage. During the ceremony, tokens of love are sealed up in a box,(capsule) and the couple will open it on milestone anniversary. 

The couple can invite friends or family who are invited to bring photos, letters, or keepsakes to add to the time capsule.

Tree Planting

The couple each bring dirt from where they grew up and use  it to plant a sapling in a big pot. Once the couple moves into their first  purchased home they plant the sapling as the foundation of their future.

Truce Bells

There is a bell that is rung during the ceremony and the sound makes them think and feel happy feelings of that day they take the bell home and when needed they can ring it if an argument arises to call a truce.

Unity Bouquet of Flowers

Each bloom uniquely beautiful; when added to others, the individual traits create a bouquet that more beautiful than just the sum of its parts.

Unity Candle

The couple lights the candle together, leaving behind  their separate lives, separate families, and becoming one.

Unity Cross

The Unity Cross Ceremony is a unique way to celebrate the joining of the couple together as one. It is a beautiful sculpture that is assembled during the wedding ceremony symbolizing a couple becoming one in the body of Christ. There are many variations so make this your own!

Unity Puzzle

Unity puzzles can be found on Etsy or Amazon. Each person invited to  adds a piece of the puzzle which creates a memorable keepsake.

 Romance is all  about searching for the missing piece to your own puzzle

Volcano Ritual

A scientific one for fun science enthusiasts- they build a  volcano and performed  the volcano science experiment talks about reactions and memories reminding us to have a little fun together every day and never let life become boring, may love always be volcanic in its passion and   exciting to behold.

Washing of the Feet

The foot washing ceremony is an act of humility mirroring  Jesus when he washed his disciples feet. For a couple being married to wash  each other’s feet as part of their wedding symbolizes that neither is above the other.

Water Ceremony

A fun twist on the sand ceremony for water lovers! With  water taken from a nearby water source the couple scoops water into a bottle.   It is suggested to keep the water with you, or pouring it together onto your favorite tree or plant

Whiskey Blending

Bourbon whiskey makes for an interesting symbolic  substance. It’s literally a blending of different spirits, that through  mixing and aging together, combine to become something richer, more complex, and flavorful, much like a good marriage.

Wine Box and Love Letter Ceremony

A love letter and wine box ceremony serves as a lasting  reminder of the commitments made to each another. Heartfelt letters, encapsulating your thoughts and feelings are locked away in a wine box to be revealed several years into your marriage. Whiskey, Scotch or Tequila can easily be substituted out for the wine.

Wine Sipping from Unity Chalice

The couple drinks from a single glass of wine. This symbolizes drinking from the cup of life and sharing all of its experiences  together, both sweet as well as bitter.

For a more spiritual meaning you can add the blood of Christ version.