8 Rituals To Add To Your Wedding Ceremony

Handfasting or 'Tying the Knot'

This is an ancient Celtic tradition dating back over 2000 years. In Scotland, centuries ago Handfasting was used in the absence of a clergyman to bind two lives together as one. During your Ceremony, your hands are bound together with tartan cloth or ribbons or material of your choice to symbolise your bond and commitment to each other. This is a lovely traditional element to have within your ceremony and choosing your own cloth, material or tartan can help further personalise your ceremony.

The Oathing Stone

Another Celtic ritual, and again, fabulous in a traditional Scottish ceremony. This is where you quite literally ‘set your vows in stone’ by reciting them while holding a special oathing stone in your hands. When this ritual first emerged, an oath given near stone was considered to be stronger. You can select your own stone, perhaps taking it from your garden, your favourite beach, or the location of your engagement. Some suppliers will even decorate a stone for you too!

Candle Lighting

This ritual is a lovely way to involve family members. You, and your parents if you wish, light a large candle (sometimes called a Unity candle) from smaller individual candles, and in doing so symbolising your union. There are many suppliers who will personalise your candles with names, dates, etc. specifically for this purpose.

Sand Pouring

A variation on the candle lighting ritual mentioned above, the sand pouring ritual is where the two of you, and possibly family members and children, pour sand from individual containers to a single vase or vessel to symbolise your union.

Ring Warming

The ring warming ritual is an old wedding tradition that involves all of your guests. Before the rings are exchanged, they're passed around your guests to be "warmed up" with good wishes by each person. All of your guests hold the rings in their hands for a moment and set a quiet wish for your future together before passing them on to the next person.

Jumping the Broom

The broom jumping tradition originates from both Celtic and West African culture. It symbolises a new beginning, and the sweeping away of the past. It’s also said to signify two families becoming one. After completing your wedding vows, you quite literally jump into your new life together, leaving any old uncertainties behind. Best of all, this is a ritual all of your guests can get involved in and makes for some fab photos!

Love Letters or a Time Capsule

This ritual involves you writing love letters too each other, which you then seal in a box during the ceremony. During the Ceremony I explain that the box will be opened and the letters read at a later date, for example ,on your first or tenth wedding anniversary, or on the birth of your first child. Extend this further and put the love letters in beside other items to treasure, a newspaper dated on your wedding date, a photo of you both the night before your wedding, a copy of the vows you make, a note of your wedding playlist, a bottle of champers signed by all of your guests to drink on opening the box, an instant camera picture of your guests right before you seal the box, or anything of your choice!

I love the idea of a time capsule-style rituals, they’re really personal and provide a great excuse to celebrate your marriage long after the wedding day has passed.