What is a wedding ritual?
What do they mean?
What do you want?
Historically, before the 18th Century most religious ceremonies would have been conducted by church leaders or elders in the community. Due to the importance and awareness of social customs and what was happening in reaction to the natural aspects of the world. Rituals were important in order to mark life events such as births, deaths and marriages. These are often seen and evidenced in relics and drawings featuring burial and ritualistic practices in Celtic folklore, Roman relics and other cultural records.
- Pass the rings – This is known as ‘ring warming’, no it’s nothing rude but a way of having the two pieces of metal passed round by loved ones to share and accept the love of the couple. It may be a good idea to pass them round in a small pouch. Guests would be able to feel them and this leaves no room for them dropping and bouncing about. That would be a disaster!
- Tying the knot – Also known as Hand-fasting is a beautiful tradition for a wedding, betrothal of engagement which can be performed before or during a ceremony. In the past it symbolised betrothal. Its’ normally done with the aid of the officiant, me, the Celebrant who will bind the couple’s hands using colored ribbon, cloth, string or rope. It is representative of coming together and commitment. This tight knot will be a strong, tangible reminder of the day to got firmly attached.
- Wine Mixing – Wine or your favorite tipples can be mixed into a vessel; in Scotland we use a quaich and then drunk by both parties. This I suppose represents the coming together, mixing of fluids? I remember being at a wedding where they used Irn Bru and Guinness. I felt quite unwell and didn’t even have a sip. The couple were Irish and Scottish – if you know you know – if not – use google!
- Wine boxing – Another way is to use a ceremony called boxing if it’s too early for a drink or you’re worried about spillage. This involves placing a bottle in a box with a card to be opened on a chosen anniversary. Might be good not to make it too far in the future in case things don’t work out or it may end up being featured in divorce documents.
- Candle Lighting – The Unity Candle Ceremony involves three candles; one held by each partner (representing the two separate family candles) and then one which will stand alone – often on a candle stand – to symbolise the union of your families. It involves using three candles. Sometimes the mothers will light a candle representing each family then pass this on to the couple who use this to light the large, unity candle but this can be adapted according to wish and safety. It could be if the couple have children from previous relationships they could light their own in unity blending the families together.
- Tree Planting Ceremony – Get your wellies on for this one. The unity tree ceremony is a ‘back to nature’ planting to symbolise the marriage. A sapling, planted in fertile soil is the start of a process whereby the couple are committing to giving light, water and care to a living entity to represent what they will bring to the coupling. This is a promise to ‘bear fruit’ and tend to each others needs in order to grow as a family, with strong roots.
- Mangalsutra is a ritual used in India which I quite like. I met my husband on 7.7.1977. It involves the just married couple taking seven steps which is called Saptapadi and after the seventh step they are considered, legally, to be man and wife.
What symbolic ritual would you want?
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