Many couples include a ritual in their wedding ceremony.  These rituals symbolize the unity of the couple and sometimes of their families which is the essence of the wedding ceremony. Varying from religious to humanistic, traditional to unique, these rituals can add depth and meaning to the marriage ceremony.

 

However, in our opinion, if a ritual does not resonate with the couple, it can be an empty gesture and should therefore not be included.  So, we encourage couples to only select a ritual IF that ritual has special meaning for them.  For example, in the photo above, the Sand Ritual performed by Caroline and Jonathan symbolized the blending of their individual lives into a marriage partnership as they walk on the path of life together. It also had special meaning because they love the water and sea which played a special part in their relationship.

Before deciding if a ritual is appropriate for your wedding ceremony, you might consider answering the following questions:

  • What events in our life as a couple have special meaning?
  • Is there an existing ritual or one that we can create that will capture this special meaning?
  • Is there a ritual that is appropriate based on our ethnicity or family origins? For example, a tea ceremony may be appropriate for a couples whose family came from the oriental; a lasso ritual may be appropriate for Hispanic couples.
  • What actions and materials will be required and is this ritual practical? For example, on a windy day outside it may be hard to light and to keep candles lit and upright during the ceremony.
  • Who will participate in the ritual? Will it be the couple, the couple and their parents, the couple and their children, etc.?

To explore this topic further, the following web address describes some of the most commonly used wedding rituals.

http://www.electracruises.com/blog/advice/wedding-rituals-really-mean

 

Mindful Wedding Officiants will be glad to work with you to determine if a ritual will enhance your wedding ceremony; and, if so, will help you identify an appropriate ritual for your wedding.