Site created by R. D. Armstrong, 2012. All Rights Reserved.
The yearning for ritual is a natural intuition for humans. It is sometimes
possible to revisit historic forms of wedding ceremonies and find new life in
them, or use them to imagine new variations on an old theme. In contemplating
the appropriate form for your wedding, you might reflect on the variety of
historical elements found in nearly all wedding customs around the world:
The Processional
The Attendants or Witnesses
Music, Poetry & Song
Symbolic Union
Joining of the Hands
The Wedding Vows
Exchange of Rings or Gifts
The Blessing
The Kiss
The Processional
The Attendants or Witnesses
Music, Poetry & Song
Symbolic Union
Joining of the Hands
The Wedding Vows
Exchange of Rings or Gifts
The Blessing
The Kiss
Personalize Your Ceremony
You may choose to create a new ritual or a variation of an old tradition that will be a reflection of your own ideas about love, marriage, family and friends. Some ideas I have used that have been very successful are:
The Sand Ceremony
colored sand poured in layers by family/ friends and couple into a glass vase
The Loving Cup
Celtic tradition of sharing honey mead in a cup called a quaiche
The Zen Stone Cairn
river stones set upon one another to create a tower each carry a meaning
Handfasting
Celtic tradition in which the hands are tied together with a long cloth
Love as a Seed
two plants or seeds are set into a single vessel symbolizing new life
The First Gift
Scottish tradition of symbolic gifts for the new, shared life
Love is a Journey
couple (and children) bring symbolic gift for the journey ahead
Legend of the Red Thread
Asian tradition of soulmates being linked at birth
The Tea Ceremony
honoring of the parents and elders and receiving their blessing
The Four Elements
calling upon earth, air, fire, water as symbolic powers to bless marriage
The Declaration
variant of the ketubah or covenant of what is vowed, everyone signs it
Blessing of the Hands
the couples hands are poetically blessed before ring exchange
Guests Blessing of the Rings
rings (in silk bags) are passed among the guests for blessing
Virtue Stones
river stones with words engraved represent the qualities desired for marriage
Offering of the Coins
Mexican tradition where family brings up coins with wishes for the new couple
Breaking the Glass
Jewish tradition where wine is shared and the glass shattered underfoot
Four Seasons of Love
four couples representing the four stages of married life each speak to the couple
Seven Steps of a Marriage
Buddhist tradition of honoring the chakras of the beloved
The New Unity Candle
spark of life/love is passed from parents to couple to their shared candle
Feel free to ask me for more details of any of these beautiful new expressions of love ~
or ask me how we can make up something brand new and just right for you!
Rev. Rebecca Armstrong
ceremonies@aol.com
847-707-1781
You may choose to create a new ritual or a variation of an old tradition that will be a reflection of your own ideas about love, marriage, family and friends. Some ideas I have used that have been very successful are:
The Sand Ceremony
colored sand poured in layers by family/ friends and couple into a glass vase
The Loving Cup
Celtic tradition of sharing honey mead in a cup called a quaiche
The Zen Stone Cairn
river stones set upon one another to create a tower each carry a meaning
Handfasting
Celtic tradition in which the hands are tied together with a long cloth
Love as a Seed
two plants or seeds are set into a single vessel symbolizing new life
The First Gift
Scottish tradition of symbolic gifts for the new, shared life
Love is a Journey
couple (and children) bring symbolic gift for the journey ahead
Legend of the Red Thread
Asian tradition of soulmates being linked at birth
The Tea Ceremony
honoring of the parents and elders and receiving their blessing
The Four Elements
calling upon earth, air, fire, water as symbolic powers to bless marriage
The Declaration
variant of the ketubah or covenant of what is vowed, everyone signs it
Blessing of the Hands
the couples hands are poetically blessed before ring exchange
Guests Blessing of the Rings
rings (in silk bags) are passed among the guests for blessing
Virtue Stones
river stones with words engraved represent the qualities desired for marriage
Offering of the Coins
Mexican tradition where family brings up coins with wishes for the new couple
Breaking the Glass
Jewish tradition where wine is shared and the glass shattered underfoot
Four Seasons of Love
four couples representing the four stages of married life each speak to the couple
Seven Steps of a Marriage
Buddhist tradition of honoring the chakras of the beloved
The New Unity Candle
spark of life/love is passed from parents to couple to their shared candle
Feel free to ask me for more details of any of these beautiful new expressions of love ~
or ask me how we can make up something brand new and just right for you!
Rev. Rebecca Armstrong
ceremonies@aol.com
847-707-1781