Ceremony Ideas & Thoughts
Some ideas to consider in order to personalize your ceremony:
1. Have your guests sit in a circle around your altar.
2. Play a slide show prior to the ceremony while your guests are waiting.
3. How about walking down the aisle together?
4. Pick a unique altar backdrop like a curtain or ribbons or some potted plants or trees.
5. Include a favorite poem in your program and invite all your guests to read aloud together.
6. Forget the readings and poems. Have a few people stand up and briefly share their marriage wisdom.
7. Don't wait until the reception for your first dance. End your ceremony with your first dance instead of a recessional.
8. Arrive in style - in a horse-drawn carriage, in a vintage car, on a bicycle, in a canoe, on a 4-wheeler. Depart on horseback, on motorcycles, a ferry boat.
9. Include your favorite pets in the ceremony. If your wedding site allows, have your family dog be your ring bearer. Have a back-up plan. Even the best-behaved dog can have a bad day, especially in unusual situations. Be prepared to have someone take your dog home, or to a kennel, or into a pet crate for a nap. Here is some more information about Pets at Weddings.
10. Children are wonderful additions to a wedding party. Here is a great guide to Children in the Wedding!
11. Write your own vows. The exchange of wedding vows is an integral part of a wedding ceremony. It is a very romantic moment and often the perfect place to express your feelings towards your fiancé. Whether you want your guests giggling or grabbing for the Kleenex, writing your own promises to each other will truly personalize your wedding. Try bantering vows for a fun change. Check out the Vows page for more information on vows that may help you decide what is best for you.
12. The unity candle ceremony symbolizes the joining of two families or two people becoming one. Two individual taper candles are lit at the beginning of the ceremony by a representative of each family (usually the mothers of the bride and groom). During the candle ceremony the couple use the taper candles to light a large pillar candle together. Often the unity candle is decorated with the wedding invitation or other saying or picture and the candles are almost always white but can also be colored to match your style.
13. A Tree Planting Ceremony may be used to symbolize the joining of two families, two people, and two hearts. The ceremony is set up much like the candle and sand ceremonies with a small tree or sapling set on a table near the alter. This tree could be dug up from the yard of one of the families or may have special significance. On either side of the sapling is a bucket filled with potting soil, a trowel and a small watering can. Upon the entrance of the mothers each mother goes to the table, scoops out a small amount of soil and adds it to the tree bucket before taking their seat. Then during a special reading or song the couple each add soil and water the plant together. After the ceremony the couple plant the tree in their own yard or a special place to symbolize putting down roots, longevity and strength in their marriage.
14. Have you ever heard the expression, “etched in stone?” When we use those words, we convey both our good faith and our intention that what is being referenced is meant to last for a very long time! During this Scottish/Celtic ceremony the couple place their hands upon a stone, or hold a stone, while saying their marriage vows. Scots in days past considered swearing on a stone to be the best way to express sincerity when making a solemn pledge. You can also include your guests in your ceremony by providing Blessing Stones for them.
15. Throw a surprise wedding! Invite guests to a luncheon or dinner and then announce they've been gathered to witness your wedding vows! A surprise wedding is a lot of fun!!!!!!
There are many readings you can choose from as well. Check out some of the links listed on my page.
Be creative. This is your day!!!!!
