Posts Tagged ‘Wedding rituals’
An Enchanting Lake District Wedding: Handfasting and Heartfelt Vows in the Great Outdoors
In a breathtaking outdoor ceremony led by an independent Celebrant, Ash and Teresa’s love story came to life through ancient handfasting traditions and personal touches, proving that when it comes to celebrating love in nature’s embrace, the Lake District provides the perfect backdrop for magical moments. Read on for inspiration… Nature and Tradition Unite: A Stunning Handfasting Wedding in the Lake District Countryside In the heart of Cumbria, where ancient woodlands whisper tales of romance, Ash and Teresa’s love story unfolded in a ceremony that perfectly captured their magical connection. Their September wedding at Hidden River Cabins showcased not just their powerful bond, but also their desire to create a celebration as unique as their journey together. From the moment…
Read MoreHow do I include my children in my wedding ceremony?
Your wedding day isn’t just about joining two people in marriage—it’s often about bringing together entire families and creating new bonds that will last a lifetime. When children are part of this journey, whether they’re from your relationship or previous ones, including them meaningfully in your ceremony can transform it from a simple wedding into a beautiful celebration of family unity. The obvious way to include children in your wedding ceremony is to make them Bridesmaids or page boys, ushers or even as a best man and have them as part of the wedding party, but as celebrants we know how to go beyond the ordinary – so if you want more personalised ways to include your kids in your…
Read MoreWhat is a Wine Ceremony and is it right for you?
You’ve planned your ceremony, and you’ve decided to have a unity ritual. Adding a wine ceremony is a great way to symbolise the unity of your two lives together. Wine is known for celebrating and romance. So why not add it to the biggest celebration of your life? Here we’ll talk about the symbolism of the ceremony and how you can add it to your wedding day. The Symbolism of a Wine Ceremony Wine has been a symbolic part of rituals and celebrations around the world for thousands of years. In the Greek tradition of “The Common Cup”, sharing wine from a single cup represents sharing life’s joys and burdens. In Norse tradition, it was known as Drinking from the…
Read MoreBespoke rituals for bespoke weddings!
Having a Celebrant led wedding is all about choice and all about you! There are no rules, anything and everything goes, with the ultimate goal of creating something completely unique that is all about you, your love story and, fundamentally, about making the ceremony at the very heart of your day to create lasting memories. Why settle for anything less? In the same way, working with a Celebrant means that you don’t have to settle for ‘off the shelf’. When I work with couples, I take time to get to know them and have designed a series or questionnaires which are fun to complete and ensure that I get them talking about all those funny stories. I want to know…
Read MoreA Complete Guide to Sand Ceremonies
Sand Ceremonies are a meaningful and visually stunning ritual that symbolises unity, transformation, and connection. Perfect for a variety of life events, these ceremonies are rich in symbolism and personalisation, making them a memorable addition to weddings, vow renewals, naming ceremonies, and more. What happens during a Sand Ceremony? A Sand Ceremony is a symbolic act in which individuals pour layers of sand into a central vessel, creating a beautiful and unique keepsake that represents unity and connection. The ritual is often used to mark significant moments such as weddings, naming ceremonies, and even gender affirmation ceremonies. How Does It Work? When Does It Take Place? The Sand Ceremony can be performed at any point during the event, often: What…
Read More5 types of wedding wine ceremonies
Your wedding day is a celebration of love, unity, and the beginning of a shared journey. For couples seeking to create a unique and memorable ceremony, incorporating a wine ritual can add a touch of elegance and symbolism. Wine ceremonies, rich in history and meaning, provide a beautiful way to symbolize the blending of two lives. This guide explores five different types of wine ceremonies, helping you find the perfect fit to make your wedding ceremony truly special. What is a Wine Ceremony? A wine ceremony is a symbolic ritual that uses wine to represent the couple’s commitment and the blending of their lives. Originating from ancient traditions, wine ceremonies can be adapted to fit any wedding style, whether traditional…
Read MoreHandfasting vs Handtying: A Guide for Couples
Handfasting, hand tying, and ‘tying the knot’ are terms often used interchangeably, but handfasting and hand tying aren’t the same thing. We spoke to The Celebrant Directory member Glenda Procter, AKA the Queen of Handfasting, a double award-winning celebrant with years of experience conducting all types and styles of Handfasting and Handtying Celebrations, to explain the difference between a Handfasting and a Handtying. Glenda has been conducting Handfasting rituals as an Independent Celebrant, for nearly a decade in a vast variety of venues, castles and festivals What is Handfasting? Handfasting is an ancient Pagan/Celtic wedding tradition dating back to pre-Christian times. At its core, it involves the symbolic binding of a couple’s hands to represent their union and commitment. While historically,…
Read MoreThe Art of Handfasting: A complete guide to handfasting ceremonies
In the tapestry of wedding traditions, few threads shimmer with such ancient magic as handfasting. This captivating ritual, with its roots in Celtic and pagan customs, transcends mere ceremony. It’s a vibrant tapestry woven from history, symbolism, and profound love, finding renewed relevance in modern wedding celebrations. Whether you dream of a classic ceremony or a whimsical elopement, handfasting offers a way to bind your love story with an enduring thread, forever etched in the memory of yourselves and your guests. Let’s delve into the art of handfasting, exploring its history, significance, and how you can weave it into your own modern fairytale. What is Handfasting? Handfasting is a beautiful, symbolic marriage ceremony or ritual and is believed to span…
Read MoreHow to use rituals at your wedding
Using Ritual at your Wedding Hundreds of thousands of years of human experience give you a wonderful treasure trove of resources to express your love. One of the best things about a celebrant led wedding is the ability to mix and match all sorts of traditions, both ancient and modern, to express exactly what you want to say about your union. Millennia of human evolution has given us an incredibly rich toolbox full of different kinds of rituals that all capture something special about the experience of two lives coming together and connect with your own unique story. Where do wedding rituals originate? A fact of the human experience is that we are ritual beings; we create all sorts of…
Read MoreAdd extra personality into your Wedding with a Unity Ceremony!
So what exactly is a unity ceremony? Unity ceremonies symbolise the joining of two people together as one, they offer magical moments within a wedding ceremony where two separate journeys come together onto a single pathway. They allow couples the opportunity to be individual and creative within their ceremony and provide a beautiful keepsake of the day. I love to add beautiful unity ceremonies into wedding ceremonies and how many I add is completely up to the couple I’m working with, there are lots of lovely ones to choose from! Many of my unity ceremonies take place in the Algarve and due to the beautiful natural resources available you don’t have to worry about taking excess baggage…think sand, shells, lace,…
Read MoreUnity Candle Ceremony: Everything you need to know
As you move into the beautiful bond of marriage, it isn’t uncommon to feel the need to recognise this life-changing moment in a memorable, symbolic way. One modern wedding tradition that remains popular is that of the Unity Candle Ceremony. A Unity Candle Ceremony is a great way to personalise your wedding ceremony; plus, it is arguably the tradition rooted in the most romance! What is a Unity Candle Ceremony? A Unity Candle Ceremony is when a couple each takes a lit candle and simultaneously lights what is known as the “unity candle”. This symbolises their joining together as a family while maintaining their individuality. Here at The Celebrant Directory, we have seen a huge increase in couples integrating Unity…
Read MoreWhy choose a Celebrant?
So, here we are just coming towards the end of the winter months… warmer days ahead and lots of planning to be getting on with for your wedding, whether it’s this year or a bit further ahead. There is much to consider and organise as you approach your big day, but have you given any thought to the most significant words you will ever say to one another? Many couples get caught up in all the other aspects, such as flowers, the dress!, make up, photos, cars, cake and so on that they don’t give enough time to consider their options when it comes to the ceremony itself. Do you really want to be saying words that you’re told to say?…
Read MoreHow to include Indian rituals in an Indian/Western fusion wedding
What Indian rituals can I include in my non-religious Western style wedding? As an Asian celebrant, Sonal Dave was recently very lucky, to be able to conduct a non-religious, spiritual wedding ceremony for a young Hindu couple. They wanted to show respect to their parents beliefs during the wedding ceremony but focus on their own wishes to have a few Indian symbolic rituals mixed with the Western ceremony. Here she shares her experience and advice for how to have an Indian/Western fusion wedding ceremony with inspiration for Indian clothing, live music, vow writing and cultural Indian traditions. Spiritual rather than religious ceremonies For many years Asian and Western families have followed what their grandparents or the family priest told them…
Read MoreHow to do a jumping the broom ceremony
What is a jumping the broom or besom ceremony? Congratulations! You have already decided that choosing a celebrant to deliver your wedding ceremony gives you a whole range of options that a registrar just can’t. A favourite option with many couples is ‘jumping the broom’ – a ritual that is full of fun and theatre, that is a great way to involve your guests and looks amazing on your photos and video – what more could you want?! Read on for more ideas about how you can incorporate a ‘jumping the broom’ ritual into your ceremony. Where did the tradition of jumping the broom come from? ‘Jumping the broom’ seems to have started originally in Wales where the idea of…
Read MoreHow to incorporate the Phera into your wedding ceremony if you aren’t religious
“But we’re not religious” – it’s a common concern for couples with Hindu heritage planning their wedding ceremony. You might feel caught between honouring your family’s traditions and staying authentic to your own beliefs. The good news? You don’t have to choose between respecting your cultural roots and creating a ceremony that reflects who you are today. The Phera, a cornerstone of Hindu wedding ceremonies, represents far more than just a religious ritual. At its heart, it’s a beautiful expression of unity – four circles symbolizing duty, prosperity, love, and spiritual growth. For non-religious couples, this meaningful tradition can be thoughtfully adapted to create a ceremony that bridges heritage and personal values. There can often be family members to consider…
Read MoreReal Wedding Ceremony: Raj & Joe
Couple: Raj & Joe Venue: Ashover Parish Hall in Derbyshire Celebrant: Helen Jubb The couple What struck me about Raj and Joe after chatting with them was the journey of discovery they had been on. This is a couple who had to find their own path, balance their differing cultures and religious beliefs whilst navigating the untrod path of love and sharing a home. On the day Raj and Joe did their legal paperwork earlier the same day with family members so when they arrived at Ashover Parish Hall in Derbyshire there was a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Joe had been wearing a traditional Western suit for the registry office but before the celebrant led ceremony began he changed into…
Read MoreHow to modernise traditional wedding rituals
So, ceremony rituals are a new thing right? Well no. Wedding rituals, symbolic or not, have been with us for ever and a year. Weddings themselves are a ritual, a rite of passage, a culturally or religiously defined act. In most countries, weddings have a legal status. In the UK, the legal registration of a marriage is a slightly different matter to the ritual of the wedding ceremony. Hands up if you are not familiar with this wedding ritual; No prizes I’m afraid, but if you answered ‘the exchanging of rings’, then you can give yourself a pat on the back. Many people don’t realise that there is no legally binding need to exchange wedding rings. It is however, one…
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