Make Your Wedding Memorable

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Instead of the traditional unity candle ceremony — where each of your mothers light a candle, then you and your fiancé use these candles to light a larger candle together —  Start with one flame, and spread it to all of your guests.

Have an unlit candle passed out to each adult guest. To start the candle ceremony, the bride and groom light a single candle together. Then, they use that candle to light those of their bridesmaids and groomsmen, who then start spreading the flame to the rest of the guests. 

  Do you have a large family or many close friends that you would like to incorporate in your wedding? Here is a great way to include them in your ceremony. Friends and family of your choice are given a rose or other flower to bring up and set in a vase (on the altar or somewhere in the front). This bouquet represents all of the people who are present to love and support you in your marriage. These are the people to lean on when you run into rough spots in your marriage. They will encourage you and help you to stay committed to each other.  In this tradition the Mother of the bride and Mother of the groom each carry a bouquet down the aisle, placing it in two waiting large vases. The Bride and Groom each take a flower from their family bouquet (or break off a flower from the bouquet) and place them together in a smaller vase or bud vase.
 

 Before your big day, gather a wooden box, a bottle of wine (or the alcohol of your choice), and two glasses. Write love notes to each other, explaining your feelings as you prepare to start your new life together as husband and wife. Seal your letter without letting your soon-to-be read what you’ve written.During the ceremony, place the love notes inside the wooden box with the wine and glasses. Take turns hammering the box shut, one nail at a time, until the box is sealed.Agree to keep the box sealed until a special anniversary, like your 10th or 20th, unless you hit a rough patch. Then, break open the box, pour the wine, read the letters, and remember what it’s all about! 

Each colour of sand represents each person who is special in your relationship.  Whether it is your children, your parents or someone else who enriches your life. As each person pours their unique coloured sand into a vase or jar it shows the depth of support you and your partner have

 This is my own personal favorite unity tradition. In the hand ceremony, the bride takes the groom'shands in hers and is invited to view his hands as a gift. Then the same is done by the Groom. A beautiful reading is then shared by the celebrant. Ask me about it! 

The ritual is simple but powerful. We place the wedding bands in a lovely box or decorative pouch to be handed from guest to guest before the ring ceremony begins or during a period of music and reflection.  Each guest holds the rings and silently offers a prayer or wish for the couple. In essence, the rings are warmed by the hands and hearts of the guests.

 In this unity ceremony the bride and groom exchange roses.

Variation 1:
The bride’s family presents a rose to the groom to welcome him into their family. The groom’s parents present a rose to the bride to welcome her into the family.

Variation 2:
The bride and groom exchange roses, then present their mothers with the roses.

Variation 3:
friends and family bring roses (or other flowers) to the alter and place them in a large vase.
 

Include children/stepchildren by presenting them withh a keepsake. Jewellery or something special for them to remember and treasure from your special day 

 One of the most common ceremonies. The bride and groom each take a lit candle and simultaneously light a third larger "unity candle." They may blow out their individual lights, or leave them lit, symbolizing that they have not lost their individuality with their union.. Stores are now selling elaborate unity candle sets including ones with candelabras to hold the central unity candle higher than the others. 

 Wrapping of the hands is an ancient Celtic tradition. The hands convey the warmth of the heart and the infinity (or figure eight )symbol conveys “forever”. The wrapping of your hands also symbolizes the bringing together of your lives in a marriage of strength and unity. 

 According to an American Indian Legend, if anyone desires a wish to come true he or she must first capture a butterfly and whisper that wish to it. Since a butterfly can make no sound, the butterfly can not reveal the wish to anyone but the "Great Spirit" who hears and sees all. In gratitude for giving the beautiful butterfly its freedom, the Great Spirit always grants the wish. So, according to legend, by making a wish and giving the butterfly its freedom, the wish will be taken to the heavens and be granted. Temperatures should be at least 15.5 degrees C or the butterflies will not be as active.

Smoking Ceremony

Indigenous Australians believe that smoke has cleansing and healing properties, and can ward off evil spirits. Plants are burned in a fire, or a smudge stick is used, and the fragrant smoke is fanned over the couple.

Stone Ceremony

This Australian wedding tradition came about when the early settlers could not afford wedding rings. The bride and groom would each cast a stone into the river, which would represent them staying together forever as life ebbed and flowed around them.

Acknowledging the Land

The tradition of acknowledging who the lad belonged to and those who came before you is thought to bring you good luck and allow you to start your marriage on a positive note