Top 10 of the Best Wedding Rituals

Wedding ceremony or vow renewal, every couple has to choose a ritual for the D-day, that aimed to celebrate their union in a very personal way.

There are two different types of rituals during wedding ceremonies :

• The union rituals, to celebrate your love with your partner
• The communal rituals, to celebrate your love with your loved ones

The ritual can be lead by the wedding officiant, or the guests if wished.

Below, you will find all of the materials needed and the symbolism of the best 10 rituals.

Original or classic, discover our best selection :

 

1. The sand ritual

 

Material needed :

• 2 bottles containing different colors of sand
• a glass container (vase)

Intervention of the married ones and / or the guests :

The bride and groom hold their bottle in their hands, and shed the sand together in the glass container.

The bride and groom may possibly associate their children to the ritual.

Symbolism :

The two sand colors represent the two families. Shedding the sand at the same time in the same recipient symbolize the union of the two families through the wedding. It also symbolizes the respect of the difference between the two families and the two personalities.

2. The love letter ritual

Material needed :

• A glass bootle
• A wooden box (big enough to contain the glass bottle)
• A hammer
• 4 nails
• The 2 bride and groom’s love letters

Intervention of the married ones and / or the guests :

The married ones after having written personally their life vision in 5 or 10 years, roll together their to texts into the bottle (where they will live, how many children will they have, their working life, how will they celebrate their 10th anniversary ?…). They close the bottle, and seal it in the box. They can bury this box in the back of their garden for example, until their 10th anniversary to discover what their partner have written.

Symbolism :

It is a very symbolic and romantic ritual where you have to be patient. Rendez-vous in 10 years !

 

3. The sealed wine ritual

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Material needed :

• A good bottle of wine that can be kept for several years
• A wooden box big enough to contain the bottle
• A hammer
• 4 nails

Intervention of the bride and groom and / or the guests :

The married ones, after having chosen their bottle of wine, seal it on the box during the ceremony.

They can then bury the box in their garden during 5 or 10 years.

Symbolism :

Very frenchy, this ritual need to be patient before being able to taste this wine for their 5th or 10th years anniversary.

Alternative : 

There is also a more traditional wine ritual which consist in drinking a glass of wine with your partner as the source of life.

 

4. Burning its fears ritual

Material needed :

• Fears written on different small papers
• A glass container
• A candle

Intervention of the bride and groom and / or the guests :

Before the ceremony, each future married ones write their fears on papers. A few hours before the D-day, each partner tells its fears to the other. During the ceremony, the couple burn their papers with a candle.

Symbolism :

This ritual symbolizes a new adventure through the union of two people, to move on and let the fears go away.

5. Tree planting ritual

Material needed :

• A small tree
• A picker
• Some dirt
• A pot

The intervention of the bride and groom and / or the guests :

Before the ceremony, the couple choose together a tree that symbolizes something strong to them. If they have the chance to unite in the family property then you can plant your tree directly in the garden. Otherwise, you will be able to lay down a tree to put it in a bigger pot. You can also involve your parents in this ritual. They will help you to plant the tree.

Symbolism :

This ritual is very symbolic because planting a tree represent the growth of your love and family for example.

 

6. The candles ritual

Material needed :

• Candles
• lights

The intervention of the bride and groom and / or the guests :

In this ritual, you need 4 candles. Each candle symbolizes:

– the past: light on by your parents (or any other person who raised you)

– the present: light on by your loved ones who are present in your life on the daily basis

– the future: light on by your children or, if necessary, by a child who is close to you

– the infinite: light on by the married ones to symbolize their eternal love.

With each candle lighting, your loved ones can express themselves, and if they don’t know what to say, do not hesitate to tell them what you think of them and to thank them if you feel the need! There is also a variant to this ritual which is to give each guest a candle. Afterwards, the officer lights the candles’ guests sitting at the bottom, and each participant transmits its flame to their neighbor until it arrives to the bride and groom, who used their candles to light on a larger candle.

Symbolism :

Each candles represent a part of your life, and the guests that participates to this ritual can be involved in your unity.

Alternative :

An easier way to use candles as a symbol is the Unity candle ritual. It consists in lighting up a candle with your partner at the same time. Each of the bride and groom hold a candle that represent themselves and their family. It is a symbol of unity.

 

7. The lovers bookcase

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Material needed :

• A small bookcase

Intervention of the bride and groom and / or the guests :

Before the ceremony, the married ones ask their guests to dedicate a book to them that could represent the couple. But it also can be a book that the couple could like to read. Then, each guests during the ceremony stand up and put the book in the bride and groom’s bookcase to fill in it.

Symbolism :

This very european communal ritual allows each of the guests to fully participate to the couple union: dedication, intervention during the ceremony to explain their choice…

 

8. The ribbons ritual / handfasting ceremony

Material needed :

• Ribbons of different colors

Intervention of the bride and groom and / or the guests :

The bride and groom, standing face to face or side by side, are holding their hands. Witnesses or other loved ones come one by one to tie a ribbon around the wrists of the couple. Each ribbon symbolizes different things: love, fidelity, trust … Witnesses, other guests or the officiant ask questions to the married ones, and to each “yes”, they tie the appropriate ribbon to the question. If you wish, you can replace ribbons with a string, a scarf …

Symbolism :

This ritual is very old, it was practiced by the Greeks and the Romans, but also by the Celts. With the hand-fasting, the bride and groom symbolizes their union and their commitment to each other.

 

9. The stones ritual

Material needed :

• Some pebbles
• Some black felts
• A glass container (vase)

Intervention of the bride and groom and / or the guests :

A few hours before the ceremony and the arrival of the guests, on each seat is placed a pebble and a black felt. During the ceremony, the guests write a few words to the bride and groom. Then, each guest put his pebble in a vase which, at the end of the ceremony, will be given to the bride and groom.

Symbolism :

This communal ritual is a way to involve your guests into your union. This ritual allows you to keep good memories from your ceremony.

 

10.  The fingerprint tree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Material needed :

• Ink
• Tree with branches printed on a large sheet

Intervention of the bride and groom and / or the guests :

Each married ones and guest will come to put their stamp on the branches. Each print symbolizes a leave.

Symbolism :

This communal ritual is an opportunity to include your guests to your ceremony but also to keep a memory of your union.

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Now that you know our Top 10 rituals of symbolic ceremonies, it’s up to you to choose the one that fits you the most!

Nevertheless, if you wish, each ritual is customizable.

To tell us about your symbolic ceremony project, do not hesitate to contact us!