SPECIAL CEREMONY ADDITIONS

Are you getting married and looking for that special addition to your ceremony? Here are just a few of the many that are used today in weddings.


Couples often look for that addition that will honor one or both of their cultures or family backgrounds. Many families have started their own traditions in the ceremonies.

Make your wedding unique and yours!

Lighting of the Candles

     While this is similar to the couple's lighting of the unity candle, it is different. As they enter the ceremony location the guests are given a program, and also a special candle. During the ceremony, as the couple lights their candle, a flame lights the first guests candle of each row, they in turn light the candle of the person next to them. This continues until all guest candles have been lit. This represents that all friends and family support the couple in their marriage.

Rose Ceremony


This has been used in many of the weddings I have helped plan and coordinate. Many Catholic brides present or lay at the feet of the Virgin Mary - a red rose. In other ceremonies, the bride and groom present one single rose to each other, and then present those roses to their mothers. Another symbolism of the two families becoming one. Long stem red roses are used in this exchange. NOTE: please have the florist cut the thorns!

A long stem rose is the best to use in this ceremony, although red is typically used, you may use other colors!
NOTE: Remember to have the florist remove the thorns!

Garland or Lei Ceremony



Beautiful garlands of flowers are exchanged between the bride and groom. This is a custom often found in Indian weddings, as well as those of Hawaiians. The garlands or leis represent the love between the couple, and the unity of the marriage. Love and respect!

Garlands and leis can be made up by the florist to coordinate with your wedding colors.

Broom Jumping

A custom that is used in African-American weddings, and some Native American weddings.

Lasso Ceremony

Used in mainly Hispanic ceremonies. There is lots of information on the Internet about this ceremony and where to order the lasso.

This is a large rosary that is used for the ceremony, but there are other types and styles of the lasso.

There are many more special ceremonies that can be incorporated into yours to make it unique and to honor one's culture.


Unique & Yours encourages you to make the ceremony yours, and to make it special!

One of Unique & Yours weddings that incorporated several unique additions, beautiful couple.

 
Happy planning!

WEDDING TRADITIONS AND FOLKLORE - Part 4

Wedding Traditions – how have they changed ?
HONEYMOON

Marriage was historically brought by a capture of the bride by the groom. The groom would take his bride to a place where she could not be found. They would stay at this location for approximately 30 days, as the moon went through its phases. While they were there they would drink a brew made of honey. This is how the term “honeymoon” began.

Couples today usually just get away to some place they feel is romantic for a shorter periods to celebrate the beginning of their lives together.

BRIDE’S GOWN

Traditionally the bridal gowns are white because of ancient Greeks and Romans believing that white was a symbol of purity, innocence, and joy. Today the white or ivory dress is a symbol of the celebration. Lace, was considered an art in Europe, and used as a popular ornamentation to the gowns. Used a lot today!

Note: There are of course other traditions, and research is still being done on them. The ones above are the most common.


TRADITIONS OF OTHER CULTURES FOR WEDDINGS

Sugar Cube – Greek brides tuck a cube of sugar in their glove to sweeten the union.

Rain on Your Wedding Day – Hindu beliefs include that rain on your wedding day is good luck.

Planting of Tree – in the Netherlands a tree is planted outside the newlywed’s home as a symbol of fertility.

Gift Collection – Finish brides traditionally carried a pillow case door to door collecting gifts.

Red and Yellow Outfits – Korean brides were outfits in these colors to their wedding.

Hand Tying – this is done in many cultures, including Celtic, Native American, Hindu and Egyptian. The couple’s hands are tied together during the ceremony as a symbol of their bond and commitment.

Jumping of the Broom – An African-American tradition brought about because marriages were not allowed during slavery, so they would show their love at a celebration by jumping the broom. It is used by many today as part of their ceremony, even other cultures.

Sake – Japanese tradition is that the couple becomes man and wife after they have taken the first nine sips of sake.

Locking of the Doors – In Ireland, the doors to the church were locked after everyone had entered to insure that the groom would not back out.



While these are only a few of the traditions and customs, these are the most readily used in wedding ceremonies. My research will go on and I will update this blog topic again.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I hope that you are able to incorporate some of these into your wedding!!