Whether you want a traditional or a more creative celebration, your wedding ceremony should reflect the spirit and love you share with your partner. Here are five tips to help you create a meaningful and memorable wedding ceremony. A ceremony everyone will be talking about for years to come.
Choose Symbolic Flowers
- A great way to make your wedding ceremony more meaningful is to choose symbolic flowers for each stage of your ceremony. For example, choosing different-colored roses for the unity ceremony can add a special touch, as each color meaningfully represents something unique about your relationship and journey together. This is also a wonderful way to pay homage to the traditional customs that have been passed down throughout generations.
- For example, daffodils represent respect but also represent unrequited love, not usually a theme most would opt for at a wedding. However, Alstroemeria, a beautiful lily, symbolizes devotion, wealth, prosperity and fortune, whilst Baby's Breath, and pretty white tiny daisy like flowers symbolize innocence, purity of heart and everlasting love. A popular flower used in destination weddings is Bird of Paradise and represents faithfulness.
- Many brides opt for traditional flowers such as Carnations. The meaning of these flowers changes with the colour - white one symbolize pure love and adoration whilst pink ones say "I'll never forget you". Warning, avoid the yellow ones as these convey disappointment and rejection!
- Often seen at a rustic style wedding are Daisies, they symbolize loyal love, gentleness and innocence and Gardenias, a tradition flower often used in buttonholes, represent purity, sweet love and communicate the sentiment of 'you are lovely'.
- Lavender, a popular flower used for table decorations is a great one to have at weddings as it symbolizes loyalty, love and devotion. And a popular flower frequently used to adorn the bride's hair is Lily of the Valley, this dainty springtime flower means the 'return of happiness'.
Flowers are also added to decorate a cake, Olive branches as we know symbolize peace, Ivy is a symbol of fidelity, wedded love, affection and friendship and Eucalyptus brings with it a sense of protection. - The most popular and most traditional flower seen at weddings is the Rose, red meaning love and design, white symbolizing charm and innocence, pink ones for perfect happiness and orange roses mean fascination. My favourite is the yellow rose and that stands for friendship, joy and gladness.
Plan an Unexpected Send-Off for the Bride & Groom
- Let your guests send you off in style by planning an unexpected departure. This could be as simple or elaborate as you like! Have your bridal party line up outside the ceremony venue and toss colorful confetti and blow bubbles or hand out small souvenirs to each guest. Another fun idea is to have a celebrity impressionist perform at the end of your reception and surprise everyone with special goodbyes on behalf of you, the newlyweds!
- Maybe light the way with pillar candles, a romantic exit for the two of you. Or create a candle-lit aisle which your guests gush over both you. Go for a party feel with colourful streamers to wave at you as you leave your wedding. The vibrant colours will make for exciting wedding photographs and will be loads of fund for the two of you. Maybe co-ordinate the streamers with the colors of your wedding?
- For an indoor wedding have a balloon toss. It's fun and magical. The guests toss them towards you as you leave and your have such fun dodging them. Again, choose colours that match your wedding theme, style and venue. The photographs will be fabulous.
- Streamers and petals are pretty but do create extra work once the ceremony is over as they need cleaningup. So why not opt for bubbles, double the fun as they can be your wedding favours. Less mess, just don't get too sticky! With the right lighting, a bubble fest will be just as visible after dusk - maybe opt for glow in the dark bubbles or get serious and have a bubble machine.
- For the nature lovers why not release Butterflies. These symbolize new beginnings and happiness. Releasing doves are for good fortune and prosperity, everlasting love and a peaceful home - what more could a couple ask for.
Personalize Readings from Loved Ones
- During your ceremony, make a special effort to include readings from close friends and family members. Ask a friend or family member to read a favorite poem or classic love letter that has special significance for you as a couple. Not only does this add an extra touch of personalization to your wedding day, it also gives your closest friends and relatives the opportunity to feel like active participants in your special day.
- Your reading can be bespoke, a personalised poem and can then be printed for you to have as a keepsake.
- Add a bit of humour to your ceremony and bring no lears of laughter, have your guests in stitches and leave them with a lasting amusing wedding memory.
- Wedding readings are a great way to personalize a wedding too. From heartfelt readings, romantic quotes from books and even song lyrics. They certainly create the right mood. Everyone loves a tear jerker but are also partial to a funny reading or two. Funny readings are also a good way to shake off any pre-vow nerves and unite a congregation, they’re definitely worth considering including in your Celebrant led ceremony.
Include other family Members During the Ceremony with a Sand Ceremony
- One way to include family members during the wedding ceremony is to perform a sand ceremony. Start by giving each person a small vial of sand. Get them to pour the sand onto a larger vase together, symbolizing two families becoming one and when this ritual ends, you can fill the remainder of the vase with colored crystals or glass beads for an extra special touch.
- A sand ceremony is a modern tradition, it became an alternative to the unity candle ceremony. Something which is popular in the catholic faith. As people started to move the ceremonies outdoors an alternative was sought as the flame was going out from the wind!
- Some couples collect sand from their favourite beaches together, others with children choose them to help with the process. You can choose whatever vessels you wish to use, many become family heirlooms.
A sand ceremony is an easy visualisation of the joining together of two people into one. The action of pouring their individual container into a larger vessel, making something new and a permanent transformation is something that children of all ages understand.
Meaningful Music for Every Stage of the Service
- Live music is a great way to infuse your ceremony with personalization. Select a few pieces of music that have special meaning to you, such as the first song you danced to as a couple or your parent’s wedding songs. Your guests will be touched by the sentiment behind the selection and enjoy hearing familiar tunes during the ceremony.
- From the moment you walk into your wedding arena to your departure, wedding music sets the tone for your celebration. There are so many pieces to choose from -classical, jazz, opera, modern chart toppers and so on. It can feel like a daunting task.
- Fortunately, there are so many music platforms available today which make choosing a playlist fun and easy to do.
- Your wedding includes many events from entering your wedding arena, exchanging vows, enjoying your first dance and cutting the cake. Given the significance of each moment, thoughtfully choosing your wedding song is important.
- Even think about having a playlist for when you are getting ready, make it more of a special moment, it's not just about getting your hair and makeup sorted. It's a time of excitement and anticipation and should be enjoyed with friends, family and a fun playlist of your favourite songs. What an enjoyable way to start your wedding day!
These simple tips on making your wedding day memorable can seem overwhelming. As your Wedding Celebrant I can help you, contact me at https://denise-whelan-celebrant.com/contact-us for my Calendly booking page.
