A wedding ceremony is a beautiful opportunity to express your love and commitment in a way that feels meaningful to you. While vows and rings are classic staples, many couples are adding symbolic actions to their ceremonies to make the day even more personal, memorable, and unique.
Now, these are not for everyone. Some will opt for something more traditional and some will want something more out there: so I have you well and truly covered!
Here’s a countdown of the Top 10 symbolic actions at a wedding, ranging from the traditional to the wonderfully unexpected, to inspire your celebration.
But remember, every one of these can be customised and personalised to fit you. I've given you a few suggestions in here, but I have a lot more squirreled away that no one else does...
1. Wedding Rings: A Timeless Tradition
Wedding rings are perhaps the oldest and most iconic symbol of marriage, dating back over 3,000 years. The unbroken circle represents eternal love and unity, making them a beautiful and enduring tradition.
If you want to modernize or personalize this timeless act, there are plenty of options:
Choose rings made from a special material that holds meaning for you.
Commission custom designs, like matching rings or interlocking bands.
Craft a ring from something unconventional, such as a coin or a twig dipped in silver.
Skip rings altogether and opt for a different symbolic token, like matching bracelets or necklaces.
2. Certificate Signing: A Ceremony Seal of Choice
In a registrar-led wedding, the signing of the certificate is the legal centerpiece. However, in a celebrant-led ceremony, signing a symbolic certificate can be a beautiful way to mark your commitment.
This certificate isn’t about legalities—it’s about love. It can represent your promises and act as a physical reminder of the choice you’ve made to share your lives. Place it at the end of the ceremony or weave it into the middle as a creative, meaningful moment.
3. Ring Warming: Adding Warmth to Your Vows
Ring warming is a touching way to infuse your rings with the love and blessings of your guests. Before exchanging them, pass the rings through the congregation so that each guest can hold them and make a silent wish for your future.
This symbolic act not only involves your guests but also transforms your rings into carriers of collective goodwill—a tangible connection to the people sharing your day. It is also a wonderful way to bring a nod to religion into your ceremony. Perhaps your faith, perhaps the faith of someone present. I can give the guests the chance to say a prayer or blessing while they hold the rings, which allows them to bring the faith element which is important to them, without impacting on the ceremony.
4. Handfasting: Binding Your Love
Rooted in Pagan tradition, handfasting is the symbolic act of binding a couple’s hands together with ribbons, cords, or fabric. Each material represents a wish or blessing for the couple’s marriage.
You can make handfasting your own by:
Inviting loved ones to contribute ribbons or wrap the cords during the ceremony.
Choosing materials with personal significance, like family heirloom fabrics.
Keeping the knot as a memento of your union.
I have a special trick with this one, but you'll have to get in touch to find out :)
5. Wedding Library: A Collection of Love
For book-loving couples, this is a unique and heartfelt twist! Ask your guests to bring a book they feel represents your relationship or marriage. Inside, they can write a personal inscription explaining their choice.
Over time, this “wedding library” will become a cherished collection of memories and insights. Every time you pick up a book, you’ll be reminded of your special day and the people who celebrated it with you.
6. Drinking from the Quaich: A Toast to Your Union
The Quaich (pronounced “quake”) is a traditional Scottish two-handled cup symbolizing trust, love, and shared resources. In this ritual, each partner drinks from the same cup, often blending two drinks to symbolize their union.
For a creative twist, choose a drink that’s meaningful to you, or even a non-alcoholic option like tea or juice. This act not only celebrates unity but can also be a lovely nod to heritage or a shared love of a particular beverage! Again, for a bit of extra flare, get in touch and I'll tell you about my special trick!
7. Unity Candle: A Flame of Togetherness
Ok, we're getting to the slightly more "out there" stuff now, so hold onto your hats.
In itself, the lighting of a unity candle is a classic symbolic action that uses fire to represent joining two lives into one. Each partner lights a single candle, and together they light a larger candle to symbolize their union.
But I like to go a little further with this one... Why not light a fire pit instead? Two torches, walking from either side and lighting the flames. Same symbolism, heaps of drama! Guests can tend the fire throughout the evening, or use it to cook dinner—adding warmth and interaction to your celebration. And drama...
8. Burning Your Fears: Letting Go Together
This deeply symbolic act involves writing down your fears, worries, or concerns the night before the wedding. During the ceremony, you and your partner place these notes into a fire (perhaps the same fire pit you just lit!) to let them burn away.
This ritual signifies your willingness to face challenges together and reminds you both that love can overcome any obstacle, and can also be a wonderful source of humour!
9. Cutting Through an Obstacle: Overcoming Challenges Together
Based on a German tradition, this ritual has couples sawing through a log as a symbol of teamwork. For something less strenuous (and sweaty) consider cutting a ribbon, tearing paper, or breaking through a symbolic barrier together.
This act reflects your ability to face life’s challenges side by side and showcases the strength of your partnership. It also catches everyone off guard, which is a perfect way to keep them engaged in the ceremony!
10. Jumping the Broom: Leaping into Marriage
DECLARATION: this is my favorite... Jumping the broom is an ancient tradition with roots in multiple cultures. Historically, it symbolized stepping into a new phase of life together. Today, it represents taking a leap of faith and crossing the threshold into your shared future. And it is so weird! Like the cutting through of an obstacle, jumping the broom is about overcoming life's challenges together, but done so in a way that will bring laughter, but also a great deal of joy to the ceremony.
It's super weird, but I have also seen people burst into tears at the shear joy of the moment. And there's a special trick to that, but you know what you have to do to find that out...
Bringing Symbolism to Your Wedding Day
Symbolic actions like these add layers of meaning to your wedding ceremony, making it truly personal and unforgettable. Whether you choose something classic like rings or unique like a wedding library, these rituals help tell your story in a way that resonates with you and your guests.
As a celebrant, I’m here to help you explore these options and create a ceremony that’s fun, unique, and deeply personal. And remember, every one of these has a special twist that I can bring to the table that (as far as I know) no one else does. So let’s make your wedding day one to remember!
Ready to plan your dream ceremony?
Get in touch today, and let’s make magic happen!
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