Ideas for Commitment Ceremonies

Ideas for ceremonies and further resources…

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Rituals and symbols

The Handfasting Ceremony
Handfasting is an ancient Celtic wedding ritual in which the couple’s hands are tied together with a ceremonial cloth. It’s often done in modern times with a beautiful ribbon chosen by the couple. It’s tied in a bow with an opening loose enough so that the hands can come out freely, or simply draped across the hands.

The Sand Ceremony
The containers of sand represent the participants in the ceremony, whether it’s a love ceremony or a family one. Each person has a special quality represented by the colours of the sands. The sand ceremony can be a beautiful and meaningful addition to your vows.

The Rose Ceremony
Each person gives the other a rose at the end of the ceremony. Two roses are all that is necessary. In the ancient, symbolic language of flowers, a single red rose always means “I love you”. The rose ceremony gives recognition to your commitment as partners for life. This ritual can be added as part of any other ceremony.

The Wine Ceremony
The years of life are as a cup of wine poured for you to drink. This ‘cup of life’ contains within it a wine with certain properties that are sweet and symbolic of happiness, joy, hope, peace, love and delight. This same wine also holds some bitter properties that are symbolic of disappointment, sorrow, grief, despair, and life’s trials and tribulations. Together, the sweet and the bitter represent life’s journey and all of the experiences that are a natural part of it. Those who drink deeply from the ‘cup of life’ with an open heart and willing spirit, invite the full range of challenges and experiences into their being.

Candle Lighting Ceremony
The candle lighting ceremony is becoming more common in today’s ceremonies. The ceremony symbolises the pledge of unity between the partners and the merging of two families. Traditionally, there are three candles. The parents of the couple light the side candles. The couple then each take one of the side candles and together they light the centre candle. This symbolises the union.

The Hand Ceremony
The couple hold each other’s hands, palms up, so that they may see the gift that they are to each other. These are the hands that will passionately love and cherish each other through the years, for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will wipe the tears from each other’s eyes; tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will comfort each other in illness and hold you when fear or grief fills you. These are the hands that will give you support and celebrate with you in your accomplishments.

The Release of Butterflies
A butterfly release is a unique experience. After the vows are spoken, the couple are handed a little box of butterflies which they release. Butterflies are symbols of the spirit of freedom and happiness. It makes a great photo or video moment. For further information, contact Butterfly Releases.

The Wishing Stones
When a ceremony is held outdoors and near water, blessing or wishing stones are either gathered at the site or provided by the couple, not only for themselves, but for the whole party and guests as well. After the ceremony, all follow the couple to the water, make a wish or blessing for them and cast their stone into the water. The ripples that are made represent the love and good wishes for the couple… as our ripples cross and re-cross one another’s, so do our love and good wishes touch and retouch all around us and those with whom we come into contact.

Another way of celebrating is through the exchange of two wedding wishing stones, where the couple reveal the power of their love and their hopes for a long lasting and happy marriage.

Stones or Seashell Ceremony
During the ceremony the guests are offered a seashell or polished rock or stone from a basket or bowl. They hold them throughout the entire ceremony filling them with good wishes and thoughts. At the end of your ceremony, they can be collected in a decorative container which the couple can keep forever as a memento of their special day. Or, if having a waterfront ceremony, your guests can cast them into the water with their wishes, symbolising the blessings that are to be as neverending as the tide.

Wishing Box
Guests write their heartfelt wishes for the couple and place them in the wishing box, which can then be opened on one of the couple’s special anniversaries.

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Love poems and quotes