JOYFUL CEREMONIES
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT, AS THE CEREMONY UNFOLDS
HELD WITH LOVE
CREATING THE PERFECT MOMENTS THAT WILL LIVE IN YOUR HEARTS FOREVER
UNITY CANDLE/S
At the beginning of the ceremony, the Bride and Groom are invited to light 2 individual candles
to represent everything they bring, as individuals.
After the vows and Ring exchange, they are invited to light
the Unity candle,
from the 2 individual candles
to symbolise their marriage union
I supply all of the holders etc. - most couples supply their own candles as they would like to keep them as Keepsakes
- I can supply candles if required.
to represent everything they bring, as individuals.
After the vows and Ring exchange, they are invited to light
the Unity candle,
from the 2 individual candles
to symbolise their marriage union
I supply all of the holders etc. - most couples supply their own candles as they would like to keep them as Keepsakes
- I can supply candles if required.
HANDFAST
Couples are invited to take their vows while in a "Handfast"
This is an ancient custom
dating back to Brehon law
Where promised couples were tied together on social occasions
- it's where the phrase
"tying the knot" comes from
The idea was that they
would have to stay together
during their engagement
and get to know each-other
and their families, villages, etc.
It was to ensure that the "match" would be a good one
and that the couple would genuinely love each other and stay together
Today, we loosely loop a cord around the joined hands
of the Bride and Groom
as they take their vows
The cord is removed after the vows as the couple will no longer need anything "material"
to hold them together
dating back to Brehon law
Where promised couples were tied together on social occasions
- it's where the phrase
"tying the knot" comes from
The idea was that they
would have to stay together
during their engagement
and get to know each-other
and their families, villages, etc.
It was to ensure that the "match" would be a good one
and that the couple would genuinely love each other and stay together
Today, we loosely loop a cord around the joined hands
of the Bride and Groom
as they take their vows
The cord is removed after the vows as the couple will no longer need anything "material"
to hold them together
LOVING CUP (QUAICH)
The Celtic history of
the "Loving Cup"
is one of sharing and protecting. The cup symbolises the cup of life, filled with "loves journey"
It is a two-handled bowl
so that it can be passed
from Bride to Groom
and they each drink 3 times
to their shared past,
present and future.
Those who drink deeply
from the Loving Cup,
with an open heart
and a willing spirit
invite the full range of challenges and experiences into their being
and into their marriage
the "Loving Cup"
is one of sharing and protecting. The cup symbolises the cup of life, filled with "loves journey"
It is a two-handled bowl
so that it can be passed
from Bride to Groom
and they each drink 3 times
to their shared past,
present and future.
Those who drink deeply
from the Loving Cup,
with an open heart
and a willing spirit
invite the full range of challenges and experiences into their being
and into their marriage
SAND CEREMONY
BLENDING A FAMILY
BLENDING A FAMILY
A sand ceremony is particularly effective
if either or both of the Bride and
if either or both of the Bride and
Groom have children
Kids love playing with the sand!!!
The concept is that each member individually
has a coloured sand
which is then poured in layers into a glass container
As each layer goes in
- each individual
is recognised by their coloured layer
as a member of this newly formed "Married" family
It is fun to do
and it is a beautiful reminder
of your wedding ceremony
for all the years to come
The concept is that each member individually
has a coloured sand
which is then poured in layers into a glass container
As each layer goes in
- each individual
is recognised by their coloured layer
as a member of this newly formed "Married" family
It is fun to do
and it is a beautiful reminder
of your wedding ceremony
for all the years to come
WEDDING-RING WARMING
A Wedding-Ring Warming
is carried out
at the start of the Ceremony
The Best Man, or whoever
is looking after the rings
is asked to pass the rings
among the guests
The guests are asked to dig deep into their hearts
and find all the love they have
for the Bride and Groom
and to transfer this love
along with all their best wishes
into the rings
The rings which start off
as 2 pieces of precious metal, now become transformed by the powerful energy of love and joy transmitted by the guests
It is a simple and wonderful way
to involve all of your guests
in your wedding ceremony
is carried out
at the start of the Ceremony
The Best Man, or whoever
is looking after the rings
is asked to pass the rings
among the guests
The guests are asked to dig deep into their hearts
and find all the love they have
for the Bride and Groom
and to transfer this love
along with all their best wishes
into the rings
The rings which start off
as 2 pieces of precious metal, now become transformed by the powerful energy of love and joy transmitted by the guests
It is a simple and wonderful way
to involve all of your guests
in your wedding ceremony
OATHING STONE
An oathing stone,
used while taking vows
is very effective
It symbolises your oath/vows
to each other being
"written in stone"
The stone can be held in
the joined hands of
the Bride and Groom or
they can place their hands over it The stone can be located somewhere special to the couple
- a beach
- a garden
- the place the proposal took place
or a first date
It's entirely up to you
to tell your own love story
and make your vows in stone
used while taking vows
is very effective
It symbolises your oath/vows
to each other being
"written in stone"
The stone can be held in
the joined hands of
the Bride and Groom or
they can place their hands over it The stone can be located somewhere special to the couple
- a beach
- a garden
- the place the proposal took place
or a first date
It's entirely up to you
to tell your own love story
and make your vows in stone
ROSE CEREMONY
After taking their vows
the couple each take a rose
- the universal symbol of love
and they gift the rose to each other
It is the first gift they give and receive as a newly married person
the couple each take a rose
- the universal symbol of love
and they gift the rose to each other
It is the first gift they give and receive as a newly married person
The gift of the rose to each other symbolises the gift of everything
they are to each other
- their past, present and future
- the very essence of who they are
- their love
They place the two roses
in a central vase to show
the joining of their lives
Some couples choose 10 or 12
family members or friends
to also receive a rose from either
the Bride or Groom
All of the roses come together in the central vase as a symbol of the two lives joining completely in marriage
they are to each other
- their past, present and future
- the very essence of who they are
- their love
They place the two roses
in a central vase to show
the joining of their lives
Some couples choose 10 or 12
family members or friends
to also receive a rose from either
the Bride or Groom
All of the roses come together in the central vase as a symbol of the two lives joining completely in marriage
Fisherman's Knot
The tying of the Fisherman's Knot
is great fun for the Bride and Groom
as they have to learn
how to tie this knot
and practice tying it
prior to the ceremony
The Fisherman's Knot
also known as "The True Lovers Knot" is a simple knot
but probably one of the sturdiest
As you tie the two individual cords together and pull upon it
the knot becomes tighter
is great fun for the Bride and Groom
as they have to learn
how to tie this knot
and practice tying it
prior to the ceremony
The Fisherman's Knot
also known as "The True Lovers Knot" is a simple knot
but probably one of the sturdiest
As you tie the two individual cords together and pull upon it
the knot becomes tighter
This symbolises both of you
as individuals coming together
and forming a bond that
despite the changes
and adversity life brings
your marriage will only become stronger as you support each other
as individuals coming together
and forming a bond that
despite the changes
and adversity life brings
your marriage will only become stronger as you support each other
INVOLVE YOUR CHILDREN
It is lovely to find ways
to get your children involved
in the ceremony
Lets be honest
little kids are not
going to sit quietly while
mammy and daddy
are doing something interesting
so let's get them involved
it keeps the little ones occupied
and it allows the older ones
to feel fully involved
in their parent(s) big day
It is lovely to find ways
to get your children involved
in the ceremony
Lets be honest
little kids are not
going to sit quietly while
mammy and daddy
are doing something interesting
so let's get them involved
it keeps the little ones occupied
and it allows the older ones
to feel fully involved
in their parent(s) big day
