Symbolic Rituals, Customs and Traditions – Highlighting Meaningful Moments:
I smile when couples and families planning weddings and other ceremonies appear hesitant about including symbolic ritual in their ceremony. They relax when I add, ‘they’re touches that reflect or include those you love, and highlight parts of the ceremony that are really important to you’.
Reassured that symbolic ritual isn’t superstition, they remember the best ceremonies they've been to, realising they were sprinkled with just the right kind and amount of symbolism.
Couples love the way symbolism dials up the connection, intimacy, and uniqueness of their wedding ceremony; and families are touched at the many ways symbolism brings the strongest sense of a person, their life and story to a Naming, Vow Renewal, Funeral, Memorial, or Life Achievement ceremony.
Photo credit & permission: @hannahgilbert_photographer Venue: @beekeepersliptrap
Is Symbolism For Everyone?
I say Yes! because symbolism can be momentary or lasting; funny or sentimental or both; planned or a surprise; it can be a gesture, inanimate, a place or a view; a solo-couple-all guest activity; it can be participatory or observed - include words, music, pets, artwork, craft, sport, food and drink, even hobbies - it can be inclusive and celebratory of identity, ability, gender, interests, traits, education, career, and culture; literally anything that reflects who and what the ceremony is about, meaning something for everyone, because who doesn’t want to celebrate an occasion in the most authentic and resonant way?
What Can Symbolism Look And Sound Like?
The options are endless! There are wedding favourites like Handfasting, Unity, and Ring Warming rituals; just as there are Time Capsule, Memory Tables, and Flashmob songs and readings for life celebrations.
Here are just a few other ideas from different ceremonies I've officiated, that keep reverberating in my gooey Celebrant heart, because they brought genuine fun and feels, and were just right for that ceremony.
1. A mid ceremony toast to the memory of a beloved, funny family member who enjoyed making toasts, seamlessly woven into the couple's story. It was a lighter-hearted but meaningful way for that couple to honour the person they missed.
2. A couple had their perfectly posed, gleaming Harley Davidson as backdrop to their I Do's.
3. Yet to be crafted timber pieces from an artist’s studio sat atop and around the lectern as we shared stories, laughs, and (maybe a few more colourful phrases) to farewell him. It was such a privilege to have his family show his garden and studio to me.
4. Dogs! Pets! My bias is clear, I love including furry friends in ceremonies, they’re part of the family! Especially when they don’t exactly follow the plan.
5. Everyone was asked to bring their slippers to a great-grandmother's funeral, to honour her lifelong quest for still warmer ones, and share the joy she took from knowing everyone else’s feet were toasty.
6. A traditionally dressed Groom led guests into the ceremony space with a Thai drumming ceremony.
7. Guests surprised a Bride with a flash mob reading of her favourite quote, because her hearing was perfect, and her vision impaired.
8. Spontaneous, hilarious banter between a Groom and his Mum and Nanna, as the ladies shared a cheeky Reading attesting to his sensitive, romantic side since a boy.
9. A couple included a short meditation at the start of their wedding ceremony to ground and connect themselves to place, ancestors, each other, the occasion, and their guests. Truly reflective of a daily practice that enriches their lives, culture, relationship, and bond.
10. A couple included surprise witnesses during their wedding ceremony, which rocketed the existing joy factor! The excited chatter continued throughout the signing and kept the vibe buzzing for the newly minted Married! announcement straight afterwards.
11. Guests at the wedding of two dedicated Primary School teachers were invited to read part of the ceremony from large cards held up and revealed one at a time, story-time style, with dramatic voices, expressive eyes, anticipation…etc Guests really got into it and the couple were stoked!
12. Just before the end of their ceremony, two Grooms invited their young nieces and nephews to ‘style’ them with fun props, pose, then photograph them…the loveliest mayhem the children looked forward to all day!
13. A couple found a ceremony location their remaining grandparent could access by wheelchair, and married overlooking the family property, steeped in family memories and the resting place of a cherished grandmother.
14. A surprise guest the couple were convinced was unable to attend their wedding, popped up to hand them their printed vow cards to read. The feels could not have been more affecting!
15. At a surprise Vow Renewal celebrating 50 years of marriage, the couple re-enacted the dance during which they fell in love. She had been the trainee teacher at her mother's local dance studio and he, the student. They required no music or guests at the ceremony (they'd celebrated every other anniversary with family and friends and would dine with them later), so it was just the two of them transported back to a moment. And the surprise? Well, she loved the ceremony just the same as all his other thoughtful surprises and welled up when the 'florist delivery person' (me!) announced I was a Celebrant.
My Tips If You're Loving Symbolism
• Ensure it's meaningful to you; that the ritual will suit your ceremony style and vibe, be safe, and still apply under changed weather conditions.
• Less is More: It can be tempting to include multiple ideas that speak to your heart - but trust me, it's best to Sprinkle Symbolism and optimise its impact.
• If your chosen ritual involves particular materials or preparation (e.g. Handfasting, Unity ceremonies, Candle lighting etc), have a test run and ensure everything will work perfectly on the day.
Rose Jones Celebrant couples and families receive a Ceremony Ideas Kit, inclusive of Symbolic Rituals that can be traditional, different, family friendly, sentimental, cheeky, and fun.
Visit rosejonescelebrant.com to Subscribe for more insights and tips about ceremonies; learn more about my services and ceremony packages; or reach out if you're ready to start planning your Day. Your ceremony will be full of heart-filled moments that look easy and feel great!
Rose x
feelings for life
Photo credit: @kinshipbykristy Venue: @mewburnparkhomestead
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