You have a pretty good idea of what the traditional wedding ceremony entails. It generally takes place in a church with some sort of religious figure officiating (unless you opt for a religion-free Justice of the Peace or a minister of some stripe who got ordained online).
Then there are a number of pronouncements about love and commitment, after which you say your vows (love and honor are still in, although of late “obey” has gone out the window), exchange rings, kiss, and run down the aisle to get pelted with rice (or confetti…apparently rice is bad for birds).
That’s your wedding in a nutshell. But when you get right down to it, it seems a little bland. But if you want to add some personal flair to the particulars, there are plenty of traditions that you can work into your perfect wedding ceremony.
Ceremony Traditions You Might Want to Try
Unity candle
This addition to the standard wedding ceremony actually has no known historical basis. It is a fairly modern practice that involves the bride and groom lighting separate candles and then bringing them together simultaneously to light a single pillar unity candle before blowing out their individual tapers. The symbolism, as you may have guessed, is the unification of two people that commit to live one life together.
The lasso
In this interesting Spanish tradition, a rope of some sort (it can be a cord, a string of flowers, etc.) is formed into a figure eight (the symbol of eternity) and draped over the couple, generally by appointed friends or family, as a symbol of being bound together for life, joined by the strength not only of the rope, but of their commitment.
Your own vows
While it is not uncommon for the officiator to deliver vows for participants to parrot (“I, [your name], do solemnly swear…” and so on). However, many couples now feel that this antiquated method of declaring one’s intentions is simply too formal and impersonal. Many couples instead opt to write their own vows, which can really consist of anything that is significant or meaningful to the particular couple. Some people write poetry while others elucidate the many reasons they fell in love with their future mate. The nice thing is that it adds a deeply personal element to the ceremony that can be lacking in strictly traditional alternatives.
Break a glass
The Jewish tradition of wrapping a glass in cloth and stepping on it concludes the ceremony (as everyone shouts “Mazel tov!”, or “Good luck!”). Although there is some debate as to what this actually symbolizes, it is a generally held belief that it is meant to represent the following: the marriage will last as long as the glass is broken…in other words, forever.
Jump a broom
Historically, this ceremonial practice was first recorded amongst slave colonies in the Americas and although it is thought to have originated in West or Central Africa, there is no written evidence to support the claim. In any case, a couple would conclude the ceremony by jumping over a broom, generally together. Although it is largely unknown what exactly this symbolized, it is believed that it had something to do with the wife’s willingness to tend to her new home, or that the partner who jumped higher would be in charge of making household decisions. However, most modern couples apply the “leap of faith” mentality to the practice.
This article was written exclusively for STL Weddings by Sarah Danielson. Sarah is a writer for luxury scented candles, where you can find an amazing assortment of high end brands at competitive prices.
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