Wedding Vow Ceremonies

Add something special to your event with a unique wedding vow ceremony

See also traditional wedding vows and renewal wedding vows

When planning your wedding ceremony, you may find that you want there to be a bit more, that you want to go through a special ritual or tradition as part of your ceremony to really solidify your wedding vows. 

There are all types of ways to enhance your wedding with special wedding vow ceremonies.  Adding a vow ceremony to your wedding can give the event a unique and personal touch.   Whether you want to light a unity candle, participate in hand fasting, or involve your family and friends, you can make a special wedding vow ceremony part of your big day.

Below we go over the details of a few different samples of wedding vow ceremonies.  Feel free to incorporate one of them or a few of them into your wedding.  Or, make up your own ritual to be included in your wedding ceremony.
 

Unity Candle Ceremony

In this ceremony, the bride and groom enter each carrying a lighted white candle (the candles can be sitting on a candlestick where the couple can get them during the ceremony).  The couple steps to the altar, where a lone unlit candle awaits.  The bride and groom use their lit candles together to light the single large candle.  The lighting of the candle together signifies the extinguishing of individual life and the beginning of life as a married union. 

If you have a deceased parent that you would like to honor, the surviving son or daughter (the groom or the bride) may also light a smaller candle to represent the present spirit of the departed parent.  This candle lighting should be done after the bride's entrance, but before the ceremony officially begins.

Including Children in Your Vows Ceremony

Because many people get married after having children from a previous relationship, it is not uncommon for couples to include a wedding vow ceremony especially for their children to participate in.  These ceremonies can take on many forms and can include rings or pieces of jewelry for the children to receive.  The basic elements of a ceremony like this are for the children to join their parents at the altar.  Then the parents pledge their love to the children and give them a piece of jewelry (like a family medallion.)
 

Handfasting Ceremony

Handfasting is a Celtic wedding vow ceremony that involves binding the bride and groom's hands together with ribbon or cord while they affirm their commitment to each other.  The binding or fasting of hands symbolized the couple coming together as one.  To do a handfasting ceremony, you'll need to have a cooperative officiate.  As you say your wedding vows, have the officiate bind your clasped hands together. 
 

Flower Blessing Ceremony

This ceremony gives your family and friends a part in your wedding.  It consists of a few guests giving a flower to the bride (or adding a flower to a vase) and saying a blessing.  Here is an example of a blessing that can be said:

May this ivy which represents fidelity, help you always remain true to each other.

May these lilies which represent happiness, bring you happiness in your life together.

The bluebell signifies constancy.  May you always find constancy and security in each other.

Roses have long been associated with true and pure love.  May your love for one another be as timeless as the beauty of the rose.