Wedding ceremony rituals that give you goosebumps

Why are non-traditional weddings so popular? There are many reasons for this. But to put it briefly: Non-traditional weddings allow you to get married in a more personalized way, on your own schedule, and perhaps with a little more flair.

With this type of wedding ceremony, you have complete freedom in planning the wedding. That’s wonderful, but the sheer number of options can also be overwhelming. We’ll show you some beautiful ideas for how to use special rituals to turn your wedding ceremony into a truly personal, memorable moment that’s sure to give you goosebumps—and how your guests can be a part of it.

Squeeze my hand.

In “handfasting,” one hand of each bride and groom is tied together with a ribbon. This Celtic custom symbolizes the strong bond between the couple. What might sound trivial at first is actually a beautiful moment in the entire ceremony. Everything falls silent as the officiant ties the velvet ribbon around the couple’s hands. Their eyes meet—no words are needed. It’s the symbolism that counts.

Little effort, lots of wishes!

• All you need is a string and the wedding rings. The ring bearer threads a silk string or a delicate fabric ribbon through the rows of guests’ seats. Then the two rings are threaded onto the ribbon—they are passed from guest to guest, accompanied by many good wishes. It’s a lovely tradition that doesn’t require much in the way of props. A little caution is advised if there are children among the guests. They might find the “game with the string” quite amusing. So, as the ring bearer, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the precious rings.
  
  
• Another lovely idea: As the bride and groom, you light a fire pit together with wood and fragrant herbs like lavender and thyme. The guests write their wishes for you on a piece of paper and then burn the short note in the fire—so that the wish rises as fragrant smoke and comes true! For outdoor weddings, the blazing fire is a wonderful symbol that accompanies you throughout the entire ceremony.

Always in my heart.

• Not all of your loved ones can always be there for such an important day in your life. Still, you want the people who are so close to you to be with you—even if they have passed away, are ill, or are simply far away. A remembrance ritual can help bring these people closer to the ceremony. You can light a candle, release a balloon into the sky, or simply place a photo where you can see it.

Especially when an independent officiant leads the ritual, it can be a sentimental and heartfelt moment during the wedding ceremony. As you can probably imagine, this ritual is emotionally charged and should be handled with care. It’s important for the officiant to find the right moment; otherwise, the mood can quickly shift from romantic to sad.

Dancing Toward Unity.

• Non-religious wedding ceremonies shine because of your personality. So don’t leave that out even after the official part is over! Classic rituals for the exit include throwing rice, confetti, and flowers—always nice, but it’s a bit cliché. How about something a little more unique? Maybe your nieces and nephews would like to use sidewalk chalk to draw little messages for you on the ground? Or (your) kids could carry lovingly designed banners in front of them as you leave.

It’s the perfect way to get the party started: You and your partner dance through the crowd of guests to your favorite hits. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve rehearsed a routine or are just dancing wildly. Whether you’re showing off your old-school hip-hop roots with LL Cool J hits blasting from a ghetto blaster or the more serious“Marry You”by Bruno Mars echoing from your Marshall speaker—this performance should reflect who you are and put you and your guests in a great mood. That way, the party’s atmosphere is guaranteed to be a hit!