Ceremony Enhancements
Breaking of the Glass
The traditional Jewish wedding ceremony includes a “Breaking of the Glass” This tradition represents the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. Many times couples save the pieces of glass from the ceremony in a symbolic box. The Groom is offered a glass on a wooden pallet or wrapped in a cloth napkin, smashes it with his foot. The breaking of the glass symbolizes the fragility of life, because whatever we see before us as whole can be broken at any moment. It reminds us of the need to care for one another; for just as glass can be shattered easily, so can the marriage bond can be shattered with a single act of infidelity or repeated acts of emotional irresponsibility.
Ring Warming Ceremony
As wedding ceremonies become more meaningful and personalized, there are many different ways of bringing special touches for couples who want their guests to feel included in their ceremony. One of my favorites is the Ring Warming Ceremony.
During a ring warming, the couple’s wedding rings are passed among their guests, who are asked to say a prayer, blessing, or make a special wish for the couple over the rings while holding them. This intimate exchange brings all of the loving thoughts of the couple’s families and friends into the rings that the couple will be wearing for a lifetime. It brings an inclusive element of the ceremony and connects the couple with their loved ones in attendance. As your partner places the ring on your finger, you will truly feel all the love and warmth rush over you as you realize that each and every guest has blessed this ring for you. It is Very Special!
One bride describes the ceremony this way -
“A ring-warming is a relatively new tradition included in wedding ceremonies. Just before we exchange wedding rings, the rings will be passed to each of our guests. Each guest will briefly hold the rings and silently “warm” them with his or her blessing, prayers, and wishes for our marriage. When it is time for us to exchange rings, the rings will have been warmed by the love and support of our family and friends.”
Just before the ring exchange, groomsmen can help pass the rings from row to row, which should help speed along the process of passing the rings to each and every guest. You could also include a special piece of music for the Ring Warming as they are being passed.
This Ceremony may not be suitable for larger weddings. They seem to work best for smaller groups, as there is less chance of the rings being lost or dropped, plus with a smaller group they get passed around quicker, so there isn’t any lapse in the ceremony. You will also need to consider the location. If you’re having a beach wedding and everyone is standing in the sand, you may not want to have your rings passed around, especially if the the thought of your most treasured possession falling in the sand freaks you out. So they do work best for smaller weddings. However, if this Ceremony really appeals to you for inclusion in your larger wedding, you may want to consider tying the rings together with a ribbon or enclosing them in a small box or bowl. (see pic) But If the thought of passing your rings around just makes you too nervous, your Officant can hold the rings and ask the guests to join her/him in blessing them. This still includes your guests, but cuts down on the time and avoids any potential risks of dropping or losing the rings.
Since this is a fairly new trend and somewhat non-traditional, there’s a good chance many of your guests will have never heard of it or understand it. You may want to consider asking your officiate to explain its meaning or adding an explanation in your wedding program about how the ringwarming ceremony works and why it is important to you.
When you choose to perform a Ring Warming Ceremony, when your rings finally come to rest upon your hand, they will contain not only the love you have for one another, but also the love, hope and pledge of support of all those that you love.
The Cord of Three Strands (God's Knot)
The cord of three strands symbolizes the joining of one man, one woman, and God into a marriage relationship. Marriage takes three; you, your soon to be spouse, and God. It is God who teaches us to love. By keeping Him at the center of your marriage, His love will continue to bind you together as one throughout your marriage.
"The Cord of Three Strands" ceremony is a great addition to a traditional wedding ceremony. It adds a unique element to your ceremony that friends and family will remember. It can also serve as a substitute for the unity candle especially in situations where candles may not be used, or may be difficult. The Cord of Three Strands works especially well as a substitute in outside weddings.
At a certain point in the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom braid the Cord of Three Strands together. The groom holds a small metal ring with three attached strands. The bride then braids the strands together, symbolizing the union of God, husband and wife.
The colors of the cords is significant:
- Gold Strand - Represents God at the center of the Marriage
- Purple Strand - Represents the Groom
- White Strand - Represents the Bride
You can purchase the Cord of Three Strands through the Christian wedding web shop.
Greek Crowning Ceremony and Common Cup
The Greek Crowning Ceremony and Common Cup is an ancient tradition in the Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony, rich in symbolism. The Crowns symbolize the glory and honor that is being bestowed upon them by God. The ribbons that connect the two crowns represent the couple’s shared life together and the bonds that unite them as husband and wife. These bonds are meant to last a lifetime and are only broken upon death. The drinking from "The Common Cup" symbolizes that the couple must share every joy and sorrow. After the bride and groom are adorned with the wedding crowns, they will walk around an altar for three times. This ceremonial walk is an important tradition in a Greek wedding, as it symbolizes the first steps of life as a married couple. Although typically performed in a church setting, this ceremony can be easily adapted to a non-church and outdoor setting.
Hand Fasting Ceremony
Hand fasting is an ancient Celtic ritual ceremony in which the couples hands are tied together with ceremonial ribbons or cloth. The ribbons may be tied in a bow or the cloth draped across the hand. This Celtic ceremony represents the intention of two people to join their lives together and to love and cherish one another. The couple saves the ribbons or cloth as a keepsake. Some words that can be used in this ceremony are:
"As your hands are bound together now, so your lives and spirits are joined in a union of love and trust. Above you are the stars and below you is the earth. Like the stars your love should be a constant source of light, and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow."
In traditional Celtic handfasting, the ribbons that bind the couple's wrists are made up of thirteen different colors, each with its own special meaning.
Jumping the Broom
The most widely known African-American wedding tradition is “Jumping the Broom”. This ceremony takes place at the end of the ceremony when the couple is departing. "Jumping of the Broom" originated during the time of slavery in the United States. Slaves, not having citizenship rights, were denied the legal or religious rite of marriage. It is a ceremony in which the bride and groom signify their entrance into a new life and their creation of a new family by symbolically “sweeping away” their former single lives, former problems and concerns, and stepping over the broom to enter upon a new adventure as husband and wife. The straw end represents the brushing away of all their old cares and worries. The wooden handle represents the strength of your commitment to each other, and the straight, unconditionally committed path you will follow together in marriage. Some say that whoever jumps the highest will be the boss of the house! Friends and family members of the bride and groom sometimes decorate the broom for them.
The Lei Ceremony
The Lei Ceremony has it origin in Hawaii where the bride and groom exchange Leis to express their love, affection and respect. There are several different ways you can incorporate the Lei Ceremony at your wedding. It is also a great way to include children and family members.
The Loving Cup Ceremony
The Loving Cup Ceremony originated in the 15th century by the Celts. It also has its roots in Scotland, French and Jewish cultures. There are many versions of the Loving Cup ceremony. Most couples choose to use a crystal wine glass and have their names and the date of their wedding etched in glass.
The purpose of the Loving Cup ceremony is for the bride and groom to share their first drink together as wife and husband and to show the coming together of two families. Any liquid can be used but the most popular is a wine that the couple likes or grape juice.
Special words can be added to include the Bride and Groom's parents (and friends) as part of this ceremony. The cup can then passed down from generation to generation, ensuring happiness and good fortune to all who drink from it. This is a special moment for the couple to toast their love, devotion, and friendship.
The Chocolate Wine Ceremony
This ceremony represents that life has both bitter and sweet moments and that you will experience them together.
"There will be times in your married life of great sweetness, and days of bitter sorrow. There will be celebrations, and there will be tears. There will be triumphs, and there will be tragedies. Life holds indescribable happiness in store for you both and unavoidable pain, as well. And so to symbolize your acceptance of this reality, today you will share the bitter and the sweet together, just as you will share them in the years to come together"
The combining of the Chocolate and Wine represents what you may experience in life, and just like today, you will share them and experience them together.
This Ceremony Enhancement can be placed anywhere in the ceremony but many couples choose to have it just before their wedding vows. You will need two small portions of Dark Chocolate that represent the bitter and two glasses of Red Wine to represent the sweet.
Photo Courtesy of: Project Wedding
