United by love: Enhancing your celebrant-led wedding ceremony

Credit: http://andrewab.photography

We posed local celebrant Sarah Nelson the following question...
 
We've heard about all of the different rituals we can have during a celebrant-led ceremony from hand-fasting to candle-lighting, but what's the difference and how do we know which is right for us?

Sarah says: There are indeed many ways to enhance your celebrant-led wedding ceremony. To choose the one for you, you should begin by asking yourself what the purpose of the ritual is or consider what you’re showing your guests with it. Most rituals emphasis the joining together of two people into one couple. However, you can change a sand ceremony (where you pour different coloured sands into one larger container to show your union), to include your children and show the creation of a new family.

Hand-tying or hand-fasting is where the couple’s hands are bound together with strips of cloth or ribbon to represent the promises made. This too can easily be altered to include children or other close family or friends. Each person can place a ribbon with each vow to feel included in the ceremony.

Candle lighting involves each of you using individual candles to light one larger candle. This can be used to remember those guests who have passed away. With the candle remaining alight during the ceremony, it’s as if the friend or family member is with you.

The most important idea behind choosing an additional ritual is to find something that resonates with you. Alternatively, work with your celebrant to create one that’s unique to you.

Sarah Nelson, https://momentsto.co.uk