When it comes to your ceremony, it’s up to you what traditions you want to honor and which ones you would rather leave behind. Your ceremony can be completely personalized to you, your partner, and the relationship that you’ve built together.
What should we do during our ceremony?
Regardless of how you choose to do the legal side of getting married, there are numerous traditions that you can decide to incorporate on the day you say your vows—or you can skip them all and totally decide on your own.
Here are some ideas of what exactly you can do during your elopement or intimate wedding ceremony:
Here are some ideas of what exactly you can do during your elopement or intimate wedding ceremony:
- Read Personalized Vows
Reflect upon your relationship so far, declare any promises that you want to share about your future together, express any emotions that you are feeling, and commit your life to your partner. - Exchange Rings or another token
Rings are traditional since they represent an infinity with no beginning and no end, but you could exchange any other symbol that is important to and honors your relationship - First Kiss & First Dance
Celebrate some exciting firsts in your new married life together with your first kiss as a married couple and your first dance. - Incorporate Music
Play your favorite song on a portable speaker, have a musician play your favorite tune, or surprise your partner with your musical talent by playing your own instrument or singing an original song. - Sage Smudging
If allowed and safe (please check fire bans and always leave no trace) this ceremony requires a bundle of sage, a way of lighting it, and a bowl. The intention is that you light the sage, which is symbolic for replacing any negative energies with positive, healing ones. You can also use an essential oil sage spray if fire isn’t safe. - Handfasting
This is originally a Celtic pagan ceremony where the hands of you and your partner are bound together by a braided rope, and it both figuratively and literally joins you and your partner. You can also have friends or family members participating in tying cords around your hands. - Unity Ceremony
A unity ceremony consists of joining two parts of something into a singular piece, and it is representative of merging your life together with your partner’s life. Traditionally, this has been done by lighting a unity candle, but you can also combine two different colors of sand or plant a tree together–whatever feels like a unification of you and your partner. - Read Letters
You can ask friends or family members who aren’t physically present on your day to write you a letter for you to read during your ceremony. This is a beautiful way to feel their presence and support. - Surprises & Gifts
If you have a special surprise or gift for your partner, whether it’s a handmade gift, jewelry, or something else, giving it to your partner during your ceremony can be really special! - Create Space for Those Not Present
As a gesture to a special person or people who could not physically attend your day, you can include a moment of silence during your ceremony, or incorporate a memento from them into your wedding day.
