Special Elements to Make your Wedding Unique

Family Blending Elements

I loan you the crystal candle holders, you provide the candles.

Family Sand Ceremony Set. I loan you the outer vases, gift you with the joining vase.

Vows to Children

Vows can be made to the children or to the parent, promising to do your best as a new parent.

Vows From Children

If the children are older, they may by asked to affirm their cooperation and acceptance.

Sand Ceremony or Candle Lighting

The couple blends sand with the children and then covers their sand with the remainder of theirs as a symbol of love and protection they promise to them in their new home. This can also be done with the children adding a carefully selected seashell each.
Older children can light their own candles and the couple lights their candles from their flames or simply symbolically touches each flame with theirs as they light the center unity candle.

M&M Blending

Along the same lines as the sand ceremony except the family blends colored M&M's, very popular with the younger children.

Ice Cream Sundae Ceremony

The venue has a large bowl of every family member's favorite ice cream scoops and they take turns adding the toppings. Each topping represents the diversity and personalities that will be blended into the new family. This is a very creative element and requires the parents to share general information about each child with the officiate so this can be customized.

Family Tree

A tree which can be planted in the yard of your home or in a park...or a bonsai tree if you prefer, is highlighted in this element to represent new beginnings. Parents and children each have a role in tending to the tree...watering, feeding, adding soil, tending the soil. Symbolizes how relationships between family members must be carefully tended so they all grow.

Couple Unity Elements

Candle Lighting

This can be done with just music playing in the background with a beautiful saying printed in the program, such as: the late ygritte from game of thrones to her beloved Jon snow: “I am your woman now. I am yours as you are mine. If we die we die, but first, we'll live.”
I also have many beautiful words that can be share during the candle lighting and you select them.
A Reverse Candle Lighting for an evening wedding is just beautiful! Ask me how this is done and what is said!!

Sand Blending

The wording of the sand ceremony is your choice from about 30 different offerings or write/bring your own. This can include parents, guests, children, etc.

Water Blending

This can be done in two different ways: Blending together Blue water and Gold water which creates green, the color that symbolizes new beginnings.
Or, Blend together waters from different places that holds great meaning for the couple...perhaps the water from the lake where one spouse fished with grandpa; the other spouse brings sea water from where they first met, etc. This is created specifically for you.

Hand Fasting

1 cord or ribbon, or 4 cords or ribbons, or 6 cords or ribbons......3 different choices and all are beautiful.

Fisherman or Sailor Knot

This is a literal "Tying the Knot" ! This is accomplished with 2 pieces or cord and the harder you pull on it, the tighter the knot...representing life's pressures drawing the couple closer together instead of pulling them apart.

Tree Tending

This tree is to be planted in your yard as a visible symbol of the joining together of the couple into a new family. In this ceremony you will add soil, fertilizer, and water with a deeper meaning in each.

The Wine Blending Ceremony

The blending of the red and white wines symbolizes in a visual display the blending of the two lives into one. And the sharing of the wine symbolizes the commitment you are making to each other.

I provide the interesting carafe you can use, the venue or you provide the wine and wineglass.

Ethnic Traditions

Jump the Broom

I provide a beautifully decorated broom for this African American tradition, jumping into the "land of matrimony". The wording of this ceremony is also very appropriate for mixed race couples as the couple symbolically sweeps away all "prejudices and differences between peoples" making way for all things wonderful to come into their lives.

Mazel Tov & Breaking of the Wine Glass

These traditional Jewish elements can be either religious or spiritual without religion.

7 Blessings of a Jewish wedding

The 7 blessings are read by a Jewish friend or a member of the family, or if not available, I am happy to read.
Sharing of the Wine and Mazel Tov.

Catholic/Hispanic/Filipino Traditions

Catholic Blessings can be added to your ceremony to honor traditions of blended couples of different faiths,
I am also very comfortable with the Hispanic/Filipino Traditions of: Sponsors, 13 Coins, Veil, Lasso or cord, and/or Bible. These elements can also be religious or non religious.

Celtic Traditions
Irish coin or bell

After the blessing of the rings, during the marriage ceremony, one spouse presents the other spouse with a silver coin and says "I give you this as a token of all I possess." The coin symbolizes the willingness to share all that he/she has with his/her spouose in the future. The coin is kept as a family heirloom and is passed down from mother to her eldest son on his wedding day.
"This bell is to be placed in your home and when a disagreement arises one of you should ring the bell to end the argument and remind you of the joy you feel today and the vows you’ve taken.”

Hand fasting
Spouse's names, you have chosen to enter married life hand-in-hand, ensuring mutual support and love. Let this/these ribbon/s symbolize the bond between you and the sincerity of your vows to one another.
As this knot is tied, so are your lives now bound. Woven into this ribbon, into its very fibers, are........
Turning of the Claddaugh Rings
"To symbolize the joining of your two hearts in marriage, please turn the ring so that the heart now faces......."
Cambodian Cord of Red
The officiant takes a red cord and ties a knot it the middle, making a wish for the couple's married happiness out loud. The cord is passed to the left to others where they are asked to tie a knot and make a silent wish for the couple. When the last one has tied a knot, the cord is
Honey Ceremony
The couple takes turns dipping their little fingers into a small dish of honey and offering it to the spouse. This is a little sensual, but really represents the sweetness of life in the heart of a loving marriage and is stated in the wording of this ceremony.
Breaking of the Bread
This is an Eastern European tradition and adds a sentimental and fun element to the wedding. I bake the loaf of bread that is used, baking in the couple's initials. To begin this element, the couple stands back to back, holding the bread over their heads, they break the bread in two. Whoever gets the larger piece is considered the 'boss' of the family. The couple will then pinch small bites from the soft inner bread and dip into honey held by one of the spouse's Mom, representing the sweetness of life in a happy marriage, and feed each other. The couple pinches another small bite each and dips into salt held by the the other spouse's Mom, representing the prosperity wished for them by all present; they feed this to each other also.

The Seven Spices
This unique wedding ceremony tradition uses spices to demonstrate the qualities that make for a healthy and well-balanced marriage, getting its roots from the Middle East

Religious Elements

Anointing with Oil
And, as God seals His bride with an anointing of the Spirit, so you are sealing your mutual choice and mutual possession by anointing one another with oil. (Anoint each other with oil) This anointing represents your choice.....

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 spouse, and God. It was God who taught us to love, and chose you, Spouse's Name, to be united .....

Unity Cross Sculpture
“At this time, the couple will assemble a Unity Cross. This beautiful sculpture will be displayed in their home to remind them of the covenant they are making today. Groom, in Genesis we read......

Bouquet and Bible

Today I will be giving you two important things which will help you to form a strong marriage in Christ.
The first item is a bouquet of flowers that we will build, flower by flower. Each flower stands for something that no Christian marriage should be without. The second item is a Bible. The Bible is the inspired Word of God.......

Blending of different faiths
Let's talk about your differences and your common ground and create a ceremony that honors both without offending either.

Beach Elements

Sand Ceremony
I have you collect the sand from beneath your feet, holy ground where your vows were spoken, or another sand ceremony of your choice using sand you provide. I offer many choices.
Wish to the Sea
Everyone holds a shell during the wedding ceremony and having been filled with all their best wishes, is then thrown into the sea. This can be done by all present or just the couple with or without the wedding party.
Keepsake Stones or Shells
Attach simple cards to the shells or stones and have each guest write a special blessing, wish, advice and leave the cards at the gift or sign in table or large bowl at the reception. If you make this selection, I will incorporate this into the ceremony.

Other Unique Elements