April 5, 2024
Wedding traditions are powerful ways to honor our past, celebrate the present, and hope for a love-filled future. If you want to make your wedding ceremony even more special, incorporating meaningful traditions can bring depth and beauty to your ceremony. Let’s explore 9 popular wedding ceremony traditions to inspire you as you plan for your big day!
Handfasting is an ancient Celtic tradition that symbolizes the binding together of two people in marriage. In this ritual, the couple’s hands are tied together with a ribbon or cord while they exchange their vows, representing their commitment and union (isn’t that sweet?).
During a unity candle ceremony, two separate candles are lit to represent the bride and the groom. Then, you’ll use those candles to light a larger unity candle together. This symbolizes the joining of two families and the start of your new family!
This tradition has its roots in Jewish weddings and symbolizes the breaking of barriers and the beginning of a new life together. The groom typically smashes a glass with his foot at the end of the ceremony, and guests will shout “Mazel Tov!” to wish the newlyweds good luck.
In African American tradition, jumping the broom represents sweeping away the old and welcoming a new beginning. The new couple jumps over a broomstick during the ceremony to symbolize their new commitment to each other.
If you’re looking for a symbol of your love that will stay standing for years, you can choose to plant a seed or sapling during the ceremony. Planting a tree symbolizes the growth of love and the strength of marriage—plus you can watch it grow alongside your relationship as a living reminder of your love!
A ring-warming ceremony involves passing the wedding rings among the guests, allowing each person to hold them and infuse them with blessings and well wishes for your new marriage. This adds a beautiful personal touch to your ceremony and allows your guests to be a part of your special day.
Similar to the unity candle ceremony, the sand wedding ceremony tradition involves blending two different colored sands into one vessel, symbolizing the joining of two lives. The finished artwork is a meaningful keepsake to remind you of your special day!
In this tradition, the couple’s parents or other loved ones will come up and hold their hands, offering a blessing or well wishes for their marriage. This is a beautiful way to involve loved ones in the ceremony and receive their support and love.
This is one of our favorite wedding ceremony traditions—write a romantic (or goofy) letter to your future spouse to be read during the ceremony! The letters can be sealed and re-opened on a big anniversary or displayed in your future home as a reminder of your love and commitment to each other.
Wedding ceremony traditions are more than just rituals—they’re a way to connect with our roots and create meaningful moments on your special day. At Marinaj, we understand the importance of traditions and provide a stunning venue to bring your wedding visions to life. Our experienced event planners will help you create a truly unforgettable event.
Contact us today to book your dream wedding venue!