Sometimes you get so swept up in the beautiful decor pinning & dress shopping portion of wedding planning that you forget one big element: the wedding ceremony.
Photo by Feather + North Planning by Something Blue Productions
Arguably the most special moment & memory for most brides and grooms, wedding ceremony planning can be daunting with so many factors in play. Will you be applying older cultural traditions from generations of family weddings? Are you melding two cultures into one wedding day? Are you a modern couple looking to create your own tradition together?
When considering all these questions, it’s often best to just ask others for inspiration! You may discover a ceremony tradition you love or it may spark an idea for a new tradition that’s totally ‘you’!
Our pals at Be Inspired PR rounded up their esteemed collection of wedding pros to offer their own favorite wedding traditions…
Wedding Pros on Their Favorite Ceremony Traditions
1. Plant A Tree
“One of our nature-loving couples chose to plant a tree sapling as part of their wedding ceremony. Those chose a tree together, then each poured soil into the chosen pot during their romantic beachside ceremony. This tradition was perfectly suited to this couple who plans to plant the tree in their first home together.” – Brooke Avishay of Orange Blossom Special Events
Photo by Claire Eliza
2. Handfasting
“A handfasting tradition mixed into a wedding ceremony is one I always love. As a symbol of unity, the officiant places a ribbon or binding around the bride and groom’s hands, while saying vows of promise and commitment. It’s super meaningful and a unique spin on a traditional ceremony.” – Nora Sheils, Founder Bridal Bliss
3. Writing Your Own Vows
“One of my favorite traditions in a wedding ceremony is the vows, but we’re obsessed when couples write their own! Including your own personality in your vows make them so much more meaningful and, usually, more fun. You can tell your partner a story of your relationship from a different perspective, something they never knew you noticed, or make promises that are meaningful to you and your relationship.
Throughout your engagement note down the little things that makes your partner special – like they know when you’re sad and how to cheer you up, the things they make you want to do better – cook a nice dinner once a week, or just little inside jokes. These can all play an important role in your vows to one another. Traditional vows are great, they have meaning and they’re beautiful in every culture, but they’ll never be as personal.” – AnneMarie Austin, Something Blue Productions
Photo by Zoe Larkin Photography via Bridal Musings
4. Money Spraying
“Our favorite wedding tradition is within the Nigerian community money spraying. This tradition started in Nigeria’s Southwest; it has become a tradition that all Nigerian partake. Money Spraying symbolizes a showering of happiness, good fortune, and a display of the guest’s affection for the couple. Money spraying often takes the place of gift-giving. The money sprayed is a small token from your guests in supporting your future next steps together.” – Vivian Duru of ViviD Experience
5. Kids’ Questions of Love
“When it comes to ceremony traditions, I say blaze a trail and create your own! One idea I loved (for couples choosing to have adults-only events) was to ask the kiddos of parents attending a question about love. Have your officiant incorporate their answers during the ceremony. It’s a great way to include and incorporate kids that aren’t able to attend and can be a welcome break for laughs during an emotional ceremony. To keep it classic, I absolutely get in my feelings when the parents, or parent figures, give their “baby” over to their future spouse. It’s a poignant moment full of deep trust.” – Ashley Lachney, Owner of Alston Mayger Events
Photo by Snapful Photography Planning by Peppermint Co. Ltd.
6. Ceremony Champagne Toast
“Why not have some fun and right after you are pronounced “officially married” and kiss, to pop a bottle of champagne and pour it in each other’s glass for toasting before exiting the ceremony! For the newly engaged couples, incorporate something that resonates with you and your partner. There are amazing ceremony traditions that are great to follow, but it will also be great to add your own flare as a couple, or maybe even create a new ceremony tradition altogether.” – Maria Chi, Peppermint and Co. Ltd.
7. Mixing Family Traditions
“Give us all the traditions! From the 7 blessings & 7 circles incorporate into Jewish ceremonies or the Lasso, (large rosary) used in Catholic ceremonies to the lovely Sofreh Aghd table during a beautiful Persian ceremony. We love them all! – When setting the tone for your ceremony flow, we suggest incorporating traditions that are near and dear to you and your fiancé as well as your family.” – Erica Trombetti, Infinite Events
Photo by Dani Cowan Photography Ring by The Diamond Reserve
8. Exchanging Wedding Bands
“One of the most sacred traditions of one’s wedding ceremony is the exchanging of wedding bands. Weddings bands are the only item that you take away from your wedding day that you will wear every day for the rest of your life! Every time you look down at your band, it will take you back to the day that you exchanged vows with your significant other and said yes to a lifetime of love and happiness. When it comes to wedding bands, I always like to remind my clients how important the exchanging of your rings are. The reason for this is because this is a piece of forever jewelry that you will wear every single day. This one piece of jewelry encompasses and symbolizes your eternal love and represents one of the most special days of your life.” – Kaeleigh Testwuide, The Diamond Reserve
9. Wine Blending or Sand Pouring
“There are so many wonderful ceremony traditions that can be incorporated into the wedding ceremony. There are so many long-standing ceremony traditions and new traditions that have come about. It is often fun to integrate long-standing traditions with the newer traditions or something that you customize as a couple. From wine blending to sand ceremonies to special readings, there are different ways to include important guests in your ceremony as well!” – HoneyFitz Events
Photo by Marina Dekhtyar Photography Planning by Wild Sky Events
10. Family Prayer
“One of my favorite traditions is the family prayer right before the ceremony begins. It is such a lovely way to have a very special moment with your parents and the wedding party even when it’s a large wedding. It’s also a wonderful time for parents to say a few words to the couple and allows the ceremony to begin in a very personal way.” – Kate Goddard, Wild Sky Events
11. Share Communion
“Your wedding day should be an authentic reflection of who you are and express your identity as a couple. For example, if both you and your fiancé are Christians, one opportunity to incorporate your faith into your wedding ceremony is to share communion. Many couples choose to celebrate communion together just after saying, “I do”. Taking a private moment to remember Jesus before walking back down the aisle to celebrate. This favorite ceremony tradition allows Christian couples to share part of their lives that is very personal as they choose to step away for a deeply meaningful moment in the midst of all the excitement and glamor.” – Karese, lead designer at Detailed Floral Design
Photo by Katie Slater Photography Planning by Infinite Events
These tips were gathered by Be Inspired PR, a PR + Social Media Agency for wedding, wellness & lifestyle clients. With over 10+ years of experience, we’re here to take our clients to the next level! Find oodles of stylish wedding inspiration on their Instagram & Pinterest.
This content was originally published here.