Wedding Services

Over the years, many different kinds of ceremonies have been used to join couples in Marriage or Union. Below is a short description of some of the Unique kinds of ceremonies I have done and can encorporate into your Wedding Day!

Handfasting
Unity Sand Ceremony
Unity Candle Ceremony
Rose Ceremony
Blessing of the Hands
Family and Children Vows
Water or Wine Ceremony
Placing of Roots
San San Ku Do (3-3-9)

Handfasting

A Celtic tradition now gaining more popularity, a Handfasting includes 6 questions asked of the couple, each of which is accompanied by a ribbon or chord which is tied around the clasped hands of the couple, forming a bond. Once all the questions are completed, the ribbon is slipped off the hands of the couple and this visual reminder of their union is placed on their wall. A handfasting can be done in place of, or accompanied to, a ring ceremony or even individual vows

Unity Sand Ceremony

A Unity Sand Ceremony symbolizes the joining of the couple in each and every way. Couples add this ceremony to their weddings as an alternative to the unity candle ceremony. Each member of the couple chooses a color of sand, which is held in seperate containers. Then the sand is poured into one vessel, creating a mixture of the sand in a unique design - a keepsake of that special day. This can be coupled with a reading by the Officiant, a special song being played or done when reciting vows.

Unity Candle Ceremony

A bit more popular, especially for a formal, church-style wedding, two small candles are lit by the mothers' of each of the couple. The couple then takes their candle and lights a center, larger Unity Candle, symbolizing the coming together of two families, two flames, as one. "The Two Shall Be One." The Mothers' can then take the smaller candles back to their homes to burn them in celebration of their child's marriage.

Rose Ceremony

A Rose Ceremony is a unique and beautiful way to encorporate the tradition of the Rose into your wedding. An offering of a single rose is first given to the mothers' of the couple and then to one another as their first gift. It is very moving and meaningful.

Blessing of the Hands

A beautiful ceremony where the hands of the couple are blessed to aid one another along life's path, to give them strength and remind the couple of the role their beloved's hands will take in the coming years. Truly, a moving moment.

Family and Children Vows

When a family is blended, not just the parents are married - the entire family is! There are many ways to encorporate your children, young and old, into the ceremony, whether it be by blessing, or vow, flower or prayer. Children are an important component to the marriage and can be shown how very important they are.

Water or Wine Ceremony

Similar to the Sand Ceremony, Water from the homes (or parent's homes) of each of the couple is taken and poured into a common vessel and consumed, or Wine from countries of origin are poured into a cup and each drink from it. There are many variations of this ceremony which can be personalized to meet the needs or traditions of the newly formed family.

Placing of Roots

When you are married, the roots of your union go far and wide. Planting a seed in a pot or a tree in the ground symbolizes the foundation you are making and the hope of flowering and fruitful beginnings. Small packets of seeds given as gifts to your wedding guests serve as a reminder of the roots laid on the day of your Wedding. (Don't worry - the couple doesn't have to get dirty.)

San San Ku Do (3-3-9)

San san ku do is a Japanese tradition found in most Shinto weddings. It involves three cups, or saucers rather, nestled into one another. "San San Ku-Do" translated from Japanese means 3, 3, 9. In this ceremony, bride and groom will drink 3 times from 3 cups, equaling 9, which is the happiest number for a newly married couple. Each cup represents something different - heaven, earth and humanity - and to drink 3 times from each is to bring "ultimate happiness" to all. The couple are said to be blessed with purity, and since the number 3 cannot be divided, neither will the newlyweds. Even thought this ceremony can be done in silence, the use of a special song or even a special vocal performance can bring out a lovely essence in this Eastern Tradition.