Ceremony Enhancements

Ceremony enhancements are a great way to personalize any ceremony.  They can be used in a ceremony to honor parents, children, grandparents, pets and/or friends. They can symbolize the joining together of two families  into one.  No matter what your reasoning for adding that extra personal touch to your ceremony we can help you choose the right one for your special occasion. Below is a list of ceremony enhancements that we offer.

The Rose Ceremony

The Rose Ceremony is a beautiful way to say thank you to your parents and/or grandparents for all the love,support, and sacrifices that they have made for you to get you to this special moment in your life.

It can also be used to signify the first gift given to each other as husband and wife and can serve as a reminder in your future together of the love you share for each other at this moment. In every marriage there are times where it is difficult to find the right words, when you have hurt the one you love the most or the one you love the most has hurt you. But if you can not find the right words to say " I am sorry", or "I forgive you"; "I need you", or "I am hurting" you can leave a rose in that special place that you both have selected or give the rose to the one you love the most - for that rose than says what matters most of all and should overpower all other things and all other words. That rose says the words: " I still love you".

The Unity Candle Ceremony

The Unity Candle Ceremony symbolizes the two separate lives,families, friends, and cultures  being united as one.

The Sand Ceremony

The Sand Ceremony just as in the Unity Candle Ceremony symbolizes the two separate lives, families, friends, and cultures being united as one.

This ceremony is great if there will be children involved in the ceremony or if your ceremony will take place outside.

Jumping of the Broom

The Jumping of the Broom  is a ceremony that dates back to the 1600s and is an African American tradition. Slaves in this country were not permitted to marry, so they jumped a broom as a way of ceremonially uniting. Today it represents great joy and at the same time serves as a reminder of the past and the pain of slavery.

As the bride and groom jump (or walk) over the broom, they physically and spiritually cross the threshold into the land of matrimony. It marks the beginning of  making a home together and symbolizes the sweeping away of the old and welcoming of the new life together with a fresh start.

Breaking of Glass Ceremony

The Breaking of Glass Ceremony is usually performed at the end of a Jewish wedding ceremony that serves to remind us  of two very important aspects of a marriage. The first important aspects is that the marriage vows are an irrevocable act that is a permanent and final as the breaking of the glass is unchangeable and the second aspect is that the breaking of the glass is also a warning of the frailty of a marriage. That the bride and groom should strive to show each other the love and respect befitting to the love of their life.

Water Ceremony

Rock Ceremony

Dove Ceremony

Butterfly Ceremony

The butterfly symbolizes new beginnings and rebirth.

In some Native American Indian legends it is said that if anyone desires a wish to come true they must first capture a butterfly and whisper that wish to it. Since a butterfly can make no sound, the butterfly cannot reveal the wish to anyone but the Great Spirit who hears and sees all. In gratitude for giving the beautiful butterfly its freedom, the Great Spirit grants the wish.

With the Butterfly Ceremony you can symbolize the celebration of  your new beginning of life together as husband and wife.

Blessing of Hands

The 13 Gold Coins (Arras) Ceremony

The 13 Gold Coins or Arras Ceremony is usually associated as a traditional Hispanic custom. The custom of giving of coins originated in Spain, where the groom gave the coins to the bride, signifying his willingness to support her and became part of their family heirlooms.

The number 13 represents Christ and his 12 apostles. Another popular belief is that the 13 coins represents the 12 lunar cycles of a year and the thirteenth coin symbolizes the couple's honeymoon.

The ceremony symbolizes that as the groom gives the coins to the bride that he takes responsibility as her provider and pledges his ability to support and take care of her. And the acceptance by the bride means that she takes that trust and confidence unconditionally with total dedication and prudence.

Honoring/Remembering Loved Ones

Sometimes a couple wants to honor a loved one who cannot be here to celebrate in the joyous celebration of their marriage physically, but  know that they are with them in spirit to bless their happy union. Whether it is a brief pause to remember the love ones who have gone before them or a special ceremony performed in their honor, it is a great way to honor their ancestors.

Lasso (Lazo) Ceremony

The Lasso (Lazo) Ceremony is a wedding ritual in which the couple are bound together with a ceremonial rosary. Lassoing is a declarations of intent, where the bride and groom clearly state that they are marring of their own free will.

The Loving Cup (Wine) Ceremony

The Loving Cup Ceremony is an ancient wedding tradition. In the 15th Centrury it was common Celtic tradition to toast each other with a ceremonial Loving Cup. The Loving Cup ceremony also has its roots in the Irish and Jewish cultures as well.  Today the purpose of the Loving Cup (Wine) Ceremony is for the bride and groom, to share their first drink together as husband and wife and to show the coming together of the two families as one.

It also symbolizes the pledge that the bride and groom have made to one another to share together the fullness of life.

Wreath Ceremony

The brides in Ancient Greece wore a crown (wreath) made of flowers, herbs or garlic bulbs. The herbs and garlic were believed to have magical power that would repel evil spirits.

Today the Wreath Ceremony is performed at the end of the ceremony and is made up of ivy, flowers/herbs in the shape of a circle. The Ivy represents fidelity and marriage. The  flowers or sprigs of plants that are placed in the wreath have symbolic meanings related to the marriage of the couple; for example, sprigs of rosemary or lavender represent remembrance and love. While the circular shape of the wreath is symbolic of everlasting life.

Blended Family Ceremony

The Sand or Unity Candle ceremony can be used to symbolize not only the union of the bride and groom in marriage, but the unity of a totally new family that will share in new adventures together in life.

If you would like more information on any of these Ceremony Enhancements or if there is a special cultural or religious tradition that you would like to incorporate in your ceremony that we do not have listed above please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.