Let's Help Each Other & Share Ceremony Ideas

Good morning, everyone!

My DH and I continue to be eternally grateful for all the help that we have received here planning our wedding, and want to give back as much as I can!

I thought it would be nice if we could all share ceremony ideas to help the brides and grooms who are working on their ceremonies.

Here are a few things that we did to add special touches:

1) We included our grandparents in the processional and in the programs

2) My Mom and Dad walked me down the aisle

3) My DH's parents walked him down the aisle

4) We made rose petal cones with sheet music of Pachelbel's Canon (what I walked down the aisle to)

5) We included our grandma's in the ceremony. 1 lit the Memory Candle, and the other three each read a section of a poem. (It was so sweet)

6) In the program, under the each BP member's title and name, we included their relation to us. For example, 'Best Man, Name, Brother of the Groom'

7) We had an outdoor ceremony and string quartet (something I have always wanted)

8) Ladies with outdoor ceremonies who want to light a unity candle - we got a big hurricane glass at Pottery Barn to protect it from the wind. It worked Beautifully. Our candle stayed lit the Entire night - it was amazing. (Althought getting it lit was a bit of a challenge!)

9) We included the Rose Exchange and Hand Blessing - they were both big hits, and tear jerkers! I'll include the text below. (I made an edited version of the Hand Blessing to suit us more. I encourage everyone to edit/tailor each piece of the ceremony to fit you and your FH/FW.)

Rose Exchange

Bride and Groom] have exchanged their rings, an outward symbolic gift of the union they share. They have publicly announced their love and devotion by the exchange of vows. Before their pronouncement as husband and wife, I request that they perform one more act of symbolism. Since ancient times the Rose has been synonymous with the words “I Love You.” In your hands you each now hold a single red rose. For your first gift as a married couple, I ask that you now exchange your roses.

In some ways it seems like you have not done anything at all. Just a moment ago you were holding one small rose - and now you are holding one small rose. In some ways, marriage is like this. Tomorrow is going to seem no different than yesterday. But in fact today, just now, you both have given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts of life - the gift of true and abiding love within the devotion of marriage.

[Bride and Groom], I would ask that where ever you make your home in the future that you both pick one very special location for roses; so that on each anniversary of this truly wonderful occasion you both may take a rose to that spot both as a recommitment to your marriage - and a recommitment that THIS will be a marriage based upon love and trust.

If in the course of your life together, you should ever find that you are at odds or at a loss for words, leave a rose at that spot which both of you have selected - for that rose says what matters most of all, it says, 'I still love you.' The other should accept this rose for the words which can not be found, and remember the love and hope that you both share today.

Hand Blessing

It is now my privilege to be the first to address you as husband and wife and to perform one last, very special ceremony.

(Insert Bride’s Name) please face (Insert Groom’s Name) and hold his hands, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you.

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life.
These are the hands that will work along side yours, as you build your future together, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.
These are the hands you will place with expectant joy against your stomach, until he too, feels his child stir within you.
These are the hands that look so large and strong, yet will be so gentle as he holds your baby for the first time.
These are the hands that will work long hours for you and your new family.

These are that hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief wrack your mind.

These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes, eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you.
(Insert Groom’s Name) please hold (Insert Bride’s Name) hands, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you.
These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.
These are the hands that will hold each child in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurt, supporting and encouraging them along the way, and knowing when it is time to let go.

These are the hands that will massage tension from you neck and back in the evenings after you’ve both had a long hard day.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.

These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick, or console you when you are grieving.
They are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
These are the hands that will hold you in joy and excitement and hope, each time she tells you that you are to have another child, that together you have created a new life.
These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together as a team, everything you wish for can be realized.

Re: Let's Help Each Other & Share Ceremony Ideas

OMG...I am in tears reading this....it truly is one of the most touching things I have ever read! Thanks for sharing

Re: Let's Help Each Other & Share Ceremony Ideas

wow, we had similar ceremonies...we did the hand ceremony too and i loooooved it. we also had our moms do readings. my mom read the apache blessing and his mom read the part on marriage from kahlil gibran's the prophet (bad spelling) and that was so special. also, under the gazebo, which was a makeshift huppah, we had both sets of parents stand with us. and while the processional was classical music, our recessional was all you need is love from love actually! it is this acoustic version and omg, it was so beautiful!

Re: Let's Help Each Other & Share Ceremony Ideas

JVS- I love the rose part...Did you get married in a Catholic church? I ask because ours seems to be frowing on things 'different'..

Re: Let's Help Each Other & Share Ceremony Ideas

we are using the hands ceremony - but now I want the rose one as well! How beautiful! Thanks for sharing, I am now crying...

Re: Let's Help Each Other & Share Ceremony Ideas

An idea for those whith children already

I (.....), choose you,(......),
and (.........), to be my family.
I promise to honour & respect you,
and to provide for you to the best of my ability.

I promise to make our home a haven,
where trust, love, and laughter are abundant.

I make these promises lovingly, and freely,
and vow to honour them all the days of my life.



We also had my 12 yr sis do a reading..she was so nervous along with our Bestman and Maid of honor..both family members.

The mothers as representatives from each family lit one of the tapes of the unity candle and we lit it together as one.

We did a version of the hands ceremony..this is really popular but always a sweet touch.

Re: Let's Help Each Other & Share Ceremony Ideas

Thank you so much for sharing these traditions- I've nver heard of them, but will definitely fit them into the ceremony!!

Re: Let's Help Each Other & Share Ceremony Ideas

You're all so welcome! I hope that this thread is useful to lots of brides and grooms!

cocoa - Wow, we did have very similar ceremonies! Actually, our minister read the apache blessing to us (so beautiful!), I believe it was the last thing that was said before the recessional.

dm24angel - We got married at our hall, outside by their gazebo.

The first time I read the rose ceremony and hand blessing I cried too!

Funny story from our wedding - when the minister read the part in the hand blessing about children, my DH's dad said 'Yes!!' (he can't wait for us to have kids) - it was so funny! I hope they captured that in the video!

Re: Let's Help Each Other & Share Ceremony Ideas

ive always wanted to do the rose ceremony...abvout how long do you think it takes?/ i dont think it will take long at all, but some people are saying it will

Re: Let's Help Each Other & Share Ceremony Ideas

Those are certainly beautiful touches to a ceremony.

Re: Let's Help Each Other & Share Ceremony Ideas

OMG. That Hand Blessing just caused me to have a complete breakdown! FH just made me read it to him out loud and I could barely make it through without balling!!!!!

It is sooo moving, I think we are going to have to do it!!! I would love to have such a moving ceremony that everyone is moved to tears!!!!

Re: Let's Help Each Other & Share Ceremony Ideas

Bumping because it is sooo good!

Re: Let's Help Each Other & Share Ceremony Ideas

bumping too

Re: Let's Help Each Other & Share Ceremony Ideas

These are really great ideas. Thank you!

Re: Let's Help Each Other & Share Ceremony Ideas

We're doing the hands blessing also. It is so beautiful. I am also walking down the aisle to
Boccelli - Con te Partiro.

Re: Let's Help Each Other & Share Ceremony Ideas

I loved it!!! we are having a jewish wedding will i be able to use these?? I am crying right now

Re: Let's Help Each Other & Share Ceremony Ideas

Wow, both of those are beautiful! I've seen them mentioned a few time here, but never knew what they were. Now I want to include them in our ceremony.

Thanks so much for the advice.

Anyone have other tips/ideas?