18 Ceremony Ideas

Wondering how you can make your ceremony unique and something truly your own? We’re sharing a few tips and some ceremony ideas on things you can add into your wedding day that might help you showcase your love for one another in a symbolic way.

#1 – Be You

The first tip we have for you is to be yourself. We know this tip is like the obvious “duh” tip but it’s something that you should keep in mind. Don’t do something simply because your parents want to do. Don’t do something just because it’s popular and you see everyone else doing it on Pinterest. Do something because it reflects you. If you aren’t religious, maybe don’t share in communion or in a worship song. Keep it true to you. There are things you can do that can make your ceremony special and unique. It all starts with thinking, “how can I show my partner that I love them” or “how can I declare for everyone here that I love my partner?” If you’re a musician, write and sing a song for your partner. If you are a poet, write a poem for them. Think outside the box and be you.

#2 – Keep The Attention of Your Guests

I hate having to give this tip, but because you’ve decided on a larger, traditional wedding, you do need to take your guests into consideration. If you don’t want to take your guests into consideration then I would suggest sharing in a micro wedding or eloping because then it can be all about you. Anyway, your ceremony shouldn’t be too long and any events you include in your ceremony should help keep the pacing of the ceremony moving forward. That said, don’t spend an abundance of time playing a song you wrote for them, or a long time sharing in communion or a unity sand. Maybe limit the amount of readings that are happening so that your guests don’t get tired of hearing multiple people talk for 30+ minutes because between your vows, your officiant’s message, and your readings, and people might just zone out. We suggest keeping it clean and concise while also making it meaningful. Take the time you need to do your events, but we’ve found that either too many of these events or when these events become too drawn out that they start to bog down the flow of the ceremony.

#3 – Look Around

Stop and take it in for a second. When you’re up there in front of everyone and your partner is looking back at you, just take a mental photo and focus on how you’re feeling, what you’re seeing and hearing, and take it in. You’ll never be in this moment again. The same goes for your events during the ceremony. We’d suggest you do this a few times throughout the day, but specifically a few times throughout your ceremony as well. Be in the moment.

Ceremony Event Ideas:

If you’re looking for some ceremony event ideas, we got you covered. Below are some of the ideas we’ve come up with and some events we’ve seen from weddings we’ve photographed.

1. Communion
2. Unity Sand
3. Tying a Knot
4. Unity Coffee – (Groom roasted his own coffee)
5. Signing of the Family Bible
6. Unity Flame
7. Footwashing – Signifies serving the other person – (Something we did at our wedding)
8. A Worship Song
9. Performing a Song for your Partner
10. Reciting a Poem for your Partner
11. Plant a Tree or Pot a Plant
12. Paint a Canvas – Leave a small area on a painting/canvas blank that you’ll finish together at your ceremony
13. Create a time capsule
14. An Anniversary Box – Open on your 1 year, 5 year or 10 year or later.
15. Create a Cocktail Together – (You could even have this be your signature drink of the night)
16. Release a paper lantern
17. Group/Family Prayer

Those are just a few ceremony ideas to get you started. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and be yourselves.