Your wedding ceremony is the most important part of your special day.
It is the time when you will publicly make your vows of commitment to one another and exchange rings. Yet many people spend months planning every other aspect of their wedding, and leave the ceremony itself to chance.
It doesn’t have to be like that. By having a symbolic wedding, or wedding enhancement, you can ensure that the ceremony reflects your personalities and wishes.
Symbolic Wedding
I provide personalised Symbolic Weddings in Cyprus, such as Wedding Blessings, Wedding Ceremony Enhancements and Renewal of Vows. By liaising with you beforehand, I am able to provide a unique and tailor-made ceremony for you. This can include readings, symbolism, music or pretty much anything that you would like. It can be very traditional, or can reflect your personalities, beliefs, culture and personal wishes. You can write your own vows, or I can provide you with some examples to choose from. As well as this, you can include family and friends in the ceremony.
Couples may choose to have a symbolic wedding because:
-
They are getting legally married first, perhaps even in a different country, then at a later date have a symbolic wedding or wedding blessing with all their guests in Cyprus, as if it was the real thing. This means there are no time constraints and greater flexibility to make their special day uniquely reflect their personalities and wishes.
-
They have family and friends in Cyprus who can’t attend the legal wedding, so have a second, symbolic wedding largely for their benefit. This means they can incorporate local tradition if they choose to do so.
-
They have their heart set on a particular date to get married in Cyprus but for whatever reason, the legalities are not sorted out in time, so they have a symbolic wedding with all their guests present, and then have the legal wedding at a later stage, perhaps closer to home.
-
They are having a symbolic gay wedding in Cyprus, just the way they want it!
As with a symbolic wedding, there is no legal status to a renewal of vows or celebration of relationship. Therefore, pretty much anything is possible.
You may choose to invite your friends and family to a grand and formal event. Or you may prefer to find a quiet location, by yourselves or with a few chosen people, and make your commitment or re-commitment to one another using words and symbols that are meaningful to you.
When I am conducting a ceremony, whatever the occasion, my aim is always to make it as personal and special as possible, consequently enabling you to mark your special event in the way that is most appropriate to you.
Some ideas you may want to include:
Sand Blending
At the end, you keep the vase as a memento of your wedding in Cyprus, carefully wrapped to ensure safe travel back home.
Unity Candle
The bride and groom each light their own candle at the beginning of the ceremony, representing what you bring to the marriage. A third, larger candle is then lit from the 2 smaller ones symbolising the union of your two hearts and lives.
Handfasting
Handfasting has its roots in ancient Celtic tradition, is commonly used in Wiccan and Pagan ceremonies. It is a lovely ritual for any couple to include in their wedding.
During the ceremony – before, during or after reciting your vows – you will have your hands gently bound together with a ribbon or cord. This symbolises your connection and devotion to one another and the binding of your lives in love and unity.
Dove Release
Common interest or Theme
Additionally, the ceremony can also be based around a lifestyle that you share. If you both enjoy being in or on the water, you might like to consider exchanging your vows on a boat or even on the sea-bed! Cyprus is the perfect place for water-based wedding ceremonies.
Hooked on a particular lifestyle or TV show? You may want to plan your ceremony around that theme. You can be as wacky and off the wall as you like!
Of course, if you have any other ideas that you would like to consider, I am very happy to discuss these with you. Just about anything is possible!
What To Do Now
Get in touch with me here or see my Alternative Ceremonies Facebook page (below) and tell me what you are looking for. Then we can arrange a time to discuss it with you in more detail.