Surprise!!! We are getting married … Organising a wedding can be extremely stressful with family dynamics, cost, pre-wedding parties, gifts, clothing and more. How about a surprise wedding? Surprise weddings can be a lot of fun, and there is nothing like seeing the faces of those closest to you when you pull off the surprise…
There are many symbolic rituals that may be used in a wedding ceremony. Each wedding ceremony is unique. Some couples choose a small number of rituals such as giving away of the bride or ring ceremony. Other couples may choose quite a few rituals such as a family sand unity ceremony, memories of loved ones…
Our pet’s are an important member of our family. The loss of a pet can be an extremely traumatic and emotional time, and it is important to say goodbye. Some people find it helps the mourning process if they hold a pet funeral. While it may seem strange to those without pets, a funeral for…
Naming ceremonies are appropriate for anyone, at any age. The arrival of a new baby, uniting of step or adopted children within a family, or an adult name change are all great reasons to hold a naming ceremony. A naming ceremony is a non-religious celebration. It is a way of welcoming and officially introducing him/her…
I had an enquiry for a ceremony at The Secret Garden Moonta Bay last week, so while I was in Moonta on Friday I went to have a look. It was a bit tricky to find (as it is a secret) but once I found the path and walked towards it I was blown away. …
Wedding season is about to start and I am excited about the upcoming bookings in my diary. It is interesting how diverse each ceremony is. Some want the works and others very private and secluded. Your ceremony should be how you want it, your vision, your wishes and desires. It can have a few rituals…
Incorporating a ring warming into your wedding is such a special way to involve all of your guests in your ceremony. A ring warming is when you give your loved ones the opportunity to hold and instill your wedding bands with a wish, blessing or prayer for your marriage. By the time your rings make it…
Handfasting is a Celtic ritual that involves tying together the hands of the couple, and then their hands are removed and the knot is fastened. The tied knot symbolises their eternal tie. The couple’s hands are joined together, usually holding hands so the wrists and pulses are touching, with a ribbon or symbolic material looped…
Candle lighting is commonly used in ceremonies as a symbolic act of blending and binding. It is common that the couple light individual small candles and together light a larger centre candle as a symbol as of their union. The individual candles represent their lives before today. The marriage candle represents the joining of love,…
A fun ritual incorporated into some wedding ceremonies is “Jumping the Broom”. With roots back to African and Celtic cultures, the couple literally jump over a broom to signify crossing the threshold and their entrance into a new life, thereby symbolically “sweeping away” their former single lives and entering into a new life as…