YVONNE
FAULKNER

In the language of flowers, the red rose is a symbol of love, romance, and passion. The giving of a single red rose is a clear and unmistakable way of saying “I love you. This ceremony can involve only the couple or include the children and parents or other special guests of the couple.

The ritual finds the couple (or sometimes their parents) lighting a common candle (sometimes called a Unity candle) from two individual candles, symbolising their union.

the sand-pouring ritual finds the couple pouring sand from two individual containers into a single vase or vessel to symbolise their union

As a celebrant or family member binds their hands with a special cord or ribbon, as a symbol of their commitment.

Before the rings are exchanged, they're passed around the congregation to be "warmed up" by the guests. Each guest holds the rings in their hands for a moment and sets an intention or wish for the couple. Religious guests can be encouraged to say a silent prayer, making this another good option for merging religious and secular customs.

Wine box ceremony entails writing romantic letters to each other and storing them for the future. The letters describe the good qualities they find in one another, the reasons they fell in love, and their reasons for choosing to marry. This time capsule captures a moment that can be opened at a future anniversary or during a marriage crisis, that reminded each of you why you fell in love.

It finds the couple planting a tree together during their ceremony, the tree representing their relationship, which is about to take root, grow and flourish. There are no hard and fast rules for this one, a rose bush or other type of plant would work just as well. You can also add soil from both of your family homes or home countries, and ask family and friends to get involved, too.

the couple can offer each other a rose as a token of their love and commitment, or chosen friends and family members can offer the couple single roses, speaking aloud their hopes and dreams for the couple's future

Wine Ceremony - the bride and groom will each have a glass of wine (usually one red, one white) and pour it into one wine glass to combine it. It represents the coming together of two people or two families. It also represents the good and bad times to be faced together. The ritual of the ceremony turns an ordinary event of pouring and drinking wine into one with a special meaning.