Unity Candle Ceremony

Unity Candle Ceremony

by | Sep 19, 2021 | Ceremony Ideas

Photo Gallery – Ceremony Candles

Some of the photographs I’ve taken of wedding candles in various settings, so you can see the effect of the various styles.  With me as your Celebrant/Solemniser, quality dripless candles in ivory are included as standard.   White or colored candles can be provided by special request, with plenty of notice. 

Or, if you prefer – you may order your own printed wedding candles from your choice of supplier.  Grey “rustic” candles pictured above left, are available for sale as an optional extra.

There is something very special about lighting candles at the commencement of your wedding ceremony.  Whether you are religious or not, you can’t deny that candles do create that kind of relaxing vibe that really sets the tone for the quality of the cermony.

Candle Unity Ceremony Example Script
– For the Couple

Modern version written by Rev Sharon Q.

——

Partner1 & Partner2 have chosen to commence their marriage ceremony with the lighting of candles in honour of their special day.

In a moment, Partner1 & Partner2 will each light an individual candle, to represent the light that shines within each of them.

As Partner1 & Partner2 light their individual candles, they will also honor the unique and special qualities which make each of them who they are. 

Once their individual candles are alight, Partner1 & Partner2 will use their individual candles to light their third, larger Unity candle together.

As Partner1 & Partner2 blend their individual flames to light their Unity candle, they will each honour and celebrate the power of their separate lights to ignite a common flame of friendship, love, commitment and lifelong happiness together.

They will also celebrate not only the joining together of their lives in marriage, but also the joining together of two families.

Partner1 & Partner2 would you like to come forward to light your candles?

Music:  As selected

 

Candle Unity Ceremony Example Script
– With the Mothers Included

Modern version written by Rev Sharon Q.

——

Partner1 & Partner2 have chosen to commence their marriage ceremony with the lighting of candles in honour of their special day.

In a moment, Partner1’s mother [name] & Partner2’s mother [name] will each light an individual candle, to represent the light that shines within Partner1 & Partner2 since they were each brought into the world.

As [Name] & [Name] light the individual candles for Partner1 & Partner2, they will also honor the unique and special qualities which make Partner1 & Partner2 who they are. 

Once their individual candles are alight, Partner1 & Partner2 will use their individual candles to light their third, larger Unity candle together.

As Partner1 & Partner2 blend their individual flames to light their Unity candle, they will each honour and celebrate the power of their separate lights to ignite a common flame of friendship, love, commitment and lifelong happiness together.

They will also celebrate not only the joining together of their lives in marriage, but also the joining together of two families.

Partner1 & Partner2 would you like to come forward to light your candles?

Music:  As selected

Wedding Ceremony Design – When is the Right Time for that Kiss?

Wedding Ceremony Design – When is the Right Time for that Kiss?

by | May 26, 2021 | Ceremony Ideas, Latest News

Photo by Jonathan Borba from Pexels

Designing your personalised and unique marriage ceremony with the help of a creative celebrant sure can be lots of fun!   Adding your own special touches and ceremony ideas.  But one question that sometimes asked is where in the ceremony do you have your first kiss as a married couple?

Some may advise you to have your kiss right after your marriage vows. The reason for this is because that’s when you are technically married.

But I don’t recommend this myself.  I believe that for maximum meaning to your ceremony and for maximum effect, it’s much better to have your first kiss as a married couple at the very END of your ceremony.  Right after you are pronounced married. 

If you can imagine the moment, your ceremony has been so beautiful and it’s about to come to a close, and I say to you “I now pronounce you husband & wife, (or married), you may seal your marriage with a kiss!”.

As you are kissing and your guests stand and cheer, your final music starts playing, your photographer is snapping away, that’s the magic moment in your ceremony that you just don’t want to miss!  That, to me – is the essence of a true 5-star ceremony.

But remember, there is no right or wrong way, Where you kiss in your marriage ceremony is completely up to you, It’s your ceremony and you are the design director all the way.

If you would like to kiss after your marriage vows, there is no reason why you can’t kiss again at the very end of your ceremony if you really want to kiss right after your marriage vows.   But – it doesn’t ever have the same effect.

Celebrant Guarantee

As a valued member of the Enchanted Ceremonies group of non-denominational Celebrants, Holistic Ministers & Solemnisers, there is always a backup Celebrant on hand in case of an unforeseen emergency - this is your Celebrant guarantee!

Your Special Day

If you believe your ceremony should be an important part of your special day, no matter how big or small your ceremony wishes may be, you have found the right place.

If you would like a ceremony as unique as you are - created to suit your own style, please don't hesitate to get in touch so I can answer any questions you might have - and to find out if I am available on your big day.  I would be honoured to work with you!

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Essential Advice for Your Enchanted Beach Wedding in Ireland

Essential Advice for Your Enchanted Beach Wedding in Ireland

by | May 10, 2021 | Ceremony Ideas, Latest News

My homeland Australia is renowned for its beach weddings. Here in Ireland it is possible to be legally married on a beach, but only if your chosen wedding venue has direct access to the beach from within their grounds. There are a number of glorious wedding venues in Ireland which satisfy this criteria.

In Ireland a legal marriage ceremony must be conducted at a location recognised by the Marriage Act, which is open to the public without hindrance, also with a building and a postal address.. The location does not need HSE inspection & approval, unless the marriage ceremony will be a Registry Office marriage ceremony (Civil Ceremony) conducted by a Civil Registrar.

For many couples getting married in Ireland who dream of a beach wedding, its not always that simple. Especially if they already have their favourite beach in mind which does not have an adjoining wedding venue! But there is a dignified solution, and here it is:

Option No.1

Here in Ireland it is possible to be legally married on a beach if your chosen wedding venue has direct access to the beach from within their grounds. There are a number of glorious wedding venues in Ireland which satisfy this criteria. 

Another very popular oceanside venue where you can be legally married is Hags Head, or Tighe Na Grá at the Cliffs of Moher and there are many more including those with direct access to a beach ceremony location.

Option No.2

Have 2 ceremonies on the day, and enchanted commitment ceremony on the beach, followed by a legal marriage ceremony at a. nearby location. I have conducted beach weddings many times using this method, and I can say from experience that it is a wonderful experience for your guests!

  • Your first ceremony is a commitment ceremony at the beach. This is complete with your choice of ceremony traditions which may include reading your own personal vows written to for each other and kept as a surprise, exchange of friendship rings if you wish, and of course the beautiful celtic handfasting.
    What could be more enchanting for a beach wedding here in Ireland to include the celtic handfasting? At this non-legal handfasting ceremony you are declared hand-fasted, you are not declared or pronounced married..
  • Next, have your legal marriage ceremony at a nearby location, approximately 1 hour later. Your handfasting chord can remain tied around your two wrists for this ceremony if you wish, as a symbol of your handfasting ceremony and removed when signing documents. Or your handfasting chord can be laid onto the altar as a decoration.

It’s not an offence to have a non-legal ceremony before a legal marriage ceremony – what is an offence is to include any ceremony parts from the Marriage Act in a non-legal ceremony (including do you take each other to be husband/wife/spouse) if the couple aren’t already married, and to pronounced a couple as being married when they are not really married at all.

Anyone can have a commitment ceremony without being legally married, in ancient times this was traditionally done as part of an engagement celebration, as long as they are not pronounced married in the non-legal ceremony.

.By including the handfasting in their non-legal beach commitment ceremony and declaring the couple handfasted, rather than married, is a very easy way to ensure that the handfasting ceremony complies with the Marriage Act.

Option No.3

Have 2 ceremonies with your legal marriage ceremony first, but on a different day and later on another day, have your non-legal beach wedding with all your guests.  Your legal marriage ceremony attended only by your two witnesses.  Honestly I can’t see the point of doing this – why would you ever want to have a fake beach wedding, when you are already married?

I am from Australia where every wedding ceremony is a legal marriage ceremony, because you can be legally married anywhere. But divorce rates are also much higher in Australia. So having some restrictions on the location of your marriage isn’t really such a bad thing. Being married the day before your big wedding ceremony day is a very European thing and something which as an Aussie, I just find very strange indeed!.

But if this makes perfect sense to you and you feel it is the best option, then just go for it! At the end of the day its your wedding, and what matters is that you have the wedding you have always wanted.

Conclusion

My Option 1 format for beach ceremonies where the beach ceremony is not a legal marriage, is what makes sense to me, but may not make sense to everyone. Which doesn’t mean that its either right or wrong.
Some couples may prefer to have legal marriage ceremony first, followed by beach ceremony eg. at sunset.
It’s all about what the couple really wants. I hope that makes sense!

Celebrant Guarantee

As a valued member of the Enchanted Ceremonies group of non-denominational Celebrants, Holistic Ministers & Solemnisers, there is always a backup Celebrant on hand in case of an unforeseen emergency - this is your Celebrant guarantee!

Your Special Day

If you believe your ceremony should be an important part of your special day, no matter how big or small your ceremony wishes may be, you have found the right place.

If you would like a ceremony as unique as you are - created to suit your own style, please don't hesitate to get in touch so I can answer any questions you might have - and to find out if I am available on your big day.  I would be honoured to work with you!

The Celtic Handfasting Tradition

The Celtic Handfasting Tradition

by | Dec 19, 2020 | Ceremony Ideas

Above: Aoife & Jimmy’s wedding
at Ballyvolane House
Photo by whitecatstudio.ie

Braided handfasting chord fully handmade by me
to the bride’s choice of colours

The wedding tradition of celtic handfasting has seen a resurgence since Prince Wiliam and Kate tied the knot as part of their lavish wedding ceremony in London in 2011.

Handfasting is a rural folkloric and neopagan ceremonial spiritual custom, gaining in popularity as modern couples seek to incorporate ancient traditions in their ceremony.  Iinitially found in Ireland, Scotland and western European countries, the handfasting is a ceremony in which a couple hold a commitment ceremony by tying the hands with woven or braided chord.

Above:  Aoife & Jimmy’s wedding
at Ballyvolane House
Photo by whitecatstudio.ie

Design 1 – your choice of 3 to 5 colors

Design 2 – natural chord with gold highlight

The handfasting ceremony was believed by many to be firstly conducted as an engagement ceremony,  a temporary binding of one year and a day.   If after this time the couple wished to stay together, the handfasting was repeated a second time as a marriage ceremony, and the couple were married for seven years.

If the couple wished to stay together after this time, the handfasting was repeated for another seven years or as a permanent marriage, depending on the couple’s wishes.  Hence the term “seven year itch”.

In ancient times, the handfasting ceremony was conducted according to the local traditions.  In modern times, a handfasting ceremony is part of a traditional wedding ceremony, and is written to suit the requirements of the couple.

There are unlimited variations in the ceremony wording, from the short, modern format lasting about 3-4 minutes, to the longer traditation format lasting anything from 10 minutes or longer.

If I am conducting your ceremony and you would like to make your own handfasting chord, I can give you creative ideas and explain some simple methods of making various styles.

Pictured are two of the many braided handfasting chords I have personally handmade.  If you are unable to make or purchase your own handfasting chord I am happy to make you a handfasting chord in your choice of colors.

In the first example, each of the 5 strands of the braided chord are individually twisted to make the separate chords before being tied and braided together in a 5-part braided chord.  Each end of the chord is then wrapped to form a tassle at each end. 

Retail prices are on my website https://tietheknot.ie

The Irish Wedding Coin Tradition

The Irish Wedding Coin Tradition

by | Dec 19, 2020 | Ceremony Ideas

History

It is believed that the Irish tradition of the wedding coin has its roots in the Brehon law, when the groom would gift his new bride with a coin to represent that from this point forward, everything he owns would be equally shared.

Symbolism & Meaning

There may be variants of this tradition depending on which family and region of Ireland, and availability of coins.  Some believe that once the wedding coin is gifted to the bride, it should be put into the bride’s shoe to ensure prosperity in the marriage.

The wedding coin can also be handed down from parents to eldest child, or first son, or so forth.  The great thing about wedding traditions is that you are free to make your own variation of the tradition in order to make it meaningful to you.

Example Words

I have written beautiful words for a wedding coin ceremony on a number of occasions, each ceremony unique and individual to the couple. 

Below is one of the example wording I have written for a couples who wanted to include the wedding coin in the unique & special wedding ceremony I created especially for them.

Wedding Coin Sample Ceremony Wording

Kate & Eoin have chosen to include the Irish tradition of exchanging a wedding coin, to represent that from this moment forward everything in their life will be shared.

For this occasion Eoin’s grandparents have gifted him with the wedding coin which they themselves exchanged during their own marriage ceremony, some 60 years ago.

By using the wedding coin from his grand-parent’s long and happy marriage, Eoin will add an extra blessing to his own marriage when he shares the coin with Kate.

[Name], would like to bring us the wedding coin?

Eoin, would you like to repeat after me:

Kate, I present this coin
to share with you as symbol,
that from this point forward,
all that I have, and ever will have
will always be ours to share.

[Eoin presents the coin to Kate]

Kate, would you like to repeat after me:

I accept this coin
to share with you as a symbol,
that all we possess now and in the future,
will always be ours to share.

[Kate presents the coin back (or a 2nd coin) to Eoin]