wedding 2024 | Your Personalized Ceremony

date posted: February 28, 2024

Photo by Love Me Do Photography.

Ceremonies can be as traditional or original as your wildest dreams.

A wedding ceremony is a joyous, life-changing moment. You’re stepping into a new reality together, declaring to the world, the gathered guests and one another that you’re officially united, partaking in one of the most significant traditions in human history. There may be lots of memorable moments on your wedding day, but no memory will compare to the ritual that bound you together.

your vows

Photo by Rachel Collet Photography

Of the many, many millions of weddings in human history, yours will be like no other, because it’s yours. Ceremonies, which used to be fairly standard, can be as traditional or original as your wildest dreams. Do yours in the way that brings the most shared joy. It’s a fun conversation to have.

Writing your own wedding vows, whether you’re scripting your entire ceremony from scratch or just composing a couple of paragraphs to add to tradition, can be a wonderful part of being engaged, a chance to retreat from the hustle and bustle of practical planning and spend some time contemplating the reasons you’re doing this in the first place, a chance to set goals, dream dreams, share a special memory right out loud.

Start the process a few months before the Big Day. Keep a pad and pen handy. Jot notes to yourself as you think of them. How’d you meet? When did you know it was so right? What are the qualities you most cherish? Who do you want to become together? What do you promise?

Organize this into a 300-500 word draft and get it into electronic form for easier editing. Read your draft over a couple of times a week. Read it aloud, so you can get used to the flow, but don’t try to memorize; bring a copy on an elegant scroll, read a sentence or two, then look into your love’s eyes. Much better than forgetting your lines. Don’t read it to your partner. Surprise each other. But do share it with your officiant, who will gain a deeper understanding of your journey and will also need to plan for moments such as the exchange of rings.

unity rites

Photo by Olya Vysotskaya Planning by Gina Maloney Events.

Light a flame together. Unity candle rituals can be modified to include your parents or kids. Outdoor ceremony? Think about a torch or a firepit.

Wrap yourselves in love. Have your officiant place something around both of your shoulders—a blanket, a cord, a scarf.

Small wedding? Gather everyone in a circle; consider letting anyone who feels moved say a few words.

Blessings. Pass your rings around among the guests, letting everyone there infuse them with their love and joy. Or you can pass a length of fabric or cord, then make a braid or a knot together as a symbol of your union.

Handfasting. In this ritual, you hold opposite hands—forming an

infinity symbol—while your officiant binds them together with ribbon, cord, or fabric.

Blend. Prepare two elegant containers of compatible beverages of your choice which you can ceremonially blend, and then sip from the same cup.

Cleanse. Wash each other’s hands or feet.

Joined at the head. Place crowns on one another’s heads, or garlands around one another’s necks.

Get back to nature. Blend together some soil from each of your childhood homes or favorite places, then plant a seedling in this together.

Get it on paper. Sign a copy of your vows together with an elegant pen.

Photo by Teresa Horgan Photography. Officiant Michele Zipp Custom Ceremonies

MICHELE ZIPP, CUSTOM CEREMONIES & RITUALS

Hudson Valley, NYC, 646-509-6600, michelezipp.com

Michele is a non-denominational wedding officiant who has been crafting customized ceremonies filled with love and laughter since 2011. She’s a writer and Reiki Master, so telling your love story and including spirituality is part of her life’s work. Her unique ceremonies include meaningful rituals like handfasting, blessing circles, crystal grids, Tibetan singing bowls, magical botanicals and herbs, and reiki healing, with everything personalized for each couple.

WEDDINGS IN THE GUNKS

New Paltz, 845-475-8879, weddings.inthegunks.com

Your wedding is your story, come to life. It is a moment in time that you will want to share with loved ones for the rest of your lives. This is a day to take stock of who you have been separately, and to proclaim to the world who you wish to be together. All you need is the right storyteller to tell the tale.

Photo by Kalz Photography.