Beautiful and simple civil wedding rituals

Civil weddings offer the freedom to include rituals that express your story and the way you love. Here are a few ideas for an unforgettable ceremony.

Sand ceremony

Each person pours a different-coloured sand into one shared vessel: a visual metaphor for joining two lives and two families.

Unity candle ceremony

Two individual candles represent your lives before the wedding and a third, lit together, symbolises your shared path.

Rose ceremony

Exchanging roses as your first gift as a married couple is a romantic gesture that can be personalised with a few words.

Wine ceremony

Mixing two wines in one glass represents the union of your personalities and your decision to share a life.

Handfasting

Wrapping a ribbon or cord around joined hands is a beautiful symbol of the bond and commitment you share.

Civil wedding rituals – Ideas and advice