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Ceremony Traditions Ideas

cborriescborries member
Second Anniversary 10 Comments 5 Love Its
in Wedding Vows & Ceremony Discussions
Hello all.  

I'm having trouble thinking up of some non-cheesy traditions for my wedding ceremony.  I don't like the lighting of the unity candle or the mixing of sand.  My fiance and I are not at all religious.  We have no ethnic background, so African American, Hispanic, European, etc. traditions don't really have a meaning for us.

The only meaningful idea I had was taking a celebration shot (of alcohol) because we met in college and used to party a lot.  ...  But that doesn't seem very classy.

Any ideas or suggestions?  Thanks so much!
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Re: Ceremony Traditions Ideas

  • Jager1219Jager1219 member
    500 Comments First Anniversary
    I agree with Stage 100%.  We specifically picked our officiate because we get to write/edit the ceremony with her.  So what makes it "us" are personal stories, quotes about love & marriage, and customs that we want to include.  There are lots of other ways to make a ceremony "you" and not generic that don't include a sand ceremony/unity candle/wine ceremony.  Talk to your officiate and see what they suggest.  Start googling ceremony wording and write down things that you like.
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  • AddieCakeAddieCake member
    10000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary 25 Answers
    We didn't do anything "special" or any kind of unity thing. The wedding itself is unifying enough if you don't like those things or can't find one you like. Definitely skip the shot.
    What did you think would happen if you walked up to a group of internet strangers and told them to get shoehorned by their lady doc?~StageManager14
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  • monkeysipmonkeysip member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    Ceremonies are best when they are authentic.  We're having the full Catholic mass, but that's because that is what is meaningful for us.  My cousin last summer had a very short wedding with just the statement of intent, short message from the officiant, vows, rings, and a prayer, and it was beautiful too.  You don't need to add anything just to add.  If there is a reading or something that has meaning to you both, then add that.  But there's nothing wrong with a short ceremony. 

    I'm also on team "don't do the shot of alcohol".... save that for the reception!

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  • beardownbchsbeardownbchs member
    500 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    I was at a wedding where the bride took her favorite drink and the groom took his favorite drink and they poured them into the same glass and each drank it. I thought it was cute and fun without being too cheesy or classless. If I wouldn't make a really ugly face drinking a beer mixed with captain and coke, we'd do this. 
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  • PeledreamsofrainPeledreamsofrain member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary First Answer
    Wine is important in my family, so we did a wine ceremony. It was awesome, and the guests really liked it because it's not something you see often.
    Don't make me mobilize OffensiveKitten

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    Anniversary

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  • LDubHawksFanLDubHawksFan member
    1000 Comments 100 Love Its Second Anniversary First Answer
    You don't have to do anything.  Our pastor asked us a lot about our relationship before, so when he began our ceremony, he had about 5 mins of telling our backstory and what we said we loved about each other.  It was really special to really set the tone and made it feel very personal.
    As far as something we did, we had a wine box ceremony.  We placed a bottle of wine and love notes in a box and nailed it shut.  It is to be opened on our 10 yr anniversary, or if we are ever in such a bad place in our relationship that we need a reminder of our wedding day and our vows, and to fight through adversity.  Divorce is common in my family, so this meant a lot to me.  I definitely don't think you should do the shot, but maybe something like this would be more appropriate.  I think a reg did something similar with aged whiskey for theirs, and their friend who was officiating had them do an impromtu shot of it, but unless it made sense, I don't think a random shot is appropriate! ha

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  • JennaMichelle88JennaMichelle88 member
    100 Comments 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited February 2013
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_ceremony-ideas_ceremony-traditions-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:10Discussion:553c895e-da1f-4fd6-8e72-794e63efca86Post:1d8d2a56-b6be-4bf3-b449-9fbf60251226">Re: Ceremony Traditions Ideas</a>:
    [QUOTE]I was at a wedding where the bride took her favorite drink and the groom took his favorite drink and they poured them into the same glass and each drank it. I thought it was cute and fun without being too cheesy or classless. If I wouldn't make a really ugly face drinking a beer mixed with captain and coke, we'd do this. 
    Posted by beardownbchs[/QUOTE]

    Haha gross.

    A photographer FI and I looked at (but didn't end up going with) had a picture of a couple doing this, but they both used beer. As soon as FI saw it he looked at me with puppy dog eyes, but I shut that down fast. :)
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  • MrsToBe814MrsToBe814 member
    10 Comments First Anniversary
    I like the mixing of the drinks but not necessarily a 'shot'. Or you could create a signature drink with your schools color and call it The 'College Name' (like The Albright or The Harvard) to tie in your relationship beginnings. You don't have to do anything crazy at the ceremony. Do the typical ring and vow exchange kiss and bam-be married! :)
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  • TheBaysideBrideTheBaysideBride member
    250 Love Its 500 Comments First Anniversary
    haha friends of mine played flip cup or beer pong at teh reception, before they cut the cake, because they met that way. The bride beat the grooom :)
    it was cute - it worked, becuase it was meaningful and everyone at the wedding knew they met that way.
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