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BIBLE, COINS & LASSO

The Bible, Coins, and Lasso are Hispanic traditions most often associated with Mexican weddings, although Spain and other Latin American countries use variations of these, as well. They are symbolic of the spiritual, physical and emotional elements in a marriage. The Bible symbolizes the religious guidance and wise counsel for life’s decisions – spiritual element. The thirteen coins represent the financial support and blessings for their home – physical element. The lasso signifies the union of their lives and hearts as one common destiny – emotional element.

BLENDING OF THE SANDS

The Blending of the Sands is a beautiful and meaningful unifying ceremony from Hawaii that symbolizes the joining of the Bride/Groom, Bride/Bride, Groom/Groom and the blending of their families. Glass containers are needed for the Couple and for each child if they are included in the ceremony. Each container is filled with different colored sand, representing each individual’s uniqueness. The Couple (and each child) pour their individual containers of sand into the Unity Sand Bottle simultaneously. They may wish to leave a small amount of sand in each container to symbolize that, although they now are joined as one, they still retain their own individuality.

BLESSING STONES

The ritual of the Blessing Stones, or Wishing Stones, as they sometimes are called, is a wonderful way to include everyone in the wedding by way of offering blessings and good wishes to the newlyweds. It also is a good way to ensure that everyone will make contact with the Bride/Groom, Bride/Bride, Groom/Groom at some point during the day. This ritual may be performed at the actual ceremony itself (before the blessing), or at the conclusion of the service (in a receiving line manner), or later at the reception. When the guests arrive at the ceremony, they are given a Blessing Stone alone with a note card with words printed on it such as: “My wish for you is…” or “May you be blessed with…” or “May God bless you with…”The guests will share their blessing or wish with the newlyweds and toss the Blessing Stone into a Blessing Bowl, a Wishing Well, a Fountain, or whatever is chosen to hold the water. They then may place their “love note” into a basket or box for the couple to reflect on at a later time. Many couples keep their Blessing Stones in a special place in their home (a vase of flowers, around a candle, in an aquarium, etc.) to remind them of all the love, good wishes, and blessing they share because of their family and friends.

HANDFASTING

The expression “tying the knot” refers to the traditional early Celtic marriage ritual of Hanfasting. It is an ancient word for wedding, which was traditionally recognized as a binding contract of marriage between a man and a woman before weddings became a legal function of the government or a papal responsibility of the church. After the wedding vows and ring exchange, the couple’s hands were bound together with a cord that was tied in a “love knot,” signifying the joining of their lives in a sacred union. Today, handfasting is a symbolic ceremony to honor a couple’s desire for commitment to each other, and to acknowledge that their lives and their destinies are now bound together.

BREAKING OF THE GLASS

The Breaking of the Glass is a Jewish tradition with many meanings. It is a symbol of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, a representation of the fragility of relationships, and a reminder that marriage changes the lives of individuals forever. After the couple is pronounced husband/wife, wife/wife, husband/husband, the glass, or light bulb, which usually is wrapped in a cloth and placed in a silk bag, is then laid by the groom’s foot.The groom then breaks the glass with his foot and everyone shouts “Mazel Tov!” which means “good luck and congratulations!”

CEREMONY OF THE ROSE

The Ceremony of The Rose symbolizes the merging of the two families. When the couple enters, they have in their possession two roses, usually red. As they approache the altar, the Bride/Groom will stop and offer a rose and a kiss to her/his mother or significant mother figure. In doing this, they display gratitude for preparing her/him for this moment and for receiving their spouse into the family. When the wedding ceremony has ended and the Couple exits, the Bride/Groom will stop and offer a rose and a kiss to the other mother or significant mother figure. In doing this, they are expressing their gratitude for preparing their spouse for this moment and for receiving their spouse into the family. A variation you may consider is to present both roses either upon the entrance or upon the exit.

FAMILY MEDALION

This ceremony was created by Rev. Roger Coleman of Clergy Services, Inc. It was designed to include children of those being married in the wedding celebration. The Family Medallion provides a symbol for recognizing family relationships by adding a third circle to the two “marriage circles.” During this part of the ceremony, the children shall come forward and form a circle with the Couple who welcome the children into the family and verbally make a commitment to them. Just as the Couple gave each other rings as symbols of their love and commitment to one another, they also present each child with a medallion, as a symbol of their love and commitment to each other. The Family Medallion is made up of three intertwining circles, two of which symbolize the union of the Couple. The third circle represents the joining of children to this union, making it complete as a new family.

JUMPING THE BROOM

Jumping the Broom is a tradition that symbolizes sweeping away the old and welcoming the new, a symbol of a new beginning. It has its roots in an African tribal marriage ritual where sticks were placed on the ground, representing the couple’s new home. The Couple is sweeping together in a circle to signify the sweeping away of their former single lives, their past problems, and their previous cares. “Jumping the broom” symbolizes the crossing of this threshold into a new relationship as spouses.

UNITY CANDLE

Lighting the Unity Candle symbolizes the joining together or blending of separate lives. It is the coming together of two families and the merging of two individuals into one married couple, a love that burns jointly. The Unity Candle is an arrangement of three candles. The two side candles are lit either before the wedding ceremony begins or just before the Unity Candle ceremony. These are usually, but not always, lit by the Couple's parents on their respective sides of the altar. Lighting the Unity Candle normally takes place after the exchange of vows and rings. The Officiant will share a few thoughts about the unity that exists between a Couple when they enter into marriage, after which the Couple will take their respective candles and light the center candle. The Couple then extinguishes their respective candles by gently blowing out the flame, symbolizing that they are now “one”. Sometimes the Couple chooses not to blow out their candles to symbolize that, even though they are now one, they continue to retain their individuality.

UNITY CUP

Two separate goblets are filled with wine. Before the couple is pronounced spouses the Officiant pours one-half of the wine from each goblet into a separate cup, the Unity Cup, from which each sips. The Unity Cup, or Kiddush Cup, is symbolic of the Cup of Life. As is shared by The Couple, they share all the future may bring. The half-filled goblets are a reminder of their individuality; the single cup marks their new life together.

THE MARRIAGE VESSEL AND THE ROSE

The Marriage Vessel and Rose ceremony may be used as an alternative to the Unity Candle, especially for outdoor weddings. You will need a table for the vessel and the rose. This ceremony symbolizes Couple’s ever-growing life-long commitment to each other. The spiritual roots of The Marriage Vessel and the Rose grow out of an understanding of God as the Potter, or Creator of life, and God as the Gardener, or Sustainer of life. The vessel of clay, lovingly shaped by the Potter, is a symbol of love’s strength and endurance. The miracle of the vessel is that it not only protects, but is enriched by that which it holds, the rose. Likewise, the rose, born of the tiniest of seeds, symbolizes the beauty and potential of growing in love throughout life together. Both the vessel and the rose are individually unique, yet when combined, they create an object of even greater beauty. During the ceremony The Couple place rose in the vessel. They fill it up with water, and held up with proper prayer following. For just as this rose cannot survive without water, they cannot life without each other.

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