Ritual Ideas for Your Elopement Wedding Ceremony
How do you envision your wedding ceremony? It’s a personal question, because your vision is your own. Some couples are head over heels for elaborate affairs with lots of pomp and circumstance, whereas other couples prefer modest celebrations or adventure elopements. There’s really no wrong answer as long as it reflects you and your values.
But even if you know the vibe you want for your wedding day, you might not know what ceremony options are available to you. For example, your wedding might include any of the following options:
An opening reading to set the tone for your ceremony
A handfasting ritual in which a cord binds the hands of the couple
A ring warming where guests are invited to hold the rings and make a silent blessing
An oathing stone which symbolizes the solid foundation upon which the couple builds their relationship
Or any other number of rituals meaningful to the couple on their wedding day!
So, go ahead. Read through some of the following suggestions to see what resonates with your vision. Or maybe this article will spark some new ideas that are all your own!
Table of Contents
Opening Readings | Blessings | Handfasting | Ring Warmings | Oathing Stone | Sharing Wine | Jumping the Broom | Champagne | First Dance
Opening Readings to Set the Vibe
An opening reading is a very simple ritual that’s included in most weddings. This can be anything you want it to be—a poem, a speech, a prayer, even song lyrics that are meaningful to you!
The words themselves are only part of the equation. While traditionally read by the officiant, some couples prefer to use the opening reading to include an honored guest in the festivities. For example, you could choose a family member or friend to come up to the altar and perform the reading.
Opening readings are touching, but they also serve a practical purpose. Couples can naturally feel butterflies when they approach the altar. A reading gives them a moment to ease into the ceremony mindset. Plus, it allows guests to acclimate as well.
Blessings from Family and Friends
Similar to an opening reading, these are blessings made by friends or family members at either the beginning of the ceremony or just before the vows.
The word “blessing” implies something spiritual or religious, but if that’s not your vibe, these blessings don’t have to be. The blessing from a family member or friend can be a prayer, a poem, well wishes, or a few words about the couple’s history and their future together.
In many cases, being invited to perform a blessing is an important honor. It can represent how that person has helped you—as an individual or as a couple—reach the place you are today. For instance, maybe they introduced you two; or maybe they helped you get through an especially important time in life. Whatever the case may be, it’s a lovely tradition if you choose to include it.
Want a real example? Jake and Josh got married in Tucson, Arizona. The couple chose one parent each to perform a reading. Jake’s mom read a poem. Josh’s dad read something he wrote. The moment was perfect because it gave the families a way to share their joy and love.
Handfasting Brings You Together
Searching for a wedding ritual that perfectly matches visual appeal with romantic symbolism? There’s nothing quite like handfasting.
Originally a Celtic ritual, handfasting involves wrapping the couple’s hands with a cord or ribbon—sometimes accompanied by words about unity, commitment, and love. As the cord tightens, it represents how your past and your future continuously draw you and your spouse closer.
Pro tips: The couple themselves don’t need to do much for the handfasting. However, the person performing it does. While this is most often performed by the officiant, it doesn’t have to be. Family members, friends, or guests can perform a handfasting. But they should practice ahead of time to make sure things go smoothly.
Ring Warmings to Include Your Guests
Wedding rings are one of the most iconic moments of a ceremony. While there is no requirement to exchange rings, it continues to be an almost ubiquitous tradition. But there’s a clever twist custom that includes more than just the couple—a ring warming.
Before the exchange, the guests are invited to briefly hold the couple’s rings and make a silent blessing on their behalf, before passing the rings to the next person. After everyone gets their chance, the rings go to the couple. It’s a charming and touching ritual that makes everyone feel involved.
Pro tip: The speed of a ring warming depends on the number of attendees. More guest means it takes longer. So, plan accordingly.
An Oathing Stone Sets a Solid Foundation
Your wedding day is a transformation. It transfigures your relationship from fiancés to married people. As such, some couples see their wedding day as setting the foundation for their lives going forward. An oathing stone ritual symbolizes the foundational values upon which you two build your future.
But how do you perform an oathing stone ritual? There are basically two options—one that involves just the couple, and the second that brings in guests into the performance.
The first option has the couple holding or otherwise placing their hands upon the stone. A few words are spoken about commitment and hope, before the stone is put aside and the ceremony continues.
The second option invites guests to hold the stone and either make a silent blessing or speak some well wishes about the future of the couple together.
Sharing a Glass of Wine
Do you partake in a drink from time to time? There’s one simple tradition that you could add to your ceremony. All it requires is a glass and some wine.
Obviously, lots of people drink on their wedding days. But sharing a glass of wine during the ceremony is more meaningful. One couple shares sips from a wine glass, symbolizing their shared joy—the pleasure of drinking deeply from all that life has to offer them.
It’s also nice because a sip of alcohol can help cut the tension if you’re feeling big emotions on the big day.
Looking to level up the tradition? That’s cool. Some couples choose a decorative cup or glass, to fit the theme of the wedding. Wine not your thing? Take a shot, if that’s what you prefer.
Pro tip: Stick to white wine to avoid red wine stains on your wedding clothes!
Jumping the Broom
Have you ever heard of jumping the broom? It’s a tradition with a lot of history (or histories), is visually interesting, and is so much fun for the couple.
First, we should cover what it entails. Following the vows and the ring exchange, a decorative broom is placed before the couple. The officiant shares a prayer, a poem, a few encouraging words, a brief explanation of the ritual, and its meaning. The newlyweds then jump over it, and the guests make a joyful noise.
The broom itself is usually beautifully decorated. Think silk ribbons, intricate beads, lace, religious symbols, family heirlooms, photos of the couple, faux flowers, or whatever else fits your fancy.
Now for a bit of history. Arguably, the tradition originated in West Africa, where it symbolized sweeping away the old to welcome new beginnings. But it came to the United States when enslaved people chose to get married, even though it was not legal to wed. It just goes to demonstrate that the power of love and commitment endures, no matter what.
Interestingly, there’s also a near identical Welsh tradition practiced by Roma peoples. Because the church did not recognize Roma marriages, this ethnic group performed their own “besom weddings”—where, you guessed it, they jumped over a broom to bind the couple in marriage.
Recently, the tradition has also caught on with pagan weddings since the besom (or broom) has a long history in folk spirituality.
Popping Champagne as a Grand Finale
Pop! Spray! Woo! It’s the sound of celebration.
It can be a ton of fun to uncork some bubbles at the end of your ceremony. But, from experience, I can say a lot of couples are nervous when it comes to popping that top. If you aren’t careful, you can drench your guests, catch the cork with your face, or drop the bottle.
Thankfully, it’s not too hard if you follow these tips:
Prep the bottle by removing the foil and twist cap ahead of time.
Point the bottle away from you, your newlywed spouse, and your guests.
Pre-shake the bottle. Heads up, a little goes a long way!
Push the cork hard with one or both thumbs. Keep a good grip on the bottle too. The bottle is now open!
Place on thumb partially over the open top, and shake it up! This will spray the sparkling wine. Note, if you fully cover the top, it’ll create more pressure.
Retrieve the cork. Remember, Leave No Trace matters even on your wedding day!
Pro tip: You can use fizzy water if you don’t drink, don’t want to waste wine, prefer to avoid any sticky mess, or are in an area where alcohol isn’t allowed.
A First Dance as a Married Couple
Elopement couples can still have a first dance, even if they don’t have a traditional wedding reception. All it takes is a Bluetooth speaker, a downloaded song or playlist, and your newlywed dancing partner. Give your elopement photographer and officiant a heads up before the ceremony, so they can prepare.
You’ve got a few options as far as timing. You can have your first dance right after the ceremony, or you can wait for another appropriate moment, like sunset.
Pro tip: If you’re giving speaker/music duty to one of your guests, have them practice getting to the song, pressing play, and pausing at the right time. Make sure they know how to connect to the speaker and have the song downloaded for offline use.
Your Own Perfect Wedding Ritual
Know that you are not limited to these suggestions. It’s your wedding day, after all. If you have your own ideas, that’s great! Communicate your desires with your elopement wedding photographer to turn those dreams into reality.
Book a call with Love & Latitudes, and we can start planning your elopement and photography!
