The information gathered truly unique to each couple and therefore their ceremony and the elements they choose to include in their ceremony will also be unique and significant to their relationship.

Whilst some couples want to remain traditional in their wedding ceremony, others want to include elements or themes, to express themselves and to make their day truly memorable. By choosing a celebrant-led wedding, couples have the freedom to design and make choices about elements to be included in their ceremony.

We will be able to offer advice and ideas about ‘Symbolic Actions’ that the couple could include in their ceremony. Symbolic actions include elements such as:

• Handfasting, where a couple’s hands are bound together to symbolise their lives being bound together forever, this is sometimes referred to as ‘tying the knot’.

• Jumping the broom, symbolising a couple taking a leap of faith, jumping or stepping over a broom into a new life together.

• Unity Candles, where the couple and sometimes several family members light individual candles, from which a main central candle is lit. This symbolises not only the joining of the couple but also the unity of the two families.

• Sand ceremonies, which are similar to candle ceremonies in that the couple or family members can be involved. In this action different coloured sands are poured from small containers into an ornamental vessel. The finished vessel can be sealed and the grains of sand will be combined for eternity. This action represents unity of the couple and their families.

• Ring warming, this is a lovely symbolic action where the celebrant introduces their intention to pass the rings around the congregation for the couple’s family and friends to hold, and quietly bestow a wish or say a prayer for the couple in their new relationship. The rings are usually placed in a special box or container. They begin their journey at the back of the congregation and are passed along the rows, forward towards the couple. Once received by the celebrant, the couple will exchange rings which carry all the personal wishes of good luck and success from their family and friends.

Symbolic actions during a ceremony provide a visual representation of the changes that a couple are making in their relationship. They are good for reinforcing the commitment that a couple are making, and emphasise that through the ceremony, they are taking a leap into a new life together. As these actions are visual, family and friends in the congregation will be able to appreciate the commitment and the sentiment of the action, even if they cannot hear every word of the ceremony due to factors such as distance.