Wedding trends may change from year to year, but wedding traditions have a way of standing the test of time. While “tradition” might sound like something that is old fashioned or outdated, out of the hundreds of weddings we’ve put on here at both Celebration Gardens and John Michael Events, we’ve found that some of the most memorable wedding traditions are simply the ones that are personalized and unique to you.
These wedding traditions could be rooted in your culture or heritage, created to honor someone you love, or simply chosen because the symbolism resonates with you and your partner.
So if the latest wedding trend doesn’t quite feel like you, but you’re looking for a meaningful way to make your wedding day personal, the wedding traditions we’re sharing in this post are a wonderful place to start. We’ve seen everything from sentimental wedding traditions for your ceremony to lively reception festivities, and we’re sharing some of our favorites below!
Ring Warming Ceremony
A ring warming ceremony is an incredibly profound wedding tradition that takes place during the wedding ceremony. It’s a type of unity ceremony, symbolizing the joining of two people in marriage, but with a special twist: It invites your family and loved ones to take part in the ritual too!
One of the most familiar unity ceremonies is the candle lighting ceremony, where each partner lights a single candle using their individual flames. The resulting flame represents two lives coming together as one. A ring warming ceremony carries a similar sentiment, but instead of lighting a candle, the couple’s wedding rings are passed among their loved ones to be “warmed” with their blessings, prayers, and well wishes. Here’s how it works:
Before the rings are exchanged, they are passed from family member to family member. As each loved one receives the rings, they may hold them, say a prayer, offer a blessing, or simply take a moment to silently wish the couple a lifetime of love and happiness. Once the rings have made their way through the group, they are returned to the couple, now carrying the collective love and good wishes of the people closest to them.
It’s a beautiful way to make your wedding ceremony feel even more personal, while giving your family and friends an essential role in the moment when you exchange your rings.
Tree Planting Unity Ceremony
Another type of unity ceremony is a tree planting ceremony. This ritual involves the couple planting a small sapling together, either by fully planting it in a pot or adding soil to the tree together. You can make this wedding tradition even more heartfelt by including your families. You can invite parents, grandparents, or other loved ones to each add a handful of soil to the tree, symbolizing the union of two families and the many people who will help nurture your marriage throughout the years.
What makes this tradition especially significant is that it gives you a living reminder of your wedding day. After the big day, you can plant the tree in the yard of your new home together and watch it grow throughout the years alongside your marriage.
Celtic Handfasting
You’ve probably heard the phrase “tying the knot” before, but have you ever wondered where it comes from? It is commonly associated with the Celtic wedding tradition of handfasting in which a couple’s hands are bound together with a ribbon or cord as a symbol of their commitment to one another.
This type of unity ceremony has its origins in Scotland and Ireland, but like many wedding traditions, it has evolved over time and is now embraced by couples from all different backgrounds. Today, couples typically hold hands while an officiant or loved one wraps a cord around their joined hands. Some couples choose a single cord while others layer multiple cords together with each color or material representing a different shared value, such as love, family, or friendship. You can even incorporate a reading, song or special vow as each cord is added.
At the end of the ceremony, you can keep the tied cords as a powerful physical reminder of your bond and the day you originally tied the knot!
Wearing Memorial Keepsakes
There are so many beautiful ways to honor loved ones who have passed away on your wedding day, from creating a memorial table or display to reserving a seat for them at your ceremony. In fact, there are so many thoughtful ways to remember loved ones at your wedding that we wrote an entire blog post about them: 7 Ways to Honor Your Family at Your Orlando Wedding.
One idea we especially love is incorporating a small memento of a loved one into your wedding bouquet or attire. This allows you to carry a piece of them with you throughout your wedding day, keeping them close on a day that means so much.
To personalize this wedding tradition, some of our couples have wrapped a charm featuring a photo of their loved one around the stems of their bouquet. Others have sewn a small piece of a loved one’s handkerchief, clothing, or wedding dress into their own gown or suit. You could also wear a piece of jewelry that belonged to them as an homage to the love you have for them and the relationship you shared.
So even if those loved ones can’t physically be there to celebrate with you, you know they’re there with you in spirit. These tokens you keep close to you on your wedding day are such a special reminder of that.
Saptapadi: The Seven Steps
Honoring your family’s culture at your wedding creates a solid foundation for your marriage from day one. We’ve had the pleasure of hosting many diverse Southeast Asian weddings at Celebration Gardens, each with the unique wedding traditions that the couple and family bring from their heritage.
Hindu wedding traditions vary by region, community, and family, meaning no two Hindu weddings look exactly alike. What they have in common though is that each wedding tradition carries its own spiritual and cultural significance. One such tradition is the Saptapadi, or the ritual of the Seven Steps.
During the Saptapadi, the couple takes seven steps together with each step representing a different blessing for their marriage, such as prosperity, family, and joy. With this tradition, the couple is literally taking their first steps into married life together!
A closely connected wedding tradition involves the couple walking around the sacred fire, known as Agni, together. In many Hindu wedding ceremonies, the couple circles the fire four times with each circuit symbolizing an important aspect of married life and the commitments they are making to one another.
Together, these traditions give the couple an auspicious start to their marriage while also connecting them to their family’s heritage.
Money Dance
Also known as the Dollar Dance, the money dance is a wedding tradition found in many cultures around the world. Guests give the newlyweds money as a gift, traditionally as a wish for good fortune and a blessed future together. Depending on the culture and family traditions, the money may be presented in a few different ways.
Rather than simply giving money in a card or envelope, guests may:
- Pin money to the couple’s clothing. Guests attach bills to the bride’s dress or groom’s suit throughout the celebration.
- Dance with the newlyweds. Guests make a monetary gift in exchange for a brief dance with the bride or groom, creating a fun and interactive way for everyone to participate. Also a great way to keep guests on the dance floor!
- Drop cash into a bag or basket that the newlyweds carry as they dance around the reception space or visit each table.
- Add money to a bouquet. Bills may be folded into a bouquet or floral arrangement, turning the monetary gifts into a beautiful keepsake.
Whatever form it takes, the money dance is a longstanding wedding tradition with many opportunities to make it your own!
Second Line
Let’s close things out in New Orleans! The tradition of the “second line” has its roots in the African American communities of New Orleans, borne out of lively neighborhood celebrations. It traditionally entails a joyful procession through the streets, accompanied by energetic brass band music, dancing, parasols, and handkerchiefs. Over time, the second line has become a truly iconic part of New Orleans culture!
Nowadays, this tradition has been increasingly popular in weddings all across the country! Its celebratory spirit makes it a natural fit to celebrate a couple’s new marriage alongside their family and friends. If you’d like to include a second line in your wedding, here’s what that could look like:
After dinner concludes, your second line can kick off the dance party portion of the evening! Your band or DJ would begin playing upbeat music while you lead your guests around the venue in a festive procession. You would carry decorated parasols while your loved ones follow behind with parasols of their own, handkerchiefs, or napkins. You could put a twist on this wedding tradition by also incorporating other fun accessories, such as colorful ribbon wands with bells on them, glow sticks, or bubbles. After making your way around the venue, you would end the second line on the dance floor, where the party would continue all night long!
Wedding Traditions Q&A
What is a ring warming ceremony?
A ring warming ceremony is a type of unity ceremony where the couple’s wedding rings are passed among family members and loved ones. Each person has the opportunity to hold the rings and offer a prayer, blessing, or well wishes for the couple before they formally exchange rings.
What is a tree planting unity ceremony?
During a tree planting ceremony, the couple plants a small sapling together or adds soil to it during their wedding ceremony. The tree can then be planted at the couple’s home after the wedding, where they can watch it grow alongside their marriage. Couples can also invite family members to add soil as a symbol of two families coming together.
What is a Celtic handfasting ceremony?
A Celtic handfasting ceremony is a wedding tradition in which a couple’s hands are bound together with a ribbon or cord to symbolize their commitment to each other. Couples can personalize this tradition by choosing to have a single cord or multiple, or selecting different colors or materials for the cords themselves.
How can you honor a loved one who has passed away?
There are many ways to honor loved ones at your wedding, including incorporating a personal keepsake into your wedding attire or bouquet. You might wear their jewelry, sew a piece of their clothing into your dress or suit, or attach a charm with their photo to your bouquet.
What is the Hindu wedding tradition of Saptapadi?
The Saptapadi, or Seven Steps, is an important Hindu wedding ritual in which the couple takes seven steps together. Each step represents a different blessing or commitment for their marriage. A closely connected wedding tradition entails the couple walking around the sacred fire together, typically four times. Both of these practices signify the intertwining of the couple’s lives and hearts.
What is the money dance at a wedding?
The money dance, also known as the Dollar Dance, is a wedding tradition found in many cultures where guests give the newlyweds money as a wish for prosperity and good fortune. Depending on the culture, guests might dance briefly with the couple, pin money to their clothing, place cash in a bag or basket, or add money to a bouquet.
What is a wedding Second Line?
A wedding second line is a New Orleans-inspired processional, where the newlyweds lead their guests around the venue while upbeat music plays. They often hold parasols, handkerchiefs, ribbon wands, bubbles, or other fun accessories as they dance together. It’s a fun way to get everyone onto the dance floor and kick off the party!