Weddingbee Blog

When it comes to personalizing your wedding, I feel like making the reception, decorations, music, etc. personal are all pretty easy. You choose what you like, and go from there. But, it gets a bit harder when it comes to the ceremony. I’ve already shared our reading for the ceremony, but beyond that I’ve had a really hard time coming up with ideas for how to make the ceremony more “us,” beyond writing the whole thing ourselves (which is an extremely daunting task!).

Part of the problem is that when Mr. Cardy and I first got engaged, I was (for some reason) absolutely adamant that we wouldn’t have any rituals within our ceremony. For example, we were to have no sand ceremony, no unity candle, etc. I know that it sounds like a silly thing to be so opposed to, but I promise I had a reason.

In my experience (this is not to say that it’s true for everyone!) people tend to do these sort of ceremonies just because it’s what they’ve seen at other weddings, and they feel like it’s what they’re “supposed” to do.

I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve had people ask me if we plan on having a sand ceremony, but most of the time it’s not because of what it means or what it represents, it’s just because it’s something interesting and different to include in the ceremony. I feel like sand ceremonies and unity candles are both extremely beautiful and meaningful rituals, but they seem to have lost a lot of their meaning by becoming so popular. I figure if we’re going to have something like this at our wedding, it’s going to be included because it is something that truly speaks to us and that I think fits in with what Mr. Cardigan and I want.

For the longest time, I just hadn’t seen anything that I really liked. There are some extremely beautiful ideas out there, but none of them really touched me, and when I found one that I liked, Mr. Cardy wasn’t a fan. Then, I was browsing the boards one day and I found a thread talking about a hand blessing. I started to do some research, and I fell in love. Luckily, Mr. Cardy and I were finally in agreement, and we officially decided on something to include in our ceremony!

We still have a bit of tweaking to do on the wording, but here’s the rough draft of the blessing:

“Miss Cardigan, please face Mr. Cardigan, and hold his hands, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you.

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day as he promises to love you today, tomorrow and forever.

These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.

These are the hands that will lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into eyes that are filled with overwhelming love for you.

And these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

Mr. Cardigan, please hold Miss Cardigan’s hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you.

These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.

These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick, or console you when you are grieving.

They are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

And these are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together as a team, everything you wish for can be realized.”

It definitely still needs some work, but I really think it’s going to be a special part of the ceremony for us, and I’m so excited to be including it!

What ceremonies or rituals are you including at your wedding? Do y’all have any other fantastic ideas for the hive? I’m still looking for more ways to personalize our ceremony!