Ceremonies to include in your wedding.

Rose ceremony.

In the past, the rose was considered a symbol of love, and in the rose ceremony it symbolizes love as well. The bride and groom give each other a rose at the end of the wedding ceremony just after being pronounced husband and wife. Children can be included as well; if there are children who will be in the new family, each child can then be given a rose and a hug by the bride and groom, showing that the couple's union and their love includes the children as well, and that a new family is being formed.

Canada’s colourful wedding traditions

Tea ceremony

While the tea ceremony is an Asian ritualized form of making tea, the term generally refers to the Japanese tea ceremony. During the tea ceremony, the bride and groom, as a sign of respect, offer and serve tea to their parents. According to ancient Chinese beliefs, the tea ceremony will help the newlyweds produce children early in their marriage and ensure many grandchildren. It also symbolizes good relations between the bride and her new family.



The sand ceremony

The sand ceremony, a celebration that is usually two to three minutes in length, symbolizes the joining of two lives. The couple pours various colours of sand from a container, such as a seashell, into one special container; the flowing sand and blending of the colours symbolize the bringing together of two lives into one. Some couples prefer to leave a small amount of sand in their respective container to show that even though they now function as one, they remain individuals.



The candle lighting ceremony

This ceremony is sometimes performed to symbolize the joining together of the two families into one united family. More often, though, it is used to symbolize the union of two individuals, becoming one in commitment. One interpretation is that the taper candles are lit by representatives from each family to symbolize the love and allegiance that each family has for either the bride or the groom. As the bride and groom use these two flames to light the unity candle, they bring the love of both families together in a united love of the new couple. Generally, the two tapers are left burning and replaced in their holders (because each family's love for their own will continue). However, in some ceremonies they may blow out their individual candles. Similarly, sometimes the tapers may be blown out, to indicate that the two lives have been permanently merged, or they may be left lit, symbolizing that the now-married partners have not lost their individuality.