Glenda J Ashleigh

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Wedding Keepsakes

Wedding Keepsakes for Very Important Brides

As a newly appointed Marriage Celebrant, I noticed that very few brides received wedding keepsakes or good luck charms on their wedding day.  Today, even at formal wedding ceremonies including all the usual trimmings, I notice that many brides still do not receive any good-luck charms or keepsakes.  Furthermore, at more informal ceremonies, although the setting is relaxed and laid-back, only sometimes do brides receive any keepsakes or good-luck charms from family or friends.

Good Luck

I wonder if many people know about the tradition of giving wedding keepsakes or charms to the Bride for good luck?  Different cultures use different charm shapes as symbols of good luck.

  • A horseshoe shape is popular.  Carry the horseshoe with the ‘arms’ turned upwards.  This prevents the ‘good luck’ from spilling out!  Carry the horseshoe with the ‘arms’ turned downwards, the good luck is said to spread everywhere the Bride walks.
  • A miniature shoe or slipper shape is also a popular wedding favour.  Also, place a coin in the shoe or slipper for extra good luck!
  • Tiny locks and keys are attached to the bridal bouquet.  These little ‘love locks’ make delightful decorations.  Furthermore, they are also safer than attaching a padlock to a bridge or other public structure!
  • Another kind of attachment to the bridal bouquet is that of miniature portrait charms of  family members who are not present at the ceremony.  These may include loved ones, who although having passed away, are present, honoured and loved.

Wedding Keepsakes Made with Love

I make special wedding keepsake favours or charms for very important Brides.  Book Glenda, the Really Good Brisbane Celebrant, and you are a VIP, very important Bride!

All brides should have at least one good-luck wedding keepsake or charm, and so I make my signature satin hearts.  No two hearts are the same!  I decorate each heart to compliment the style and colours to appeal to the bride.

I give these unique bridal favours to Brides after the ‘Declaration of Marriage’ as good-luck keepsakes to take into their married life.  These truly are unique wedding mementos for Brides that I make with love and care.  These ‘love hearts’ are not for sale!  Book Glenda J Ashleigh, Brisbane’s Very Good Celebrant for your special bridal keepsake!

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Wedding Ceremony Rituals & Traditions

What Wedding Ceremony Rituals & Traditions are used Today?

Some wedding ceremony rituals & traditions are used so often that we expect them.  The ‘kiss’ is one of these traditions that we see in most ‘western culture’ weddings.  Further, these ‘expected’ rituals are often regarded as ‘must have’  wedding traditions.

Exchanging or giving of wedding rings is a popular ritual or tradition that is part of many wedding ceremonies.  The bride may receive a wedding ring, or the bride and groom may exchange weddings rings.  Wedding rings are regarded as tokens or symbols of the loving vows made in the marriage contract.  However, couples may choose to exchange or give other some form of love token rather than rings.

But back to the ‘kiss’ and its significance.  What is its history?

wedding ceremony rituals & traditionssbride and groom kiss

The Kiss Wedding Ceremony Ritual

The ritual and tradition of kissing is believed to be the action that sealed the marriage contract for a couple in Roman times.  Mind you, the Romans used the act of kissing to ‘seal the deal’ in any legal contract!

As time went on, the ritual of ‘the kiss’ in the wedding ceremony took on a more romantic touch.  Some cultures regard the wedding kiss as the first time that the bride and groom actually touch each other as husband and wife.

In modern times, the bride and groom may hold hands during the exchange of vows, so the kiss as the ‘first touch’ doesn’t really apply.  Today, the kiss ritual is most often performed immediately following the pronouncement of the couple as husband and wife.  The kiss is still regarded as ‘sealing the union’ between the bride and groom in today’s wedding ceremonies.

Be creative with rituals!  Express your personality in your wedding ceremony.  As a Brisbane Marriage Celebrant, I am very happy to include the rituals and traditions of your choice in your wedding ceremony.  You can find information about wedding ceremony rituals and traditions on the Rituals page of this website.