Mexico Destination Wedding: Wedding Rituals to enhance your ceremony

To add that extra finishing touch and give your ceremony a special note that makes it stand out from other ceremonies, why not add a beautiful wedding ritual?

Although some rituals have traditionally been associated with various religious faiths, all meanings are actually based on 'common sense' and are associated with two people starting to share their lives together as a married couple. It doesn't matter what your faith is, if you can associate with the meaning of the ritual, why not incorporate it into your ceremony?

Rituals are a wonderful way to create special photo opportunities that will truly set your wedding ceremony apart from others - irrespective of whether you celebrate on your own or with guests!

Here are a few ideas that can make your wedding ceremony special and unique:

= the symbolism behind the ritual,

= the additional photo opportunity it adds to your ceremony

'Sand Ceremony'

I am very proud for being the first Minister in Cancun who has started the 'Sand Ceremony' in 2003, an adaptation of the well known 'Unity Candle' which seems to have set the standard for most ceremonies nowadays!

Sand is a building material. It is the mortar of your relationship but it also represents your individual characteristics! By joining the sand, you will be united, yet you still retain your personal freedom - just like each grain of sand - whilst building a solid foundation for your marriage

Add a photo of your parents or your Maid of honor & Best man presenting the sand to you and get a close up of you pouring the sand together!

'Arras Coins'

A typical Mexican wedding tradition also used in other countries around the world, the Arras coins often become a family heirloom that is past down from one generation to the next. Why not start a new tradition?

The groom shows his willingness to take care and provide for his new family. By receiving the coins, the bride shows her acceptance. Modern couples often split the coins to give to each other.

Presentation of the coins by 'sponsors' to the groom (or couple) who will then give the coins to each other

'Lasso'

Another traditional Mexican tradition that other nations share of placing a 'lasso' around the couple

Unity and Bonding

Nominated persons present you with a lasso that is placed around the bride and groom in a figure of eight

'Exchange of Garlands'

Typical Hawaiian tradition but also used by other nations!

Unity and Bonding, each color also represents a certain meaning, i.e. purity is white, pink is love, etc.

Nominated people present groom & bride with a garland each that they then place around each other's neck to bestow these qualities on one another

'Well Wishing'

Gives each guest the opportunity to give their blessing or make a silent prayer for you!

Unity and manifestation of wishes/prayers for the couple

Excellent for a group photo with a difference and perfect for large weddings to keep everyone together! Your guests will form an alley way towards the water's edge or other selected area for you to walk through and then line up either side of you. Everyone makes a silent wish or prayer for you and on a count of three everyone throws their 'wish' behind them

'Wedding Wine'

A European tradition whereby the bride and groom are presented with a wine bottle and a presentation box

Discussing problems in peace instead of parting and/or celebrating a wedding anniversary. In times of problems don't separate, instead discuss your issues over the bottle of wine you received on your wedding day, hopefully you will only open the wine to celebrate your anniversary!

Presentation of wine and box by nominated persons. Couple will then jointly nail the box shut

'Breaking of Glass'

Usually associated with Jewish religion but also celebrated in several European countries in an adapted form.

Relationships are as delicate as glass, symbolized by the breaking of a glass.

Either the groom smashes the glass as in the Jewish tradition, or, the bride and groom both smash a glass together and jointly clear up the debris to display willingness to work together on their marriage in difficult times

'Wedding Wine/Food'

Celebrated in various religions and traditional in several countries

Religious symbolism but also a non-religious meaning of sharing the last drink and/or food with the parents as daughter and son before forming a new family