Offbeat Wedding Ceremony Ideas
A lot of my clients are the kind that are looking for offbeat wedding ceremony ideas. One of the most beautiful things about getting married is the commitment people make to one another, promising to be one another’s rock in this chaotic world. There are so many amazing ways to infuse you and your partner(s) connection into your ceremony, to feature how much you care for one another. Of course, one of the most popular is sand pouring or exchanging vows. I wanted to find and introduce different ideas that you could consider. These are different things I’ve seen clients do over the years, the ones that made the most impact.
If you’re looking for more tips on wedding planning, here’s a blog on how to create a timeline. You can also learn about the difference between coordinators and planners, which can help you decide on the best way to execute your event. Happy reading!
Recorded tapes from loved ones
This one made such an impact on me. It was an elopement where the couple came down from Chicago, literally bringing their officiant with them to create one of the most mindful wedding ceremonies I’ve ever witness. They had a tape player and before they came to Austin, they asked friends and family to record tapes of love and encouragement for the wedding ceremony. This was pre-covid too!
Singing Your Vows
Of course, not everyone has the skills for this idea but maybe you know how to play an instrument. Maybe you can sing. Playing your vows in some musical manner is so amazing and really enhances the whole experience.
Custom Bottle of Wine with Letters Tucked Inside for Your Anniversary
Nothing says optimism like planning your anniversary on your actual wedding day. Jokes aside, having something to cherish that first year of marriage is magical. When that day comes, you and your partner(s) can sit down and go through your wedding images, read the letters, drink the wine…it’s an experience in and of itself. Then you can keep the bottle and maybe have it melted down to hang on the wall!
Crystal Joining
For those into woo-woo things, this can be a fantastic way to intentionally join energies that will flow through your relationship and everyday life. Sure, you can do some sand but sand doesn’t have the same properties as crystals. Find a crystal that means something to you i.e. hematite for grounding or citrine for success. Join them with your partner’s chosen crystal and place the bottle somewhere you’ll pass every day, like in your bedroom. Just don’t forget to cleanse them!
Invite Guy Fieri
This is probably a top favorite for these offbeat wedding ceremony ideas. Okay, so not literally Guy Fieri (unless you have the hookup!). Having someone dress up in costume for something fun, like bringing in the wedding rings, will add some amazing levity to an already amazing situation. Even better: surprise your partner with this joyous moment. Just make sure they’re the type to actually enjoy it!
Knot Tying
I’ve seen this done with religious beliefs and non-religious beliefs. It’s about combining your energies/spirits/souls into one flowing path. You can even create one that will hang on the wall, reminding you and your partner(s) of your amazing day and the commitment you made to one another.
Handfasting
Of course, this is one of the most popular ceremony moments aside from exchanging rings (sometimes people do both). This is where “tying the knot” came from originally and hand fastening was considered as serious as a modern-day traditional wedding ceremony. It’s an ancient Celtic practice, that was also adopted by other Anglo cultures. It’s tradition for the couple (I’m not sure how to do this with more than two peeps) to cross their hands and recreate the infinity symbol. It’s as valid of a marriage ceremony as anything else.
Jello Shots
Providing your guests with a shot of alcohol is a great way to set the tone for the day. It starts the party right from the start! I bet you hadn’t thought of this when contemplating some offbeat wedding ceremony ideas!
Saging Your Guests
Okay, I’ve only seen one, at a Wiccan ceremony. However, HOW GENIUS IS THIS?? When your guests show up, they can have their energies cleansed, bringing a blank slate of energy into your ceremony. It’s a fantastic way to infuse intention into your ceremony. Not everyone will be into it, so don’t force it, but it’s definitely something to consider!
Water Ceremony
This one is from a while ago, but still a huge favorite out of all the offbeat wedding ceremony ideas I’ve provided. I’ve only seen it done once, even after shooting for five years in Hawaii. Each partner goes to their favorite body of water (or in the above example, their favorite beach) and fills a bottle of that water. Then they pour it into a bowl, which prompts the officiant to pour the mixture over your joined hands. It’s one of the most beautiful ceremonies I’ve ever seen.
Ring Warming
It’s been scientifically proven that objects can retain energy long after the collection of it. Intent put into the universe matters. When you pass your rings around to all of your friends and family before slipping them onto your finger, you allow them to provide all of that good juju to follow you everywhere. How cool is that?!
Final Thoughts
No matter what kind of unique ceremony activities you decide on, they’re going to make your wedding yours. There’s no right or wrong way to do a ceremony, since wedding ceremonies span cultures and time. If you want to create your own wedding traditions, do it!
