Cyprus Celebrant “Special Elements” Create Memories.
Have you ever felt bored at a wedding ceremony because it’s the same every time, and you know what’s coming next?
I am sure you want your ceremony to be special, romantic, memorable, but also entertaining for your guests. With optional special elements, we have the opportunity to do something that will engage everyone. I offer you some optional elements like Hand Fasting, Ring Warming, Unity Candle, Wedding Certificate, Wishing Tree, First Kiss, Jumping the Broom, to name a few, because they will leave you and your guests with wonderful lasting memories.
They’re not for everyone, but read through the options and let me know if you would like to include any of them in your ceremony.
Bespoke Ceremony Certificate
I offer certificates for weddings, vow renewals, civil partnerships, baby naming and adoption ceremonies.
At a wedding or vow renewal, the couple, two witnesses, and I sign the certificate. At a baby naming ceremony, the parents, godparents, and I sign.
Cyprus Celebrant ceremony certificates are unique. Every certificate is custom-designed and printed especially for you and will have elements that reflect you and your heritage. These are beautiful and unique mementoes for your memory box and perfect for framing. I offer simple and deluxe presentation folders for your selection. Please get in touch with me to discuss your requirements
When requested, custom-made certificates will be made for every ceremony.
Handfasting Ceremony.
“Tie the Knot”
I perform hand fasting for weddings, vow renewals, engagements, civil partnerships, baby naming, and adoption ceremonies. This beautiful unity ritual is perfect for many occasions and specifically tailored for your ceremony.
A popular and inclusive unity ceremony element. This ceremony is sometimes called “Tie the Knot”. It is a handfasting, which is an old custom and dates back to ancient times. A beautiful ceremony where I tie hands together with ribbons, cord, lace, leather, or braid, in the shape of the infinity symbol, and that is where we get the term “Tying the knot”. By doing this, we symbolise the bringing together of two hearts in unity.
Who can be involved in this ceremony?
This ritual involves family members and close friends. Because they are sharing in the ceremony by wrapping the ribbons and giving their good wishes to the couple as they ‘Tie the knot,’ it is inclusive. I make unique cords for you. You decide how many cords you want and how many people will be part of the unity ritual.
All cords and ribbons are made specifically for you. They will complement your wedding theme.
Jumping The Broom
This tradition of jumping the broom originally comes from Africa. This tradition symbolises clearing negativity. The action of sweeping the broom across the ground creates a threshold for the couple to cross over. The broom represents the transition from their past life to their new life.
The spouses sweep the floor in front of them, therefore creating a clear path ahead. They then lay the broom down and jump over it. This signifies moving forward into their married life.
I supply a handmade Cypriot broom, which will be decorated with flowers and ribbons. This end to the ceremony always gets a cheer!
Wishing Tree
A wishing tree is a beautiful visual centre piece and above all a focal point for your guests. This element engages your guests. Wishing trees are especially appropriate for weddings, vow renewals, naming ceremonies, adoptions, memorials, and celebration of life ceremonies. I have also used them at retirement ceremonies.
Each guest takes a tag and writes their name and a personal message on the tag. Then they hang the tag on the tree, therefore making a beautiful decoration and focal point. This element engages guests before the ceremony starts. The tags are collected at the end of the ceremony and put in your memory box.
Wishing Jar | Stack.
Wedding | Vow Renewal | Naming Ceremony |Funeral | Memorial | Celebration of Life
Every guest writes a thought or message on a wooden tag. The guests then place them in the jar or on the stack. You can read them later and keep the jar and tags as a memory of the day.
What type of tags can we have? We will use plain heart-shaped, rectangular tags, or wooden tags. Alternatively, I will have custom tags made for you; therefore, they will match your theme.
Ring Warming
Wedding | Renewal of Wedding Vows
The wedding rings are tied to a small pillow or bag. Each guest will hold them for a few moments and send beautiful thoughts, prayers, and good wishes into the rings. They are returned ‘warmed’ by all the love and attention.
You choose from a selection of pouches, boxes, or pillows to put your rings in. This, therefore, keeps them safe whilst they are being passed between your guests.
Special Elements create memories, and in addition to your ceremony, the ring warming is a particularly beautiful way to include all your guests, and therefore creates a happy and moving start to a wedding ceremony.
Unity Candle.
Engagement | Wedding |Vow Renewal | and Naming Ceremonies
Originally, this was a Catholic tradition. However, this special element now has a universal meaning. The candles symbolise the joining of a couple in marriage, and the joining of their two families.
The couple’s significant family members will light their individual candles, and these will be used to light the couple’s candle. It is the perfect way to include your family in your ceremony.
It depends on the number of participants. Because of breezes, for safety reasons, we often use lanterns for outdoor ceremonies.
First Kiss Last Kiss
Wedding
This normally involves the mothers of the couple. I invite the mothers (sometimes fathers) to join us towards the end of the ceremony. A mother is normally the first person to kiss a child when they are born; however, it could of course be their father. In this element, they will be the last person to kiss them, before sending them on their married journey. The couple gifts their mothers flowers at the end of this element.
Breaking the Glass
Wedding
The Breaking of the Glass Ceremony was originally a Jewish wedding tradition; however, it has become very popular with people of all beliefs. Special Elements create memories and, above all, engage your guests. This addition to your ceremony will create a memory your guests will enjoy, because it marks the end of the ceremony. As a result, the celebrations commence; therefore, it gets a loud cheer!
Two champagne flutes are wrapped and placed in a cloth bag before being stamped on.
This dramatically signals the end of the formal ceremony. I will source the glasses and bag for you.
Unity Sand Ceremony
Wedding | Vow Renewal | Family Ceremonies
Anyone wishing to unite people in a ceremony.
A Unity Sand Special Element is a ceremony that symbolises the joining of two or more people.
Therefore, it’s ideal for any wedding, engagement, or vow renewal. However, this element is especially relevant and appropriate when bringing two families together, especially when they have children. You can involve other family members with this element because it is adaptable and fun.
I offer this element because Special Elements create memories, and with this element, you can include several people. I also use this with baby naming and adoption ceremonies because it is inclusive.
How does a unity sand ceremony work?
Firstly, each person involved is invited to pour a different colour of sand into the bottle. As a result, each bottle creates one family from many individuals. The bottle, therefore, becomes a beautiful and unique keepsake.
Because you can involve any number of guests in this unity ceremony, it will be great fun.
Each occasion is special and unique, so I offer a variety of bottles in different sizes and shapes to suit every budget and preference. Once the ceremony is complete, the bottle is carefully sealed with wax to preserve the sand design and make it easy to transport.
The number of sand colors depends on several factors:
• The number of participants involved in the ceremony.
• The size of the chosen vessel.
• Your desired aesthetic for the final design.
• Practical considerations like luggage allowance if you are traveling home by plane.
Unity candle | Unity Sand | Hand Fasting | Wishing Trees
In Conclusion
If you want to make your ceremony truly special and unforgettable, consider incorporating a ‘Special Element.’ It adds an exciting surprise and keeps your guests fully engaged throughout the event.