When we first heard about the concept of a secular (symbolic) wedding ceremony,
we too found ourselves asking:
What exactly is it?
Today, we are convinced
that it is the perfect option for couples
seeking a personalized and unforgettable wedding experience.
To begin, let’s first clarify what a symbolic wedding ceremony is
by briefly examining two other types of wedding ceremonies.
In Europe today, when you get married,
the process typically involves visiting the “Standesamt” (in Germany) or the town hall,
citizen’s office, or a notary (in other countries)
to be legally recognized as a married couple.
It is, essentially, a bureaucratic procedure.
The primary focus is on the legal obligations of marriage,
and, if you’re lucky enough to have a great officiant, you might hear a few romantic words about the union.
This civil ceremony is usually quite brief
and often doesn’t reflect the couple’s unique story,
as the officials rarely know the couple personally.
Many couples also choose to have a religious ceremony.
Depending on their faith,
they may marry in a church, mosque, temple, home or synagoge.
In these ceremonies, the religious aspect takes center stage.
The officiant,
often unfamiliar with the couple’s personal history,
typically does not reference it,
as the focus is primarily on religious tradition.
Many couples desire a beautiful wedding ceremony
that is personalized and truly reflects who they are,
held at a venue of their choice.
Since neither the civil nor religious ceremonies typically provide this level of customization,
the symbolic wedding ceremony is the perfect solution.
A symbolic wedding ceremony can take place —indoors or outdoors—
whether in parks, restaurants, castles, palaces, forests, barns, on a football pitch, in a factory hall, on a tower or windmill, along the coast… The possibilities are endless, as the ceremony is held at a location of the couple’s choosing.
There are no set rules for a symbolic wedding ceremony,
which is what makes it so special. The variety of ideas is truly limitless.
Each ceremony is uniquely designed and tailored to the couple’s desires,
with the wedding officiant working closely with them
to bring their ideas to life.
From Star Wars themes to Celtic, boho, football, fairytale, or simply a personalized ceremony,
everything is crafted to reflect the couple’s identity.
While there are no rules, the ceremony still maintains a festive, meaningful value.
One of the biggest advantages
of a symbolic wedding ceremony is that the couple or their family can choose the celebrant
based on the wedding theme or simply
because there’s a strong personal connection between the speaker and the couple.
The great thing is that the diversity of officiants reflects the diverse backgrounds and personalities of the couple themselves.
There is always a perfect match.
As the saying goes,
“There’s a lid for every pot!”
This level of personalization and variety simply isn’t available at the registry office or in religious ceremonies.
There is no set procedure for a symbolic wedding ceremony;
it is entirely tailored to the couple’s wishes and worked out collaboratively with the wedding celebrant.
However,
a typical ceremony might include the following elements:
For more details, you can read the full article.
Each wedding officiant designs the ceremony
and writes the speech in their own unique style.
It’s crucial for the couple to choose someone who truly resonates with them.
The speech typically includes:
Depending on the couple’s preferences,
the speech can be romantic, elegant, humorous, solemn, emotional, playful, or even abstract—tailored to their personalities and the tone they want to set.
For couples from different cultures, a symbolic wedding ceremony is the ideal choice.
When both partners come from different backgrounds
or belong to different religious communities,
mixing various wedding customs can help bridge cultural differences
and avoid potential conflicts with family traditions.
The key consideration is language.
How often do guests struggle to understand the ceremony
or the speech due to a language barrier?
Offering a speech in multiple languages can be a great relief for both the couple and their families, ensuring everyone feels included in the celebration.
In summary: A symbolic wedding ceremony is “free” from rigid rules or traditional guidelines.
Everything is decided by the couple,
and as wedding planners, we work closely with them to bring their vision to life,
creating a beautiful and memorable ceremony.
