How to Involve your Loved Ones in your Wedding Ceremony

If any of those traditions are important to you, then I’ll be the first person to cheer you on. Dads crying up the aisle destroy me every damn time. But if your truest, rarest, most cherished people are those you’ve found over the years, let’s bring them into the fold during your ceremony.

Here are seven ways you can include, honour and be adored by your favourite people - blood related or otherwise - during your wedding ceremony:

Walking with you as you enter

If the thought of being "given away" by your dad gives you the heebie jeebies, why not have your favourite person or people link your arm and walk with you, instead?‍

Writing something original for the ceremony

Aside from your usual poems or readings, you can ask your special folks to write something original instead. Marital advice, musings on love, their hopes for your future, what they admire about you as a couple, "care instructions" for your new spouse to take note of... Don't panic, I'll always read this first and offer feedback.

At Josh and Chris' wedding, I asked eight of their best friends to write one piece of advice and one hope for their future - and since the grooms were ex-teachers, we stuck the messages underneath eight seats, to randomise who'd be sharing with the class!

‍

Delivering part of your ceremony

If you've got seriously special people, they could even take the reigns for chunks of your ceremony. Perhaps they could introduce you both as individuals, before I take over with your love story - that's what Pippa and Henry chose to do, as their sisters wrote hilarious and heartfelt introductions to their beloved siblings. I helped both sets of sisters to write something that hit the brief, so I'll always have full oversight and sign-off to ensure quality and consistency!‍

Leading a performance or singalong

Got a musically gifted loved one? Ask them to perform! They could do a solo piece, or if they've got a killer voice they could sing the intro or verses of a song, while everyone else joins in for the chorus.

‍

Contributing their memories and reflections

With a ceremony led by me, I'll get in touch with a few fave folks so they can share memories, stories, in-jokes and reflections about you, which I'll weave into proceedings. This is such a gorgeous part of the process - so many people in the room get a special mention and shout-out - and your ceremony feels truly crowdsourced, like one big collective hug.

Taking part in a ritual

Whether ancient, modern or a mash-up of both, rituals within ceremonies can hold such meaning and significance. Hand-fasting, candle-lighting, sipping from quaichs... whatever feels good and right, you can ask loved ones to help with.

Or consider a ring-warming ritual, where everyone quietly holds your rings for a moment during the ceremony, infusing them with all the love, support and good energy in the room, that you'll carry with you into your marriage.

‍

‍Bringing you your rings

When the moment comes, you can choose an important person or people to bring your rings to you. Some couples ask children, grandparents, or even pets to do the honours - or screw it, ask a celebrity like Tom Allen!

‍

‍Or go really rogue...

Heck, why not allocate a shot master general to hand out Baby Guinnesses to every guest, on a camp pink trolley, while dancing to the YMCA? Marnee and Gem knew how to throw a bash to end all bashes (and I for one appreciated the Dutch courage!). Friends, with all their quirks and weirdness, can be brought in to do pretty much anything if it would mean something marvellous to you both.

‍

So - do any of these ideas inspire you to rope in your loved ones for some ceremony magic? I've got plenty more ideas up my sleeve, so if you want a ceremony that feels like a hilarious, cosy fireside chat with all your favourite people, be sure to get in touch.

This blog's thumbnail is of Jess and Chris' friends doing a dramatic reading of their early flirty messages - papped by my fave, Kim Williams Photography.