Marriages & Partnerships

The Hand Joining Unity Ceremony

This is a beautiful addition to the ceremony that needs no extra props – just your own hands. As you join hands, we will affirm your importance to each other through life’s ups and downs. We will ask you to repeat a special set of vows together, in unison, promising to accept each other’s failings, cherish your strengths and love each other just as you are. Due to legal restrictions, we’re not able to include ribbons or cords to bind your hands, but it is a really touching alternative to handfasting.

I stand here today with a promise to encourage and support you,

to accept your failings and cherish your strengths,

to honour, care for and respect you

just as you are, for who you are, with love and pride

Memory Box Ceremony

Create a time capsule filled with precious keepsakes capturing your love story in the run up to the big day. During the ceremony you’ll add letters that you’ve written to each other. A promise to your future selves, the symbolic sealing of the box declares the permanence of your love. This is a special gift to each other that you can open on a future anniversary. We can adapt this to include letters from children or close family if you’d like.

What you’ll need to do: Bring your prepared memory box and have it placed on the registrar’s table before the ceremony. Write your letters in advance. Make sure they’re in place for the ceremony. You may want to ask your best man, maid of honour or other member of your party to keep the letters safe and hand them to you at this part of the ceremony.

The Sand Unity Ceremony

Personalise your ceremony by creating something beautiful together. You’ll each pour sand from 2 small containers into one larger one to symbolise the blending of your lives forever. Pick 2 different colours, or even sand from somewhere meaningful to you. Take it in turns to pour small amounts or pour together to really mix it up – it’ll be your own unique creation. Choose a bottle or jar that you can seal and display somewhere special at home as a reminder of your day. This ceremony can also be adapted to include your children – even more colours to add to the mix! You’ll need to nominate someone to have the sand and bottles set up on the registrar’s table before the ceremony begins.

What you’ll need to do: Bring two small bottles filled with different kinds of sand (plus an additional bottle for any children taking part). Bring a larger glass container with a stopper or lid that will hold all (or most of) the sand. If your bottle has a narrow neck, you should bring a funnel too so the sand won’t spill. It’s also easier if you want to blend some of the colours instead of taking it in turns. Have these ready on the registrar’s table at the start of the ceremony.

We had an amazing ceremony which was made slick yet relaxed and with a touch of humour, not boring or stuffy at all! The 2 registrars were professional and very friendly and put everyone at ease. All our guests really enjoyed the ceremony and there was a lot of laughter as we struggled getting rings on and then managed to over-pour the sand and spilled lots on the table! It was fun, lighthearted yet held the right amount of seriousness with a touch of romance, that made our day wonderful. The whole process was easy and simple and produced a wonderful ceremony that depicted ‘us’ and our tastes. Thank you.”

Conrad & Sam, Wells Town Hall, April 2024

Photos courtesy of First Light Photography

The Knot Tying Ceremony

We will guide you in creating a special fisherman’s knot that joins two ropes. This is a knot that becomes stronger the more it is tested, symbolising the strength of your relationship. You’ll need to provide the two ropes. We recommend choosing two different coloured cords of the same weight and material, somewhere around 10mm in thickness and 50cm-1m in length to give you a decent amount to work with on the day. Climbing rope, nautical rope or natural fibres like jute are ideal and can often be bought by the metre. Braided ropes will be smoother to work with and easier to tie. It’s a good idea to seal the ends with tape to stop the rope fraying. You can trim the ropes and frame the knot as a keepsake later. We have some videos of a simple knot and a more complex double knot – have a practice in advance so you know what to expect.

What you’ll need to do: bring 2 lengths of rope of the same thickness. Have them ready on the registrar’s table at the start of the ceremony. Practice knot tying in advance!

We had such a good time!! We thought it added a lovely something extra to our ceremony, and also leaves us with a physical reminder of that part of the day which we can keep forever! Please do pass on our thanks to the wonderful team –  every step of it was smooth and joyful.

Tash & Joe, Elmhay Park, April 2024

Photos courtesy of Simon Withyman Photography

Personal Vows

Instead of using one of the ring vows on the Pre Ceremony Check Form, you can opt to write your own vows. We ask that they’re no longer than the longest vow there. Alternatively, how about using one of these beautiful vows from books, poems or popular culture? If you’re stuck for inspiration you can use them as a starting point or use them as they are.

I BELONG IN YOUR ARMS – DEBORAH BRIDEA

I belong in your arms
Finally, I have found a place
Into which I fit Perfectly, Safely
And securely with no doubts,
No fears, No sadness, No tears.

Spike to Buffy – Buffy The Vampire Slayer

When I say, ‘I love you,’ it’s not because I want you or because I can’t have you. It has nothing to do with me. I love what you are, what you do, how you try. I’ve seen your kindness and your strength. I’ve seen the best and the worst of you. And I understand with perfect clarity exactly what you are. You’re a hell of a woman. You’re the one.

Chasing Amy

I love you. Very simple, very truly. You’re the epitome of every attribute and quality I’ve ever looked for in another person…I can’t stand next to you without wanting to hold you. I can’t look into your eyes without feeling that longing you only read about in trashy romance novels. I can’t talk to you without wanting to express my love for everything you are. I’ve never felt this before, and I like who I am because of it. There isn’t another soul on this planet who’s ever made me half the person I am when I’m with you. I’m forever changed because of who you are and what you’ve meant to me.

Chinese Wedding Poem

I want to be your friend
For ever and ever without break or decay.
When the hills are all flat
And the rivers are all dry,
When it lightens and thunders in winter,
When it rains and snows in summer,
When heaven and earth mingle
Not ’til then will I part from you.

Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte

I have for the first time found what I can truly love – I have found you.

You are my sympathy – my better self – my good angel – I am bound to you

Song Of The Open Road – Walt Whitman

I give you my hand.
I give you my love more precious than money,
I give you myself, before preaching or law;
Will you give me yourself?
Will you come travel with me?
Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?

Friends

Monica: “For so long, I wondered if I would ever find my prince, my soulmate. Then three years ago, at another wedding, I turned to a friend for comfort. And instead, I found everything that I’d ever been looking for my whole life. And now here we are, with our future before us, and I only want to spend it with you, my prince, my soulmate, my friend. Unless you don’t want to. You go!”

Chandler: “I thought this was going to be the most difficult thing I ever had to do. But when I saw you walking down the aisle, I realized how simple it was. I love you. You are the person I was meant to spend the rest of my life with.”

Parks & Recreation

April: “I guess I kind of hate most things, but I never really seem to hate you. So I wanna spend the rest of my life with you. Is that cool?”

Andy: “You are the most awesome person I have ever known in my entire life. I vow to protect you from danger. And I don’t care if I have to fight an ultimate fighter, or a bear, or him (points to a random guest), or your mom. I would take them down. I’m getting mad right now even telling you. I wanna spend the rest of my life, every minute, with you, and I am the luckiest man in the galaxy.”

Big Bang Theory

We are made of particles that have existed since the moment the universe began. I like to think those atoms traveled 14 billion years through time and space to create us so that we could be together and make each other whole.