|
The Rose Ceremony and other Rites within Weddings
By Teresa Opdycke
The bride walks down the aisle in beauty and radiance. The
groom stands in elegant awe, waiting to take her hand into his, thus two individual
lives come together to create one unique family. The wedding ceremony is an
ancient pact of love between two people that is filled with symbolism. Through
simple rites the concepts of love, honor, protection, joy, and sadness are
made. Couples may choose to make their ceremonies unique by including small
traditional or novel rites within the wedding service.
The Rose Ceremony
Nothing says, “I love you” more eloquently than a single red
rose. The couple exchanges rings as an outward symbol of their love and
commitment to one another, but gifting each other with a single red rose is a
subtle symbol of a love that abides even through hardship, anger, and sorrow. Before
the bride and groom walk down the aisle, smiling arm in arm, they pause to
bestow a first gift as husband and wife upon one another. The bride offers a
single rose to her new groom; he in turn presents his lovely bride with a
rose. The officiate may have each recite words after him/her or the couple may
decide to write their own poem or prose to honor the occasion of their first gifts
to one another as a married couple, a single red rose. The romantic rose
ceremony completes the marriage service.
An extension of the rose ceremony may be included in the
wedding if the couple has children. Together the couple offers each child a
rose whispering gently that no matter what happens in life, they will always be
loved and cared for. The inclusion of children in this small ceremony
symbolizes two families coming together to become one and is a touching ending
to a lovely ceremony.
The Unity Candle
Light illuminates the way of our paths through life.
Steeped in ancient traditions, candles represent light and promise. The unity
candle ceremony symbolizes the uniting of two individuals into one family
unit. One unlit pillar candle sits between two tapers on a table or the
altar. Simultaneously the couple each lights a taper that symbolizes their
individual life. They bring their tapers together and light the pillar candle
as one flame, bright and enduring through the ups and downs of life. The
tapers may remain lit to convey their individuality remains within their
marriage. Tapers blown out, announces to the world the end of old lives and the
beginning of two lives merging together. The unity candle ceremony may take
place anytime during the service depending upon the wishes of the bridge and
groom and the suggestions of the minister, rabbi, or priest.
Broom Jumping
African Americans were often not allowed to marry during the
time of slavery in the United States. Love seeks out those open to the endless
possibilities and simply because someone prohibits the union of two souls does
not mean that they will not find a way. The charming ritual of broom jumping
to signify two people who love and nurture each other through good times and
bad was an outward announcement to all present that a couple would live as
husband and wife, regardless of those who said otherwise.
Broom jumping may come at the end of a traditional wedding
ceremony or during the reception. The couple takes the broom and together
they sweep in a circle as a family member recites the story of how broom
jumping came into existence. The narrator takes the broom from the couple and
lays it on the floor. Everyone participates in counting to three. As the number
three is shouted out, the couple, hand in hand, jumps over the broom to much
applause and accolades. The broom receives a place of honor in the home of the
newlyweds as a remembrance of their commitment to each other as well as family
and community support and love
Wine Ceremony
An enchanting, yet symbolic ceremony is the blending of two
different wines to create a new one. Two glasses of wine, one white and the
other red, sit on a small table. The bride takes the white wine and holds it
as the groom takes the red wine. Together they pour part of their glasses of
wine into a lovely crystal chalice blending the two wines and creating a new
one of more subtle color. They each take a sip of the blended wines to
symbolize their union of body and spirit. The wine ceremony is very
significant to couples of different faiths. The couple may wish to serve rosé at
their reception as a sweet reminder of two unique people blending together in
love and marriage.
Incorporating captivating rites from the past and present
into a modern wedding ceremony lends charm and romance to the service making it
unique to the bride and groom. The lovely wine ceremony, the charm of broom
jumping, or the elegance of the rose ceremony each have their place in the
service. It’s up to the couple to find their special niche and develop one of
these very intimate ceremonies to be exclusively theirs.
.
|
