Scottish Wedding Ceremonies
Most people have never arranged their own wedding before and, often, couples wonder what they can include in their big day, so here are a few ideas.
At its most basic, in a traditional ceremony, vows will be made, rings exchanged and there will be readings and music of some kind, but beyond that, you're only limited by your imagination. You might want to have a themed wedding if both of you are huge fans of Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones. It's an absolute privilege for me to conduct weddings and I adore creating really special ceremonies for couples.
There's no doubt that what most couples want is something that really represents them and so that will always be the main focus of my ceremonies. Wedding ceremonies aren't about what I want, they're about what you want, so I'll spend time getting to know you and help you along the way. One wedding I conducted had stormtroopers lined up ready to greet the newlyweds. It's your day and you can have exactly what you want. If you have a belief or culture you'd like to incorporate into your wedding, then tell me about it and together we'll create exactly what you want.
Here are a couple of other simple ideas to get you started ...
There's nothing more instantly Scottish than the sound of bagpipes. Anyone who says they don't like the sound of them probably hasn't actually heard a truly professional piper. Whether you're simply hiring a piper to welcome your guests, to accompany you down the aisle, or to pipe you out as a newly married couple, the atmosphere created by a great piper playing a great tune is like no other and will bring a truly unique flavour of Scotland to your ceremony.
Quaich Ceremony
A Quaich is a two-handled shallow cup. Traditionally, they were made of wood and used for drinking whisky and as a way of celebrating bonds between clan leaders. Nowadays, Quaichs are much more ornate and used more for ceremonial purposes, especially weddings and formal toasts.
The use of the quaich in a wedding ceremony is symbolic of sharing. The Groom will take a drink from the Quaich and then offer this to his bride. Sometimes it will then be passed around other members of the immediate family as a way of creating a bond between the two new families.
Handfasting Ceremony
Handfasting stems from Celtic tradition and was used in Scotland to unite couples in marriage
Originally using a simple piece of cloth, the ritual now uses either cord, or a number of coloured ribbons to represent different aspects of your relationship and your personalities.
It can also be done with your family tartans and pinned with a thistle pin or perhaps an Luckenbooth charm - the betrothal brooch originally said to have been given by the Dauphin of France to Mary Queen of Scots.
Using your family tartans not only secures your bond, but the new ties between your two families.
Oathing Stone Ceremony
One of the most ancient of Scottish traditions is the use of an Oathing Stone which the couple will place their hands on whilst exchanging their wedding vows to each other. The modern day phrase about setting something in stone comes from this tradition.
During the vows, the couple hold the stone in their hands and it's believed that doing this then sets the vows in stone.
The stone itself is usually one that is found by the couple - it can be a river stone, for instance, and often it's engraved with their names prior to the ceremony itself.