Wedding celebration, a ceremony that reflects your image!
The concept of secular weddings originates from the United States. This celebration has no legal value. It is a ceremony that has, above all, a symbolic and spiritual dimension. It constitutes a personal and emotional moment to celebrate your union.
WHERE TO CELEBRATE YOUR SECULAR WEDDING?
You are free to choose the location for your secular ceremony! Unlike civil or religious weddings, which take place in town halls or places of worship, a secular ceremony can take place anywhere you choose, as it has no legal value. Often, the future couple decides to get married outdoors. For example, a secular ceremony can take place in the great outdoors or on a white sand beach. However, remember to have a plan B if you choose to hold your ceremony outdoors to avoid being caught out by bad weather. The beautiful halls of masserie and châteaux are the perfect places to host indoor ceremonies, for a winter wedding, for example.
HOW DOES A SECULAR CEREMONY TAKE PLACE?
The organization of your ceremony depends entirely on your wishes. However, we recommend that you keep the ceremony short (30 to 45 minutes) and rhythmic so as not to lose your guests. Future married couples generally organize their secular ceremony according to the following steps: the entrance of the bride and groom, the opening speech of the officiant, the intervention of their loved ones (usually a reading of texts but it can also be playing a piece of music, etc.), a symbolic ritual, the exchange of vows and rings, the kiss and the exit of the bride and groom. Consider choosing the music for the different key moments of the ceremony. Generally, the future bride and groom plan at least one piece of music for their entrance and one piece of music for their exit. You are free to choose a larger number of pieces of music to play during your symbolic ceremony.
WHAT RITUAL FOR AN ORIGINAL SECULAR CEREMONY?
The symbolic ritual aims to celebrate the bride and groom's commitment in a personalized way. The following sections present some ritual ideas to implement during your secular ceremony.
The sealed wine bottle ritual: Before the ceremony, the bride and groom select a fine bottle of wine. During the ceremony, it is placed in a sealed wine chest. The bride and groom can then open this bottle at any time, such as on their first wedding anniversary. This ritual demonstrates that love grows stronger with time, just as wine improves with age.
RITUALS FOR AN AUTHENTIC SECULAR CEREMONY
The Sand Ritual: During this ritual, each bride and groom holds a bottle filled with different colored sand. The bride and groom then pour their sand into the same vase. Pouring the sand symbolizes the union of the two people through the bonds of wedding. They then form a new entity, just like the two mixed sands. This ceremonial ritual also symbolizes respect for differences, as each sand retains its color, just as each bride and groom retains their personality.
The Wishing Tree Ritual: Before the ceremony, guests will write a wish for the bride and groom. During the ceremony, the officiant may invite guests to place their wishes for the bride and groom in the tree provided for this purpose. The bride and groom can then take this tree home and read the notes from their loved ones.
A SYMBOLIC RITUAL FOR A UNIQUE SECULAR CEREMONY
The ribbon ritual, also known as "tied hands": This ritual is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is known as "handfasting" (which refers to the act of tying the hands). During this ritual, the bride and groom's hands are tied with colored ribbons by the officiant or guests. This symbolizes the eternal bond between the future spouses. Traditionally, this ritual is performed with ribbons of different colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, black, white, gray, pink, brown, silver, gold), each with a meaning. You also have the option of creating your own symbolic ritual for your ceremony. For example, you could invent a ritual that symbolizes one of your shared passions.
CHOOSING THE OFFICIANT FOR YOUR SECULAR CEREMONY
One of our tips when choosing your ceremony's officiant is to choose someone who is comfortable in public. The officiant can be one or more people close to you who know you well. A friend, a family member, or even someone you met can take on the role of officiant to lead your wedding ceremony and tell your story.
The most important thing for your secular wedding is, above all, that you organize a ceremony that you enjoy and that reflects who you are.
Are you looking to organize your secular wedding in Italy or Corsica? Don’t hesitate to contact us for a free, personalized quote!
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Secular wedding in Corsica
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