One of my favourite parts of being a celebrant is introducing couples to beautiful symbolic gestures that give their ceremony a bit of extra heart. I've already written about the glorious Oathing Stone ;  now I'd like to talk about one of the most powerful (and photogenic!) symbolic gestures of all. If you’ve ever watched Braveheart , you’ll remember the tender scene where William Wallace and Murron are married in secret, hands wrapped in tartan, whispering vows no one else h

There’s something beautifully simple about sand. It’s soft and unassuming. It gets everywhere. And it’s absolutely brilliant for symbolic ceremonies — especially if you’re looking for a keepsake that doesn’t wilt, need watering, or rely on you remembering where you last put it. Sand ceremonies have become a lovely feature in both weddings and naming ceremonies. Why? Because they’re visual, meaningful, and very forgiving if one of your party goes rogue with the pouring. How it

It’s one of those things that can feel a bit awkward—but honestly, it shouldn’t be. You’re planning a wedding, not bartering for a...