The bride and groom pour coloured sand from individual glasses into a larger centre glass or frame as a symbolic act of the blending of their lives and families. As the grains of sand will never be able to be separated, so the couple are bonded for life. If there are children in the relationship they can be included as well, as a show of becoming one family.

The bride and groom’s hands are tied with ribbon or rope (usually when they say their vows) and then their hands are removed, and the knot is fastened. The tied knot symbolises their eternal tie.

Despite having religious significance, candle-lighting is quite common as a symbolic act of blending and binding. Whilst this ceremony can take many forms, it’s common that the bride and groom light individual small candles and together light a larger centre candle as a symbolic act of their union. A candle lighting ceremony can also be performed as a memorial to acknowledge a family member or close friend who is no longer with us.

The wedding rings are passed around the guests (all or just the immediate family) and each person makes a wish for the couple. This ritual is especially touching if the bride and groom have young children from a previous relationship – it involves them in the ceremony and asks for their blessing.

The bride and groom release butterflies and the celebrant invite guests to make a wish for the couple.

After the vows, the bride and groom can give each other a flower as their first gift as husband and wife.

It can be a promise that whenever they argue through their marriage, they will always present each other with a flower to say sorry. Alternatively, the bride and groom can present their mothers with a flower as a token of their thanks and love. In fact, a flower can be given to anyone at the ceremony!