Unique walks down the aisle. Some brides use the processional to include the whole family, giving everyone a place of honour.
Nikki and Eric had 14 family members come down the aisle to a medley of the bride's favourite Disney tunes.
It is traditional to have the bridal party at the wedding ceremony with you or, when it's a tight space, just the best man and maid of honour stand.
Yet you don't have to stand on tradition; in fact, you can adapt tradition to suit your needs.
Instead have the groom's parents and the bride's parents as your witnesses.
Have Grandparents for Ring bearer and flower girls.
Opening or closing with a musical loved one. If you have a talented relative who is willing, by all means include a personalized musical offering.
Rituals that merge the families.
There are many rituals that can include the family.
A sand ceremony that includes parents and or children of the bride and groom is a creative way to symbolically blend families together.
A unity candle also helps families unite on a common ground.
A rose ceremony creates a sense of unity, when you give both moms both a red and white rose, symbolizing the blending of families.
Inviting loved ones to offer readings and blessings. I can read poems, readings and blessings you select,
but it is always nice to ask a loved one or two to participate.
There are many creative ways to do this. Typically, a wedding will have one or two readings.
You can select readings you love and then consider who you might like to read them; or you can ask people you love and trust to select or write a reading,
including moms or dads who want to offer a personal blessing.
If there is someone special to both of you that may have played a key roll in you two meeting, have them perform the ceremony, or parts of it.
(They can also be a witness on the licence but can not sign as the official person making the proceedings legal)
Honouring family traditions. Sometimes it is extremely important to acknowledge your parents and family by honouring your heritage.
There are many ways to do this subtly, so that is does not dominate the ceremony, including duplicating readings in different languages, blending in traditions of both families, including a blessing from the elders. Some couples adapt their ceremonies to celebrate their heritage.
For example, a form of the breaking of a plate, a Polish wedding tradition.
Including children. If you or your beloved come to your new marriage with children in tow,
it is important to acknowledge the new family that is formed on your wedding day.
If you have all been together for a while, you might already feel like a family -- which is great -- so your ceremony can celebrate and reinforce that.
If there are tricky issues with being a stepparent, the ceremony can serve to begin to acknowledge and hopefully soften them.
Include children during the signing portion of the ceremony. They can sign the "Record of Solemnization" along with your two legal witnesses.
Honouring those no longer with us.
There are many poignant ways to do this.
You can ask your Officiant to call for a moment of silence. Have family members (siblings or surviving parent) come up and light a remembrance candle, or light one yourself.
Create a memorial table or some physical remembrance. You can make the remembrance just a moment or two and move on quickly to a more uplifting part of the ceremony.