FURTHER WEDDING DETAILS
Rites Required
A few of the traditional rites that most people include in their wedding ceremonies are being given away, the exchanging of personal vows, the giving and receiving of rings. This isn't a mandatory requirement - it is a tradition. You can add these and more or not at all. The choice is totally yours!
There are a few legal requirements to ensure your marriage is legally valid, of which I will take care of and advise when we are writing your ceremony script.
Ritual Options
There are many ritual options that you could choose - depending on your situation. Some couples will be blending a family, so a type of unity ceremony - like the sand ritual is ideal - expressing the coming together of two families into one. Typically each person has different coloured sand and takes turns pouring it into one clear vessel. As no one can separate the sand, symbolically either can you separate this family.
Other rituals include (but are not limited to) flower rituals, wine box, hand fastening, the washing of feet - some are historical due to nationality or can have a personal meaning.
We can talk through ideas when discussing your dream ceremony to make it unique to the two of you!
Check out my blog for more information on a variety of ceremony related topics.
The Legalities
For your wedding ceremony, you will need to fill out a Notice of Intent to Marry form (NOIM) at least 1 month prior to the proposed date - which is valid for 18 months. Please note there are exceptions to this rule.
You are to be 18 years or older, there are to be 2 witnesses who are 18 yo or over. I will need to site original documents, such as your birth certificate, drivers licence, passport, divorce certificate, annulment certificate, death certificate - I will confirm which of these when we talk.
Then there are a number of other legal documents you'll need to sign.
This is serious business!