Incorporating Ceremony and Ritual into Bridal Showers, Bachelor/ette Parties, and Weddings // River and Root

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Incorporating Ceremony and Ritual into Bridal Showers, Bachelor/ette Parties, and Weddings // River and Root

Ceremony and ritual help us acknowledge change and transition in our lives. You can think about the difference between a meal that starts with a toast or saying grace versus a meal that just starts. In the former, everyone takes a moment to settle in and be present with each other before eating, and in the second we just start right in and we don't necessarily stop to be present.

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How to Make Your Wedding Ceremony the Main Event

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How to Make Your Wedding Ceremony the Main Event

If you find yourself slashing traditions left and right, you are not alone. Many couples are choosing to pare down to a much simpler wedding day devoid of traditions that are inextricably bound to outdated or straight-up sexist norms. Whether you want to have a smaller, more affordable or more casual wedding, or you’re just not that interested in having a huge dance party, here are some ways you can make your ceremony the focus of your wedding day.

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4 Steps to Writing Your Own Ceremony Script

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4 Steps to Writing Your Own Ceremony Script

Today, three in four couples in the U.S. decide to get married outside of a religious institution. Couples report making the choice to write their own ceremony because they do not share a common faith tradition, have experienced bias or trauma through organized religion, or simply envision gathering in a place that feels more meaningful to their story than a house of worship.

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Your Wedding Pantsuit Fits You, But Does Your Wedding Ceremony?

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Your Wedding Pantsuit Fits You, But Does Your Wedding Ceremony?

Marriage is changing (can I get a hallelujah?), and these days, getting married can be an act of social justice.  

A wedding is a symbol, after all, and like the marriage it’s ushering in, a wedding is full of potential and increasingly devoid of rules. In this way, its meaning deepens.  

One of the most powerful ways we can create meaningful shifts around marriage is by how we honor ourselves and each other through our wedding ceremonies and vows. Rewriting any social narrative means working in big blank spaces, and while that can be super liberating, it can also be super disorienting. Ultimately, though, like every creative pursuit, it’s an empowering act of self-discovery that benefits us all.  

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The Pros and Cons of Asking a Friend to Officiate Your Wedding // River and Root

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The Pros and Cons of Asking a Friend to Officiate Your Wedding // River and Root

The good news is that it is possible to take the pressure off of your friend to prepare a perfect ceremony for you, while still allowing them to lead the celebration and legally marry you and your partner. Life-Cycle Celebrants are trained ceremony and ritual professionals who can work with you and your officiating friend to create a ceremony that feels comfortable and meaningful to all of you. We are skilled and trained in blending and incorporating elements of different faith traditions and backgrounds into secular (but possibly spiritual) ceremonies.  

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The ARQ Wedding Guide // Navigating Culture and Family Expectations Together

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The ARQ Wedding Guide // Navigating Culture and Family Expectations Together

No matter what your background is, this guide will help you and your partner prioritize the religious and cultural traditions that matter to you and prep you for those tricky family convos. These tips also set you up to understand, honor, and incorporate traditional Jewish customs into your wedding in a relevant and inclusive way.

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One Ceremony, Centuries of Patriarchy

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One Ceremony, Centuries of Patriarchy

Then they enacted wedding ceremonies from three different eras — the 1700s, the 1950s, and the present — with costume changes for each. At the end of each ceremony, a certificate was handed to Levana that said: “You are now a full woman,” with an asterisk — the asterisk was “pending children.”

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