We’re all trying to stay positive during this difficult time. We’ve had to postpone all of my May and June weddings, and I’m sure many couples have shared a stress tear or two! Weddings will happen, we just have to wait. And it gives us more time to plan! This blog is going to be about some Welsh Wedding Traditions, maybe you could even incorporate some in your Welsh wedding? As your celebrant, I can refer to all, some or none in your ceremony. So, as you plan your day, think about which Welsh Wedding traditions you’d like on your wedding day.

Tradition of the Myrtle Flowers

Traditionally, a Welsh bride will carry Myrtle leaves in her bouquet. Myrtle flowers represent good luck in marriage and marriage fidelity. This stems from Greek mythology wherein Venus visited the Island of Cytheraea and was embarrassed that she was naked and couldn’t present herself to the public. To hide herself, Venus hid behind a Myrtle tree and since then she has adored the tree. Thanks to Venus, the Myrtle tree became the ultimate symbol of love and partnership, the Greeks even planted Myrtle trees across the country to inspire positive energy.

Have you incorporated anything into your wedding to inspire positivity and luck in your nuptials? It might be a little superstitious, but it can’t hurt!

A very natural looking bouquet with myrtle for luck and fidelity https://unsplash.com/photos/FOw1hgHiWP0
© Jordan Whitfield

Birdsong

We all enjoy waking up to birdsong, but a Welsh bride believes that being awoken by birdsong on her wedding day is especially lucky. Birds celebrate the coming of dawn by singing their praise to heavens. Some folk believe that God send birds in the form of angels, spirit guides, or animal totems. Hearing birdsong on the morning of your wedding could be the universe praising you on your decisions and giving you luck as you start a new chapter.

Listen for birdsong on your wedding morning https://unsplash.com/photos/TxkisEuUs7w © Andy Holmes

Bridenapping

You read it right! Traditionally, the bride’s family would ‘kidnap’ the bride just before the ceremony and it was the duty of the groom and his family to find her again. Some also believe that whoever actually freed the bride would be married themselves within the year. According to the German tradition, the best man takes the bride on a pub crawl and leaves hints for the groom as to where to find them – and the groom has to foot the bill when he finds his beloved!

This is one tradition Welsh Brides may adopt! https://unsplash.com/photos/3mrJcQ0pJZM © Cristiano Pinto

To Be or Not to Be

Another tradition in Wales is that of asking God whether you are ‘meant to be’ or not. A courting couple places a shovel on top of a fire puts two grains of wheat on top of the shovel. If the grains pop off together that’s seen as a blessing to continue their coupling into matrimony. However, if the grains jump separately, that signifies that the couple should lead separate lives. it’s a no-go! Would you trust your future to the hand of some grains?

Put your fate in the grains of wheat! https://unsplash.com/photos/3mrJcQ0pJZM © Cristiano Pinto

A Celtic Ceremony “Tradition”

As your celebrant, I can refer to all, some or none of the Welsh traditions I’ve talked about here. Or as you can see elsewhere on my site, we can go for “Celtic” tradition such as handfasting , or candle lighting, it’s up to you!

Handfasting or jumping the broom are other Celtic traditions

Are you including any odd traditions in your wedding or has this inspired you to include some? Leave a comment below and let me know if there are more Welsh traditions that I’ve missed! There will be another blog soon detailing Santes Dwynwen and her importance to all Welsh lovers out there

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Take your time to create a letter to stand the test of time

Full disclosure, I wrote this five years ago in 2019, and there are now a few tweaks! But, the ceremony remains the same. Since moving to France we’re as likely to use a “Wine Box Ceremony” as a “Love Letter ceremony” but they’re variations on the same theme!

Imagine reading a love – letter from your much beloved which they wrote on your wedding day! Imagine reading it on your first wedding anniversary? Or maybe within the actual ceremony, aloud – if you’re very brave! The basis of a love letter ceremony is just that – putting your thoughts on paper for your loved one. Then your heart-felt letters and will be locked away for safe keeping within your ceremony.

This ritual is filed under “symbolism”. However, there’s nothing “symbolic” about reading a love letter in front of your friends and family – it’s real!

It’s what you do with the letter afterwards that makes this cute ritual more or less meaningful. And it’s this which creates a “Love Letter Ceremony”

Lock your Love Letter away

Exchanging letters is a small ceremony-within-the-ceremony, just like Cocktail-making, sand-pouring, hand-fasting, candle-lighting and so on. Some people refer to this as an Icelandic tradition. This “Icelandic tradition” sometimes includes letters from parents and other family members. Couples don’t read the letters on the day, they lock them within a box to be read on anniversaries. As well as letters, you can put in all sorts of other bits of memorabilia from your wedding day. You could even tuck away a bottle of wine (make sure it’s “laying down” quality!). I talk about this elsewhere, calling it a “wine box” ceremony.

Even the least romantic can get all mushy on their wedding day! So, whilst you’re “feeling the love”, pour your heart out within a letter. Then lock it away to be read in 1, 5, 10, 15 or even 25 years’ time.

Nail It!

When I say “locked”, you can have fun with this! Literally nail the box lid down with a hammer. The celebrant can help, in this way you ensure there’s no cheating before the allotted time. Or, buy a box with integral locks or with padlocks. Or use wax as long as there’s no risk of the candle going out!

Having said that, and on a serious note, you may open the box before the anniversary in a crisis. In the future you may feel your relationship needs some help from your “Just Married” selves. If this is the case, get comfortable, open the box. And open the wine if you included some. Then read those letters together to remind each other what it is that got you together in the first place. This is the reason that this is sometimes called a “fight” box!

A beautifully decorated wine box (NOT “fight” box!)

Love Letters within an Intimate Wedding Ceremony

Part of what’s inspired me to edit this post is that I’ve moved to France and have completed scores more weddings since the “first edition”! I now know that some couples cheat regarding writing those letters! Instead of writing love letters, they place their own vows in a box, be it a wine box or otherwise, and seal those away to look at again on their first anniversary. “Ca va”, it’s still romantic! Not everyone includes friends’ notes. A hint from me is, if you do, close the box properly after the ceremony since not everyone may have contributed before. No matter how hard your celebrant has tried to get them to do so!

Use your own experiences within your letters, write from your heart if it’s your vows

Trans-Atlantic Love Letters

Letters became part of a wedding I was celebrant for many of years ago. It was held in Manorbier Castle, another of my favourite venues. Living on each side of the Atlantic, my couple got to know each other by short messages which grew longer. The letter ritual started with their wedding rings. These had been padlocked to their keepsake box. After they’d exchanged vows, their mothers gave them the keys. They unlocked each other’s keys and exchanged them. Then, they locked their vows in the box as their first letters to each other as a married couple. They also promised to write letters to each other annually to reaffirm their love and commitment. Ahh!

You’ve got this!

Love Letter Hints and Tips

I’ve picked up a few more thoughts along the way to share with you;

• Write your letters on some beautiful acid-free stationery to ensure they last your decades of marriage!
• If you don’t feel you can read your letter aloud, you could ask someone to read it for you (including your celebrant) or read iot in private before the ceremony.
• Write about your dreams for your future – long term (children, pets, home, travel?) and short term (that honeymoon!)
• Include anecdotes to show why you love this love-bunny of yours – the picnic they magicked up when you were fed-up. The troubles of their own they put to one side to celebrate your victories.
• Don’t worry about crossing outs and little mistakes – a hand written letter from the heart outdoes anything typed and spell-checked!
• Keep it short and sweet, especially if you’re going to read it on the day! This is a note to the love of your life, not a Mills and Boon! (Millennials etc – look it up!)

So, you see. Whilst there are a great variety of traditions and rituals to choose from, if you let yourself be guided by your celebrant, you can find something that is very “you” rather than the same as all the others. Good luck, whatever you choose!

Putting pen to paper can be the hardest step, get writing!

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