Which wedding traditions can you skip at your wedding?

- Walking down the aisle.

- The first dance.

- The toasts.

- Garter and Bouquet toss.

- Your exit with a big fanfare.

There are 14 components of a traditional wedding, of all of these there are only two that must be observed.

The celebrant needs to say the monitum (the legal words that must be said) and you need to say your vows.

Other than those components you and your honey can include or skip as many traditional components as you like.

Best wishes

Liz Manera Celebrant 

You can skip whatever you like, there is not really anything from the past that you need to include. The regulations by which a civil celebrant is governed must be included but they are legal details not traditions. We can create a very modern ceremony for you without traditions if you prefer.

Apart from the basic legal requirements for the process of marriage, everything else is up to each couple. You don't need to have any traditions or rituals unless that's what you're wanting. Some couples want a legals only ceremony (just the mandatory vows by the couple and celebrant, the certificates and 2 witnesses). It might be that they don't want any fuss or they're wanting to keep the costs down. 

You need to do what feels right for you. Remember you're only planning to get married the one time! So make sure you don't regret downsizing. Your celebrant will work with you to get the balance right. Cheers and good luck!

For me the crafting of the perfect ceremony depends on the needs of the couple. 

Often, I am asked if a Bride needs to be ‘given away’. Sometimes it is nice that the Bride is escorted down the aisle with her farther and sometime her mother – or both. 

Other times the Bride will enter on her own – either way it is about two people coming together to start a new life – a new partnership together. 

When planning about the processional, speak to your family and ask what they would like, how they would like to be involved. It can be a really touching moment to witness the father of the Bride and the Groom shake hands and witness the exchange of understanding and importance of the moment. 

At the end of the day it is about making not only yourself happy – but giving those around you the opportunity to contribute to your big day.

You can have your wedding ceremony done your way!  However, as Celebrants we much include our Authority to marry you (set wording), the offical vows need to be said by the couple ensuring their full names are used (somewhere in the ceremony) but I like them said in the official vows section.  And finally, you need your witnesses who are over 18 y.o. and can see and hear the ceremony clearly.  Outside of this, the ceremony is yours and yours alone.  All Celebrants are always happy to guide you through creating your ceremony.  We help you create magic to ensure your day is memorable in all ways.

You can keep it very simple by just having the legal wording & vows with only 2 witnesses of 18 years old & your celebrant.

You can personalise your ceremony to your liking without having to be "given away" by dad or significant person.. Elope if you choose.

You don't have to exchange rings or take on the husband/partner's name. 

Giving Away. You can walk down the aise without anyone, a  bit like Meagan Markle until Prince Charles joined her. You can have your groom meet you at the top of the aisle and walk you down. Both parents can walk you down if you like, it's entirely up to you. 

There is no particular side for the bridal parties to stand anymore. Left or right whatever suit you and also guest often sit anywhere now not on particular sides. 

There really aren't any traditional touches that have to be included in the ceremony except of course if being married by a civil marriage celebrant certain legal wording needs to be said.

The beauty of having a civil ceremony is that apart from the legal requirements, everything is negotiable. So:

Do you have to be escorted down the aisle by your father as was the tradition? No. You can walk by yourself or with your partner or with both parents, brothers, grandparents.

Do you have to be "given away" as was the tradition? No. You could choose an informal "hand over" with no words if you wanted. It depends too, on how you enter the ceremony space.

Do the bride's friends and family have to sit on one side the bridegroom's on the other? No not unless you prefer that.

Do you have to repeat after the Celebrant, the traditional vows? No There are many ways you can make your vows to each other but there are 4 mandatory lines to be said.

Do you have to exchange rings as is the tradition? No. You can exchange anything that's symbolically meaningfrul to you - or nothing at all.

Do you have to have readings and blessings as has been the tradition?  No

Hope this helps.

Good luck with your planning. I'd love to help you.

Gillian