By
Debbie Skyrme
/ September 1, 2019
Ring warming with a difference
Many couples now choose to involve their guests in their ceremony with what is known as a ring warming ceremony – but what about this ring on a string thing? Something to do with a long ribbon, right? Read on to find out the secrets of performing the perfect ring on a ribbon ceremony.
Why do couples warm their wedding bands?
The main concept of a ring warming ceremony is that the couple’s wedding bands are traditionally made of a precious metal such as gold. When held in the hands, the energy of the person holding the rings passes into the jewellery and the gold changes temperature.
Energy once created, can never be destroyed. Therefore if you concentrate on positive blessings for the couple when warming their rings, there is going to be a whole lot of good feeling contained in their wedding bands by the end of the ceremony, which is a powerful concept.
Tips for a traditional ring blessing
Depending on how many guests you have, you can choose to ask guests to hold your wedding rings in their hands at they enter the ceremony space (a ring-minder might not go amiss), or you can decide to have your guests pass your rings amongst them once seated.
Top tip: pass the rings around in a dish, pretty see-through bag or ring box.
When everyone has held your wedding bands and warmed them with kind thoughts, warm wishes and love, the celebrant can officiate the ring exchange ceremony with personal vows.
Practicalities of wedding rings passed along a ribbon
We are going slightly outside of the box now – why not consider a ceremony where the rings are passed along a length of ribbon so there is less danger of a loose ring going astray? Interested? Let’s consider the practicalities of passing your rings along a piece of ribbon.
Chalk up a wedding sign
If the bridal couple put up a sign at the entrance to explain why the ribbon is there (and asking guests not to touch the ribbon….!) and the celebrant does a pre-ceremony announcement to the same end, the guests should be prepared for their audience participation moment…. shouldn’t they?
Wedding guest seating
With your guests traditionally seated in rows, the officiant can lay out the ribbon before guests arrive. The success of this ceremony depends on two things going according to plan
- The run of the ribbon zig zags easily between rows
- No one cheats, deviates or moves the ribbon from the run laid out be the celebrant.
Hmmm, but you know how people fiddle!
Photo by Fox and Beau photography
Rings on a ribbon, ceremony success
OK, it is time to share with you the secrets of a successful rings on a ribbon ceremony.
- Guests seated in rows is doable, but it is easiest if they form a large spiral, semicircle or circle.
- A ribbon, still on its spool, is then passed around so that everyone is in contact with it.
Top tip: make someone clearly responsible for each end of the ribbon so that it is not let go! 😉 - If the rings are sized so that one can pass through the centre of the other, they can travel in opposite directions from either end, on to ends of the ribbon held by the celebrant or the couple…. otherwise the rings can travel together.
- Everyone is invited to touch the rings, warm them and bless them as they pass along their journey.
This is a beautifully simple opportunity to involve everyone in a quiet moment of contemplation, goodwill and love for the couple. Everyone knows where the rings are at all times – and no one should get in a tangle!
Why not then re-purpose the ribbon by using a length of it in a hand fasting to really tie the knot?
What a lot of wedding ceremony goodness from Wedding Celebrant Debbie Skyrme. If you’re getting married in Spain, be sure to check out Debbie’s celebrant profile here.
