There are many different ways to add meaning and symbolism into a wedding ceremony. The Rose Ceremony adds a romantic and beautiful visual representation of love, with wonderful meaning and seriousness to it.

As with all wedding ceremony rituals, it can be done in many different ways and with different wording and meaning to suit any couple, but there are two traditional and popular ways in which it’s usually performed.

The couple exchange roses

Photo by Clarissa Sofia at Gypsy Westwood Photography

Last September I performed the wedding ceremony of Lucy and Michael at La Escollera (on Ibiza), they chose to include an exchange of roses between them at the end of their ceremony - and you can see by the photos just how gorgeous the effect is!

Michael and Lucy exchanged vows and rings and just after they were announced as husband and wife and celebrated with a kiss, I introduced the exchange of roses. They chose the wording that suited them from examples that I sent, which were all slightly modernised versions of the traditional rose ceremony.

Here is the script they chose…

“In the language of flowers, the red rose is a symbol of love, romance and passion. The giving of a single red rose is a clear and unmistakable way of saying “I love you”.

Lucy and Michael, you may now exchange your roses as your first gifts to each other as husband and wife.

(They then each picked up a rose from the ceremony table and gave them to one another at the same time.)

You have both given and received one of the most valuable and precious gifts in life, of true and enduring love and devotion, to each other and your marriage.

Wherever you make your home, choose one very special location for your roses.

Sometimes you’ll find it difficult to find the right words, so these roses are a lasting gift to take with you throughout your marriage.

If in hard times words fail you, you can leave a red rose in that special place you’ve picked together, and it will say what matters most of all, it will say the words “I still love you”.

When you receive a rose in this spot, you should accept it for the words that cannot be found by the other, and remember the love and hope that you both share today.”

2. Giving a rose to a member of the others family

The second most popular way to include a rose ceremony is for the newly married couple to each give a rose a member of the others family - usually a parent or grandparent.

Traditionally this would be done as the couple make their exit up the aisle together, picking up a rose before they walk and pausing to gift it to the mother/father/grandparent/chosen family member.

This could be accompanied by some words or just simply taken as it’s meaning of “I’m happy to officially be a part of your family” or “Thank you for welcoming me into your family” and “I love you”.

Alternative ways to include a rose ceremony

As I said, there are lots of ways that you can use a rose ceremony to add a visual representation of love and of gift giving into your ceremony. Here are some other ideas, but you can also use your imagination and create your own! Or, if you’ve booked your ceremony with one of the Your Day Ibiza team, let us know your ideas and we can help you to make them a reality.

Give roses to the children or other family members

The couple could give out roses as a symbol of their love for their children and for each other’s families, as well as for each other.

A vase of roses

This symbolises the love and unity of their families coming together as one, or the blending of a new family where step children are involved.

It could also be used as a new tradition of giving flowers to one another, either to let the others know that they love them, or for anniversaries and celebrations.

A rose to remember

A single white rose, which symbolises remembrance, could be placed into a vase, or included in a bouquet or button hole.

Guests to create a bouquet

Guests could each collect a rose (or other flower) on arrival and as they make their way into the ceremony space, place it into a vase and give with it their wishes, hopes and love for the couple. The bouquet of roses which is created by the guests can then be used as a wedding bouquet or displayed on the ceremony table and taken home or dried later on, to have as a keepsake of their wedding day and their guests love and wishes for their future together.