How to Make the Wedding Ring Exchange Unique

The ring exchange is often the part of the wedding that couples remember as the most meaningful. It can be as simple as saying "with this ring I thee wed." Or it can be a more elaborate and personalized part of your wedding ceremony. Usually the bride says the same thing as the groom.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Write your own ring exchange vows. Usually ministers and priests have a standard blessing. There's no reason why you can't personalize it to your tastes.

2. Tell the congregation about the special meaning behind your wedding band if you're using a family ring. Turn to the people in attendance and tell them that the following vows mean even more to you, because you're building on the loving marriage your parents or grandparents had.

3. Plan another ritual around the ring exchange to make it even more special. The bride and groom would exchange roses while making vows to take the rose as a symbol of love.

4. Consider having the bride give the groom's parents a rose, while the groom gives his new in-laws a rose. It symbolizes the blending of the families.

5. Say vows over your engagement ring, too. Have the minister or priest say to the groom something like this: "The engagement ring is a symbol of promise and intention. Now the intention is realized and the promise fulfilled. Please place your engagement ring on (Bride's name) finger over her wedding band to symbolize that the love that brought you together will always protect and sustain your marriage."

6. Have the people in attendance take vows stating they would help the couple uphold their vows to each other.

Resources

• Everything you need to write ring exchange vows