Non-denominational weddings can be equally as loving and heartfelt as a secular wedding, but they often lead people to wonder: what happens at the ceremony? If you’re planning on hosting a non-denominational wedding, you might be wondering that yourself. Here are some things you and your significant other can incorporate into your wedding to ensure it’s one of full of life and love.

Hire a Non-Denominational Wedding Officiant

A non-denominational wedding officiant is key to providing structure to your ceremony. Your officiant should work with you to ensure your ceremony is warm and personal, properly tailored to your needs and your beliefs. The officiant can recite any pieces that are special to you and your partner.

Write Personal Wedding Vows

Your wedding vows can be whatever you want them to be, but this is the perfect time to make them personal reflections of you and your partner. Consider defining what marriage means to you, discussing the past, present, and future of your relationship, and making promises about that future.

Have a Coming-Together Symbol

A visual representation of you and your partner coming together is a great, meaningful addition to your ceremony. Two common ways to illustrate that is by lighting a candle with two wicks, or by pouring two different colors of sand into the same jar.

Ask a Guest to Speak

Guests can shed a different light on your relationship that will add richness to your ceremony. Some use ceremony speeches in place of reception speeches, but if you plan to have both, ask your guest to keep the ceremony speech shorter and more heartfelt than the reception speech.

Have a Time-Capsule

Your time-capsule can simply be letters you wrote before the wedding, or it can include trinkets from your relationship. Whether you open it in one year, 10, or 50, it will most definitely be an exciting time.