Thinking of including a ring warming as part of your wedding ceremony? They can be beautiful, tender moments of calm, a meaningful and intimate chapter in your wedding ceremony. Your closest family and friends infuse your wedding rings with their own hopes for your marriage. In turn, they pass your wedding rings between them, often kissing them, warming them with their own hands.
Picture credit: Nina Wernicke
To elevate the moment, your wedding celebrant can add a reading to make the ring warming even more special. When couples choose a ring warming, I always suggest this – as what is a close moment for your front two rows often goes unseen by those sat behind them. Therefore, a reading by your wedding celebrant for your ring warming helps draw the rest of your guests into this section of your ceremony, too. Angel and Alex were married at Dewsall Court in June, and these pictures are from their ring warming.
how a wedding ceremony ring warming works
Your chosen ring bearer begins the ring warming when directed by your wedding celebrant. Your celebrant describes the process and what your warmers could do, for example, whisper some advice on marriage, or remember people who couldn’t be there on your wedding day. The rings are passed between your family and friends during the reading. The ring-bearer collects them and brings them to your wedding celebrant, and we begin your own exchange of rings. Usually, the rings are safe in their box, or in a small bag. I would never suggest the rings are loose for the ring warming, too risky!
Ring warming as part of your celebrant wedding ceremony is a wonderful way to make close relatives feel included, particularly your older guests, for whom, in my experience, it’s a very meaningful moment.
Picture credit: Nina Wernicke
the perfect readings for your ring warming
My firm favourite is [i carry your heart with me(i carry it in] by E.E Cummings. It’s so emotional to read and speaks of the pure, sometimes raw love we have for our families.
Another poem for a perfect ring warming would be A family is like a Circle by Nicole M Neil. This is a lovely length and an easy read, perfect if you want to ask a relative to contribute to this ceremony section by reading for you.
I love A Blessing for Wedding by Jane Hirshfield. It reminds us that your wedding day will come to mean many different things, but that today, you are the centre of everybody’s universe.
To welcome love in and hold it in the moment, An Invitation to Love by Paul Laurence Dunbar is special.
a wedding celebrant led ring warming
If you’re now thinking that a ring warming would make an excellent addition to your ceremony, get in touch. I create joyful, personalised wedding ceremonies in Somerset, the South West and Herefordshire. I work with couples who want their love story to be told with effortless grace and good humour and I’d love to hear from you.
