The Ring Warming Ritual - wedding rings full of love, wishes and warmth
A ritual that connects hearts
The so-called ring warming ritual or "warming of the rings" is a wonderful way to actively involve all your guests in your secular wedding ceremony.
It creates an upbeat and at the same time deeply touching atmosphere - full of connection, loving thoughts and warmth of heart.
This ritual is ideal for couples with many international guests, in a multilingual, secular ceremony: each person can express their affection in their own way - with words, thoughts, prayers or a silent wish.
How the ring warming ritual works
Before the ceremony, as your wedding officiant I lay out a beautiful ribbon - preferably in your wedding colors or in a color that has a special meaning for you.
This ribbon zigzags through the rows of your guests.
A person who is particularly close to you is given the task of placing the rings on the ribbon.
They are then passed from hand to hand via the ribbon, accompanied by good wishes, loving thoughts or - for those for whom spirituality is important - a small blessing or prayer.
The rings absorb all this energy along the way until they reach the bride and groom at the front - warmed by all the people who love and accompany you.
This is followed by your ring exchange, which feels even more meaningful thanks to this ritual.
Why this ritual is so special
The ring warming ritual brings movement, encounters and emotion to the ceremony.
Many small, magical moments arise:
A smile, a quiet "Oh wow, beautiful", a brief eye contact, perhaps even a tear of emotion.
Your guests feel that they are part of your big moment - and you feel that you are carried.
These rings will accompany you on your journey together - as a daily reminder of your promise and of the many loved ones who symbolically opened their hands and hearts to you on this day.
My tip as a wedding officiant
If you decide on the ring warming, plan enough time and suitable music.
Whether you prefer the ritual to be quiet and meditative or lively and cheerful is entirely up to you - as always with a secular wedding ceremony:
It should feel genuine, light and harmonious for you.
Conclusion
The Ring Warming Ritual is a wonderful symbol of love, community and mindfulness.
A moment that connects - and shows that your love is not just between two people, but within a whole circle of closeness, friendship and family.
📍 I accompany multilingual secular wedding ceremonies in
Brussels, Belgium, Germany (Hamburg, Berlin, Düsseldorf), France (Champagne, Provence, Région Parisienne), Luxembourg and Denmark (Copenhagen & Sjaelland)
I would be happy to advise you on how you can design this ritual in your personal ceremony.
Mixing your wedding cocktail - a cheerful ritual for your secular wedding ceremony
Not every ceremony has to be solemn and formal. Many couples want a relaxed, cheerful and personal secular wedding ceremony that still has meaning.
If you recognize yourself in this, the ritual "Mixing your wedding cocktail" or the "Shot of Love" is just right for you.
Both rituals revolve around drinks - and both can easily be implemented in an alcohol-free version. The result is a cheerful, interactive and symbolic gesture that fits perfectly with a modern, secular wedding ceremony.
The wedding cocktail
As a wedding officiant, I particularly like to suggest this ritual to multilingual couples with different cultural backgrounds. It is a wonderful way to show how two individual personalities can become a harmonious blend.
The idea: you mix a cocktail together that reflects you as a couple.
Perhaps one of you is sparkling and lively like Prosecco, while the other person adds depth and warmth - like dark rum or berry liqueur. Together you create a composition that is perfectly balanced - just like your relationship.
A few inspirations:
Tropical Love - pineapple juice, coconut water and a splash of rum (or coconut syrup for the non-alcoholic version).
Spicy Spark - Ginger beer, lime juice and a hint of chili or cinnamon - for couples with a fiery temperament.
Golden Harmony - apple juice, elderflower syrup and a little lemon zest - elegant, fresh and harmonious.
You can prepare the cocktail in a large glass carafe or punch bowl so that guests can taste it later at the reception.
Or you can share the first sip directly during your wedding ceremony as a symbolic "toast to your love".
Many couples involve their best man, family or close friends: Each person brings an ingredient and says a few words about it - what it symbolizes (e.g. sweetness, depth, freshness, passion).
This is especially nice for multilingual and multicultural weddings: each person can express their wishes in their own language, which makes the diversity of your love visible.
The "Shot of Love"
If you prefer it short and fizzy, the Shot of Love is a great alternative.
Prepare small glasses with your favorite drink - in a color that matches your wedding decorations or with a special meaning.
Lavender for peace and devotion, olive green for harmony and stability - whatever you like is allowed.
Friends or family members can help with the preparation and hand out the glasses before or during the ceremony.
After the ring exchange and the kiss, raise your glasses together - a joyful moment full of emotion and laughter.
With this symbolic "Shot of Love" you not only seal your union, but also share the joy with all your guests.
Celebrate your love in your own way
Whether cocktail or shot, both rituals give your secular wedding ceremony a personal, modern touch.
They show who you are - two people with different flavors that together create something new and unique.
I am a multilingual wedding officiant based in Brussels, Belgium, and create secular and multicultural wedding ceremonies for couples from all over the world.
I regularly officiate weddings in Germany (Berlin, Hamburg, Düsseldorf), France (Champagne, Région Parisienne, Provence), Luxembourg and Denmark - and love to incorporate rituals that reflect your languages, cultures and personalities.
Because the most beautiful love stories - just like the best cocktails - are created from the perfect mix of ingredients.
The candle ritual - light and love for your secular wedding ceremony
Fire - one of the five elements - has been with us since the beginning of mankind. In almost every culture, we find rituals centered around fire. So it's no wonder that the candle ritual is one of the most popular and festive ways to symbolically bring light, warmth and community into a secualar wedding ceremony.
The great thing about it is that you can personalize the ritual and include your closest family members and friends. Especially for multilingual couples or families with different nationalities and cultural backgrounds, this ritual offers a wonderful opportunity to make diversity visible: Each person who lights a candle can share good wishes, quotes or the meaning of a color with you in their native language. In this way, the language itself becomes part of the ritual - lively, emotional and unique.
Four candles - four paths in life
Traditionally, four candles are lit, each symbolizing a stage in your life - past, present, future and finally your love.
1. the candle of the past
This first candle represents your journey to this point: childhood, youth and everything that has brought you together. Who better to light this candle than your mothers? This gives them a special role on your big day - something that is often missing in traditional church or civil wedding ceremonies. Grandparents can also be included here if this is particularly important to you.
2. the candle of the present
The second candle symbolizes your current life - friendships, family, companions. Your siblings, witnesses or close friends can light the candle here. They are the people who accompany you now, support you and remind you in difficult times why you have chosen each other.
3. the candle of the future
This candle opens the view to the future. If you already have children, they can enrich the ritual at this point - with the support of their godparents if they are still too young. But other people can also light the future candle: perhaps friends who will soon become parents themselves, or people with whom you are planning an important project or a trip. The important thing is that it has to feel right and authentic for you. If the topic of children is painful, you can leave out the future candle or fill it with a different meaning.
4. the candle of your love
Finally, you both light the candle of love together - often a larger, personalized candle that you can keep even after the wedding. Many couples relight them every year on their wedding day - a beautiful symbol of your everlasting love.
Design options
Whether classic white, colored or in lanterns: the design of your candles is completely up to you. Each color has a specific meaning, and you can also choose the arrangement individually - on a tray, a wooden disc with glass cylinders (ideal for outdoors) or as a central light object.
After the ceremony, I often take the candles with me to the ceremony location so that the light continues to shine throughout the day.
Personal words make it unforgettable
The ritual is particularly touching if the people lighting the candle say a few words: a short poem, an anecdote from your childhood or a quote that describes your relationship. The meaning of the chosen color can also be addressed. For multilingual weddings, each person can express this in their own language - creating a ritual full of colors, voices and cultures that beautifully reflects the diversity of your union.
My tip as a wedding officiant
During the preparation, I work with you to feel which ritual suits you best. I often invite you to close your eyes and imagine the scene - it almost always becomes clear immediately what is right for you. The special thing about a secular wedding ceremony is that you can design everything to suit you. Whether one ritual or several - whatever feels right for you is allowed.
The candle ritual is a wonderful prelude: It creates a festive, warm atmosphere and gives you and your guests a moment to pause and reflect. A light that connects you - not only on your wedding day, but far beyond.
👉 I accompany couples not only in Brussels and everywhere in Belgium, but also in Germany (Hamburg, Berlin, Düsseldorf), France (Champagne, Région Parisienne, Provence), Luxembourg and Denmark. Especially for multilingual ceremonies, I bring my experience from over 50 international weddings to make your ritual as unique as your story.
Handfasting: How to personalize this special wedding ritual
(Secular wedding ceremony officiant in Brussels, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Denmark & Destination)
If you want a secularwedding ceremony , then you certainly want your yes-word to be as unique as your love. If you speak different languages and come from different cultures, you definitely want to integrate them into your wedding ceremony. A wonderful way to make the ceremony more personal and interactive is the handfasting - a ritual that originally comes from the Celtic tradition. It involves symbolically joining your hands with ribbons or a rope - a powerful image of love, unity and connection.
But how can you adapt the handfasting to your story and really make it your ritual? Here are a few ideas:
1. traditional & individual at the same time
If you come from a Celtic background or simply like the tradition, you can use a classic handfasting rope. To make it more personal, match it to your wedding color scheme or have it custom made - for example, through platforms like Etsy. This turns an old tradition into a very modern, stylish element of your wedding ceremony.
2. involve family & friends
It becomes even more personal if you involve your family and friends. Ask them if they would like to weave or knot a rope for you together. This can be a lovely bonding moment even before the wedding. If you have guests from different countries, the rope could even go "on a journey": starting in one country, then sent on to the next - until it finally arrives at my home in Brussels as your wedding officiant and is presented to you as a surprise on your wedding day.
3. tapes with meaning
Instead of a rope, you can also use individual ribbons. Choose the colors consciously according to their meaning - red for love, green for hope, blue for loyalty... Invite your witnesses, siblings or close friends to each hand over a ribbon and say a few words about the color and its meaning. This will make the ritual lively, interactive and a moving moment for your guests to feel honored.
4. a memento for life
You don't just have to put the ribbons away after the ceremony. You can keep the eternity knot that you tied during the ceremony in a beautiful glass jar or picture frame and hang it up in your home. This way, the symbolic power of this ritual will remain a part of your everyday life - a visible sign of your connection.
A handfasting ritual is a wonderful way to personalize your secular wedding ceremony and actively involve your guests. Whether traditional, creative or interactive - the design possibilities are endless.
👉 Are you curious? Get in touch - together we'll find the right form so that this ritual suits you and your love perfectly.
👉I am Katja Nielsen, wedding officiant & specialist for multilingual ceremonies in German, English, French, Dutch, Danish and Italian
👉You can find me in Brussels, Belgium and I am also happy to accompany you on your wedding adventure in Germany, France, Luxembourg, Denmark and your destination in Europe or worldwide
The magic of multilingual ceremonies - farewells that touch hearts
Funeral service-a special farewell in several languages. At this ceremony in Danish
There are moments in life that are so big that words alone are not enough to do them justice. This is exactly why ceremonies exist - be it in joy or in sorrow. As celebrant and freelance speaker, it is my vocation and passion to give such moments special meaning and keep them alive forever in the hearts of those involved.
Last week I had the privilege of organizing a very special farewell ceremony in Germany. It was the celebration of a man whose life was so unique and rich in facets that it would have been impossible to say goodbye to him in a conventional way.
He had a deep love of Denmark and an extraordinary passion for collecting samovars. His children therefore decided to give him a farewell that reflected these passions in a beautiful way. His ashes were buried in his favorite samovar - a symbol of his personality, his interests and the warmth he brought to the lives of those around him.
I was allowed to give the eulogy in Danish. Although many of the guests didn't understand Danish, that was irrelevant. It was the atmosphere that mattered. The words, even if they were incomprehensible to some, carried the soul of the moment. And as we sang his favorite songs together, the room filled with a sad and joyful energy that reminded us all of him: a father, friend and companion who had always made for special moments.
This ceremony was not only a farewell, but also a celebration of his life. It touched me deeply to see how his family and friends remembered him with a smile through their tears.
As a multilingual speaker, it is always an honor for me when the bereaved place their trust in me to create a farewell ceremony that is different - more personal, more unique. Grief has many faces, and I firmly believe that we should not only mourn the loss, but above all celebrate the life that was lived.
A multilingual ceremony offers the opportunity to unite cultural roots, personal stories and emotional connections in a way that transcends linguistic boundaries. It brings people together - no matter what language they speak - and creates a shared memory that touches everyone's heart.
I am infinitely grateful for the people who accompany me on this journey and allow me to be part of their stories. Because it is these stories that make life so special.
With love and gratitude,
Your Katja Nielsen
Step by step to your dream wedding ceremony
Are you planning your wedding ceremony and would like to celebrate your marriage in several languages? If you have found me, you are probably looking for a wedding officiant who can officiate and celbrate your union in English, French, German, Danish, Dutch and/or Italian.
Here you can find out how I design your truly magical wedding ceremony according to your wishes and values, step by step from the first meeting to your big day:
1. You get in touch and we have a non-binding introductory meeting online or over a coffee.
2 I save your date and you have two weeks to consider whether the chemistry is right between us and if you can imagine entrusting me with your wedding ceremony
3. You decide (hopefully;) that you can imagine entrusting me with your ceremony and we make an appointment to meet in person and plan your wedding ceremony in detail.
4 I meet you at your home and you tell me your unique love story. Together we will then plan every step of your wedding ceremony, from youor entrance to your kiss.
I will come with lots of ideas and suggestions for rituals, music etc. and you decide what you want to implement.
5 I will craft your personal speech, organize the material for the rituals you have chosen, talk to your witnesses, friends and family, coordinate the musicians and the entire course of your ceremony ... and not to forget, I will practice your speech in front of the mirror ;)
If you wish, we can also do a general rehearsal
6. On your big day, I will celebrate your union with the wedding ceremony you have been dreaming of and I will spice it up with my style as a wedding officiant and celebrant: joyful, bright and festive
So if you are planning your secular wedding ceremony in Brussels, Berlin, Potsdam, Düsseldorf, Copenhagen, Luxembourg, Paris or Provence, get in touch with me and let's talk about your wedding plans and ideas for your wedding ceremony.
As always with best wishes from Brussels
Katja Nielsen
"More than words"
Multilingual ceremonies Celebration of love and diversity
It all starts with an idea to celebrate love.
As a speaker, wedding offivciant and celebrant, I have the privilege of being part of many special moments in the lives of the people I accompany. One of these wonderful experiences is multilingual wedding ceremonies. In a globalized world where people from different backgrounds and cultures come together, it is no longer a rarity for couples to opt for a multilingual wedding. These ceremonies are not only a celebration of love between two people, but also an expression of the bond between different cultures and languages. Here are some reasons why couples opt for a multilingual wedding:
Family ties: Often the bride and groom have different cultural backgrounds. A multilingual ceremony makes it possible to include both families and honor their languages.
Respect for heritage: If a couple comes from different countries, a multilingual ceremony is a way to honor their roots and celebrate their identity.
Symbolic meaning: The use of several languages can be symbolic. For example, a couple who met in a country where they both spoke a common foreign language could incorporate that language into their ceremony.
Include guests: Multilingual weddings often include guests from different countries. By using different languages, everyone feels welcome and included.
The challenges
Of course, there are also challenges with multilingual ceremonies:
Translation: The correct translation of the ceremony is crucial. The speaker, officiant or celebrant should therefore be able to speak all the languages involved fluently in order to avoid misunderstandings.
Smooth flow: Careful planning is required to ensure that the ceremony runs smoothly. The speaker and officiant must find the right balance between the languages and under no circumstances should the speech sound like an airport announcement, but all languages should be brought into a flowing speech.
Cultural sensitivity: Every language has its own cultural nuances. The speaker and celebrant should be aware of these differences and treat them with respect.
My experience
As a wedding officiant and celebrant, I have accompanied many multilingual ceremonies. It is a joy to see how love flows between cultures and languages. The challenges are worth it, because at the end of the day, it's about celebrating love - in all its facets.
With this in mind, I wish all couples who opt for a multilingual ceremony a wonderful and unforgettable wedding!
Your Katja Nielsen
Celebrate love
It all starts with love and the idea of celebrating it in a unique and magical ceremony.
It all starts with love and the idea of wanting to celebrate this love in a beautiful and unique ceremony. First of all, we think of the love between two people. You have found each other and want to reaffirm your love in front of all your friends and family. You want to say YES to each other and your future life together? You are not religious and it is important to you to celebrate this moment with a joyful and festive ceremony?
Then a secular wedding ceremony is a wonderful option to celebrate your love in a way that suits you as a couple. How does such a wedding ceremony work, what is the procedure, what music, what rituals are possible? Can we also sing a song together with everyone or involve our guests actively in our secular wedding ceremony in some other way? Of course we can. There's no such word as "impossible" in secular ceremonies!
Everything is possible and should be 100% as you feel comfortable with it.