The oathing stone is an old celtic tradition, where the couple place their hands upon a stone sharing their vows

During the declaration the couple hold the oathing stone together in their hands. It is believed that holding the stone during the vows in turn, set them in stone for eternity.

As part of this ritual, a stone will be engraved with initials and date for the couple as a keepsake.

Handfasting is an ancient medieval custom, in which two people come together at the start of their marital relationship to declare of their own free will that they intend to marry not only for a lifetime but with an eternal bond.

While facing each other, the couple will join hands while cord or ribbon is tied around their hands eventually producing a knot as they pull away.

Hence tying the knot.

As part of this ritual, the couple can decide on the choice of cord or ribbon including colours or fabric for their ceremony.

This knotted cord/ribbon can be kept as a memento of the day.

The Sand Ceremony involves two separate single pots of different colour sands being poured into a larger pot.

This symbolises a union between the two parties (either couple or families depending on the ceremony.

This ritual can be used in Weddings, Civil Partnerships or naming ceremonies.

The completed container will be sealed and kept as a keepsake of the ceremony.

This ceremony involves the main parties involved in the ceremony using individual candles to light simultaneously the unity candle. This is a symbolic sign of togetherness and the merging of both families.

Alternatively individual candles can be lit from the unity candle (usually in naming ceremonies) symbolising that those present will always surround the child in a circle of love.

The Unity Candles and individual candles will be kept as a keepsake of the day.

The Quaich, a two handled loving cup, is an ancient Scottish tradition that seals the bond of two people and marks the blending of two families. It symbolises the love and trust implied by the bond, as the new couple share the first drink of their marriage together.

Two families provide a drink that they identify with (usually whisky but any drink of choice can be used) as it is shared in the Quaich it symbolises the blended family becoming a union.

The family can provide an engraved quaich for the ceremony to take place in. This will be given to the couple as a gift.

Note, this is not a memento that the celebrant can gift.

A memorial box is a ritual often used in a Naming Ceremony, where family members and close friends provide an item which they wish to give to the child as a keep sake of the day.

This is placed in the memory box for the child to keep as part of the ceremony.

This could include a newspaper of the day, photographs, personalised clothing such as booties, crystal stones or a Unity Candle from the ceremony.

A small memorial box or Unity Candle will be gifted by the celebrant as a reminder of the day.