During marriage ceremonies, many couples seal their spoken vows with a kiss. Providing a photo opportunity for your wedding photographer and guests to get a romantic shot. However, you may be wondering whether to kiss or not kiss during your wedding ceremony.
The ‘Kiss” comes from an old tradition that most people still expect to see and include in a wedding ceremony. There are many theories about how and why this age-old tradition came about.
Wedding contract ‘Sealed with a Kiss’
During the reign of the Roman Empire, reading and writing literacy was not common among people. A signature could not be relied upon as a legal contractual agreement. This meant that a simple kiss between both parties became that seal, a bonding of a contract used in any business deal to confirm the contract between them. Hence the phrase ‘Sealed with a Kiss’. It was only natural that it became the seal of marriage at a wedding ceremony when two people entered a partnership. The Romans had three types of kisses; a kiss on the cheek, a kiss on the lips, and a deeper, more passionate kiss. I believe the latter was the wedding kiss. Used in some Christian religions to seal the marriage.
Of course, that’s only sometimes the case. It is thought in higher aristocracy that public displays of affection should not be carried out in a church. For this reason, during Royal Weddings, the ‘Kissing of the Bride’ is not carried out during the ceremony and thought to be only to be used in the movies. Hence, the famous kiss between Charles and Diana took place publicly for the first time on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Following the marriage ceremony at Westminster Abbey. More recently, Harry and Megan sealed their marriage with a kiss on the steps outside the St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
Public Displays of Affection – not your thing
Sealing a marriage with a kiss is entirely up to the couple. It is your choice to keep public displays of affection or PDAs out of the ceremony and include different rituals to show the bond of marriage has been made. ‘To seal with a Kiss’ is NOT a legally binding act, so it is not compulsory to include it in a marriage ceremony.
Yes, you want to seal your marriage with a kiss during your ceremony; where should it be included?
The ‘Kiss” can be used anywhere in the ceremony where appropriate. When creating your marriage script, your wedding celebrant will discuss that with you. Ensuring that you are both at ease and ready for it. Also, having it scripted and discussed beforehand means that the celebrant can let your wedding photographer/videographer know ahead of time so that the special moment, the ‘First Kiss’ as a married couple, is captured perfectly. It also reminds the celebrant to move aside so they are not in the shot!
Whatever your thoughts on ‘ Sealing your Marriage with a Kiss’ are, whether you choose to include or leave it out of your service is entirely your choice. With the right marriage celebrant to craft your wonderful ceremony, they will help you make your marriage ceremony perfect for you.