Polyamorous relationships have always been a part of human culture for many people all over the world. Traditionally wedding ceremonies acknowledged the love and union between two people which excluded polyamorous relationships.
Polyamory isn’t cheating on one partner for another
Made up from the Greek word ‘poly’ meaning many or several, and the Latin word ‘amor’ meaning love, polyamory is the desire for intimacy with more than one person. Polyamory is being in a relationship with and loving more than one person. As with all relationships, poly relationships are unique to those involved, but all involved in the relationship are aware of the situation. There may be a throuple (three people), or a quad (four people).
Certain religions recognise polyamory as part of their customs and beliefs. While legally within the UK only two people can be recognised as being within a marriage, poly clients can celebrate their union with a wedding or ceremony. Celebrant ceremonies enable couples with many lifestyle choices to have a meaningful and bespoke wedding or ceremony to celebrate their relationship and union. As a genuine alternative celebrant who creates and crafts many kinds of ceremonies for many kinds of people, each ceremony enables all people in relationships the opportunity to have a wedding or a commitment ceremony which is right for them.
A wedding is a ceremony where those involved make a commitment to each other. Some weddings are huge lavish events with hundreds of guests and family members, some are very intimate with just the couple present. Polyamorous weddings and commitment ceremonies are the same.
Polyamorous weddings and commitment ceremonies
As an alternative Celebrant I have had the honour of writing and leading numerous weddings and ceremonies for poly clients. Some involve just two people with the third person choosing to take a back seat from the ceremony. Some have involved two people with the first partner acting as a maid of honour or best man who plays an active part in the ceremony. Two were for a quad with all being involved.
Some have involved all clients with personalised vows being said to each other and the exchange of wedding rings among them all. A recent ceremony involved a bride and groom exchanging vows in commitment and acknowledgement of a future poly relationship they wanted to become a part of.
Weddings and ceremonies can include handfasting where their hands are bound together with chosen cords or ribbons, unity ceremonies such as blending ceremony or the lighting of a unity candle from three or more separate flames. Poems and readings, chosen music, the exchanging of rings and a wedding or commitment certificate are also usually chosen to be included.
Every relationship is unique; therefore, every celebratory ceremony should be too.
