Written by Tarnia Riggs
Founder, All Eyes on Me
A Pagan wedding ceremony can bring together your love for each other, your spiritual path and the natural world. An altar, a circle, the elements, personal vows and meaningful symbols can help express the promises you choose to make.
The most memorable ceremony is one whose words and rituals mean something to you both. Begin with your beliefs, the feeling you want to create and the people you want beside you.
This guide recreates the altar and ceremony ideas from my original All Eyes on Me article, with refreshed wording and planning notes for October 2026.
Paganism includes a range of traditions and personal spiritual paths. The Pagan Federation International recognises that diversity. Beliefs about deities, ritual tools and the form of a ceremony vary between communities and practitioners.
The Goddess-and-God language, four elements and circle in my original guide reflect Wiccan influences. Wicca is one modern Pagan tradition; the Pagan Federation’s introduction to Wicca describes its emergence publicly in its modern form in the late 1940s. A contemporary wedding script should be understood within its chosen tradition, rather than presented as a ceremony shared unchanged by all Pagans through history.
Discuss the traditions you follow with a knowledgeable ceremony leader. Decide together which blessings, names and symbols belong in your celebration, and how you would like their meaning explained to guests.
An altar provides a focus for the ceremony: a place for the symbols, offerings or keepsakes you have chosen. It might be a small table, a stable stone surface or another suitable place in a garden or indoor venue.
You could include a cloth, flowers, a candle, rings, a cord, a bowl of water or an object that holds a family memory. Arrange them so your ceremony leader can reach them comfortably and your guests can see the moment.
Some practitioners dedicate an altar to the Goddess and the God; others honour particular deities, ancestors or their own understanding of the sacred. Choose words that reflect your path. The direction the altar faces is also a matter to discuss within your tradition and the space available.
Tell anyone helping which objects may be handled and which you would prefer to keep private.
The arrangement below was used in my original guide. It is one set of correspondences to work from; direction, colour and tool associations can differ. Your ceremony leader can help choose an arrangement that fits your practice and your location.
These meanings are suggestions for the wording of your celebration. You can speak about each element, display its symbol or simply keep the associations in mind while planning.
You do not need a large collection of objects to create a meaningful setting. Choose the pieces that have a clear role in your ceremony.
Depending on your tradition, these may include a goblet, bell, wand, pentacle, cauldron, broom or besom, incense, feathers, stones or rose quartz. Some practitioners use an athame, a ritual knife, or other tools such as a staff. Discuss their purpose and any venue restrictions with your ceremony leader beforehand.
A candle can be represented with an LED light where open flames are unsuitable. For guests who are sensitive to smoke or fragrance, an unscented ceremony is an easy option. Keep the arrangement secure and suited to the weather and the space.
Before guests arrive, take a moment to settle, breathe and focus on the purpose of the gathering. Your ceremony leader may dedicate the altar and invite the presence of the deities or spiritual witnesses you have chosen.
In the example below, the elements are acknowledged through spoken words. You may add familiar gestures or symbols according to your tradition.
Example dedication
“We prepare this place with care and welcome the presence of love. May Air bring understanding, Fire bring warmth, Water bring compassion and Earth bring steadiness. We dedicate this space to the promises made freely here today.”
If Goddess-and-God language belongs to your practice, you could add: “Goddess and God, we invite your blessing upon this gathering and upon the life [Name] and [Name] choose to share.”
A ceremonial circle can mark a shared space for the couple, their guests and the ritual. It may be physically arranged around the altar or established through words and intention.
Guests can sit in a circle or a semicircle, with clear access paths and room for the couple and ceremony leader. Explain where people should be and whether they are invited to join in a response. Participation should feel comfortable and voluntary.
My original example used a broom, candle, water and earth to prepare the circle. You can retain the symbolic sequence through a simple gesture with each object. Agree any movement around the space with your ceremony leader; there is no single direction or arrangement to prescribe for every Pagan tradition.
Example words for preparing the circle
“With Air, we welcome honest words and open minds.
With Fire, we welcome warmth and courage.
With Water, we welcome kindness and understanding.
With Earth, we welcome steadiness and care.
May this space hold our promises with love.”
The following personal ritual wording is adapted from my original guide. Replace [Name] with each partner’s name and adjust any spiritual language to reflect your beliefs. Your authorised marriage celebrant will arrange the required legal wording separately if this is part of a legal wedding.
Welcome — ceremony leader
“Blessings and welcome. We gather to celebrate [Name] and [Name], who have invited us to share their joy and witness the promises they choose to make. May this gathering offer warmth, encouragement and a sense of belonging.”
Declaration of intention — asked of each partner
“[Name], do you come here freely, wishing to share your life with [Name] in love, honesty and respect?”
Each partner
“I do.”
A brief reading, a moment of quiet or a blessing may follow before the vows.
Example vow — spoken by each partner
“I, [Name], come here of my own free will to choose you, [Name], as my partner. I bring my love, honesty and care to the life we share. I promise to listen, respect your boundaries, support your hopes and take responsibility for the promises I make. Through change and through the quiet joys of ordinary days, I will keep making room for our love.”
Words before the rings — ceremony leader
“As trees bend with the wind, may you find ways to meet change with patience and care. Each of you brings your own voice, strengths and dreams. May your partnership offer space for both people to grow.”
“These rings represent the promises you have spoken. May they remind you of the friendship, affection and trust you choose to nurture, and of the people who have gathered to support you today.”
Example ring words — spoken by each partner
“I give you this ring as a reminder of my love and the promises I make freely today. May we continue to care for each other and for the life we build together.”
You can exchange another meaningful token instead of rings, or include personal words of your own. If you want a cord or ribbon ritual, explore the Handfasting Ceremony guide.
Ceremony leader
“May Earth offer a steady place to stand, Air bring understanding to your conversations, Fire keep warmth in your home and Water remind you to meet each other with compassion.”
“May you share laughter, encourage each other’s dreams and care for the relationship you freely choose. May the love witnessed here today find its expression in the life you live together.”
Where appropriate to your tradition, add a blessing from your chosen deities. Goddess-and-God wording might be: “May the Goddess and the God bless this union and the journey ahead.”
Finish with a kiss, an embrace, joined hands or another gesture you both want. Agree with your ceremony leader how you would like to be introduced to your guests.
Bring the ritual to a clear close before moving to photographs or the reception. Your ceremony leader may thank the spiritual witnesses and acknowledge the elements in the sequence your practice uses.
Example closing words
“We give thanks for the love shared here and for all who have witnessed these promises. Our gathering now closes, and we carry its warmth into the life ahead.”
If it belongs to your tradition, you may finish with the familiar phrase, “So mote it be.”
Put away the objects with care, extinguish any candles safely and allow a little space for congratulations. For a symbolic celebration, a commemorative certificate can be a keepsake; it does not establish a legal marriage.
For an outdoor ceremony, arrange shade, seating, a weather backup and a way for guests to hear the words clearly. Keep access paths open and leave enough room for mobility aids around the ceremonial space.
Ask before involving anyone in a blessing, a touch, a shared cup or another ritual action. A short explanation can help guests enjoy the occasion while respecting their own beliefs.
A rehearsal is useful for anyone handling rings, reading a passage or helping with the altar. Keep the sequence simple enough that you can spend the ceremony enjoying the promises you are making.
A Pagan ritual can form part of an Australian legal wedding when an authorised marriage celebrant conducts the marriage and the required legal steps are met. The ritual wording above does not, by itself, create a legal marriage.
The right to marry in Australia is not determined by sex or gender. Ask your celebrant to confirm the notice, consent, wording, witness and paperwork requirements. The Attorney-General’s Department’s current marriage guidance explains the process.
Originally published on the original All Eyes on Me website. Recreated and refreshed by Tarnia Riggs in October 2026.
View the original Pagan Ceremony article in the Wayback Machine.
References and further reading
The following Pagan organisations describe Pagan diversity and modern Witchcraft/Wicca. They do not prescribe one ceremony for every Pagan tradition. The sample script and colour associations in this guide are planning suggestions.
Australian Attorney-General’s Department: getting married – current Australian legal requirements.
Pagan community sources: Pagan Federation International — What is Paganism? and The Pagan Federation — Witchcraft and Wicca.
Explore more Ceremonial Information guides or read our Commitment Ceremony guide.