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First, let’s dispel some misconceptions. A ring warming ceremony is, in fact, not a time in a wedding where you reenact the Lord of the Rings scenes. There are no propane heaters involved either. Now that that’s out of the way, what actually is it?
Ring Warming Ceremony Basics
Ring warming ceremonies originated as an old Irish custom but aren’t often used today. As such, you’ll want to make sure your wedding guests know what to do before you hand them your three months of income ring. You could even include a short explainer in your wedding invitations if you want to be really proactive.
In this ceremony, the bride and groom pass the ring around to be “warmed” by guests at the wedding. The ring gets passed around and each recipient “warms” the ring with a blessing, well wish or some other meaningful gesture of support.
Who Participates in a Ring Warming Ceremony?
Whomever you want! If you want to pass that ring around the room like a bottle at a college party, be our guest. If you have a small and intimate wedding, it’s pretty quick and easy to let all the guests participate. Often, it’s reserved for close friends and family, though.
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Who Might Want a Ring Warming Ceremony?
Irish couples who want to be in touch with their heritage, for one. More often, though, it’s for couples who want to get their family and friends involved.
Couldn’t put everyone you wanted into your wedding party? Let them heat up that ring. Looking for a spiritual element to a secular wedding? Add warmth to that band. Are you someone who wants alternative wedding rings and off-beat traditions as part of your vows? Well, then move that circle from room temperature (okay, that last one was a stretch, but you get it).
At the end of the day, it’s a great way to get loved ones involved with a unique and memorable gesture.
When Does a Ring Warming Ceremony Take Place?
At any time you want, really. Often, it will be during the ceremony before the vows. If you love efficiency, you can have the rings out in the open and the guests can warm them before the ceremony.
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Two Main Ways to Have a Ring Warming Ceremony
How you integrate this ceremony into your wedding is entirely up to you. If you’re looking for some pointers, these are the two main ways of going about it.
Option 1
Couples often find a good first step is having an MC of sorts keep the ring in sight. While it might sound like it’s in the job description, we don’t recommend the ring bearer for this one. The officiant or best man often takes this duty, but it isn’t required.
If you have a large party, someone having eyes on the rings is a must for a timely warming. After all, it has to get back to the couple eventually. Note that Grandma Ethyl may take six minutes to warm the ring, so make sure there’s some sort of understood time limit. Usually, this shouldn’t take more than a few minutes to complete, so each guest will likely have the ring for only a handful of seconds.
Option 2
Leave the ring out in a special box or on a table and let guests come up to warm it. Whether you want to do this during the ceremony is up to you. A good way to go through with this option is to have guests warm the ring as they arrive at the venue.
However you choose to have your ring warming, it’s also good to have the officiant explain the tradition ahead of time. This helps guests who might not be in the know. If you plan to leave your rings out, maybe a tasteful note is in order. Whatever you do, make sure they’re not to hot when you get them back!
