Regardless of your religious affiliation, there are numerous ways in which you can personalize your wedding ceremony to add a more creative touch. If you're planning a religious ceremony at a church or temple, be sure to discuss all ideas with your officiant.

The following list incorporates some ideas to personalize your wedding ceremony:

♦     Invite the bride's mother to be part of the processional. Have her walk down the aisle with you and your father. (This is the traditional Jewish processional).

♦     Invite the groom's parents to be part of the processional also.

♦     Ask friends and family members to perform special readings.

♦     Ask a friend or family member with musical talent to perform at the ceremony.

♦     Incorporate poetry and/or literature into your readings.

♦     Change places with the officiant and face your guests during the ceremony.

♦     Light a unity candle to symbolize your two lives joining together as one.

♦     Drink wine from a shared "loving" cup to symbolize bonding with each other.

♦     Hand a rose to each of your mothers as you pass by them during the recessional.

♦     Release white doves or balloons into the air after being pronounced "husband and wife."

♦     If the ceremony is held outside on a grassy area, have your guests toss petals or flower seeds over you instead of rice.

♦     Publicly express gratitude for all that your parents have done for you.

♦     Use a canopy to designate an altar for a non-church setting. Decorate it in ways that are symbolic or meaningful to you.

♦     Burn incense to give the ceremony an exotic feeling.