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Magical Herbs for Your Wedding Ceremony, Handfasting, or Vow Renewal

Published Thursday, May. 4th, 2023


Illustration: Jessica Levey

Add a little magick to you marriage ceremony!

 

 

Add a sprig of sweetness, a couple leaves of good luck, or a dash of magic to your wedding ceremony, handfasting, or vow renewal with these well-loved herbs and botanicals. 

 

For thousands of years, herbs have been used by people all around the world as a part of celebrations, healing ceremonies, magic and spellcasting, and individual spiritual practices. They’re an essential component in many modern Pagan rituals, including Wiccan and Druid marriage rites.

 

Related: Pagan Wedding Altars : An Illustrated Look at a Year and a Day Altar

 

Some herbs and botanicals are believed to protect, others to enchant. Herbs are used in love spells, potions and teas, when casting a circle, on wedding and handfasting altars, to create lucky wedding bouquets, as symbolic offerings, as part of a marriage blessing, in smudging rituals, and much more.

 

Below is a list of some of the most common ‘magickal’ herbs and their symbolism and properties. 

 

You’ll also find links to other articles below, to help you decide how to include herbs and other botanicals in your wedding, handfasting, or vow renewal. 

 

(Note: Many botanicals are not safe to ingest. Some are poisonous or fatal, others can cause allergic reactions or interact with certain drugs and medications. Some items on this list can be made into tea, others definitely cannot be. Check with your doctor first.)

 

 

 

 

Magical Herbs and Botanicals for Your Wedding Ceremony: Uses and Meanings 

 

 

  • Angelica root : Used for protection and prosperity, to enhance feminine power, and for emotional balance. (Root is poisonous when fresh, dried angelica can interact with medications and drugs.)

 

  • Basil : Attracts love and abundance; used in offerings to spirits and gods, and in blessings, potions, and teas. 

 

  • Dandelion: Aids in spiritual growth and transformation; symbolizes strength and flexibility, can be used in bouquets, or as part of a wedding altar or candle magic ceremony. 

 

  • Wild Daisy : Attracts good luck and happiness; used in bouquets, altars, casting a circle, and in tea to relieve headaches and minor body aches.

 

  • Ginger : Root attracts passion, sexual chemistry, and romance; used in potions and teas, and bulbs can be placed with other offerings and on an altar. 

 

  • Lavender : Brings good luck, serenity, love, devotion; used in calming aromatics, sprays, teas, bouquets, altars and offerings, blessings for lasting friendship and love, smudging rituals, and when casting a circle.

 

  • Lemon Balm : Welcomes love, open-heartedness, and healing; used in teas, aromatics, sprays, and on altars.

 

  • Peppermint : Enhances masculine power, welcomes adventure and abundance; used in potions and teas, aromatics and sprays, placed on an altar, or included in a bouquet.

 

  • Rosemary : Welcomes love and passion, wards off negative energies and spirits; used in lotions and aromatics, sprays, placed on altars, and when casting a circle (can be placed along the circle or on the four corners). 

 

  • Sage: Depending on the variety you choose (white, blue, desert sage) this herb welcomes wisdom, security, and open-heartedness into a marriage; used in smudge sticks and smudging rituals, aromatics and offerings, and in the wedding bouquet or headpiece. 

 

  • Solomon’s Seal : Root offers protection and clarity; used when casting a circle or calling the corners, or while cleansing the space before the marriage rite; Flowers can be used as a symbolic offering, placed on the altar, or in a bouquet. 

 

  • Violets: Attracts lasting love and happiness, soothes the nerves; used in aromatics, sprays and perfumes, tea, and smudging rituals.

 

 

More Magic for Your Wedding

Visit one of the helpful articles below to add a dash of magic to your wedding ceremony

 

Photo of colorful smudge sticks made of dried sage and lavender, and other colorful flowers

 

How to Include a Smudging Ritual in Your Wedding Ceremony (& Why You’d Want to)

 

 

Photo of colorful smudge sticks made of dried sage and lavender, and other colorful flowers

 

Wedding Smudge Stick Recipe - Sage, Sweetgrass, and Lavender

 

 

 

Photo of colorful smudge sticks made of dried sage and lavender, and other colorful flowers

 

A Simple Beltane Incense Recipe for Your Wedding

 

 

 

Photo of colorful smudge sticks made of dried sage and lavender, and other colorful flowers

 

 

Salt & Sage Love Smudge for a Lowkey Pagan Wedding Blessing

 

 

Photo of colorful smudge sticks made of dried sage and lavender, and other colorful flowers

 

 

Pagan Weddings: Ideas for Offerings to Gods and Ancestors

 

 

'We Still Do...' Vow Renewal Package

Reaffirm marriage vows, make new promises for the future, and commit to love all over again with this unique Vow Renewal Package! This sweet package is for couples who wants to deepen their connection and say YES all over again, and officiants that want to make it all happen. This resource contains everything a couple needs to celebrate a renewal of vows, anniversary celebration, or recommitment ceremony.

ORDER HERE

Product photo of the AMM We Still Do Vow Renewal Package gift box for renewal of vows and wedding anniversary celebrations

This package includes:

• 1 Elegant Vow Booklet Set with vow writing prompts and pages for finished vows
• 1 copy of AMM’s bestselling The Book of Wedding Vows and Ceremonies
• 1 “I Still Do” pamphlet – A short officiants guide to the vow renewal ceremony
• 3 Decorative Renewal of Vows certificates (Timeless, Floral, and Signature)
• 1 Wood display frame
• 1 AMM Embossed Presidential™ Custom Pen


Jessica Levey
Jessica Levey

Lead Staff Writer & Illustrator

Jessica loves exploring the history and magic of ritual, the connections between people and places, and sharing true stories about love and commitment. She's an advocate for marriage equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and individuality, and is an ordained Minister with AMM. When she’s not writing or illustrating for AMM, she enjoys city hikes, fantasy novels, comics, and traveling.

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