Pagan Weddings: Ideas for Offerings to Gods and Ancestors

How to make an offering to a god, goddess, spirit, or ancestor as part of the wedding ritual 

 

 

 

Symbolic offerings are a unique part of a Pagan wedding ceremony, and the tradition of offering gifts to gods, spirits, and ancestors can be traced back thousands of years. 

 

Everyday items take on extraordinary meaning in these ceremonies, whether placed on a marriage altar, burned in a ceremonial fire, poured onto hearthstones, or presented as part of a blessing ceremony.

 

Offerings are usually simple objects, such as herbs, fruits, wine, or cloth, that are chosen because they embody the qualities or blessings of a specific god or ancestor whose favor is desired. For example, fresh milk is a fitting offering for a god or goddess of the home, such as Brighid or Frigg, but wouldn’t be used to honor Mars, the Roman god of war. 

 

If you’ve been asked to perform a Pagan wedding ceremony, or are planning one of your own, use the list below as inspiration for meaningful offerings. 

 

 

Related: Pagan Wedding Ceremony Scripts - Sample Scripts

 

 

 

How to make an offering during the marriage ritual: 

 

 

• Offerings should be ‘used up’ or sacrificed during the ritual, such as being poured over a fire, burned, or left on an altar
• Guests may wish to make their own offerings as part of a communal ritual or blessing
• Offerings are usually made toward the end of the ceremony, but this is up to you and your priest / priestess/ wedding officiant 

 

 

 

Ideas for Offerings to Gods & Ancestors at a Pagan Wedding

 

 

Gods of Romance and Marriage 

(Aphrodite, Frigga/ Frigg, Hathor, Hera, Parvati, and others)

 

• Lavender 
• Myrrh 
• Wine 
• Red and pink flowers such as roses and hibiscus 
• Apples and figs 

 

Gods of Fertility, Sexuality, and Abundance 
(Beset / Bes, Gefion/ Gefn, Freyja, Oshun, Cernunnos, and others)

 

• Rosemary and juniper 
• Yellow and gold flowers
• Acorns and seed pods
• Honey
• Cooked meat

 

Gods of Home and Hearth
(Ancestral spirits, Brigid/ Brigit, Frigga/ Frigg, Hestia, and others)

 

• Rosemary and thyme
• Milk
• Coins
• Hand-spun fibers or wool
• Home-cooked food and bread

 

 

Gods of Wealth and Good Fortune 

(Fortuna / Tyche, Hermes / Mercury, Toutatis, and others)

 

• Clover and ivy
• Frankincense 
• Wine
• Coins 
• Incense

 

 

 

Get ordained online with AMM and learn how to perform marriage for friends and family. 

 

 

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Read Next

 

Pagan Wedding Altars :

An Illustrated Look at a 'Year and a Day' Altar

 

 

An illustrated article by Jessica Levey

 

Magic, love, & symbolism come together on a Pagan wedding altar. Learn some of the most common items you can expect, using a Wiccan Year and a Day ritual as an example. For officiants, wedding guests, and curious couples. Read now. 

 

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• New! AMM's Handfasting Wedding Officiant Package

 

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