A wedding is an incredibly meaningful ceremony, embodying the heartfelt commitment between two people. How they exchange their vows can mirror their pledge of commitment to each other. One approach to doing that is by giving lei. Read on to learn more about exchanging wedding lei vows and its symbolism.
What Is a Wedding Lei Exchange?
A wedding lei exchange is an intrinsic part of traditional Hawaiian weddings. The two partners present each other with a lei—a garland of flowers, leaves, shells, or nuts. This exchange is a deeply symbolic act.
Lei represent the partners’ promises to each other. The circle formed by lei symbolize eternal love, while the flowers represent the happiness, joy, and beauty of the spouses’ shared life, blossoming and growing in the same way as their love.
How Do Partners Exchange Lei?
Partners getting married have many options when exchanging wedding lei vows. They can exchange lei at the beginning of their ceremony, as they give their vows, or even as part of the exchange of their wedding rings. Regardless of the order, the act of exchanging lei is a deeply meaningful tradition, celebrating the beautiful union of two hearts and souls.
Can Other Family Members Be Involved in the Exchange?
The couple’s options for these meaningful exchanges do not end there. The giving of lei at a wedding can even include the partners’ parents. The parents can give lei to their child or the spouse-to-be.
The married couple can also give lei to their parents. Involving family members in the lei exchange can heighten the emotional importance of the ceremony, making it more meaningful for everyone.
As these examples have shown, the lei exchange in a wedding ceremony beautifully encapsulates the bond, respect, and love between partners. Hawai’i Lei Store offers various Hawaiian wedding lei that will allow you to incorporate this meaningful tradition into your own ceremony. Use our beautiful lei to make your special day even more memorable!