WHAT IS QUAICH CEREMONY & HOW TO INCLUDE A WINE CEREMONY IN YOUR HUMANIST WEDDING!

This beautiful quaich was made by Highland Sea Ceramics. Photo credit to highland.sea.ceramicshighland.sea.ceramics

Drinking from the quaich

The ritual of drinking from a shared cup is a Scottish tradition. The traditional quaich is like a small bowl-shaped cup with two handles.

In a quaich wedding ritual you can each take a handle of the cup to drink from together,  symbolising your trust in each other to share the cup. You can also do your own version, weaving in significant people, words or actions that have meaning for you. 

The tipple of choice is traditionally whisky but you can choose any liquid you want (alcoholic or not - it’s up to you).

How to personalise a quaich ceremony

One modern take on this ritual is to take a toast together (or even provide all your guests with a small shot) to ‘share the cup of love’ together while celebrating your union. You can include group vows and toast this with your guests. Or you could blend your own drink from things that are important in your history and drink this together.

Wine ceremony

A wine ceremony is a unity ritual that usually takes place after you have exchanged vows (and rings, if you choose to do so). Some say that using wine is significant because it is sweet like the love, wonder and commitment you will share, along with the bitterness of sadness and pain you may encounter over the years. 

The couple each take their respective wines and pour them into one shared glass, which they both will drink from. Your celebrant will mark this with some words explaining the significance of the ritual to your guests, and you can make toasts as you drink. As with the quaich you could involve your guests with a group toast of your favourite tipple.

What you mix is up to you. You  don’t have to use wine; you could use a spirit, juice or  tea instead.

You could also choose a super fancy bottle and seal into a box with a letter to each other, or advice from your guests to open on your one-year anniversary.

One thing is for sure - there are plenty of options for including a boozy (or AF) drink into your ceremony!