Decoration of the ceremony with the 4 elements

Element 1 - The Earth

Symbolism in the wedding ceremony: home, foundation, family, wealth

Colours :

• Red, browns, oranges like ocher, dark fir tree green, copper, antique gold

Vegetation :

• All trees and shrubs, which grow close to the ground like moss, lichen, grass, pumpkins, leaves covering the ground, dry plants (horsetail, thyme, rosemary), roots, spices, tobacco , mushrooms, citrus and apples, hazelnuts, walnuts, ..
• Everything in its wild, original form

Perfume :

• Essential oils: cypress, yew, mandrake, pine
• Plants with earthy smells, patchouli and vetiver, aromatic plants and winter spices

Objects and materials :

• Compact land or powder, ash, sand, spices, seeds, fruits
• Wood under all its forms: cut in log form, sawdust and wood chips, bark, roots
• The real or artificial tree with paper flowers, the maypole.
• Stones, rocks, minerals, gems
• Brass, iron, rusty objects
• Heavier fabrics like velvet, thick canvas, jute, hemp, flax
• Giant doors, solid furniture

Sounds :

• Dense music such as percussion, Native American drums, wind chime from "Pyrénées Atlantique" (emotions, purity, crystalline)

Symbols :

• Astrological signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
• Animals that live on the earth: horses, unicorns, cats, deer, tigers, giraffes, zebras, and underground ...: North Turtle totem animal among American Indians
• Earth-related trades such as: the farmer, the lumberjack.

Deities

• Gaia is the personification of the earth, our original mother who put us in the world and feeds us
• Demeter (Greek) - Goddess of the Harvest
• Taweret (Egyptian) - Goddess of Fertility
• Geb (Egyptian) - Goddess of the Earth

Nature Spirits

• Gnomes, goblins (you know the ones like in Snow White!) Hardworking and protective of the earth and its riches

Element 2 - The WATER

Symbolism in the wedding ceremony: the joy and pleasure, honor, bless, expansion,

Colours :

• All blues and greens, shades around white. Transparent and translucent colors.

Vegetation :

• The weeping willow, aquatic plants like water lilies, algae, reeds, papyrus, the sea anemone ...
• Perfume: sea, oceans, fruity scents

Objects and Materials :

• Fish, starfish, shells, coral, ships, tracing paper, floating candles, fountains, waterfalls, rain sequins, mirror.
• Transparent containers for liquids: bottles, carafes, glasses, vases, chalices ... and all kinds of liquids: water, milk, juice
• Objects related to the bathroom: enamelled or zinc bedpans, soap ...
• Succulent, pleasurable fruits: rite of the melon
• Waving cloths, air, cotton sails, chiffon, silk and tulle ...

Sounds :

• Resounding musical instruments: bells, cymbals, triangle.  Crystal bowls. the Hapi Drum Chinese: soft, deep sound. The sea drum- The sound of boat horns. Sounds of waves, rivers, waterfalls, rain

Symbols :

• Astrological signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
• Animals that live in the water: the fish, dolphins, octopi, swans and the frog totem animal of the East among American Indians
• Trades such as: the fisherman, sailor.

Deities

• Poseidon / Neptune / Venus
• Dinha (Celtic) - Deity of Rain and Fertility
• Tefnut (Egyptian) - Goddess of Moisture and Dew.
• Dodola (slave) - Goddess of Rain

Nature Spirits :

• Mermaids in long golden hair, nymphs, seamaids that inspire beauty, sensuality,

Element 3 - The AIR

Symbolism in the wedding ceremony: sharing, space to another

Colours :

• All very clear colors, pastel: blue, pink, green, yellow ...

Vegetation :

• Flowering tiny flowers, fragile and very fragrant branches.

Perfumes :

• Aromatic plants such as lavender, mint. Incense, essential oil diffusers, scented candles, perfume of the bride

Objects and Materials :

• Feathers, cotton, silk paper, Chinese lanterns, soap bubbles, magic wands, weathervanes, balloons filled with helium, flags, fan, hot air balloons, airplanes, kites ...
• Ribbons flying in the wind, waving cloths, air, cotton, silk or tulle ...

Sounds :

• Music by the wind instruments (harp, flute, oboe, triangle,.) - Tibetan bowls : vibration, meditation, relaxing (from Asia) - Native American flutes (Kanu - Nerva) of South America - Songs (sacred, lyrics)  - Poems 

Symbols :

• Astrological signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
• Birds and flying insects like the dove, butterfly, dragonfly, spider, bee, animal butterfly South Totem among American Indians
• The sky, the universe, wind, breathing, hearing, smell.
• Trades such as the aviator, javelin thrower, the glassblower

Deities

• Ether (Greek) - God of the Atmosphere
• Uranus (Roman) - God of Heaven
• Uranus (Greek) - God of Heaven
• Nout (Egypt) - God of Heaven
• Kolyada (slave) - Goddess of the Sky, Overseer of the Sunrise.

Nature Spirits :

• Sylphs, the muses who inspire us, those who teach birds to sing, talk to the trees, draw clouds

Element 4 - The Fire

Symbolism in the wedding ceremony: passion, feelings, fire

Colours :

• All warm colors: red, orange, ocher, yellow, purple

Vegetation :

• Plants with thorns, like thistle and cactus, peppers and chilies, poppy, stimulants like coffee, big red exotic flowers with thick stems and geometric shapes ... cinnamon. Honey.
• The red rose

Perfumes :

• Wood fires, bog, scents of underbrush, incense and smoke: cedar, sage

Objects and Materials :

• All objects that provide heat, flame, light such as: candles, torches, lanterns, cauldron, fireplaces ...
• Iron, metals, gold. Velvet or silk
• The book of commitment - Icons - Images of deities of love
• The altar: a covered table, a cart, a barrel, a trunk.

Sounds :

• Powerful music like drums, gong (powerful), Hapi Drum Chinese : soft and deep.  ... strong deep voices, laughter. Foley fire crackling   

Symbols :

• Astrological signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
• Animals like snake, lizard, scorpion, dragon. The Western totem animal hawk among American Indians
• The sun, steam engines, smoke, the volcano.
• Occupations such as: blacksmith, alchemist

Deities

• Hephaestus (Greek) - God of fire, forges, metallurgy and volcanoes
• Belisama (Celtic) - Goddess of the hearth and craft of metal and glass
• Krsnik (slave) - God of fire.

Nature Spirits :

• Salamanders that extinguish the fire of anger and kindle the fire of passion