Women’s ceremony to commit to loving themselves
WELLINGTON: It is wedding season and tomorrow up to two dozen brides will gather at the altar on a Nelson beach — take their vows and make a commitment to themselves.
The ‘‘love ceremony’’ invites women to commit to loving themselves and is pitched as an act of selfacceptance — but it is not restricted to single women.
The ceremony at Tahunanui Beach is being hosted by Nelson massage therapist Stephanie Crampton.
‘‘We will stand in a circle around a beautiful flower mandala and we will recognise and introduce each other in the circle of women . . . and place an item into the mandala that represents love, selflove,’’ she told Checkpoint.
‘‘Then we will have a sound healing and then we will begin with the actual ceremony where each bride is welcomed up to the altar to stand in front of the fulllength mirror beside a celebrant and go through a commitment ceremony to themselves connecting deep into their own eyes and devoting selflove — a commitment to honouring and loving themselves.’’
She said then the ‘‘brides’’ would go through a ceremony with a ring they will have bought. It would serve as a reminder of the choice they had made, she said.
‘‘It’s a love ceremony, it’s like a wedding where they are marrying themselves.’’
Ms Crampton, who loves a celebration, said the idea for the ceremony came to here ‘‘in a vision one day’’.
‘‘I felt really guided to put on this celebration for women in a ceremony.’’
She said she was inspired by her own healing journey.
It would be an intimate ceremony without about 20 women.
‘‘It takes a lot of courage and a lot of selflove to be standing in a public space to be witnessed and to commit to loving yourself.’’
The idea of selflove or selfcoupling has gained prominence in recent times.
Harry Potter actor Emma Watson last year said she was happy to be ‘‘selfpartnered’’.
Ms Crampton said being able to love herself helped her receive and give love fully.
The $100 ceremony comes with a celebrant, photographer, certificate and a food platter.