Rings :

The rings are blessed by the priest who takes them in his hand and, making the sign of the cross over the heads of bride and groom, says: "The servant of God ... is betrothed to the handmaid of God ... in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." The rings, of course, are the symbol of betrothal and their exchange signifies that in married life the weaknesses of the one partner will be compensated for by the strength of the other, the imperfections of one by the perfections of the other. By themselves, the newly-betrothed are incomplete: together they are made perfect. Thus the exchange of rings gives expression to the fact that the spouses in marriage will constantly complement each other.

Embroidered Towels:

The symbolism of embroidery has been passed down from generation to generation. The embroidered towel, interlaced with threads of various colours, represents all aspects of human life: family, love, tradition, hardship and faith in God. The couple may stand on one of the towels to indicate the new life they now begin. Another towel is used to tie their hands together during the ceremonial walk, emphasizing the unity they now share in their common journey.

Crowns:

Most often in the form of a periwinkle wreath, placed on the heads during the crowning ritual. They are a symbol of love, purity and fertility. They are placed on the heads of the bride and groom to signify the dawn of a new kingdom to be ruled by the couple—side by side. They also remind the newlyweds that their marriage is a partnership in Christ, and that they owe it to God and to each other to live a life of honor and love.

The Common Cup:

The service of crowning is followed by the reading of the Epistle and the Gospel. The Gospel reading describes the marriage at Cana of Galilee which was attended and blessed by our Lord and Savior Christ, and for which He reserved His first miracle. There He converted the water into better wine and gave it to the newlyweds. In remembrance of this blessing, wine is given to the couple. This is the "common cup" of better life denoting the mutual sharing of joy and sorrow, the token of a life of harmony. The drinking of wine from the common cup serves to impress upon the couple that from that moment on they will share everything in life, joys as well as sorrows, and that they are to "bear one another's burdens." Their joys will be doubled and their sorrows halved because they will be shared.

Ceremonial:

The priest then leads the bride and groom in a circle around the table on which are placed the Gospel and the Cross, the one containing the Word of God, the other being the symbol of our redemption by our Savior Jesus Christ. The husband and wife take their first steps as a married couple, and the Church, in the person of the priest, leads them in the way they must walk. The way is symbolized by the circle at the center of which is the Gospel and the Cross of our Lord. During this walk around the table a hymn its sung to the Holy Martyrs reminding the newly married couple of the sacrificial love they are to have for each other in marriage - a love that seeks not its own but is willing to sacrifice for the other.

The Blessings:

The priest leads the Bride to the side alter upon which stands an icon of the Virgin Mary. The bride then places a bouquet of flowers before the icon. The priest prays for the Blessed Mother's protection for the bride. During this time, the groom will pray before the icon of Jesus Christ.

A&S