The ritual of jumping over a broom to mark the entrance into your new life as a married couple can be a fun ritual to add to your wedding ceremony. It symbolises the new beginning that getting married represents, while sweeping away the old. It shows you boldly and joyfully leaving your past and taking a leap into your future. It can also represent the leap of faith and trust that entering a marriage requires.

Its origins are not precisely known. It is popularly associated with African American culture (many couples use it now to acknowledge the struggle of their ancestors who used the ritual to signify their unions since as slaves they not permitted to marry) but it was in fact used in parts of Britain and was linked to Welsh and Celtic tradition from the early 18th century. Here the broom would be placed on the threshold of the house and the couple would hold hands and jump into their new home and life.

The broom, or besom (broom made from a bunch of twigs tied to a pole) represents the home and hearth. You can decorate the handle with ribbons or beads to make it more ornamental for the occasion.

When used in wedding ceremonies today the jumping of the broom usually takes place at the very end after you have made your vows and exchanged rings. It can be a way to involve guests either by asking a couple to hold the broom, or simply by asking them to join in while counting down to the jump.