Everything You Need to Bring Your Wishing Stone Station Wedding Idea to Life

Ensure your love is set in stone.

Photo: BridalBlissStore | Etsy

Updated Apr 15, 2025

Traditions are a beautiful way to bring more purpose and meaning into a wedding ceremony or reception. For those with Irish roots or an appreciation for the culture, try bringing a wishing stone station wedding idea to life. Stay true to the tradition by saying your vows while holding one large oathing stone that you cast into the water afterward, or opt for a more modern spin on it by having guests write blessings on small rocks as a wedding guest book alternative.

As couples dive deep into how best to incorporate blessing stones into their day, they will look for stones and rocks, beautiful ways to display them, and even options to incorporate a wishing well into their decor. To help with this, we've rounded up well-reviewed products to bring your wishing stone station to life.

In this article:

Behind the Wishing Stone Wedding Tradition
How to Use Wishing Stones in Your Wedding
Everything You Need for a Wishing Stone Station

Behind the Wishing Stone Wedding Tradition

Symbols are used all across the world to give ideas and concepts a visible or tangible representation. Wedding rings are one example, as they symbolize two people's commitment to one another. An Irish wishing stone is another such symbol.

This Irish wedding tradition is rooted in Celtic culture, which believed the natural and spiritual worlds were deeply connected. A couple making a marriage contract would state their intentions while touching a stone or rock, representing something steadfast, strong and long-lasting. By saying their vows while touching the oathing stone, the couple's promise to love and cherish one another was then essentially "set in stone," as the saying goes.

Afterward, the couple could take their oathing stone to a river, stream or ocean and toss it in. This symbolizes their steadfast promise to one another amidst life's turbulent flow. Some sources even say the act of tossing the oathing stone into a natural water source was meant to appease ancestral spirits and fae. While that may not be a modern belief with this tradition, the sentiment of strength and commitment amongst an ever-changing tide is one every married couple can appreciate. Now, couples have adapted the Irish wishing stone tradition to fit into their wedding in a myriad of ways.

How to Use Wishing Stones in Your Wedding

From using this tradition as a guest book alternative to creating a treasured keepsake, an Irish wishing stone station is truly versatile. It also happens to be incredibly budget-friendly (maybe even free!) and a wonderful way to ensure guests feel connected to the newlyweds on their wedding day.

Wishing Stone Guest Book

To put a modern spin on the Irish blessing stone tradition at your wedding, consider a wishing stones wedding guest book. Start by collecting rocks. Purchase smooth or colorful rocks or head to a river or beach you love to find them (just make sure it is legal to take items from the spot). Grab a few more rocks than you have guests so there are plenty of choices and extras in case someone takes two.

At your reception, set up a table with the rocks, a cute bowl, vase or basket, permanent paint pens or markers and directions for your guests. They should each grab a rock and write a wish or blessing for the newlyweds or just sign their names.

Wishing Stone Wedding Ceremony

A blessing stone wedding ceremony is a beautiful way to get guests involved. As guests arrive, they will be given or choose a smooth stone, known as a wishing or blessing stone, as they make their way to their seat. During the ceremony, the officiant will ask the guests to make a wish or share a blessing with the couple while holding their stone. Many couples ask guests to write their wishes down on a separate piece of paper or speak them out loud to the pair in a receiving line. Then, everyone makes a procession and tosses their stones into a wishing well.

Alternatively, couples may want to keep the wishing stones. If so, they can all be placed in a basket, vase or aquarium. If there is no water nearby, consider making a rock stack near a tree or other significant spot.

Oathing Stone Ceremony

To take a more traditional route, some couples do an oathing stone ceremony. Collect one large stone, preferably from somewhere meaningful to you and your partner. Many couples will engrave the rock with their initials, wedding date, or a Celtic knot to add a personal touch.

When you exchange your vows in front of friends and family, you will each place a hand on your oath stone. This symbolizes the permanency of your promises to each other and is where the phrase "set in stone" comes from.

Traditionally, the oath stone would then be thrown into a river, ocean, or lake as a symbol of a steadfast promise (the rock) amidst the turbulent ebb and flow of life (the water). However, many couples choose to keep their rock as a keepsake.

Everything You Need for a Wishing Stone Station

For those hoping to pull off a bridal shower wishing well or a similar blessing station at a wedding reception, there are a few things you might want. From the actual rocks to use at the station to cute signs, baskets and pens, here are some wonderful options to get you started.

Hand-Sealed Wishing Stone Guest Book Kit

This set of 60 hand-sealed wishing stones is ready to go for a blessing stone ceremony or guest book. It comes with an 8.5 x 11-inch sign and multiple permanent markers in the colors of your choosing, so you have everything you need to make it happen. The seller is happy to customize an order for those who need more or fewer rocks. All packed in muslin bags, this kit is ready to make your Irish wishing stone wedding come to life.

$75 | Etsy

Custom Engraved Oathing Stone

Put words, a picture or a date onto a stone to be treasured forever. From 3-inch to 14-inch rocks, there is an option for any budget. These stones come from the Idaho Rocky Mountains and are engraved there as well, giving buyers a product made completely in the US.

From $36 | Etsy

Personalized Cedar Wishing Well

This handmade wishing well can be customized with the couple's name or initials and filled with rocks on which guests made wishes. At 2 feet high with a 7.5 x 7.5-inch bucket, this is also functional tabletop decor. Made by hand in Ohio, you'll be supporting a small business with this purchase.

From $130 | Etsy

Metallic Sharpies

For darker rocks, fine-point metallic permanent markers give guests everything they need to leave a wish or blessing for the couple. This set of four includes silver, gold and bronze. Each is quick-drying, fade-resistant and water-resistant. Unlike paint pens, there is no shaking or mess here—just grab and sign.

$10 | Amazon

Custom Oathing Stone Sign

This electronic download of an oath or blessing stone sign explains the whole process to guests. The seller will personalize the sign with the couple's name and ensure the download is perfectly fit to the size you need. Then, you can print it wherever and whenever you like. Use just one as guests enter the ceremony, or print one out for each chair and have a stone waiting for them.

$10 | Etsy

Melany Pine and Wild Grass Basket

This stunning, hand-woven pine and raffia basket is just right for displaying wishing stones for years to come. The natural brown and sage color pairs well with natural rocks, while its low, wide shape gives ample room to receive many blessings at a time. Handmade in Guatemala by Mayan artisans, this basket is made with love and is perfect for holding all the well wishes from friends and family.

$56 | Etsy

Glass and Iron Vase

This vase's stunning glass and iron contrast makes quite a statement. It would work well as a container for wishing stones at the reception. While the couple could easily display the stones in it in their home, they can also use it as a flower vase if they choose to have their guests toss their stones into a stream.

$68 | Anthropologie

Natural River Stones

If you are wondering where to get rocks for guest book wishing stones, these 2 and 3-inch river stones will do the trick. They are smooth and flat, making them easy to paint on. The solid gray color ensures messages will be easy to read, too. Quick shipping on this set of 45 rocks makes this a great option for couples throwing together a wishing stone station at the last minute.

From $23 | Amazon

Wood Wishing Well

To get the feel of tossing a stone into water but getting to keep them, use a wishing well! This wood wishing well fits right into a rustic ceremony or reception. The hexagonal well fits up to 450 cubic inches, which is enough room for even guests at large weddings to toss in wishing stones. Made of wood, this option also keeps this wedding tradition eco-friendly.

$80 | Amazon

Flat White Mediterranean Stones

Looking for a stone that guests can have a little more fun with? These white stones from the Cyprus coast are a blank canvas, ready for guests to write, draw or paint their wishes for the couple. Measuring 2 to 3 inches long, there is just enough room to leave a note.

$23 | Etsy