Resources

Suggested vows, songs, graphics, flyers etc

Graphics, social media, posters, flyers etc

Here you’ll find loads of resources you can use to promote your event/campaign.

We have also created outreach materials for you to promote your ceremony. You can use the editable versions of the leaflets to add your text, QR codes and date/place of your ceremony and also use the printer-ready versions to send to a professional printer.

Dirty Water social media channels

Downloadable Assets

Stickers | posters | flyers

ceremony water is life sticker ceremony water is life poster ceremony water is life poster

Promote

blueplaquesRNN.png


You can also find everyfin we've put together for the Dirty Water campaign here. There are loads of ideas and resources available - check them out!

Songs, Music and Storytelling

Songs

The Algonquin Water Song, also known as the Nibi Song, is a traditional song deeply connected to the Indigenous Algonquin people of Canada and their reverence for water. The lyrics, primarily in the Algonquin language (Nishnaabemowin), translate to a powerful message: "Water is the lifeblood of our Mother Earth, and water is the lifeblood of our own bodies". It is a song of gratitude, respect, and a call to protect water as a vital resource.

Phonetic Lyrics:

Nee bee wah bow

En die en

Aah key mis kquee

Nee bee wah bow

Hey ya hey ya hey ya hey

Hey ya hey ya hey ya ho

“We sing this song like a lullaby. The song means the water is the life's blood of our mother the earth. Water is the life's blood of our own bodies” — Grandma Nancy

Here's a breakdown of the song's significance and meaning:

The Algonquin Water Song serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of all things and the importance of respecting and protecting the natural world, particularly water.

The Climate Choir Movement have songs to learn and a growing number of choirs around the UK that you could connect with.

Other suggestions:
Backwater Blues - Bessie Smith
The River is Flowing - Native American song
The River - kids song
When the Levee Breaks – Led Zeppelin

'Old Macdonald' Possible rewording of ‘Old Macdonald had a farm for children with actions

This old river’s full of life
Ee eye ee eye oh
And in its care it has some fish
Ee eye ee eye oh
With a splash splash here and a splash there, here a splash, there a splash, everywhere a splash splash
This old river’s full of life
EE eye ee eye oh

beaver-dive/ kingfisher-zoom/ frog-croak etc

Accompanied with handouts for adults about the actual state of our rivers and seas.

You can find more songs here.

Music & Storytelling

Vows

Commit to Water for Life!

To commit to water wedding vows, you can draw inspiration from the symbolism of water – its flow, depth, and ability to cleanse and renew – to craft vows that reflect your love and commitment. Consider incorporating phrases about the ever-flowing nature of your love, the strength and resilience of water, or the peace and serenity it can bring.

Flow and Continuity Compare your love to a river, always moving forward, ever-changing, yet always returning to the source. This can represent the enduring and evolving nature of your relationship.
Depth and Mystery Use language that speaks to the deep and mysterious aspects of the ocean, emphasizing the hidden depths of your love and the adventures you will share.
Cleansing and Renewal Highlight water's ability to cleanse and renew, symbolizing the fresh start and purification that marriage brings.
Resilience and Strength Refer to the power of water to shape landscapes and withstand storms, symbolizing your ability to face challenges together.

Writing Your Own Vows

When writing your own vows, consider what you love most about water, how it's impacted your life, and your hopes for the future. Consider specific examples of your relationship and the promises you want to make. Start with an opening that addresses the water body directly, then share your feelings, make your promises, and conclude with a heartfelt closing.

Tips for Writing and Delivering Vows

River Inspired Vows

Focus on Personhood of the River:

"I vow to love you as deeply as the river, with all its beauty, its power, and its sense of adventure. Like the water that flows ever-forward, my love for you will be unyielding, unstoppable, and unending."

"With the sound of the water rushing by and the warmth of the sun on our skin, I promise to love you with all my heart. I vow to be your partner in all of life's adventures, and to share with you all of life's joys and sorrows."

"As we stand here by the river, I am reminded of the flow of life and the power of nature. With you by my side, I feel supported, loved, and filled with joy. I vow to cherish and honor you for all the days of my life."

Focus on the river's journey:

"Like the river, our love will carve its own path, sometimes gently, sometimes with force, but always moving forward, together."

"Just as a river never stops flowing, my love for you will be a constant, a steady current in our lives."

"We will navigate the rapids and bask in the calm pools, just like a river flowing to the sea." 

Highlighting interconnectedness:

As tributaries feed the river, my life is enriched by your presence, and I promise to be a source of strength for you as well."

"Like the river's connection to the ocean, our lives are intertwined, and I pledge to honour and cherish this bond."

"We are two rivers flowing towards the same sea, each with our own unique course, but destined to be one." 

Emphasizing enduring presence:

"I promise to be your constant companion, your steady shore, through all the seasons of life, just as a river is always there."

"Our love will be like a river, ever-changing yet eternally present, a source of life and beauty."

"Just as a river shapes the landscape, our love will shape our lives, creating a beautiful and enduring testament to our commitment."

Celtic Wedding Vows Option 1 You are blood of my blood, bone of my bone. I give you my body, that we might be one. I give you my spirit, until our life is done.
Celtic Wedding Vows Option 2 You are the star of each night,
You are the brightness of every morning,
You are the story of each guest,
You are the report of every land.
No evil shall befall you, on hill nor bank,
In field or valley, on mountain or in glen.
Neither above, nor below, neither in sea,
Nor on shore, in skies above,
Nor in the depths.
You are the kernel of my heart,
You are the face of my sun,
You are the harp of my music,
You are the crown of my company.

Sacred Earth Activism: Back to Source - When the Rivers Were Goddesses Written By Lorien Cadier

Traditional Christian Wedding Vows

‘I, (name), take you, (name) to be my wife/husband/partner to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow.’

Here, the wedding ring is placed on the finger: 'With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.'

The vows according to the service in Common Worship - followed since 2000 - are as follows:

'I, (name), take you, (name), to be my wife/husband/partner, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow.'

Vows From Different Religions and Cultures Eighteen Vows From Different Religions and Cultures.

More Inspiration & Ideas

The Power of Celebrating Water

Connection through water, with nature and each other, fosters well-being, through a regenerative and healing relationship, encouraging the flow and exchange of energy and knowledge. Consider making more of an impact by following some of these suggestions:

Here is an example running order for the Ceremony for the River Wye.

Words & Inspiration

Word Cloud created from The Symbolism Of Fish: Exploring Different Cultures And Meanings

Fresh water is precious and finite | All life depends on it

Our waterways are the arteries and veins of the earth. If we pollute those waterways, life will die.

“Nothing on this planet had so forcefully hammered into her the ultimate value of water. Not the water-sellers, nor the dried skins of the natives ... Here there was a substance more precious than all others - it was life itself and entwined all around with symbolism and ritual.” - Frank Herbert, Dune

“Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.” W H Auden, First Things First

Although issues are faced in multiple facets of water, some communities may prioritise different areas, such as flooding or pollution.

Community

Art & Creativity


Puppets/Masks/Costumes

Press

Media Advisory Template (for you to send out in advance of your event)

You can either open the Google doc, make a copy and then edit it from there, or copy the text template below.

Press Release Template (Google doc)

Edit anything between the square brackets [---], and where possible include some personal quotes about why you're taking action. At the bottom of the Google doc and the text template, we've included examples of personal quotes.

Copy below

Meet the activists who will marry [insert name of water body] as part of Extinction Rebellion’s Dirty Water Campaign

On [insert date], activists are gathering at [insert location] to [insert brief description of the action: e.g. ceremony, occupation…].

From the 24th August to 24th September, Extinction Rebellion’s Dirty Water Campaign is launching the World Water Wedding with a range of actions intended for people to pledge their troth to protect rivers and water bodies across the country.

The campaign will build up into next year to a global day of action on World Water Day, 22nd March 2026, where people around the world will commit to safeguard water by 'marrying' their local water source in mass weddings and commit to its care for life.

[Insert 2-3 paragraphs describing the action or ceremony in more detail, with as much colour as possible.]

This campaign is inspired by writer and campaigner Meg Avon from Bristol, who married the River Avon and took its name in 2023 to raise awareness of the gruesome condition of the river [1], which, like most water bodies in the UK, is choked with sewage, chemicals, and other pollution, making it unsafe for swimmers, watersports, and wildlife [2].

England has some of the filthiest rivers in Europe [3]. Since Meg’s wedding, the state of the UK’s waterways has remained dire: an estimated 994,499 sewage discharges into rivers and other water bodies occurred in 2024: almost one discharge every 30 seconds [4]. The amount of sewage entering the water has been increasing year after year [5], and rose 60% in 2024, reaching the point of crisis [6].

[Insert 1-2 paragraphs of facts about the local water body and its condition.]

Water companies are legally allowed to discharge untreated wastewater through sewer overflows during periods of heavy rain, but they have started to do so with alarming frequency [7] and not only when raining. A 2025 study found that England’s major water and sewage companies have been misleading the public and Government by using duplicitous greenwashing and disinformation strategies which mirror those of the tobacco and fossil fuel industries [8].

Thousands of people fall sick in the UK each year after swimming, watersports, or other contact with polluted water [9]. The broken water system has also resulted in contaminated drinking water [10]. Moreover, polluted and ecologically barren water bodies are a significant cause of the biodiversity crisis, failing to provide a healthy habitat for invertebrates, fish, birds, and mammals [11].

The water weddings symbolise peoples’ love for and lifelong commitment to protect their local water bodies, and they can be seen as part of the wider movement of campaigning for the rights of nature and shifting the dial towards a more equal partnership with our ecosystems.

The River Ouse made history this year as the first river in the UK to be granted legal rights as a living entity with an intrinsic right to exist [12], and last year co-founder of Lawyers for Nature, Paul Powlesland, became the first juror to swear an oath on a vial of river water in court, declaring the river to be sacred [13].

[Insert name of activist taking part], said “[insert quote here.]” [Insert name of activist taking part], said “[insert quote here.]”

Notes to editors

[1] 'I married the River Avon - it has changed my life'
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgq22y97n58o

[2] Water pollution: facts & figures - Surfers Against Sewage
https://www.sas.org.uk/water-quality/water-quality-facts-and-figures/

[3] England has some of the filthiest rivers in Europe - and these maps prove it
https://inews.co.uk/news/england-filthiest-rivers-europe-maps-3514835

[4] Water pollution: facts & figures - Surfers Against Sewage
https://www.sas.org.uk/water-quality/water-quality-facts-and-figures/

[5] Environment Agency storm overflow spill data for 2024 - GOV.UK
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/environment-agency-storm-overflow-spill-data-for-2024

[6] Serious water pollution in England up 60%, government says
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg5zl75dmm0o

[7] Water pollution: facts & figures - Surfers Against Sewage
https://www.sas.org.uk/water-quality/water-quality-facts-and-figures/

[8] Water industry using deception tactics to deflect blame for sewage pollution
https://www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/water-industry-using-deception-tactics/

[9] Water pollution: facts & figures - Surfers Against Sewage
https://www.sas.org.uk/water-quality/water-quality-facts-and-figures/

[10] Should we be worried about our drinking water? | Science, Climate & Tech News | Sky News
https://news.sky.com/story/should-we-be-worried-about-our-drinking-water-13270874

[11] New study finds that sewage release is worse for rivers than agriculture | University of Oxford
https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2023-09-22-new-study-finds-sewage-release-worse-rivers-agriculture#:~:text=These%20new%20findings%20come%20at,protected%20habitats%20are%20threatened?'

[12] England's River Ouse makes history as first to gain legal rights - Oceanographic
https://oceanographicmagazine.com/news/englands-river-ouse-makes-history-as-first-to-gain-legal-rights/

[13] Environmentalist becomes first juror to swear oath on river water | Rivers | The Guardian
About Extinction Rebellion https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/aug/02/environmentalist-becomes-first-juror-to-swear-oath-on-river-water

Extinction Rebellion (XR) is a decentralised, international and politically non-partisan movement using nonviolent direct action and civil disobedience to persuade governments to act justly on the Climate and Ecological Emergency.

Donate | Support our work
https://chuffed.org/donate/we-must-rise?utm_campaign=we-must-rise&utm_source=PRFooter&utm_medium=Link&utm_content=Donate

What Emergency? | Read about the true scale of the climate crisis
https://extinctionrebellion.uk/the-truth/the-emergency/

Why Citizens’ Assemblies? | Breaking the political deadlock
https://extinctionrebellion.uk/decide-together/citizens-assembly/

XR UK Local Groups | View a map of all local groups
https://extinctionrebellion.uk/act-now/local-groups/

XR UK website | Find out more about XR UK
https://extinctionrebellion.uk/

XR Global website | Discover what’s going on in XR around the globe
https://rebellion.global/

Time has almost entirely run out to address the climate and ecological crisis which is upon us, including the sixth mass species extinction, global pollution, and increasingly rapid climate change. If urgent and radical action isn’t taken, we’re heading towards 4˚C warming, leading to societal collapse and mass loss of life. The younger generation, racially marginalised communities and the Global South are on the frontline. No one will escape the devastating impacts.

Examples of personal quotes

Meg Avon, who married the River Avon in 2023, said, “As the UK’s first known river bride, I am so excited to no longer be alone in my role of unconventional wedding bliss! Having a wedding and becoming married to water is such a beautiful way of stepping forward as a guardian - it can be as public or personal as you want it to be. I believe that every ceremony is a story, and many ceremonies of similar intention have the power to change the law. We are becoming kin with our landscape and natural entities once again and the timing has never been more perfect.”

Denise Ashurst, from Cwmcarn in the Welsh Valleys, 61 years old and unemployed, said “I am regularly charmed by rain and dew, whenever walking with my dog in local woods. My face brushing dew from leaves, or listening to rain drumming my body as I walk below the trees make me feel open-hearted and full of love, so I’m committing to learning more about what makes this relationship work.”

Ned Evans, a 60 year old teacher from Holmfirth, said “I have the most beautiful reservoirs near me in West Yorkshire which serve as vital water sources and are important for overwintering bird populations, including the protected red kite species. The reservoir levels are at a historic low for August, standing at 42.2% capacity, significantly below the usual range of 65% to 80% for this time of year, due to a prolonged drought and the driest spring and summer on record. As far as I know, this recent lack of rainfall is due to the climate emergency and increasing temperatures disrupting weather patterns, which likely means the levels will get lower each year and that leads to higher concentrations of impurities as the volume of water decreases. Water for me means life and I find it heartbreaking to see how much our pollution is damaging water and wildlife so I’ve decided to join the World Water Wedding campaign and commit to protect water. I’m going to hold a quiet personal ceremony by the edge of my nearest local reservoir, Winscar, on the 24th August and then send out my wedding invites to everyone I know to get dressed up and join me on World Water Day, Sunday 22nd March 2026, for a fun and joyous celebration of water.

Steve Conlon, 70, a retired IT Manager from Twickenham, said “I have lived in a boat on the tidal Thames for nearly thirty years now and I love it, but discovering sewage pollution locally was very distressing. Becoming aware of the real scale of what was happening was heart-breaking. I have learned that critical water issues, from conservation, ecology, pollution, flooding and drought as well as corrupt utilities and ideology-fixated politicians, are interlinked. We need to pay attention to all of them together. This interdependence was addressed by Mark Lloyd, the chief executive of the Rivers Trust, who was quoted in the Guardian [14] this week about our current water shortages, ‘We need to build more resilience into our rivers and their catchment areas with nature-based solutions at scale, such as healthy soils that allow water to filter into the ground and not rush off taking the soil with it; riverside tree planting to provide shade and further slow the flow of water; wetlands to store and slowly release water, and rewiggling streams to raise the water table and purify pollutants.’ If we attend properly to water throughout our environment, that is a true collective act of love, and an affirmation of life.”